bfletch7441 Posted May 25, 2010 Report Share Posted May 25, 2010 Anyone have some experience with table saws? JaLynn and I are gearing up to build our house, and I plan on doing the cabinetry work myself. I've got a small site/contractor type saw, but figure with the amount of work I'll be doing, I should just spend the money and buy a good one. What brand, size, accessories, etc. does everyone recomend? Thanks Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 25, 2010 Report Share Posted May 25, 2010 Cabinet man building our cabinets has several dewalt miter saws, not sure about his table saws. Guess it would depend on how much money you had in the budget. Probably going to be buying a 10 inch sliding miter here pretty soon for our trim work, as much as I would like to buy a dewalt, likely I am going to settle for a craftsman. Table saw we used in our shop years ago was a heavy duty professional craftsman, thing lasted forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted May 25, 2010 Report Share Posted May 25, 2010 Ben, Not sure what you are willing to spend but for the money, Grizzly makes some great stuff. This is the saw I have, http://www.grizzly.com/products/10-3-HP-220V-Cabinet-Left-Tilt-Tablesaw/G1023RL This is another awesome saw for a lower price. Plus it is on sale right now. Check out the shipping charges!!! http://www.grizzly.com/products/10-3-HP-220V-Cabinet-Left-Tilt-Tablesaw/G1023RL These great saws and don't let the low prices deceive you. I have been to the factory and they are top notch stuff. Go to epinions.com and check out the reveiws. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bfletch7441 Posted May 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2010 Funny you mention Grizzly Joe. I'm actually considering this one: http://www.grizzly.com/products/10-Heavy-Duty-Cabinet-Table-Saw-With-Riving-Knife/G0651 It's a big ol rascal, but doing most of the work by myself, I think all the tables will be a big help in handling the material. Haven't looked at Craftsman yet, but they're on my list. Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted May 25, 2010 Report Share Posted May 25, 2010 I have a Delta right now, not a bad saw but if I was in the market to buy a new one I would look into a Jet with built in router table, that would come in real handy with your cabinet project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted May 25, 2010 Report Share Posted May 25, 2010 Here you go... http://slickdeals.net/ search (ctrl F) for Craftsman 15am 10" table saw...it is even portable on wheels. Has the shoulders for holding the wood. $286 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted May 25, 2010 Report Share Posted May 25, 2010 You can do an awful lot with a biscuit joiner, a skill saw that has a quality blade and the right fence jigs. If you're building cabinetry you can't have to many clamps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted May 25, 2010 Report Share Posted May 25, 2010 I wish I had one of these. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwRvBNZRIek I'm with Leo, I'd rather push a ten pound saw than a 40lb piece of plywood, but I'm no carpenter...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted May 26, 2010 Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 I wish I had one of these. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwRvBNZRIek I'm with Leo, I'd rather push a ten pound saw than a 40lb piece of plywood, but I'm no carpenter...... please don't tell me you would atempt to build a nice set of cabinets with a circular saw.................:jaw: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted May 26, 2010 Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 please don't tell me you would atempt to build a nice set of cabinets with a circular saw.................:jaw: Haha! I would not try to build a nice set of cabinets with any saw! Over my skill level But.... I think you could do fine with a set of cabinets with a set-up like that, but keep in mind I havent actually used one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted May 26, 2010 Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 (edited) Funny you mention Grizzly Joe. I'm actually considering this one: http://www.grizzly.com/products/10-Heavy-Duty-Cabinet-Table-Saw-With-Riving-Knife/G0651 It's a big ol rascal, but doing most of the work by myself, I think all the tables will be a big help in handling the material. Haven't looked at Craftsman yet, but they're on my list. Ben Awesome Saw!!! Get the Grizzly!!!!! If I was to buy a new saw for my school shop I wouldn't even glance at a Craftsman. The next closest thing I would concider is a Jet. I bought my saw about 5 years ago when they offered the 1023 in 110V. This saw has more balls then my 220V Delta that I have at work. Great customer service. Plus if anything goes wrong with the saw, they will walk you though setting it up. You won't talk to Hapoo in Pakistan. Listen, you are a hop, skip & jump from Springfield MO. Go to the Grizzly warehouse this weekend and try out the saw. Be sure to bring your credit card with you!! Edited May 26, 2010 by RangerClay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm23494 Posted May 26, 2010 Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 I'll second the Grizzly product. My dad has a shop full of Grizzly tools and has been building furniture and cabinets for years with them. The only problem he has had was that a casting on his re-saw band saw broke, he called them up and had a brand new piece within the next week at no cost or questions asked. Check out their website, if you are near one of their show rooms they have a scratch and dent sales a few times a year and you can get some good deals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted May 26, 2010 Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 This is one of a set of two that I