I am just about to get a new saw

Ryan, 7 hours and already on page 4 of the Pulse list. That’s a lot of activity. Makes things easy to get lost. I’m sure somebody here can give you better information than I.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

I can’t speak for the 36-inch variety. I own a 52-inch saw and absolutely love it. It’s very stable, which helps someone who is in a learning curve most of the time. Good luck with your decision. Get the best one you can with the budget you’re working with.

-- Tom, Michigan ~ Working with a renewable resource called wood

There is a lot of very reliable choices out there. It’s tough to go wrong. Horse sense tells you bigger is better.
Check out right and left tilt threads here and there and try to decide what will fill your personal bill.
As far as brands are concerned the yare all pretty good. I would perhaps look at a Craftsman( Sears) last though.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Hopefully your car will break down before you get to the Sears store.. Consider that to be a sign for it not to happen.

There are lots of great saws. get a heavy one, because it cuts down on the vibration and they are more solidly built. (A generality, but check them out)

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

I would agree with the comment about Sears. They sell a lot of good things, table saws aren’t one of them. My saw is heavy and very stable, and not a Craftsman. Think about a mobile base when you decide. I didn’t get one originally, but added it later, so I could move it when needed.

-- Tom, Michigan ~ Working with a renewable resource called wood

You know there is one thing most woodworking sites have in common, and that is nobody likes or has a good word about Craftsman woodworking tools. Well I have spent a couple of thousand dollars on them and I am very pleased with how they perform. Are they Delta or Powermatic, no, but I have been able to build some nice things with them. Now on to your question about table saws. I would buy what you can aford and have the room for. The size you buy, should depend a great deal on what you are going to use it for. If you are cutting large sheets of plywood for most of your projects then get the 52” saw. If you are using mostly wood that is aready cut to demension ) 6”, 8”, etc) then go with the 36” saw. Good luck with whatever you purchase and update us on what you got.

-- Guy Kroll

I have a 32” General ; while I do have a two car garage for shop space / lawn equipment / sports equip. etc.. it would be difficult to move around a 52” variety. My view is that If you are planning on cutting sheet goods (sheets of plywood, etc) go for the 52”

-- Chris

20×24 is plenty big enough for a 52 inch wide saw. My wood shop is 16 by 24 and I run a Jet Exacta. Right tilt or left tilt is up to you. I use that big saw for a lot more than sawing. Get the best you can afford, it still won’t be too good. You will always want bigger and better

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

52 wide makes sense. You get more from your money at places like grizzly than sears. Sears is not bad, but the cost benefit is not there. Why pay more for less.

-- making sawdust....

I agree with 52”.

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

I held out and kept looking for a 52” as I have tons of room and wanted a high quality saw to build my shop around. I found a delta on craigs list and picked it up from there and I cannot tell you how much that saw is better than the (Cheaper ones) Buy once and buy quality!! you will not regret it.

you will have room for a saw this size in an area like that Consider putting the router in the extension.

-- Hope Never fails