All Replies on Table Saw decision help

The 35925 has cabinet mounted trunnions and a one-piece cast blade shroud for an arbor carriage, and a riving knife, which are nice features for a hybrid saw. The fence isn’t great on this saw, having a two-piece front rail system, but it’s functional and if you’re handy the two piece rail can be replaced by a one piece steel tube stock from a steel supply house. It’s essentially the same saw as the former Ridgid R4511 in a full enclosure…Steel City/Orion made the R4516. The Craftsman 22116 is very similar to the 35925, but comes with an upgraded fence…also made by Steel City/Orion. I’ve seen the 22116 drop below $900 on several occasions…even as low as $700 once, but I wouldn’t count on that price.

Here’s a look at what’s under the hood of all three of the above mentioned saws:

By any chance do you have 220v? If so, I’d strongly consider the jump to a 3hp cabinet saw.

-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....

I don’t have any personal experience with Steel City, but that looks like a nice saw with a good list of features.

My biggest problem with the granite (besides the possibility of cracking it) is that you can’t use any magnetic jig fixtures or feather boards with it.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

I’m not sure if i have a 220v, and this is going to be my first saw. Eventually when i actually have a place to set up shop,I’ll get a big powermatic or something, but something like this kind of saw will be sufficient for now. Especially since i need it to be reasonably portable.

I’d listen to Scott he’s the saw expert

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

it looks like i can get the Craftsman for $850 and pick it up locally also.
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-professional-1-3-4-hp-premium-hybrid-10-34-table-saw-22116/p-00922116000P

but it doesn’t look like it comes with a mobile base, like the Steel City

http://www.toolking.com/steel-city-35925-10-inch-granite-cabinet-saw-with-30-inch-t-square-fence

But buying the craftsman and buying the base seperately may be cheaper.

Any other saws I could be looking at?

The Grizzly G0715P is worth a look too.

-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....

Scott is the table saw and blade guru :)...

-- Jeff,Tucson,Az.

So would the better choice be the craftsman because of the better fence?

Also, i was wondering about possibly upgrading the fence with an incra fence in the future. And if i can, would these saws still be a good choice?

Steel City is a renamed and badged Craftsman. They are both made in the same factory, only difference is the top and paint colors. I had a Craftsman and quickly sold it. The fence was crap, would not hold any adjustments. If I were to buy a new saw, which I wont, I would look at Powermatic or possibly the new unisaw. A good used saw may not be out of the question either. There are a lot of good deals to be had on CL as well as other online auction sites. I am partial to the old machines and will never go back. You should be able to pick up a decent PM or unisaw for well under your max budget and with a little elbow grease and time have a much better saw than you can buy new today

-- My job is to give my kids things to discuss with their therapist....medic20447@gmail.com

If i were to go get a powermatic, and spend half of my savings, it’s probably be worth it in the long run. My question on that is the powermatic im looking at has a 230 volt motor, would i have to install a new outlet that could handle that voltage, or is an ordinary outlet going to be enough to run it.

MedicKen – Was the fence you didn’t like on a 22116, or some other Craftsman model? The fence on the 22116 is a Biese clone.

-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....

I have the Ridgid R4511 version of that Steel City saw and while it does have wheels, I hardly view it as a mobile saw simply because it is so dang HEAVY. If your move from inside to outside is smooth concrete, you could probably make it work, but you might want to investigate a better mobile system.

That said, the saw is plenty capable and probably all the saw I’ll ever need as a weekend hobbyist.

-- If it ain't broke, take it apart and find out why

http://lumberjocks.com/reviews/1855

Just because a tool is made in the same factory as another tool doesn’t mean it is exactly the same quality. I worked for a Rubber company making hoses for a summer. If the hose was perfect we printed our name on it. If it had blemishes on it we buffed it with a sanding machine and printed another name on it. All from the same factory but different specifications. Keep that in mind. They all look the same but are they really?

I recently got the Ridgid R4512 I have not been able to use it for a whole lot but I do love it. The reviews for the Ridgid have been pretty good. I was able to get it for just at $500 (after the Harbor Freight 20% off coupon). The Ridgid also comes with a lifetime service agreement which is nice by no means is it a life time warranty but that is better then what other brands offer. With the money saved between the Ridgid and Craftsman you could easily pick up a new fence and or blade. The other good factor about the Ridgid is they are selling on CL for $200-300 so I figured should I out grow it quick I would be able to get back most of my money pretty easily.

Raydizzle…if you are going to run 220 VAC, you will need to run in a circuit with a new breaker and wire to handle the current. You will probably need a 30 A breaker.

-- Wayne - Plymouth MN

Well, I have made a decision. Because i’m going to keep it inside my house and use our large dining room as my shop, i’m most likely going to get the Ridgid R4512 tablesaw, and upgrade some things in the future if I see fit. Iv’e seen great feedback on the Ridgid and a1Jim also suggested it to me in my last thread post.