craftsman table saw question

Truck it as most are quite heavy. Also look at how he used it. Was he a contractor or hobbiest? That should dictate how much use it got in it’s life so far. Also, take a frame square with you and check the fence for trueness. Sometimes they get warped from misuse. And I don’t mean trueness to the blade. I mean that the fence face is true along a straight edge.

You can also Google that model number and maybe find others for sale, for a price check.

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

Brian,

Where are you located? I sold a very similar saw about 2 years ago to a close friend. It had a $500 Inca LS Table Saw/Router Table fence system, a router table, a router, several blades, all of the Incra templates, Incra book and video, several other Incra accessories, a PALS alignment system, dust collection attachment, a couple of miter gauges, casters, etc. I sold it to him for $400.00. To make along story short, his divorce was final last month and he needs the money. I’m sure he would take $400 for it. He is located just north of Dallas, TX.

-- NorthWoodsMan

sadly, i’m nowhere near TX. I’m in NJ. Yours sounds way better than this one. :)

This one looks similar to mine, 315.228310, that I bought new 10 years ago for $450. With the higher number it is a later model. The saw basically works ok but the fence leaves a lot to be desired. The sheet metal support stand for the saw is a little flimsy. I have mine on a mobile base and bent the frame when one of the wheels snagged on the lip of the garage floor. To tell the truth, if I were to sell mine, I would love to be able to get $350 out of it.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

I am a a big fan of older Craftsman saws. Newer ones just cheapened things up unitl they no longer worked well. This one may not qualify as “older”. You’ll probably wanna be aware of this: Craftsman table saw problems

This and other discussions seem to indicate that the fence on this model is good. The fence is the single biggest failing on both old and new Craftsman saws.

A quick search at the sears site shows that parts and manuals are available. Download the manual and see how the saw is built. This is the old Emerson design for cast iron table and trunnion that has been around for about 50 years. Go out and look at it. If it has stamped steel extensions, it is definitely not worth $325 – cast iron is preferred. Check the bearings on the arbor and motor; they should turn freely and have no play (side-to-side motion on the arbor or motor shaft). Check the height and angle adjustments; they should move freely and smoothly with little effort. Check the main castings under the table, especially the semi-circular table brackets; cracked or broken is bad. Check alignment of the fence with the saw blade (lots of “how-tos” on the ‘net for this – Google is your friend).

If you are handy, none of these things may be deal killers, just points to bargain the price lower. I have replaced motor and arbor bearings, cleaned and lubed sticky adjustment mechanisms and you can even get complete trunnion assemblies from e-bay. If you want a complete working saw out of the gate, any of these are deal killers; the saw won’t work right until they are addressed.

All in all, $325 sounds a little steep unless it includes lotsa extras; I see better bargains on similar saws in my area all the time.

Good luck!

-- "Find out what you cannot do and then go do it!"

I sold my old one, it had a cast iron top with wings. Still pretty flimsy and the legs left a lot to be desired. I do not remember what model it was, but we bought it at auction for $100 and I just sold it last year for $100 so I was happy. I think that one was 1 hp though.

It also had a huge problem with the pulleys slipping off. I did everything I could think of, re-aligned the motor to the blade, replaced the keyways, tightened the set screws as much as I could and they still shifted and would come off.

Good luck.

-- Rich, WNY, www.nyrockingchairs.com

What about a Delta? Are they generally better? Saw someone near me selling a delta contractor (looking) saw with a 30” extension table for the same price as the craftsman. Seems better to me, but I don’t know the model number. Are there issues with the Delta table saws or are they generally reliable?

Rockwell and Delta 10” contractor saws are good. Stay away from Delta’s other smaller offerings.

Not sure how it is around your neck of the woods but around here Tablesaws are always being sold on CL. Patience will get you a good deal.

A 10” Contractor saw, to me, is worth about 250 if its in great shape, extra then add to the price. So a good fence + extensions + blades might be worth $350.

well i’m going to check it out. it’s at least worth a look. it’s the saw, the extension table, fence (standard and extended?), dado blade, extension table stands, and other miscellaneous stuff. that’s from the guy’s email. so i’ll be seeing it tomorrow and decide.

The price sounds a little high. If it looks decent when you see it, you can always offer less. It’s amazing how cash in hand and a willingness to walk away from the deal if it’s not a win-win helps in negotiations.

-- Jake http:/www.adirondackchairscentral.com

I bought one at a yard sale for $20. My son used it for a while and we gave it away. I have one from the ‘70’s. Fence was worn and would not true up. I replaced the fence with a Delta fence from Lowe’s for $150. Keep your eye out on CL. You can get a nice cabinet saw for a reasonable price or the Ridgid TS is a very nice saw for $549 at HD. Sometimes a $50 rebate. I’ve seen them on CL for $350. Some nice features on that saw. My son has one and I am impressed by it. Runs true, quiet, good dust collection with shop vac, nice rollaway dolly, nice fence.

-- John, Long Island, NY