Table saw ornew fence upgrade??
Hello,
I’m new to he forum and I am a very beginner. Have a ten year old craftsman table saw I bought new from Sears for $199. I just checked and it is now on sale (the only difference is that today it come switch casters and laser guide) for $249.
It is therefore an entry level table saw and I used it a few times to rip some 8’x4x3/4″ sheets of plywood. The fence it came with is not very accurate and if you use the lateral extensions, they are very unstable. Now, I need better accuracy, and this is where the stupid question comes: is it better to buy a nice fence and use it on this table (assuming I will be able to use it on my next table saw as well) or should I just go ahead and get a better table saw (better for me is the ridgid at Home Depot or the Porter-Cable at Lowes) and then, later on, get a better fence for that one?? I know the answer it easy, – get a new table saw – but the difference is spending $200 for a fence vs $5-600 for the new table saw….about $3-400…
Your advice and opinions are very much appreciated.
Thank you,
Paolo
Replies
First off, welcome to the forum......
There are a lot of variables in your question. What kind of projects are you doing now, and what interests you in the future? How comfortable are you with the saw you have now, or would you really rather have a different saw?
Adding a good fence is certainly a wise investment. Most saws of that era came with very weak fences and that, I believe, added a lot of frustration to beginning woodworkers. I endured the factory fence on my 90's era craftsman for far too long before replacing it with a Vega fence. Within an hour of installing that fence I was kicking myself for waiting so long. The good news is most currently available aftermarket fences will most likely be compatible with your next saw.
My vote.............upgrade the fence for now and start saving for your next saw. Keep an eye on Craigslist for deals that pop up pretty regular. There are also some folks on here that can help you with finding a vintage machine. Another great option.
If a lot of your work is cutting sheet goods, another option would be to shift that work to a good track saw (circular saw with a guide track), like the Festool TS55. Although pricey compared to other circular saws, it is "dead accurate" and a joy to use, particularly with their "dust extractor" (aka shop vac). I switched to this method a couple of years ago, and have been pleased with that decision.
For $200 you can find a decent used tablesaw on criagslist if you keep looking daily and jump on them fast. There are so many carpenters out of business that you only need to pay 25 cents on the dollar for a decent saw with cast iron top and a decent fence. Then I'd save for a really good fence and Forest blades.
I've been checking Craigslist
Uou're definitely hitting the nail on the head!! i've been checking Craigslist everyday and there are many good deals I would consider. The problem right now is that I don't have any vehicle I can use to haul stuff around (we have a sport car and a sedan) and I cannot go and pick up this kind of equipment, plus here in Houston distances are such that almost nobody is willing to haul stuff to the buyer. As soon as I get a vehicle that I can use to haul stuff around, I'll be shopping around on CL all the time. Thank you, Paolo
vehicles
" . . . a sport car and a sedan"
I have somewhat less-than-fond memories of moving shop machines in a Porsche 914 a few decades ago. (Some disassembly required.) Not sure I would have tried it in an MG or an Austin Healey, though. ;-)
Consider Lowes or Home Depot
They have flat bed trucks for rent by the hour. It is kind of pricey, but beats monthly psyments on a pickup.
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