Nice Saw

Nice review. It definitely does look like a nice saw! I have been hearing good things about Steel City for a while now.

The Off switch is easy to find, but I always had it on the right hand side, so there is just a learning curve here. I just recently rewired my saw and, after much deliberation, ended up with the power switch mounted very similarly. My reasoning was that I usually support and feed stock with my right hand and the left hand is free to turn on the saw. Also, if something panicky happens, my right hand is usually holding or supporting the stock so the left hand would be free to shut things down. After a coupla weeks like this, I won’t ever go back!

-- "Find out what you cannot do and then go do it!"

Congratulations on the new addition. Sounds like a very nice replacement for your old Craftsman. Getting 400lbs of saw downstairs safely sounds like an impressive feat in itself. We will be looking forward to seeing your finished stained glass tray now…

-- A thing of beauty is a joy forever... - Keats

Looks like a very good investment , looks like a very well build table saw. Craftsman tools I dont even look at them

-- Woodworking what a way to relax

Great review! I personally believe that the power switch belongs right where they put it. You should not have to reach over the work piece you are machining to hit the power switch.

-- Dave Herron, Boise, ID -- “That which does not crash the browser, makes it stronger”

Yes, I agree the switch should be on the left. I am just not used to it there. I hope it to be a short learning curve.

(I was also hoping everyone forgot about that tray. Now I need to finish it.)

Actually from what I have heard, the new top of the line Craftsman was designed by the same guys that designed this saw. (?)

It is a left tilt saw.

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

I’ve got almost the same saw. I love it. I just don’t see why other saws are so expensive.

Congratulations on the saw and the review.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Thanks for the review. I have been looking at the Steel City line since I need to upgrade my saw. I appreciate the info.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

thanks for the review! that is a nice saw indeed. one of the few hybrids thats the trunion actually is connected to the cabinet which is a really nice thing. now if it had a riving knife – I’d get 2 of these tomorrow :)

-- My Drinking Club has a Woodworking Problem...

Hi Steve;

For not being a rocket surgeon, that was a great review!

May you have many great years and projects with your new toy / tool!

I don’t know if you considered this before buying the saw, but you will no longer be able to “blame the saw”.

I guess it’s worth it though.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

looks nice! i really like Steel City’s product (can’t say the same about them) but i think they have a great product out there and it is definitely one of the best!

Hey Purp, you can get this saw with a riving knife for about $200 more. Also you can get it with a granite top. This model costs $1050. The granite top sounded really cool, but I did not want to layout the extra money for it and I was worried that I would spend too much time worrying about scratching something so beautiful. I believe all saws will have to use a riving knife if the future as U.L. certification will require it.

I don’t know whether to call this a hybrid or cabinet saw. Steel City calls it a cabinet saw, FWW calls it a hybrid. I guess the motor size is a consideration, but you can also get it with a 3hp motor. Either way, it fits my needs.

Lee, thanks for the reverse motivation. I already feel the pressure to get time in the shop, but life keeps getting in the way. Maybe winter will bring some opportunity.

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

Crap SPalm – now I don’t have any excuses left – I gotta have me one of those.

It’s true – it is now a requirement of all new saws to be equipped with a riving knife! not sure why it took them so long, but I’m glad to see that they’ve finally put that on paper!

Enjoy your new toy, This one is definitely on the list as I don’t think I’ll ever need more than 1.75-2HP, and I like the fact that you can use it on ‘regular’ 110v circuits! that being said – do you run it on a 20Amp breaker? or 30amp?

-- My Drinking Club has a Woodworking Problem...

I am embarrased to say, but I have it on a 20 amp circuit with an extention cord. No problem. It starts up nice and smooth. I also have my 1.5hp bandsaw and 2hp sander on the same e-cord with good results (not at the same time), so maybe I just got lucky. But I know the circuit will trip because it did a lot when my old saw’s motor died. I am in the basement right near the circuit panel and I guess this can only help. I planning on a new wiring scheme soon. So much to do, so little time.

