I would like to purchase a table saw for my shop. My shop is also my garage so it needs to be portable. I want a saw that’s useful. What would be the best solution, High end contractors saw or a cabinet saw? Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Clank
Replies
You really need to say what sort of work you intend to do, or people can only recommend the saws that fit their work. :)
...ditto....and a price range would be helpful, otherwise I might go off on a fantasy and buy my dream shop on your nickel!
Thanks, I'm stepping up from a small table top Sears saw. I'm not sure where I want my woodworking adventure to take me, but I don't want to be limited. For my first projects I would like to make book shelves and a desk.
My rule of thumb is to buy the best tool you can afford (and maybe add 10-15% to what you think you can afford!). If you can afford a cabinet saw, buy it & put it on rollers. If you can't afford a cabinet saw, buy a contractors saw, put it on rollers, and adjust it regularly. I can't think of a single project that you could not do on either saw. It just might be a bit more, um, tedious, on a contractor's saw since they tend to be a bit -- and only a bit -- less accurate than a cabinet saw.
Caveat: You'll end up buying hi-end fences, etc. for your contractor's saw to make it more accurate, so it'll end up costing almost as much as the cab saw anyway! <G>
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
Thanks, I agree I want to buy the best tool for the money. I have been looking at both the top end contractors saw and low to mid range cabnet saws. Any idea how hard it is to roll around a cabnet saw on a garage floor? My concern is that I have limited space, so I want the saw to easly movable.
There's a new Powermatic saw that has built-in casters that sit hidden within the cabinet. That might be interesting for you to look at. Don't discount the new (a couple years old?) Craftsman hybrid. There've been quite a few reports on the various forums from people who bought this saw and have been happy so far. I think at least one model comes with a Biesemeyer fence. It's a rare design (for a hybrid) in that it can be adjusted (blade to miter slot) like a cabinet saw is.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Thanks, I've seen the Sears model at our local Sears store. The salesperson knew very little about the table saws. I wasn't impressed with the fit of the cast iron extensions, but the display model may not have been properly set up. I'll do a search for the Powermatic Saw
Here's the link to one of the models in that line. I first read about the saw in Woodshop News, tried to get a look at it at the Portland Show, but there wasn't one there yet (I think it debuted in Las Vegas at the big show there).
Have no idea whether it has any quirks or drawbacks, but the built-in casters and the quick-release riving knife are major pluses, IMHO. [Note: they call it a riving knife; I can't tell from the pics whether it truly is -- it would need to move with the blade -- up and down -- to qualify.] You might have to post in a bunch of forums to find anyone who's bought one already.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Hiya Forestgir
On the other forum I frequent, there is a user who has received a PM2000 and done a very good job putting together a review with minimal / no bias.
I don't know the etiquette for cross publication / competitive forum postings or I would simply post the link. However, woodnet.net is the forum location. Do a user search on RSully. Very informative and useful, not to mention some really great photo's and assembly impression / information.
Looks like a very nice saw, but I'm content with my older vintage '66 :)
Cheers,
michael
For future ref, it's OK to post a link for a review (at least I've never heard anything to the contrary, and I've done it a few times probably).forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
"but I'm content with my older vintage '66 :) " OK, go ahead, rub it in!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Wasn't intended as a gloat Jamie ;)
I was simply fortunate to be in the right place, right time and got it for the right price. Couldn't pass it up. I upgraded from the Jet 1.5hp Gold Contractor saw with 30" rails.. that saw met my needs for a long time prior :)
Cab saws are workhorses, but I wish it didn't take up so much ROOM...
Ah well :)
cheers,
michael
Next week I should be taking delivery on a big old Powermatic bandsaw. 20", weighs almost half a ton, huge cast iron table and cast iron wheels. I'm paying less than I would for a tinny 14", so I'm starting to get that happy feeling you've got. :)My goal is for my work to outlast me. Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.
Ah. That is a fine machine indeed. Enjoy it :)
michael
I have taught woodworking in public high schools for 38 years so I have used several bandsaws. The saw that you mention is a fine machine for a commercial shop. However, If you are a part time woodworker in a rather small shop, as many of us are, I would suggect a 14 inch top of the line from Delta or Powermatic. If you are on a limited budget, you might do as I did and buy a Grizzley. You may have to tinker with them on occasion but I have found mine to be quite adequate for my work. I do a wide range of part time and hobby work.