made. Good luck on your project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted May 26, 2010 Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 If I was to buy a new saw for my school shop I wouldn't even glance at a Craftsman. The next closest thing I would concider is a Jet. +1 I got a Craftsman at home, it does what little trim projects I need done around the house, but not a quality saw for sure. First thing to do with a Craftsman is to take it out of the box and loctite every fastener on the thing before using it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBow Posted May 26, 2010 Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 I have also been looking at a table saw, as well as a host of other wood working tools. I would think if you're thinking of cabinetry work, then I'd be going for the heavier cast iron beds as opposed to something that's portable with a smaller HP motor. The links to the Grizzly saws in this thread are the type that will fit well into finer work. Powermatic also makes a good saw, but are pricey. Delta is also a name that comes to mind. If you do however, opt for these levels of saws, you'll have to have the space (workshop) to accomodate them as they are not portable and will be firmly and permanently attched to where ever you anchor them. These levels of saws come in a host of HPs and voltages. Stay away from the 3 phase motors as they will cost you extra to accomodate the electrical system at your house. Few people have a 3 phase system as it's impractical and expensive. My personal preference would be for a single phase, 240 vac, 3 hp motor. I think the table extensions are also a great idea, especially if you plan on the cabinet work as you have decribed. Most portable saws are 3/4 to 1-1/2 hp and can stall out especially if you're cutting hard wood. And don't scrimp on saw blades. Quality saw blades (that are well maintained and sharp) are worth their weight in gold. Good luck. TBow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bfletch7441 Posted May 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 I looked around a little more last night. Craftsman? Out. Delta? Too expensive. Jet or Grizzly? Not sure. I'm leaning toward the Grizzly. I put my hands on one over the weekend in my cousins shop, and it was really nice. They are having their scratch and dent sale in Springfield, Mo. on June 12th, but I won't be ready to buy that soon. I'm still in the budgeting stages of this whole thing, so I'll probably be buying toward the end of the summer into fall. While we're at it, what do you all have to say about Miter saws, Drill Presses, Routers, etc... that you have in your shops? Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted May 26, 2010 Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 Suppose your budget far exceeds what mine is. I have a 10 inch delta compound miter, thought it was a cheapy, no complaints about it though, with a good blade it cuts straight and clean. Need a decent functional sliding miter for our t&g panels(7 1/2 inch panels), looked at several miter saws at lowes this morning, if I could I would go with a dewalt, but more likely I will end up with a 10 inch craftsman sliding miter. Skil saws, I like my dewalt, will take it over my skil branded skil saw anyday. Routers, have an older industrial craftsman router, no complaints, thing is probably 25 years old and will do anything I need it to. Don't have a drill press, think the press we had in our shop was a rockwell though. We had an industrial bandsaw, thought it was a rockwell, but not sure. Guessing from what you have posted that you are looking at more industrial equipment than what lowes carries. Suppose you are going to talk nailers too. Have a couple bostitch guns I picked up since I have been working on this house, all we used in our custom interior shop years ago were senco's. We had pretty good luck with the senco guns, but I have not used their guns in years. So far on the bostitch guns I have no complaints, but I have not used my trim gun much yet. Might have more feedback on that here in another month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted May 26, 2010 Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 Well, I should add that I really do like my Craftsman 10" compound miter.... the table saw though was kinda crappy, even for an entry level saw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBow Posted May 27, 2010 Report Share Posted May 27, 2010 I've got a 12" Crafstman sliding mitre saw. The 10" saws will not cut a 4" x 4" in one cut. You have to flip the 4x4s over to cut them with a 10" saw. That's not an issue if you're just doing small trim work, but if you want to do any construction work, then it could be something to look at. The 12" saw I've got was selling for $660 cdn last year, but I got it at 50% off on sale, a $20 off scratch and save card, plus a 15% discount for an employee discount, so it was worth it for me. That same saw is retailing for $699 cdn now. OUCH! If you opt for a drill press, I like the floor models as opposed to a table model. Make sure to get a minimum of a 3/4 HP motor and a 5/8" chuck. TBow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billkay Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 I have a 10" Craftsman table saw. Came with what I felt was a very good fence, which is what makes or breaks a table saw. Mine has the steel top with the cast iron wings. Nice having that extra weight when your pushing thick sheets of plywood or melamine. I use a Freud blade which is also an important ingredient. I have a DeWalt 12" chop saw, again with an 80 tooth Freud blade and I think that Bosch makes the best routers and jigsaws. Don't go cheap on the blades and bits. Jet stuff is good as well. I use their 6"planer and thier dust collection system and both work flawlessly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.