Table saw advice. General? Help me out
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Bare with me here. I realize this is a long post.
I’m not a professional woodworker. I’m a manufacturing supervisor by day and a guitar player by night with a mini home recording studio in my spare room. My only woodworking experience has been building sound proof 3/4 particle board boxes to enclose my guitar speaker cabinets for recording. The wood for these I had ripped at HD. Other minor tasks around the house have been done with my tiny cordless skill saw. I’m now wanting to build a couple more boxes and possibly a custom studio work station for my home studio gear. I got an impulse to buy a table saw. I am VERY limited in my woodworking experience but fairly handy. I just figured I would go out a buy a solid contractors table saw at HD or Lowe’s for a few hundred bucks and that would be it. I checked out HD and Lowe’s. Even with my lack of experience I was not impressed with the overall quality of the saws they carried (no offense intended to anyone who has bought from them). I’m not rich by any stretch but I do have a problem when it comes to tools only buying top of the line rather than budgeting and being practical with my money. I’m still single and have this luxury/curse. Because of this, I always find myself looking at DeWalt since this seems to be one of the only higher end power tool brands we are exposed to. After MUCH RESEARCH I have found that the General line of saws seem to have the right combination of quality and features I want (cast iron wings, left tilt, powerful enough motor to avoid too many limitations, quality fence, and safe). Based on this my research has landed at the General line of saws. I am looking at the 50-185(contractor $699), the new 220CLM(hybrid $879), and even the 260(cabinet $1295) leaning toward the 220 for the dust collection advantages of its cabinet design without the price of a full blown “cabinet” saw. I was lucky enough to find a General dealer 20 minutes away that actually has a showroom with all three saws I’m considering on display. I went over and checked them out and one of the sales guys took me on a tour of their whole showroom explaining how each machine worked as we went most of what he was saying going over my head. These were huge machines catering mostly to large shops with high end equipment. We ended the tour at the General saws. I was very impressed with the quality of all the saws but after hearing him explain all these different machines during our tour and how the General line is made with the professional woodworker in mind I left there thinking maybe it was too much saw for a beginner like myself. I’m just being honest. Is it a waste for someone like me to buy one these beautiful, quality saws that only gets used a couple times a year? Should I just go buy something a little more practical? I know only I can make this decision. I just wanted some input from the professionals point of view. Maybe someone that’s just going to cut particle board and maybe build some garage cabinets and and studio workstation does not need that level of quality? Maybe I’m finally starting to mature. Ask myself these questions in the past could have saved me thousands. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Sorry for the rant.
Replies
http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-tooltalk&msg=707.1
You might have seen this thread regarding the General 50-220 and what the manufacturer had to say about it.
Sounds like a good tool for you. If you get pro serious you can always upgrade.
Another aspect to consider is that you can always sell that saw if you feel like its being wasted. You'll appreciate using a better tool while you're doing your project and doubt you would lose too much when you sell. But you might like it so much you'll keep finding reasons to use it. Get the better fence, its worth it.
I don't know how complex your project is but another inexpensive saw to consider it the new Craftsman 92104. By all accounts its a decent hobbyist saw. Search archives for ways to stack discounts and it can be had for less than $500.
good luck
I bought a GI contractor's style saw about four years ago. I'm completely satisfied with it. I guess that, knowing what I know now, if I were to do it again, I would have to give the hybrid very serious consideration for the dust collection aspect. Am I sorry I purchased the saw I did? NOPE. Do I feel a need for more saw? NOPE. It's not likey that I'll ever "upgrade."
Just one thing, if you go for the hybrid, make sure you get the upgraded (bies clone) fence.
Good feedback guys. That article just confirmed what I already felt about General. Very honest about thier equipment. I was hoping to get a few more opinions. Anyone else have any thoughts. All opinions are welcome. Even if they are opinions about other saws. I want to make a decision on this over the weekend.
In that long initial rant, you didn't mention what kind of space you would be using the saw in. Do you have a workshop where you can plop down a tablesaw with a 4'X3' top and never have to move it? Will you be setting up in the backyard or driveway then breaking it all down? For occasional, short duration cutting of sheet goods, or common hard and softwoods, power is not going to be a big issue for you.
Also, if you are only ever going to be cutting rough boxes and some basic functional workbenches, you will not likely need a high level of precision from the saw. If you plan to move on to some finer woodworking, a more precise saw is a great idea. I am now looking to get a real table saw (for budget and time reasons I may be "looking" for a year or more). I have been using a $99 Delta worksite saw for all of my little home projects for several years now. Of course, it has major limitations, but it has gotten the job done and stores nicely under my workbench (it has been there about 99% of the time since I had kids.)
One big consideration is that cutting full size sheet goods on a table saw is a pain in the a## with anything less than a very large saw plus an outfeed support and a loyal assitant. I would first replace your cordless circular saw with a high quality one. You can get a standard circular saw and use any number of guides to make tablesaw quality cuts on full sheets. One popular option discussed heavily on another thread is the Fesstool plungesaw which claims to be a superior option to tablesaws for sheet goods.
It sound to me like a cabinet saw may not be the best choice for you. In the contractor's category, I would take a look at Grizzly. Their contractor's saw has gotten very good reviews. The only complaints would not be an issue unless you used it all the time in heavy professional use.
Anyway, just providing some devils advocate food for thought. Have fun.
Jeremy
Hi, Junior
The best way I would answer that question is to ask "Which is your favorite guitar that you own and why?"
I play a vintage Ovation Elite - much nicer than my skill level; but so is my cabinet saw.
regards,
Dan
As the others say, Grizzly and General are both good machines. So is the Sears hybrid from all reports. Power supply is another issue no one has yet mentioned. If you were to go with a cabinet say you will need a 220 outlet.
My feelings are, Get a good solid saw YOU like. It is cheaper in the long run to get one a bit better than you need, as you may find you like woodworking and want to move to other items to build - in which case you wont have to upgrade. If you are like most of us, space is a consideration, so make sure you get a mobile base for whatever saw you get. If you can, get a 220 line anyway, a lot of the saws can be rewired to run on 220 and will last longer if done so.
Good luck, post what you do and let us know
Rick
building sound proof 3/4 particle board boxes to enclose my guitar speaker cabinets..
LOL I am sorry.. BUT building sound proof speaker cabinets.. How you hear the music then?
VERY limited in my woodworking experience but fairly handy.. Ya 99% there.. Just keep them hands safe.. Hard to play without fingers.. AND eye protection!
rather than budgeting and being practical with my money.. Again 99% there..
General is a GOOD TOOL! SO is Grizzly. and many others..
I have been working with wood for MANY years. Probably as long or longer than you have been alive.
IF YOU HAVE THE MONEY get the BEST.. If not.. Most saws will 'DO'
I built built a whole house with a Ryobi saw that most folks thought/said was junk.. As I remember it cost me about $200.00.. Who is the winner? And just one new blade??? So I'm the stupid one??..
contractors table saw.. I had a PRO-TECK or something like that.. From a BIG Box..
Nice saw.. For the money..
Well, I would go for ther General you can afford.. If you are serious about wood.. Get the BEST General you can afford! You can't go wrong with that saw..
Just me though.. I do NOT have a General BUT have used them..
More than just a good saw.. They are great!
The Grizz is more than OK to me.. I had one and loved it..
Edited 5/1/2005 9:43 am ET by Will George
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