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

Hey SPalm,
Glad to read your favorable review—reinforces my decision to buy the SC 35670 saw. Yesterday I received the same model saw, also from Woodcraft. Have just gotten it unpacked and out of the crate and onto its mobile base and ready for assembly.

I had mine delivered with tailgate service and my first impression was, “Wow, nice protective packaging!!” I have never seen an item packaged in a steel cage like that. Most of the time you see wooden skids, lots of foam, and heavy cardboard. There were no signs of shipping damage, although one of the steel “feet” was bent slightly.

My wife and I were able to get the saw off the steel platform and onto the mobile base by ourselves using some 2×6 and 2×4 scraps. Pretty good feat for a couple of smallish, well over 60, grandparents.

I will finish assembling the saw today or tomorrow. Hopefully I will have the same luck as you with the alignment, and should be able to make a couple of test cuts by tomorrow or Friday.

-- JimJ - Oakton, VA

Steve,
My General has the same beismyer style fence with the glide foot at the rear. On mine that foot is adjustable to account for just this sort of issues. Does yours adjust?

-- Chris

Yes it is height adjustable, as is the front of the fence, so you can get it to just barely skim over the saw surface.

I guess I should not have put this down as a negative because it is no big deal, just different. But I always had a Biesemeyer before and it had plastic slide feet that rested on the top of saw, not on the rear fence rail. In retrospect after several years of using it, I did have shiny bar marks on my top where it had slid.

Have you had any problems with dirt/debris on the back rail or tried to attach an out-feed table?

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

I get some dust build up on the back rail but nothing major and have not built an outfeed table as yet.

-- Chris

Great deal! Did you have a left tilt saw before?

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

The rear guide business is a non issue – all the better fences are like this. Just allow a space for the out feed table. I did just fine.

-- Regards, Steve2

Hey Gary, the left tilt is new to me. I like the concept.

Thanks Molly. It seems to work just fine. I guess I just need to get out more often.

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

I have the Steel City 35675 which is the same saw except that it’s 3HP 220V only. It is an awesome saw. It’s the first cabinet saw I’ve owned. I had a Ryobi benchtop on a stand before but I’ve also used the Sawstop cabinet saw for awhile.

I will say that the Splitter/Guard assembly on the Sawstop was better. While the assembly on the SC is easy to take on and off, I didn’t feel it locked into place as well as the Sawstop. I really wish it was not one assembly, that they were separate pieces. That being said, I don’t use it anymore but instead have switched to a Leecraft zero clearance insert with the MicroJig splitter installed. I would prefer a riving knife but I was too impatient to wait.

All other aspects of the saw are excellent except for the dust collection. While the dust collector gets most of the chips, the power cord for the motor is pinned to the bottom of the cabinet where it slopes. This causes a lot of dust to build up and get trapped.

Perhaps I’ll repost this as a review with more info and pictures.

-- Jason Gerard, Jacksonville, FL

PSalm, I was researching SS website looking for an optional riving knife for the hybrid saw, but couldn’t find anything as you suggested. were you referring to after market riving knife? or did you actually get to choose an option from SS to have a riving knife on your saw?

-- My Drinking Club has a Woodworking Problem...

Hey Purp,

I have not seen it as an option or an upgrade. It is only available at time of purchase.

http://www.steelcitytoolworks.com/products_tools.cfm?section=2&category=12&tool=35900

1.75hp Cast Iron #35900
1.75hp Granite #35900G
3hp Cast Iron #35905
3hp Granite #35905G

Not sure if Woodcraft carries these yet (or will). But what do I know?

Steve

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

Cool, thanx for the link!

-- My Drinking Club has a Woodworking Problem...

Well I wish I found this forum site earlier. I have been hunting around to find out info on SC and their saws. I have just made the plunge to get the 35685, basically, the 35675 just with a 50” fence. Wood Craft had a great deal and at $1099.99 with an additional 10% off bringing it to $989.99. Too good to pass up since the Grizzly I was looking at was consistently going downhill and in weighs and balances were not going in their direction. I am excited to get the saw it should be here in about a week they had to order it so check back and I’ll have more info for others.