Table Saw search

Grizzly.com the G0715P for $850. It is a hybrid cabinet saw.

In my shop:

M

-- Madmark - Madmark2150@yahoo.com Wiretreefarm.com

If you have the space, $600-700 will buy you a lot of saw on the used market. Older industrial grade saws can often be found on auctions or the ubiquitous unisaw or Powermatic 66 can be found on craigslist almost anywhere. After getting them set up and tuned in your home shop you will be amazed at how quality these machines are, even after 40+ years of life.

About two years ago I upgraded from a Rockwell contractor saw to this Powermatic 72 (for all the same reasons you mentioned). I paid something right around your price range. The upgrade was enormous. Sometimes I still get a big stupid grin on my face when I use it.

-- This is not the signature line you are looking for.

LOL – Here we go again!

Cheers,
Brad

-- Brad in FL - To be old and wise, you must first be young and stupid

Hey Bill,
I recently went through this, about four months ago or so, all that can be seen here.

I expanded my search out a little further distance wise than what I had initially planned and found a Powermatic PM66 for $500 but I did have to purchase rails (which i was able to find on craigslist) and a fence (that I bought new through a local retailer) I wound up driving 4 1/2 hours away to get it, but it was worth the drive. there have been a few PM66s come up on craigslist near me as of late that are the 5HP model and they are typically asking between 1250-1800, which is too much in my opinion. I am all in with a couple other parts (pulleys and a switch for the motor) at $900. I know that is a little more than you are wanting to spend, but 1 it may take a little while for you to find something really good near you, and my suggestion is that you wait a little longer till you can drop $800-1000, and when you find it, pull the trigger. it’ll be worth the wait, I promise!

Thats just my two cents, hope it helps.

-Ryan

-- I'm not addicted to buying tools or wood... I can stop any time I want!

In my shop:

- MadMark

-- It's nice!

The used market is hard to count on, but is always worth checking. You’d hate to pass up an amazing deal because you didn’t look! What’s your nearest city?

Of the R4512 at HD, Cman 21833 at Sears, and the Delta 36-725 at Lowes, I like the Delta….better fence IMO, better track record. The 21833 and R4512 had a history of alignment issues on several of the units….it’s allegedly been fixed, but is something I’d want to know about going in. All have steel wings and a split front rail, and all have built in wheels, a true riving knife, return privileges, and a warranty.

All of them will need proper setup and a good blade.

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

Used or new..used or new? Oh my, what to do?

I vote new just because I don’t like restoring machines.
My bet is Bill is in the same camp, after his multi-year fight with his Crapsman.

I am one of the lucky ones that got a good Rigid R4512, but to do it all over again, I’d probably vote for the G0715P.

-- Tsunami Guitars and Custom Woodworking, Cleveland, TN

Thank you for your replies. It looks to me that the Delta, if I went the cheaper route, would be the best bet. However, if I could save some more money, the Grizzly G0715P would be a better choice, or to look for a nice used table.

Thanks again.

-- Bill, Arizona

You have lots of options. What I will add is not a specific recommendation, but a general comment. I was like you last summer, had a very old Craftsman, and an option to get an even older, but more solid one. But due to low HP of both (3/4 HP) decided I didn’t want to invest in upgrades like a fence for either. And I became aware of modern safety features offered in newer saws.

While it was never my intention to get a new saw, I opted to get a new saw that was WAY more money than I started out thinking I was going to spend, when I thought a fence upgrade might be all I was going to get.

My point is simply that I do not regret it at all. After putting up with a small, inaccurate, and under powered TS for years, I had no idea how much nicer a good saw is to work with.

I encourage you to do what you can to get the highest quality TS you can within your limits of money or time to find a good used saw.

-- Clin

You have lots of options. What I will add is not a specific recommendation, but a general comment. I was like you last summer, had a very old Craftsman, and an option to get an even older, but more solid one. But due to low HP of both (3/4 HP) decided I didn t want to invest in upgrades like a fence for either. And I became aware of modern safety features offered in newer saws.

While it was never my intention to get a new saw, I opted to get a new saw that was WAY more money than I started out thinking I was going to spend, when I thought a fence upgrade might be all I was going to get.

My point is simply that I do not regret it at all. After putting up with a small, inaccurate, and under powered TS for years, I had no idea how much nicer a good saw is to work with.

I encourage you to do what you can to get the highest quality TS you can within your limits of money or time to find a good used saw.

- clin

Thanks. I have decided to save some more. But will keep my eyes open in case my budget set aside will get me something good.

-- Bill, Arizona

The saw itself is only 1/2 the equation. The fence & miter gauge are key components.

A great fence will bump up a mediocre saw more than a fancy /expensive saw will improve a crappy fence.

M

-- Madmark - Madmark2150@yahoo.com Wiretreefarm.com

hey, so I was looking at craigslist in Phoenix area, you got some good saws out there for under $1000, here are some of the better ones in my opinion.

