Which saw in the $800-1500 range?

Tom – for $1,500 you can get yourself a nice cabinet saw (if you’ve got 220v power available). Personally I’ve never owned a cabinetsaw, don’t have the room for one. I’ve got a Bosch 4000 contractor’s saw with the portable cart thing, I think they call it the easy lift system or something like that. It cost me about $600-$650 a couple years ago. It’s perfect for me. It’s big enough to be respectable but the cart makes it very portable and it easily folds up to get it out of the way when it needs to be. The top is 29” wide and extends out to 40” and is very sturdy. The fence is accurate and solid. My only issue is that the arbor isn’t quite long enough for dado stack over 1/2”. I can get a 3/4” stack in there but have to do it without the outboard washer which does not give me a warm fuzzy feeling so it’s not something I’m in the habit of doing.

-- I've cut that board three times and it's still too short!

One option…. I’ve had good experience with this one and the mags have rated it pretty well also: http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00922124000P?keyword=table+saw

Currently $1,099.99

Unless you don’t want another used saw, you should be able to find a nice used Unisaw in that range.

-Rocko

-- -> Malta, IL www.flickr.com/rockomccombs -<

Tom, For most of us the table saw is the center piece of the shop. No matter which you wind up with there will always be a better one to dream of. I would suggest that you spend all you dare on the saw and wait on other things. I have a book, written in 1972 by R. J. DeChristoforo, called”The Complete Book of Power Tools”. DeCris can show you things to do with a table saw that you never dreamed of. He was the Tage Frid of power tools. I run a 10” Jet cabinet saw. I just walked in from ripping Red Oak face frames like butter. To do good work you need power, accuracy and dependablity. Don’t skimp or you’ll regret it.

-- Thos. Angle

My 2 cents….
I have the BOSCH and its a great saw, but the fence is too limited (26” to the right), plus it has limited power when ripping some larger hardwoods. For 1500 or less you can get one of the “hybred” style of saws. They are step up in power, fence and table from the contractor saws plus are fully enclosed for better dust collection. All the big players are making them (Delta, General International, Steel City, Jet, Grizzley) and from what I have been reading in all the tool review mags they are all a good buy. Some rate better than others in differant comparison catagories, but overall they are all a step up from contractor style saws, without the size and cost of a full cabinet saw. I am going to upgrade myself, and I am leaning twords the Gen. Intl. with a 50” biesmeyer style fence, digital read out for blade angle…oh yes and another great feature of the hybreds is that they come wired for 110V. The GI you can re wire if you want to run it 220V wich is a great option.

-- David, South Windsor, CT "I love the smell of sawdust in the morning"

Ill sell you a brand new 220v 3 horse X5 unisaw delivered for 1600 with a $100 rebate you can still use… PM me if you are interested…

Drew

I am getting a sawstop… if it saves me 99% of the time that is 99 times as safe as a Unisaw…

-- Drew, Pleasant Grove, Utah

I’m very happy with my General International saw Model 50-220C M1.
Don’t forget to set aside a couple of bucks for a couple of good blades.

-- Che.

I would suggest that you look around for a good 3 hp cabinet saw. A couple months ago, I bought a 3hp Jet for $800 ( cost twice or more if new). It runs great, passed the nickel test right off with no adjustments, and cuts oak like paper. I have seen a number of 3hp cabinet saws for sale over the past few months. Shop around. Good luck.