My total price to get this saw is going to be about $750, including a handful of blades. It's in good working condition, and I've got the space and the power. So... why would I prefer a smaller saw? My intention is to use it for resawing veneer, and other normal bandsaw tasks. The 12" resaw opens up some interesting possibilities, like bandsaw boxes. The generous tilt (far enough both directions to cut dovetails) and large, stable table are also appealing, along with the low vibration that comes with its massive cast iron wheels.
I appreciate your vast experience, but it's hard to act on your advice without some of the reasoning behind it! Not arguing with you, really just wanting to understand what your ideas are! In fact I hope you reply soon, because I've got to make a final decision in the next couple days. :)My goal is for my work to outlast me. Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.
I also have the 14" Grizzly bandsaw and it has done well for my home hobby shop and projects but the one thing I have had problems with is the circle cutter attachment. Can't seem to get the point used for the radius center to lock true and tight thereby causing wander and misaligned circle diameters. Any suggestions?
I don't use circle cutting jigs. I just don't like the darn things. If I have a lot of circles to cut, I just make a template and trace around it.
I operate out of my garage and I would recommend that you go for a cabinet saw if your budget allows. The PM 2000 is what I plan to buy. It is impossible for me to get good dust collection from my contractor's saw with the motor hanging out of the back. The mobile base that I put under it leaves something to be desired too. The cabinet saw also has the HP (3-5) needed to cut any hardwood.
I saw that post Michael and have to agree that he did a great job with the pics and descriptions. It looks like a beautiful saw.
The Cabinet saw will move closer to the wall since the motor doesn't hang out the back like the contractor saws. Do you have 220v in your garage as you'll need it for a cabinet saw? If not, the Hybrid saws are an option. I haven't looked very closely at them but I'm sure you can run them on 110V - they are about 1.75 - 2 HP instead of 3, and the motor is inside the cabinet (similar to a cabinet saw).
I did wire the garage for 220 as well as make sure it was heated. Is it hard to manuver a cabnet saw on wheels with one person?<!----><!----><!---->
Shouldn't be too hard if you have a smooth floor - my cabinet saw is bolted to the floor so it doesn't move but I have a large planer that weighs 1000lbs with a built in mobile base that is surprisingly easy to move around. Cabinetsaws weigh in at 500 - 600 lbs.
If you get a good mobile base, it'll move pretty easily. I have a cabinet saw with 7' rails so my base also has the extension and I park mine against the side wall of my garage. I bought the Shop Fox because I can place the wheels where they're needed and the HTC, while it's a good base, has fixed wheel locations. I move my saw every time I need to use it and it's not inconvenient at all.
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
Before you jump to the TS, you might check out some of the comments on EZ Smart guide systems as well as the Festool. There have been a number of comments (check the archives) that one doesn't need a TS with the guide systems. EZ Smart has just the guide systems without the saws or routers (add your own) and Festool's system goes only with their tools. If I were starting over again and know what I know now, I would seriously consider only the guide systems. They take up less room, are portable, and do a nice job. That said I have one of them but find myself still using the TS, although I must admit that with more experience with the guide systems I may dump my TS.
Thanks, I was not aware of the EZ-Smart Guide System or the Festool guide. After some research on the net the EZ-Guide has my attention. I really like the price
About 3 years ago I purchased Rigid 10 in. contractor's saw from Home Depot. This is the same saw as was sold by Sears for years but has a much improved fence. It also has a belt of the type used in modern automotive applications . This provides for a much smoother (less vibrations) operation. I installed a pair of lawnmower wheels on the front legs to make it more portable. This is not a Unisaw but is a nice machine for the money.
I thought you were referring to a new machine.
Holy crap, no! No way I could afford that! Even today's less massive machines cost about $3K+ for a 20" machine. I figure, even if I eventually decide I want a smaller machine, I can sell this for the $750 and give the good deal to the next guy, and still have use of it for a few years.
Thanks for responding. If there was a good reason not to take this monster in, I'd rather have known it before it got moved!
Too much size and power in the hands of too little experience can sometimes be disastrous.
You are right. DAMHIKT.
I have wanted a big band saw for years having owned and rebuilt several 10" and 14" ers. I recently got the older Grizzly 16" model second hand and will probably have to tune it up some...you will never regret having that extra re-saw capacity...Bob
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