1. Jet 3HP Right tilting This is a great saw, with a great fence, it is a right tilting arbor which was very common for the Jet saws. The right tilt is odd to get used to at first if you’ve never used one, but it fades quick, just don’t tilt the blade into your fence. This thing is a work horse. He has it listed for $900 and that is not a bad price, it is on craigslist though, so I’d offer less, if you can swing this the money for this saw go for it, I am sure it won’t be on there very long.

2. Craftsman Professional 22124 This is thought by many to be the last really good Craftsman saw made. No it doesn’t have a riving knife (but neither do any of the other saws on this list.) This is a really good saw, in fact I tried to buy one of these a couple different times and missed my window of opportunity. This saw has cabinet mounted trunions, and comes with one of the best fences made at the time. He is asking $750, I’d see if he’d take $550, but wouldn’t exceed $675. The downside here is that the saw is in Silver City, NM. may be worth the drive if you can get it for under $600 though.

3. Powermatic 64 This is a good contractor level saw, with a GREAT fence, and the fact that it comes with a mobile base and an over arm dust collection is an awesome bonus(if you have or plan to get a dust collector.) The downside on this one is the stamped steel wings, but it is still a good saw. He is asking $795, I’d offer $675 and see where the haggling took us.

4. Delta This is also a good saw, better than the delta you’d get from Lowes today. The fact that it has the Unifence is awesome. This has one of the best (and some would argue the best) fence ever made. I wouldn’t be scared of this one either.

These are my pics in the order I’d pick them, but again its only my 2 cents worth, and when you figure in the exchange rate my 2 cents may be absolutely worthless to you, anyways good luck!

!!BONUS ROUND!!

Also there is a PM66 with what looks like a 5HP single phase motor. This would actually be my first choice (this is the same saw I’ve got), but he has it listed at $1200. That saw is an absolute beast! If you could drop a little extra, (and get him down a couple hundred) you cannot get a much better saw. To buy the brand new version you’re gonna fork out around $4k. The only downside to this one is it looks like you may have to build or purchase the extension for the right side. If you buy it, its big bucks from powermatic, and if you build it, it will cost you not just $$ but time, so if he doesn’t have it use that as a bargaining chip to your favor.

-Ryan

-- I'm not addicted to buying tools or wood... I can stop any time I want!

You do have lots of decent choices in used saws in your area. Do you have 220v?

You also have one of the best blade sharpeners around…Scott Whiting is in Glendale, AZ (blades are another key element in the overall performance of a saw) ....look him up when the time comes.

In addition to some of the nice saws that Duffman listed, here’s what looks to be a Delta 36-714 hybrid. It’s not well described or displayed in the CL listing, but is a fair price on a decent saw with a solid Delta T2 fence, solid cast wings, and a full enclosure. http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/tls/5389957320.html
Here’s a pic of what it’s supposed to look like:

Here’s another really good saw that’s poorly listed, and I think they’ve given the wrong model #...it’s also overpriced, but a reasonable offer cant’ hurt. I suspect it’s a General International model 50-185 LM1 contractor – left tilt, General T-fence (aka Biesemeyer), solid cast wings, cast iron router table, mobile base, and claims of a expensive new blade. It’s from the same factory as the PM64 shown above. The asking price of $750 was the base price of the saw when new, so it’s steep for used. I’d think $600 is a fair offer if it checks out.
There’s actually another listing of the same saw…it’s also overpriced but is a good saw and worth a look and/or an offer IMO – http://prescott.craigslist.org/tls/5409368315.html
Here’s a better pic of the same model:

This Craftsman 22114 was the little brother of the 22124 Duffman listed above. It has the same cabinet mounted trunnions under the hood, 12” solid cast wings, left tilt, 3/4 enclosure, plus they’ve added a really nice Vega fence, and a mobile base. Nice saw, great price @ $350.

There are also some older Ridgid and Craftsman contractor saws that are solid saws that are as good or better than the new $500-$600 saws….like most used saws they’ll have splitters instead of riving knives, and often outboard motors, and there’s no warranty, but they do leave money for better blades, wood, and others stuff.
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/tls/5389682725.html
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/tls/5418600029.html
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/tls/5398685685.html
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/tls/5397132798.html
http://prescott.craigslist.org/tls/5400722271.html
http://tucson.craigslist.org/gms/5412219198.html
http://prescott.craigslist.org/tls/5435930045.html

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

If you’re building speakers you’re cutting primarily thin plywood, right?

Then you don’t need a cabinet saw.

A decent contractor saw with a decent fence will suffice.

-- Everything is a prototype thats why its one of a kind!!

If you re building speakers you re cutting primarily thin plywood, right?

Then you don t need a cabinet saw.

A decent contractor saw with a decent fence will suffice.

- rwe2156

Up to this point, I have built mostly with 3/4 inch MDF and then cover it with a real wood veneer.

In answer to a previous question, I am currently not set up with 220 in my work area. Even without the question of the table saw, I will be looking into taking care of that. There are enough other things that I do where having that available would be helpful.

-- Bill, Arizona