I have an 18 year old basement workshop and a Delta Contractors Table saw was my very first purchase. It has been good to me.
It’s time for an upgrade.
WITHIN REASON, I’m not too fussed about price but I am concerned about getting any purchase down stairs to the basement.
Any suggestions??
I’ve read good things about the Woodtek Hybrid Saw for about $1k after that it’s Cabinet saws reaching the $2k+. I’m really not that familiar with the component parts of a cabinet saw and therefore wonder if I could manage to get it through a 2’6″ door and down 4 stairs. I have until the end of the year to decide but would appreciate the wisdom of this forum’s experience.
Thanks in advance
Replies
I too have a basement shop and have a pretty hefty hybrid saw, but it wasn't that difficult to get downstairs. I think most hybrids and cabinet saws come with the wings detached and the fence system off . The wings alone add a lot of beef to the saw so with those off it isn't to bad.
Take the saw out of the box before trying to get it downstairs and I would recommend at least two people and an appliance dolly to make life a little easier. 3 people would be ideal and just be prepared to take the rails off your steps so that when you get close to the bottom you can simply rotate the saw over to your basement floor.
Good luck!
Bio
Go for the cabinet saw...they're just plain built like a tank.
I have the Powermatic 66 (1995 version), and would not part with it (after 11 years beating and cursing a Craftsman contractor's saw). It weighs in the neighborhood of 500 pounds.
As the others say, you add the wings and fence system during assembly, so the cabinet with motor and trunnions isn't all that heavy. If you're adventurous, you could remove the motor, also.
Then all you would need is a case of adult beverages and a few young men with strong backs and weak minds.
kreuzie
I agree with Kreuzie. Have a Powermatic 66 that once lived in a basement down (an outside entrance 4.5'high x34" wide) 6 steps. Minus wings on a regular HD dolly, one "bump" at a time it slide right in with no problems.All by my lonesome and I'm a mid size guy. (of course I was a teeny bit nervous....) I could see it going a** over teakettle.
Did take three mostly lazy Allied Van people to get back out though :)
BB
I have to agree with kreuzie. Go for the cabinet saw. Upgrading from a contractor saw to the cabinet saw was one of my best upgrades. Getting it to the basement shop was easy. I paid the store I bought it from an extra $25 for a basement delivery. It was $25 delivery charge if they left it in the garage and $50 to the basement. What a no-brainer.
Bob T.
I have to agree with the others. I have had three Unisaws that have never let me down no matter what I have thrown at them.
As far as getting them to your workshop, two guys should have no problem getting it down. I have been in a wheel chair for over 20 years and crazy as it sounds, I have removed two of my Unisaws off of my lifted 4 wheel drive trucks and set them up by myself. Now that I am older and i think wiser, i ask for help to save my back. without the wings, fence and side table the saw is relatively small and narrow.
With the introduction of the new Unisaw, you should be able to find a good deal on a new last year model that would be close in price to a new hybrid saw.
Good luck...Larry
Larry,
I'm curious: if your three Unisaws have never let you down, why are you on your third?Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Get the cabinet saw. I got the grizzly 1023slx, and you can get that down the steps. It comes on a pallet and the wings are seperately boxed. You could further break it down to cut the weight and get it down the steps, but a couple of buddies and some beer and burgers and you won't have a problem getting it down the steps.
If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
If you've got 220v and are willing to spend $1k or so, skip the hybrid and get something like a Grizzly 1023SL or Shop Fox 1677 for very close to $1k....maybe $1.2k depending on options and sales. Not only is a more robust saw with more power than a hybrid, but the trunnions are easier to align, plus the top can be easily removed for easy transition into the basement. It'd likely be the last saw you own.
A cabinet saw would be great if you build a lot of cabinets...
For general woodworking projects including precise joinery I've been happy with my Powermatic 64A, now owned by Jet... with a woodworker II blade, I think it's still under 1k
Good luck!
Jim
With help from Knots members, I'll bet you can solve the basement problem.
I almost bought this saw, but then stumbled on a used Unisaw for $750.
View Image
[Edit: the supply is now gone 9/26/2008] It's on sale at Woodworker's Supply, drop-shipped directly from Steel City, for $1200. At least one Knots member has purchased, maybe he'll speak up. Look at the saw with the Catalog Number 035630DV
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 9/26/2008 10:13 am by forestgirl
The saw is no longer available at that price on their web site.
ASK
I also have a basement shop that is quite small. I have been looking around and read and heard good things about the craftsman hybrid saw. I have had it for about 3-4 months and have been very satisfied with it. It is about 200# lighter then the cabinet saw. It has the same trunnion and mechanism as the cabinet saw just a smaller motor. I was able to find it on Craigslist for almost half of what is would have cost new. I know it is not a unisaw but I have been very happy. Prior to that I used a craftsman contractor saw and feel the upgrade has really raised the quality of my work.
Londonlad,
I just bought a Grizzly 1023SLW, I put it in my basement shop by myself (I'm 52yo). I was not a real problem, I broke down the palletized shipment and took the tables, fence and accessories down seperately. The core of the saw itself weighs about 325lbs, I used a hand truck, strapped the saw to it and bumped it down the stairs one tread at a time. It would have been easier with a helper, but it was very doable by myself. The cabinet saw was worth every penny and I think a much better saw than a hybrid.
Just my 2 cents
I also have a basement shop. Mine is actually 1/2 above ground with about 7 steps directly to the outside. The previous owner of the house left a wooden ramp in the basement which was probably for bringing things to the basement. When I got my Delta Hybrid I slid the box down the ramp with no problem.
ASK
I am surprised that no one has mentioned the riving knife. If I were getting a good saw, that is one thing I would want. Several of the newer saws have that feature built in. I know Grizzly has one and also Powermatic. I have the PM 66 which is six hundred pounds, that I moved down 1 1/2 stories in three or four boxes. Didn't think a thing about it. I do have a dolly but am also 75 years young. When I moved it to the new shop, I left it intact and hauled it up there with the tractor scoop. If I were getting a new one, I wouldn't consider the PM 66, I would get the PM 2000 with the riving knife or the Saw Stop which has even more safety features.
Edited 9/26/2008 11:54 pm ET by Tinkerer3
Edited 9/26/2008 11:54 pm ET by Tinkerer3
Edited 9/26/2008 11:56 pm ET by Tinkerer3
There are allot of posts here, I have not read all so forgive if mine is deja vu.
>Granite
Granite top. Does the thicker top deduce your actual amount of saw blade above the table at max height?
Keep in mind cast iron top is handy to attach magnetic base tools: dial indicators, feather boards with magnetic base.
I have drilled and tapped my table saw table in places to allow bolting accessories directly to the iron top. Can epoxy threaded inserts into drilled granite but not quick to do.
what color is the granite? I can draw pencil lines on my table saw top. Pencil lines on some granite would not show up.
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