BillFitzmaurice.info

I need a new tablesaw. I moved and had to leave my gigantic cast iron craftsman behind, so now I'm looking again

Menards has got these saws on sale right now, and I was curious to know if anyone has used either of these before:
http://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardw ... c-9082.htm
http://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardw ... c-9082.htm

I've also moved into a single car garage from my 2 car (which makes me a little sad) so I don't have as much room as I used to which is why I was looking at a saw that would take up less room, and those two saws seems pretty compact so I could fold them away when I'm short on space.

Craigslist has yielded me nothing in the past few months, a few small saws from Protech or Skill and a bunch of old and bulky Craftsmans. I decided that I was tired of waiting, so I started shopping for new ones.

Any suggestions or comments on the two saws I posted?

Edit, found an interesting article reviewing a bunch of saws:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/re ... aw#slide-2

I personally am waiting for that Bosch to go on clearance at Lowes. When it does, it will be MINE! Can't go wrong with that Bosch.

Well it's on sale at Menards for $500 after mail in rebate if there is one near you.

I gotta say, that masterforce looks like a clone of the Bosch. Some people online said it was even made by Bosch, but I don't know for certain.

Have you considerd going this route http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJoGTf6KL8s

That's pretty neat, but an 8X4 table pretty dang big. After reading and considering my options, I'm debating finding a smaller contractor or hybrid saw instead of a portable one and just dealing with the extra floor space loss.
Something like this maybe:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-13-Am ... escription

I like the idea of being able to integrate a router table into the table saw to save space.

Do you guys think that having a portable saw like the Bosch 4100 would be a big issue for making cabinets? My first saw was an old, full size cast-iron contractor saw which made cutting sheets easy, but transport near impossible. I just worry that I won't be able to get the same quality of cuts with a smaller/less powerful saw.

Charles Warwick wrote:That's pretty neat, but an 8X4 table pretty dang big. After reading and considering my options, I'm debating finding a smaller contractor or hybrid saw instead of a portable one and just dealing with the extra floor space loss.
Something like this maybe:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-13-Am ... escription

I like the idea of being able to integrate a router table into the table saw to save space.

Do you guys think that having a portable saw like the Bosch 4100 would be a big issue for making cabinets? My first saw was an old, full size cast-iron contractor saw which made cutting sheets easy, but transport near impossible. I just worry that I won't be able to get the same quality of cuts with a smaller/less powerful saw.

If size and space are an issue, have you considered a track saw?

Heh, I'll try again.
The ultimate work bench does not have to be 4x8, but rather, whatever size you want. A router can be fashioned into the sytem as well. And, you don't need to spend big dollars to get good cuts. Even a garage sale table saw will work quite well since every saw should be set up properly to achieve good cuts and reduce/eliminate cut-offs being thrown back at you. And, various style sleds help in attaining accurate cuts.

I have the Ridgid TS3650 table saw. It's a really nice saw, and it doesn't take up a whole lot of floor space. I made an out feed table that can be folded down when not in use, and then moved into a corner of the garage.

Very nice outfeed table.....

Bruce Weldy wrote:Very nice outfeed table.....

+1 Well thought out and executed!

DJPhatman wrote:

Bruce Weldy wrote:Very nice outfeed table.....

+1 Well thought out and executed!

Yup.

Nice table. Is it fastened to the fence rail?

I second the track saw if space is a real issue. My table saw is a small, cheap portable saw that was cobbled together from two different garage sale finds and it makes perfect cuts. A good blade makes all the difference in any saw.

lowsound

byacey wrote:Nice table. Is it fastened to the fence rail?

No, it's sitting on 1 1/4 angle iron fastened to the saw cabinet.