Upgrade old ts3612 or buy used r4512 or delta 36-5100

First of all let me start off by saying that I’m a very biased owner of the RIDGID TS3612. If your scenario would be mine I’d keep the 3612 and upgrade the fence/rail. The 3612 was the last in a series of table saws that were “Built In USA” by Ridge Tool Co. All RIDGID table saws sold under the RIDGID Trademark after the TS3612, as the 4512 is, were and still are made by One World Technologies who also makes Ryobi products. The T3 would be a fairly inexpensive choice for a new fence/rail system and so, IMO, would be the Vega PRO 40 for some extra monies. The Vega would give you 10” extra inches of ripping capacity to the right of the blade than the T3 would.

My feelings are that the 4512 is nowhere near the quality level of the 3612 you already own. Yes, there are some design advantages with the 4512 but as you stated there are also some design disadvantages too. I have no knowledge of the Delta nor have I ever seen anything but a picture of one but I would have to question its quality level also. The current owners of Delta have in appearance at least seemed to have abandoned most of the higher quality level of the old Delta tool line, with the exception of the Unisaw, and concentrated on the lower level consumable tools.

I have the 4512, and do it again I would of went with the delta because of the fence, i use it all the time and used to it, I like it minus the fence, but weather you stay with your saw, or go to another saw you still will end up with the a saw and fence possible, with a good fence system is a must as your products become more complex.

Stick with the 3612. I have a similar saw w a t2 and it does everything a hobbyist needs to do. The 3612 carries a lifetime guaranty for manufacturing defects regardless of ownership.

-- there's a solution to every problem.......you just have to be willing to find it.