Does anyone have a preferred table saw?

[djdefiant]

Hi everyone. I am looking to upgrade to a better table saw for use in the construction of t60's and ot 15's. As well as other general woodworking use. All my previous table saws were of the skil/ryobi/black and decker cheapest thing at home depot variety. I wanted to upgrade to something a little nicer. I used a belt driven saw once and I really liked the clutching action the belt provided. I felt like it made cutting a lot easier. I'm all about ebay, and craigslist, trying to get a good price on a reasonable secondhand saw. Looking to spend like $350 to 450 for something a little nicer. Any thoughts on what to look for?

[ewetho]

Festool TS Plunge Circular Saw with guiderail. You might forget the table saw exists.

Keep the table but when building with Steve his stays mostly as a workbench/stuff catcher lately.

Otherwise something like a Delta with a large deck would be sweet but Pricey!

[djdumbbi]

I myself, too, am in the same situation as you dj defiant, I've been scounging ebay for the best Dewalt table saw, most of them come up on ebay is the model DW745 and all the manufacture refurbished ones. for $319.99+ $4.99 ship, I've been wanting to get it for $275 shipped like past bidders have won it for (used).

I'm only going to build a Tuba 30 and a Titan 48 for the mean time, but the portable Dewalt circular saw is not cutting it for me, even with guides, the cut is still shifted by 2mm or 1/16th of an inch. That Festool is out of my price range, and there is almost NONE on ebay.

[Chris_Allen]

I've been scounging ebay for the best Dewalt table saw.

I would only buy one that was over ten years old - recent quality has really gone down hill.

[Israel]

I've been scounging ebay for the best Dewalt table saw.

I would only buy one that was over ten years old - recent quality has really gone down hill.

and prices uphill faster than a nascar race

[jswingchun]

That Festool is out of my price range, and there is almost NONE on ebay.

http://www.eurekazone.com

[bzb]

I wouldn't use a portable one for woodworking to begin with, but maneuvering large panels over a small portable saw is not fun (not to mention dangerous).

A contractor's saw at the minimum. I've seen some older Delta contractors saws on CL around your price range. Drop another $60-80 on a nice blade from Freud or Forrest and you're set.

One for $250 near Atlanta:

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/tls/1987078564.html

[SoundInMotionDJ]

You want an old saw.

One made of cast iron. I have a Delta that was discontinued by the local home improvement megamart 6 or 7 years ago. It's heavy...really heavy....took four guys at the home improvement megamart to load into the back of the SUV. The main table surface and both wings are cast iron. The box weight was ~350 pounds for the saw.

After that, I replaced the blade. I spent about $75 on the new one. Today I see similar blades for $50.

After that, I built the crosscut sled. It will hold panels up to 26" wide. And I can clamp them down if required.

After that, I built a infeed and outfeed supports. I can take 2" off the long side of a piece of 4ft x 8ft ply without any trouble at all. I can push a 4ft x 8ft sheet of 1-1/4" ply across the top and not worry for even a moment that the saw will move under that weight.

That is the saw (and blade, and accessories) that you want.

--Stan Graves

[Ron K]

Look for some industrial type liquidations in your area.A lot of times larger companies will have bought a table saw to build shipping crates and when they get liquidated you can pick them up for pennies on the dollar.

Also in some larger metropolitan areas there are companies who go around buying up industrial maintenance inventory from these types of places as well.They will buy electrical tool, supplies, motors, shop tools etc. and make them available at discount prices to other industries.

I've bought several Milwaukee Hand Tools this way including 2 circular saws, a sawzall, and a hammer drill! I dont think I paid more then $20.00 for either one and one of the circular saws was brand new!

I had gotten a 220V 3 phase 15 HP Air Compressor for $250.00 including the 100 gal tank! Sold it for $1000.00 in less then 2 months.

Pick up some trade magazines and often in the back are listings for industrial sales as well.

[Israel]

i dunno i got my $200 craftsman saw secured on a big working table stability issues out off business

[Tom O'Shea]

I really like my Home Despot Ridgid table saw. Very stable, big table, good fence. $550 or so. Look for sales.

[LelandCrooks]

My baby. Maybe a little more than you wanted to spend, but worth every penny.

[bzb]

LOL, not to mention shop space whore

I also really like my Rigid table saw. I got the one with the granite top. It has the Herc-U-Lift system on it that absolutely rocks.

[mpm32]

I got the same rigid granite top table saw. In fact I heard about the Depot deal here. Every time I use it, I'm glad I bought it.

I just made my son a case that holds his matchboxes and hangs on the wall, it has individual 2"x4" compartments to hold 105 cars. I can't imagine making that without the saw. I had to rip a bunch of 2" strips of 1/4" BB ply down and that would've been a real pain with a circ saw.

[Israel]

My baby. Maybe a little more than you wanted to spend, but worth every penny.

Gosh you can sleep like a log on that thing!!!!!