Table Saw, Jointer and Dust Colloctor? Which one!

My vote would be
Best TS – Ridgid at Home Depot
Best Jointer – Don’t have a vote in the under $300 range.
Best DC – Delta 1.5HP 1 Micron, wait for a sale at Rockler

-- Paul, La Center, Washington

Well given the specs you state. I would suggest to following:

TS – Grizzly 10” cabinet saw. I think given the price point you would get the most features and a good saw. I just saw they are having 25% off some of them right now and their shipping is fast and fairly good price. http://www.grizzly.com/products/category.aspx?key=530000&special=1&pdf=25

Jointer – Tough one, I would suggest getting the Grizzly TS at 890 and xfer the 110 bucks to the jointer to give you more ability to buy a better one. As for 6” I had the Ridgid one and it was exceptional and with a 10% off Home Depot coupon isn’t bad price. Now I have an 8” Grizzly and dream to have a 12” or 16” hahaha.

Dust Collector – I have the Delta 50-760 http://www.amazon.com/DELTA-50-760-1-5HP-Vertical-Collector/dp/B00078V9KA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1255909417&sr=8-1
It is a good one in terms of specs. You can certainly get it around 350 including shipping (used to be even less) to which I again say take the 150 and put towards jointer. You may then be able get an 8” (if space allows) or a really nice 6”.

One last question: do you have a planer? or not interested? I personally cannot imagine having a jointer and no planer but I only buy lumber in the rough. and truthfully it doesn’t take a ton of lumber purchasing to make the jointer and planer paid for in savings over buying S4S lumber. Just my thoughts good luck and enjoy.

Table saw Grizzly
jointer Grizzly
Not sure of dust collector in that price range.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

TS – Grizzly 1023 – $795 on sale now. THIS IS A HUGH DEAL
Jointer – Ridgid or Grizzly, but they are between $400 and $500.
DC – Grizzly

But Harbor Freight (I know, please don’t hate me) has a 2hp DC on sale for around $179, (about half price) which I believe is just as good as the Grizzly. I also think there is an ad in Wood Magazine (one of the mags) that knocks off another $40 or so. It’s got a 5 micron bag. At this price you can upgrade to a 1 micron at Penn plus get a Jet air filtration system (Model No. 708620B) for about $300. Or Grizzly G0572 Hanging Air Filter w/ Remote at $235 shipped.

-- david roberts, houston area, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but that has never been a problem for me."

TS Grizzly 1023 like is mentioned above.
Jointer. Under $300.00 is gonna be tough. Would have to say Central Machinery 30289. Wait for a sale, and use one of the 20% off coupons and you can get it down to around $200.00 even. Add a mobile base, and a set of carbide knives and you have a nice working jointer on the cheap.
Dust collector? Delta 50-760, fitted with a Wynn filter. Which means wait for a DEEP sale, or buy the Delta used. I have seen a couple of them recently on Craigslist for $300.00, which means you will have plenty left for the Wynn filter…

-- Trying to follow the example of the master.

Watch eBay and Craig’s list.

Best TS – Ridgid at Home Depot, it’s what I’ve had for a couple of years and it’s done everything I’ve asked of it.

Jointer – $300 is not alot to spend on a new jointer I have a Grizzly, G0452 6” Jointer
$435.00, and like it for a 6”. My advice would be to save you money and get a larger one with the longest bed possible. If you get a 6” you will very soon wish for a larger one trust me on that. And try to get one with a mobile base built in they are heavy tools.

Dust Collector – I have the Delta 50-760, it’s great.

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

If it were me, I would get the best for the $ off of CL. Personally I have a Ridgid and an older Craftsman, we build about 1 kitchen every 3 to 4 weeks so our saws are certainly used. The Ridgid could be had for less than 500 or 600. I will say that I am not a granite top fan though which the new Ridgid has. Towards the end of this year you will find good deals popping up with new models coming out and old models closing out. Recently last years Unisaw was closed out at 699.00. Cannot remember which web page though.

The Grizzly 1023 looks to be a good deal but I would want to get a bigger fence with around 45” or more cross cutting. I routinely will cross cut upwards to 42” or so.

I don’t use a jointer. We build all of our own doors, just built 30 doors in that last 3 days. I glue up panels fine with cuts from a sharp TS blade. We buy straight line and surfaced two sides (s3s?)

We use a 2 hp Grizzly dust collector. We bought that for 120 on CL. I think a good 2 hp whatever would be fine, Jet, Grizzly, Delta, etc… They can be a dime to a dozen on CL though. Certainly my vote is CL since we have gotten excellent deals that way, just being patient though. 1800 can get high quality and go a long way. Just recently I could have bought a Unisaw for 400.00 on CL but the timing was not good for us.

-- Jerry Nettrour

Don’t know where your located but Home Depot is discontinuing the 6 inch jointer. Here in the DFW area they go for $327. Plus a 10% coupon makes it $288. If your former military or reserve, guard or active military you get a 10% discount 365 days a year. Show your ID or DD214.

Dave

David, Go check out Craigslist and the classifieds. Seen an ad not to long ago where a guy was gitting rid of a whole shop full of tools for 2000.00. You can find some real nice used stuff for well under your budget.

-- Scott, South Carolina

It’s going to be tough to beat the Grizzly G1023SL for $795 ($889 to your door), but I think it’s most important that you get the one you like best…you’re the one who gets to use it.

DC is important but it’s an item I pay less attention to than a TS…any that’s capable of doing the task would work for me.

Are there any new stationary 6” jointers for $300 or less? Harbor Freight, clearance priced, or used are likely to be your choices. I would try to get a floor unit vs a benchtop.