Replies

1. 
   Dave45 | Apr 15, 2006 04:51am | #1

   General seems to have a good reputation so I wouldn't worry about it being made in Taiwan.  Make sure they offer a good warranty and their customer service is decent.

   I always get a laugh out of the worry about stuff being made overseas.  The Chinese and Taiwanese have manufacturing ability as good as anyone.  It's more about the specs they're working to than any defeciencies on their part.

2. 
   tmaxxx | Apr 15, 2006 07:37am | #2

   i have a few general international products.  table saw, jointer, band saw.  i have one size down from what your looking at.  the day i got it home i was so dissapointed on there instructions. they severely suck.  there own fence wouldnt fit the table without modifications and shimming.  the switch then had to be redrilled to mount it on too.

   then i turned it on.  ahh what a sweet sound.  its been flawless everyday. 

   i recently bought the 15 inch thickness planer.  the "professional techs" spent 8 hours and could not get it to perform better than my 13" portable delta.  so i returned it.  (somwhere theres a thread on that fiasco) 

   in short, im very happy with my 3 pieces.  and if ever i need to, there resale value is amazing.

   a note regarding there fence. the fence on the long and short units are the same so buy the small one, go to a metal supply place and buy the lengths you need to make your own long ones (you need 7'6" lengths) drill them and powder coat them.  i saved hundreds when i wanted to upgrade.

   Tmaxxx

   Urban Workshop Ltd

   Vancouver B.C.

   cheers.  Ill buy.

3. 
   KnotNow | Apr 16, 2006 07:06am | #3

   I have this saw, and am very happy with it. It has seen quite a bit of use, it is accurate right out of the box, and can cut anything I throw at it. I thought about the 2 vs 3hp but in the end, I am happy with the 2hp. I'd think about a better miter gauge though; the one it comes with is ok, but is only a basic one. Maybe a Kreg..

4. 
   Buster2000 | Apr 16, 2006 07:12pm | #4

   I've had the saw in my shop for a little over a year now.  Great saw, accurate.  General does a good job of quality control for their General International Unit.  I've run lots of wood over it without the machine bogging down (including 8/4 hard maple).

   I think you 'd be hard pressed to find a machine like this that is not made in Taiwan.  It seems only the bigger saws are made in North America.  The fence on the General 50-220C is made in Canada.