Replies

1. 
   steelheader | Mar 22, 2005 11:19pm | #1

   http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-knots&msg=22448.1

   craftman 22124

   If you have not already, this is another to consider in that price range. The link above is to one of the many recent discussions.

2. 
   Kent_F | Mar 23, 2005 12:51am | #2

   Last I checked, Wilke doesn't carry the General contractor's saws. They do sell their own Bridgewood TSC-10CL, which is very similar to the General 50-185, but I think it's only available with a 30" fence.

3. 
   daveinnh | Mar 23, 2005 05:01am | #3

   Chuck:

   I bought a Unisaw at a CT wood show last spring at a very good show price from Eric Savelle (sp?) and stored it in a friend's garage.  After opening & assembling in October only to find the order had a Biesemeyer rail for the Unifence (preferred), Eric's folks exchanged it and paid for shipping!! - 2 thumbs up. (as the name suggests, I live in NH).

   On a second note, I found a used DJ-20 here on the "for sale" portion of Taunton's site in RI.  10" cabinet saws go fastttttt.

   dave

    

4. 
   forestgirl | Mar 23, 2005 07:04am | #4

   No reason you can't make a cabinet saw mobile.  Sounds like your into the WWing for the long haul, and with those cabinets being a major portion of your project list, a hefty saw would be an advantage.  Usually, the Grizzly 1023 is a good option when it comes to an "affordable" cabinet saw, but by the time you add the 52" fence to it, it gets up there in price.  Based on early reports for that higher-end Sears saw, it might be worth considering.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

5. 
   lumberjacksson | Mar 23, 2005 06:16pm | #5

   I have the General International with the 52" Rails and a beis fence.  It is an excellent option for that price range.  I've got mine on a mobile cart in my garage and the whole thing came to $1050 canadian.

    

   Best of luck,

   Andy

6. 
   woodensplinter | Mar 24, 2005 06:25am | #6

   Can't go wrong with the GI contractor saw.  I've used the right tilt model for four years now and am more than satisfied with it.  It seems to have lots of power (mines on 110 volts) without tripping breakers.  Right now I can't go 220 volt so a cabinet saw is out of the question.  With the saw I have, I don't feel any need to upgrade in the future.

   With the long rails, you will need to make an extension table to support your stock.  With 1/2 - /4 inch stock I didn't have a problem but thinner stock sometimes wanted to sag and slip under the fence.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 3/23/2005 11:29 pm ET by wooden splinter

1. 
   WoodChuck34 | Mar 24, 2005 03:48pm | #7

   Thanks everyone for the comments and suggestions.  After I got the final shipping charges for the General, it didn't make it worth it.   I went with the Delta 36-682XL and got it from my local Woodcraft.  I always prefer to buy local when I can and they have given me good service over the years.  Placed the order yesterday, they said I should be able to pick it up in about a week and a half.

    

   Chuck

1. 
   woodensplinter | Mar 24, 2005 04:01pm | #8

   Good for you.  I've had good success with Delta products.  Hope it's everything you wished for and more.

1. 
   tmaxxx | Mar 24, 2005 05:26pm | #9

   i walked in to the tool store to buy the new big bad delta and for the same price walked out with the general international ts, bandsaw and jointer and have not regreted it for 1 moment.  i have to say,  the day i got it home i was so excited, then i tried to assemble it with there really poor instructions.   man i was choked. then i turned it on.  SWEEEEEEEEEET.  once its adjusted its nice.  

   to save some money you can buy the shorter fence system, then go buy the same size of steel rails from a supplier and make your own long ones.  the up grade cost me about 50 bucks. that was for the steel and to have them powder coated.

   cheers and happy hunting.Tmaxxx

   Urban Workshop Ltd

   Vancouver B.C.

    Now when i nod my head, you hit it.

1. 
   woodensplinter | Mar 26, 2005 06:00am | #16

   Cool

   Good for you, too bad for me.

   I'm jealous.

2. 
   mvbailey | Mar 24, 2005 08:21pm | #13

   I was doing a little research myself on which one to buy...  Dont forget to get your free stuff...  goto deltawoodworking.com and click on promotions...  Purchase a 10" CONTRACTOR'S SAW¯ (Model 36-680, 36-681 or 36-682) and receive a FREE Model 34-183 Tenoning Jig, Model 35-535 Dado Blade or Model 50-286 Mobile Base from January 1 - March 31, 2005. Offer valid for U.S. residents only. Offer void where prohibited by law. All claims must be postmarked no later than April 15, 2005. Please allow 6-8 weeks for processing and shipping.

   Seems like an added bonus?!

