Which table saw to buy <$1000

I know that others on this site have had the Ridgid and been happy with it, but personally, I’d get as good a TS as you can afford. I had a General International granite topped TS and loved it. The granite doesn’t warp or rust, which depending on where you live, can be a big deal.
Another saw just under your $1000 mark:
http://general.ca/site_general/g_produits/saw/50-200r.html
Again, having had a General TS and several other of their tools, they make solid machines.

-- Rob, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

You can upgrade to a Delta T2 fence for ~ $155 shipped, and can probably sell the stock fence for $40-$75, so figure ~ $100 extra out of pocket. It’s worth noting that the 35990C does have cabinet mounted trunnions, but the trunnion design is different than that of the 35925 and Cman 22116, which have a one piece cast arbor carriage, and are more well proven. I can’t comment on granite from hands on experience, but a lot of owners really like it. Many of the breakage stories I’ve read pertained to the R4511, and were caused by double stacking during storage or abuse to floor models. I’ve read very few issues from actual owners that didn’t occur from shipping or abuse. Magnetic feather boards are definitely out with a granite top.

Don’t you just wish someone would step up and offer a nice cast iron saw with full yoke style cabinet trunnions with a cast one piece arbor carriage, a riving knife, a motor capable of running on 120v, and a decent steel t-square fence. It seems to me that there are a lot folks looking for something like that in the $600-$700 range.

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

I own the Jet ProShop table saw. It runs on 120 volts and has, IMO, an excellent fence. A cast iron table extension is available (which I have) but a cheaper stamped extension is also available.

In my opinion, it is a very good saw for the price. There are times when I wish I had more power, especially when using a dado set, but to get more power I have to cross over into 220 volts and spend a lot of money.

I like the fact that the motor is housed underneath the table top and does not take up extra space behind the saw.

You should plan on buying an miter from a third party (Osburne is the best), but that is true of virtually every table saw.

http://www.jettools.com/us/manufacturing/en/products.html?node=4654&category=7323

-- Rich, Cedar Rapids, IA - I'm a woodworker. I don't create beauty, I reveal it.

Granite is a really neat idea. I like the idea of never having to worry about rust. That being said, I will likely never own one because I dearly love my magnetic featherboards. I use them with literally every single cut and I personally would not consider a saw that does not have them.

My first saw was a Ridgid 3650 ( the model they made right before they tried doing granite tables) and it is a decent saw and definitely worth the 400 dollars I paid for mine new on clearance. That being said, the 4512 is a giant step backwards from even the 3650. I didn’t realize this till I saw one in person but the wings on the 4512 are just stamped sheet metal, not cast iron, and not granite. They did not under any circumstances look like they would be staying dead flat for long, not to mention the fact that they are a painted surface that is going to have wood rubbing across it every time they are being used. If I were you I would cross the Ridgid right off your list, it is at a serious disadvantage compared to the other saws you are looking at.

With a max price of 1k you can buy a Grizzly cabinet saw which in my mind is the superior tool because 1) it is a cabinet saw with heavy duty trunnions, etc and 2) it also has a cast iron top. The fence is definitely easily upgradable but you are probably not going to need to upgrade it because it comes with a nice biesemeyer clone. It comes wired for 220 but it is easily switchable to 120 and can be done in a matter of minutes (assuming you have an outlet that is carrying between 20 and 30 amps depending on the motor). Though you will probably want to leave it at 220 and consider just wiring a new outlet, which while more difficult (especially if you have drywall installed in your shop that you don’t want to run a conduit on the outside of) is also not the end of the world. The first time you do it you will be amazed you didn’t do it before, and will have a much wider field of machines available to you.

Linky to the grizzly saw: http://www.grizzly.com/products/10-Hybrid-Table-Saw-with-Riving-Knife-Polar-Bear-Series-/G0715P

If you really don’t want to buy the grizzly then I’d go with the Steel City 35925 over the crafstman, but only because I am biased against crafstman who change their saws around every year.

The jet and general are off my list at the moment because I am trying to stay under $800 before tax and shipping.

As for the grizzly g0715p, I am not considering because I am not willing to spend that much money on a saw with table mounted trunions. If it wasn’t for the granite top on the 35925 it would be the hands down choice so far….

At this point I think I am between the 2 steel city saws. With the ridgid and cman trailing behind.

Get a $500 Delta contractor saw and add a Biesmeyer fence, a nice thin kerf blade and zero clearance insert, link-twist belt, and if you still have extra $$$, build an outfeed table out of phenolic ply. This will probably be as good or better than a $1000 tablesaw.

-- 9 3/4 fingers remaining.

For hobbyist and DIY work (and beyond) you would be pleased with the R4512. I am enjoying mine immensely. I used it a couple of months before I just put the new Zero Clearance blade on it. It’s great. Dust collects good. Quiet. Nice fence. Has been powerful enough for everything I have run through it. I like the magnetic featherboard, too.

I almost got the granite version that this replaced. I am glad I did not. I like the magnetic stuff too much. This is belt drive, too so is very smooth.

-- If you're going to stir the pot, think BIG spoon or SMALL boat paddle. David Grimes, Georgia

FWIW, the Cman 22116 is made by Steel City/Orion and is essentially the same saw as the 35925 but with a fence upgrade.

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

The Cman 22116 is out of contention. I’d take the 5 year warranty and lesser fence of the SC 35925.

I keep changing my mind the more I look into things. But I think the top two contenders are now the SC 35990c and Ridgid R4512. I would love to have the 35925 but I just don’t think I can go with a granite top, Just wish they made a version with cast iron top.

I have not actually checked prices lately, but I think you can get a Jet ProShop for less than $800.

I know mine cost just over $800 with the extra cast iron extension.

-- Rich, Cedar Rapids, IA - I'm a woodworker. I don't create beauty, I reveal it.

I know a guy who puts out work WAY better than mine using a Rigid contractor. I was surprised to see it in his shop but he’s got it tweaked all the way. My lowly vintage JET is dialed in with an original fence. I think it was $200.

-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog

So, I made my mind up, kind of. Out of the table saws I listed I decided to go with the SC 35990c. I decided I do not want a granite top and I do not want to go with table mounted trunions.

However, the SC 35990c will run me about $700 shipped and another $200-300 to upgrade the fence.

Is there any other quality table saw out there that would be right around this total price($900-1000) shipped that has a cast iron top and wouldn’t require a fence upgrade?

“SC 35990c will run me about $700 shipped”

Where are you finding it that low? Cheapest I can find is $761 shipped from amazon.

I could be wrong but I thought the Grizzly G0715P had a pretty decent fence that would not need an upgrade…that’s sub $900 shipped (barely).

Lowes with 10% off coupon.

The grizzly is table mounted trunions. Not willing to pay that much for a saw unless its cabinet mounted.

It was only several months ago when I was trying to decide which saw to buy.

My decision to buy the R4512 was based on price (even though I was prepared to spend twice as much if needed), good fence that I would not have to upgrade from), belt drive (smooth and quiet), dust collection (4” bottom feed), and finally the Lifetime warranty.

I seriously doubt that the trunions being table mounted will come back to bite me in any way. In a sense, I will end up with the saw and the jointer planer for the price of some of the saws I was considering. I have had no regrets. Loving the use of the R4512 every single day.

-- If you're going to stir the pot, think BIG spoon or SMALL boat paddle. David Grimes, Georgia