So im an amateur wood worker and for over a year ive been using my small jobsite craftsman tablesaw that has 2.7hp 120v 60hz 15amp. This table saw has done everything ive needed it to do it, it can rip down 2x4s without boging down and ive cut small ammounts of hardwood on it. My uncle recently gave me his delta shop master TS350 contractors table saw. Its a nicer biger saw with bigger rip capacity and a better fence system. I thought i got an upgrade but when i tried to do basic things like rip a 2×4 or even smaller pieces of wood it bogs down and cant get through it. Ive tried straightening out the fence and the blade, ive also tried a new blade that was supposed to be better at ripping but the table saw still sucks at cutting. I read somewhere online that this saw only has 1hp. Is there something im missing? Id really like to use this table saw but the small craftsman saw just prefirms so much better that its not worth it. Should i get a new motor for it? Thanks
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Here is my 2 cents worth. As your skills progress, you will eventually outgrow your Craftsman saw. If it safely does what you need it to, it doesn't suck. At some point you will want a saw that makes very fine cuts with little or no variation and allows you to cut square and straight through repeated operations. I ditched my first job site saw when I noticed I was spending more time setting up and creating scrap to get the tight fits I needed to make furniture. I went with a 1.75HP SawStop with T-Glide rails for accuracy. I have never regretted it.
BTW - 2.7 HP seems unrealistic for a 120V saw. Generally speaking, once you pass the 2 HP line you jump into the 220V world. There are a lot of things that can impact the ease with witch a saw handle 2x lumber. It may not be a HP issue, but the Delta TS35 is a 1HP tool.
Most universal motor tools state "peak HP" which is a measure of how much power it puts out as it is pushed to failure (stopping the tool by overloading it). This is like rating an athlete's ACL on the force it took to put the knee under the knife. The numbers are impressive, but useless.
Your TS350 should absolutely be able to rip a 2x4, especially with a brand new blade. Clearly there's something wrong.
One possibility is the saw is experiencing voltage drop. This happens when the circuit wiring that feeds the tool is too long or too fine a gauge or both. The saw starves for electricity when under load - like when ripping a 2x4.
A simple test for voltage drop is to plug the saw in as close to your home's main circuit panel as possible and with no extension cord. If you absolutely must use an extension cord, use a heavy gauge - like 12 gauge - and limit the length to 25 feet.
If the saw cuts okay, you've found the problem.
Mike
Contractor saws will get you through 90% of what you need to do as a furniture maker. But when you start working thick hardwoods it will become inevitable that you'll need a decent cabinetmaker's saw. I just sold my 5hp #66 Powermatic. Wish I hadn't because the deal I got on that saw won't happen again in my lifetime. That said, I'm looking at the new Powermatic and squirreling away the shekels.
As far as ripping two by material, you'll want to install a kerf guide-splitter behind the blade because two by material can move when divided and bog down your cut when the trapped piece twists against the fence and/or the back of the blade. Yikes! A kerf guide-splitter will prevent a possibly catastrophic situation.
The belt could be slipping, or a broken key on the shaft. Lots of things. But it should do a better job than the universal motor on your original saw.
It sounds like belt slippage if it were me Iwould replace the belts with link belts that you can buy at lee valley Ithink you will be surprised how much more power your saw has ,I have be using a delta saw with a 1.5 hp for years and can cut anything with it ,hope this helps.
That looks like one of those they call a contractors saw, but it’s really just a job site saw on a stand. So sad to see a Delta’s name on some of the stuff they put out these days.
Take a look but I’m betting there is no motor hanging off the back, IOW direct drive. If I’m right it’s little more than a circular saw motor.
The fence is horrible I wouldn’t use it even if the motor was ok.
Best stick with your C’man.
Thanks everyone for the feedback. Ill take it into consideration.
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