1. 
   WoodChuck34 | Mar 24, 2005 08:38pm | #14

   I did see that and unfortunately/fortunately I already have those accessories.  I figure I will sell them at a discount and my saw will be that much cheaper.  Would have rather had that $100 Rebate they're running on the X5's though.  Too bad none of the X5 saws in my price range don't come with a 50" or 52" fence.

    

   Chuck

7. 
   mvac | Mar 24, 2005 07:03pm | #10

   Chuck,

   Since you specifically mentioned Wilke and are close to them (I have 3 brothers in Lancaster, btw), you should know there's been a lot of discussion about them, regarding both customer service orientation and shipping costs, the latter probably being unimportant to you. Some folks think Wilke and there machines are great; others think they're showroom sales staff are inattentive; some think they're phone CS is pretty good, others not.  You can go to the bottom of the list of threads on the left here, enter Wilke in the search box, and come up with lots of stuff. I've listed the 5 most recent threads. Even though some subjects regard specific machines (I think one thread specifically concerns the one you're considering), they all contain messages regarding Wilke quality, CS and/or shipping cost, so it might be helpful to spend 10-15 minutes perusing them. Most threads contain about 15 messages, the Wilke thread might have more.

   http://forums.taunton.com/n/main.asp?qu=Wilke&webtag=tp-knots&ctx=search&cl=632359&af=10000&o=relevance&be=0

    

   http://forums.taunton.com/n/main.asp?qu=Wilke&webtag=tp-knots&ctx=search&cl=632359&af=10000&o=relevance&be=0

    

   http://forums.taunton.com/n/main.asp?qu=Wilke&webtag=tp-knots&ctx=search&cl=632359&af=10000&o=relevance&be=0

    

   http://forums.taunton.com/n/main.asp?qu=Wilke&webtag=tp-knots&ctx=search&cl=632359&af=10000&o=relevance&be=0

    

   http://forums.taunton.com/n/main.asp?qu=Wilke&webtag=tp-knots&ctx=search&cl=632359&af=10000&o=relevance&be=0

   Hope that helps,

   Mitch

   "I'm always humbled by how much I DON'T know..."

8. 
   Dustmight | Mar 24, 2005 07:03pm | #11

   Hi Chuck and welcome to the forum.  The 36-600 was my first TS too, and now I've been the happy owner of a GI 50-185M1 for two years.  Great saw....nothing but praise.  Most of the saws in this price range are pretty good.  It's mostly a matter of which features you want, and it sounds like you want a long railed Biesemeyer, which narrows it to a GI or Delta.  One plus with the GI's long rails is that the price only goes up a little (~ $20-$50)....others increase the price ~ $100.  You might also take a look at the 50-220CLM1 hybrid if there's a GI dealer near you. 

   The Bridgewood from Wilke is said to be a decent saw....similar to the GI, and about identical to the Grizzly.  It only comes with one cast iron wing, but offers machine pulleys and a link belt.  The last time I visited their website, I couldn't find the contractor saw. 

   Not sure if the Delta 36-682 comes with an extended rail option.  Amazon offers the PM64a with 50" for $869 delivered. 

   I don't think the 22124 offers extended rails yet, but it's a nice saw.  Really attractive if you can get the right price.  (<$750)

   Good luck and keep us posted!

   http://www.epinions.com/content_91326418564

    

    

    

1. 
   WoodChuck34 | Mar 24, 2005 07:25pm | #12

   I actually got good mileage out of my 36-600.  The only thing I really didn't like was the blade guard/splitter.  More dangerous in the saw in my opinion.  I'm looking for that to change with the new saw.

   I seriously considered the General, but Wilke, which is about 20 minutes from my house doesn't carry their contractor saws.  They do sell that Bridgewood model, but it does only come with a 30" fence, so that ruled it out in my book.  I'm tired of using my router to make dados in my cabinets.  Since I would have had to ship the General in from CT and pay for extra ship and liftgate service, all of a sudden it wasn't such a great deal.

   I almost pulled the trigger on that Powermatic, but the guy at Woodcraft told me that the big difference between the Deltas and the other models is the motor.  The Delta motors, at least on the saw I picked, is supposedly made here in the USA and is a 2 capacitor design.  He said its just a little better.  Since I didn't have access to touching the Powermatic, especially the fence, I felt more comfortable with the Biesmeyer.

   The other factor that put me over the top on the Delta, was I could buy it local.  Just makes me feel better to buy it from a store that I want to keep in business.

   Chuck

9. 
   JohnSprung | Mar 25, 2005 03:32am | #15

   Another thing to consider is a restored old machine.  Have a look at:

   http://www.oldwwmachines.com/

   There are guys whose hobby is fixing up a old machines.  Sometimes they sell one they've finished, and buy another to work on. 

    

   -- J.S.