I have been doing woodworking and making furniture for 25 years. I recently completed a new shop and am aquiring some long wanted and overdue pieces of equipment. While I have been using a vintage circa 1964 Craftsman Radial arm saw forever, I now have the space for a cabinet saw. I have looked at and read almost every article I could find about the best cabinet saw. I have narrowed my choices to a Delta 36-845, 5hp, left tilt saw with extensions, outfeed table and Biesemeyer fence or a Powermatic model 66, 5hp, with extension, etc. I have heard not good things from other woodworkers about the Powermatic saws since being aquired by Jet. I understand that they are not what they used to be.
All in all, we are talking the same money for either unit. However, this is a once in a life time purchase and I’m after whatever is going to last, perform, and serve me well.
Does anyone have some good input as to which is the better choice and why?
Thank you,
Joe
Replies
Joe,
See "Table saw survey", below. I don't know where this Jet acquiring Powermatic nonsense is coming from. Both Jet and Powermatic are owned by the same holding company in Austria, but Jet doesn't own Powermatic any more than Powermatic owns Jet. The only real changes I know of have to do with improved quality of the PM Artisan line, which was rather poor for some time. Keep digging around until you're satisfied that you've found the best machine to meet your needs.
Jeff
Joe, the bottom line is that as long as you have your feet firmly planted on terra firma you have no need to buy a Hubble Telescope if you're only trying to see the moon.
Often the temptation is to buy the finest simply because you feel it will improve your skills. Rarely is this true and more often than not it ends in dissapointment.
With that said, the difference between Jet, Powermatic and Delta are so insignificant that to place one over the other would be ludicrous. I know others will gasp at that statement but if you take the "This one has this and that one has this" point of view you'll soon see that its all boils down to what you think you need and not a whole lot more.
Now I know this will drive you up the wall but my sugesstion is to check out the cheapo's also. You might just find that for a couple of hundred bucks you can do most anything that the folks whove invested 20,000.00 can.
Best of luck in your decision
Steve
Steve
Got a kick out of your post. Well said, well said indeed. Ha..
Joe, don't over-look the General left tilt and the Grizzly. If you've seen the General up close, you realize it's as good as anything from North America..
Think about what Steve said, they will all get you to the hardware store. If......... you know how to drive..grin<>
Much luck with your decision..
sarge..jt
I take it you've never used a $20 000 saw then. I used to use one when i was working in a cabinet shop, and while the results are almost identical, the way the saw feels when you are using it is different. It's like the difference between driving a honda or a ferrari. they'll both get you from point A to point B, but one gives you a much more enjoyable ride.
don't overlook the Canadian General. I have a 350 cabinet saw and i love it. you also might want to look at some of the euro saws and look around in the used market for a deal on some old piece of iron.
Why not the General 350 cabinet saw, you can have a 5 HP motor on that too!
Peter
I don't believe you are going to find much difference in the saws you mentioned. Which ever comes from the closest dealer that you want to deal with, or whichever will ship for less would be the deciding factors. If right-tilt and left-tilt don't matter to you then you only have to pick the color.
I agree with the others that there isn't enough difference between the saws you are looking at. The only reason I bought my 66 is because it was the only left tilt at the time. I've never bogged down my 3 hp either. I do prefer the Biesemeyer fence over the unifence and I've used both in my work. With a few jigs it's more verstile than the unifence. If I was to buy today I'd prefer a small slider but I probably go with the Jet left tilt or even consider the Grizzly as I think they make a left tilt now. I still might upgrade in the future. I'm amazed how some folks talk about it being their last time purchase. I've up graded and down graded many times over the years for space and lack of space. I've bought used equipment mainly and always got my money back or made money.
Rick
Edited 11/23/2002 3:18:59 PM ET by rsl
Joe,
I don't have a Ferrari but I do own a Honda. Though both get me from point A to point B I can still only drive 65 on the interstate. I had a Delta RT for several years and now have a General and Grizzly(left tilt) in my shop. I have been woodworking a couple of years longer than you and now know that while it was nice to have those who walked in my shop stand in awe of the RT I really didn't need the monster. I now have two great saws that meet every need I have and have ever had. Cabinetry and commissioned furniture work is all I do. The General is set up with a dado head and the Grizz is my single blade saw. ( I have more room than most) I bought the RT from a shop going out of business and when I sold it I actually made a couple of bucks. While the ego monster is fun to feed a saw that does what you want when you want is still all the saw you will ever need. Don't get caught up in feeding the monster.
JB
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