Replies

1. 
   byhammerandhand | Nov 18, 2006 10:03pm | #1

   This article, http://toolsofthetrade.net/articles/showarticle.asp?articleID=2443&position=1&type=article&partID=1, showed up in today's mail.

2. 
   forestgirl | Nov 19, 2006 01:41am | #2

   Just out of curiosity, what's driving the hybrid choice?? Is it budget? Other considerations??

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   

1. 
   coureur | Nov 19, 2006 04:27pm | #7

   The price of the saw is the main consideration. I've survived for many years with an old Craftsman 1 hp saw so either of these saws would be a huge step up.

1. 
   forestgirl | Nov 19, 2006 06:20pm | #8

   I hope you get lots of feedback from users of the Craftsman.  I gave up on their power tools years ago, but this new saw has really caught us Craftsman-haters by surprise, and if I were looking for a new, affordable saw, I'd sure consider it.  If you wait until the sales line up (combining 10%-off coupon with in-store sales or whatever) you can really get a good deal on it.  forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

3. 
   forestgirl | Nov 19, 2006 01:55am | #3

   PS:  If you go to the various woodworking forums and search for posts on the Craftsman hybrid ("ZIP Code" saw), you'll find quite a few users who  have bought it and are so far reporting quite positively.  It is different from the Delta, IIRC, in that the adjustment for miter slot to blade (parallel) is done by moving the table, like a cabinet saw.  Most, if not all, of the other hybrids have blade workings attached to the table, and that adjustment is made by tapping the trunnions with a hammer and 2x4.  Oh, joy.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   

1. 
   cadiddlehopper | Nov 19, 2006 02:22am | #4

   I believe that Steel City has a hybrid with trunnions attached to the base also.Cadiddlehopper

1. 
   forestgirl | Nov 19, 2006 05:07am | #5

   I never got past their cabinet saw when I was at Sumner WWing a couple months ago!  Short on time, but that's good to know.  Between the mortiser I bought, and Sarge's report on the Steel City bandsaw he bought, I'm gaining confidence in the company!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

4. 
   KelsoChris | Nov 19, 2006 07:16am | #6

   I moved up to the Craftsman 22124 from a contractor saw and am very pleased so far.  I have woked on both a Powermatic 66 and a Delta Unisaw in the past and while the 22124 isn't quite the same as those classics it has worked great in my shop for a year.  Assembly is easy and my saw literally needed no adjustment out of the box. The deciding factor was local availability, in this area I have to drive two hours to even look at a high end Delta.

5. 
   Knotscott | Nov 19, 2006 08:06pm | #9

   I've had the 22124 for over 18 months now and have been very pleased...I've read alot of positives from other owners who report similar experiences with it. It replaced an excellent GI contractor saw and offers alot of feature and functional advantages. It's cut everything I've tried with ease, including 3" hard maple. At 425#, it's rock solid too.

   Hybrids in general have several advantages over traditional contractor saws with no significant downside. The 22124 has cabinet mounted trunnions which are a snap to adjust and add alot of mass and stability. The Delta seems to be fine, but I know of no real advantages it has over the 22124 unless you find one on sale locally. If you have an issue with Sears, the 22124 is made by Orion who also makes the Steel City hybrid, so you could always check that one out too.

   That said, at full retail, some of the better hybrids approach the cost of an entry level 3hp cabinet saw like a Grizzly 1023. The 22124 is a nice hybrid but is simply not as substantially built as the full commercial grade cabinet saw. If you have 220v, and $200-$300 extra for a saw, the Griz is a more robust machine. Sale prices on the 22124 can bring it down near or below $800 though. I think Steel City is offering a rebate right now on their version.

   http://www.epinions.com/content_184778395268

   
   

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   Edited 11/19/2006 12:20 pm ET by Knotscott