Best Table Saw w/Riving Knife $1000-$1700?

Damian,

You may also want to check out Delta’s totally redesigned Unisaw. They unvailed it last week at the IWF in Atlanta. It comes with some great features like a riving knife. Not sure if cost has been published yet and whether it falls into the upper end of your range. If you subscribe to FWW.com they did a video on it. Happy hunting.

-- Brian, Folsom, CA http://www.brianfullerdesigns.com

I have a Jet Deluxe Xacta saw 3HP 50 inch fence and I love it. I think its more than you want to spend but to me 1.75HP isnt enough for a cabinet saw

http://www.amazon.com/Jet-708675PK-XACTASAW-Deluxe-Fence/dp/B000WO4HUI

What ever you choose, go for weight AND power. 3hp at least and as much fence as you can afford. I’ve got my old Powermatic 66 on HTC wheels and also has the flip up out-feed rollers by same. It also has a 72” rail. I suffered with a Crapsman contractor saw for years. I should’ve spent the money years ago as my woodworking has improved and been so much pleasurable since getting the cabinet saw.

As mentioned, the NEW Unisaw is pretty sweet too.

always,
J.C.

-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein

The three I posted are all 3hp (I linked to the wrong Steel City model) and all weighing in at about 475-500lb so there isn’t much in it really. Not sure how to decide. I did see the new Unisaw and it looks great, isn’t available right now though.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

The XACTA is a great looking saw, but yeah a little rich for my blood :)

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

The Laguna looks like the best finished of the three you are looking at. And their warehouse is near you so you can avoid shipping charges if you have a strong friend or two and a pickup. I live on the east coast and shipping would have cost me nearly $400. So I got a Deluxe Xacta locally when it was on sale.
Cost-wise I think the Steel City makes the most sense, but go look at the Laguna and the Steel City saws. Call Grizzly’s tech support and ask questions. Then go for it.

I spoke to the guy at Laguna this afternoon but was put off a bit by the fact that on the $1600 one the riving knife is fixed and doesn’t move up and down with the blade (y’know like a riving knife is supposed to do) the $1995 one does but that’s going out of my price point. Shipping on the Laguna is about the same as for the Grizzly ($170) but then there is sales tax to consider as well.

Ramon, why wouldn’t you go with the Grizzly?

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

Looks like the Grizzly has a lot to offer…I can’t believe that it comes with an outfeed table as well : )

I don’t care for the Steel City model , the way they have positioned the motor and how frustrating it must be to adjust the tilt with the wheel out behind the power switch like that : (

Of course the Laguna model looks sweet if you want to spend the extra money for the movable riving knife .

Personally , I have the JET left tilt Xacta saw and it is one awesome machine , however I see they have improved the dust collection since I bought mine about four years ago : ) and also redesigned the cabinet . Mine also came with an extension table with an Xacta router lift and Bosch VS router thrown in for good measure : ) the Xacta T fence is also awesome …..Have fun choosing yours ! You might be able to find a good used Delta on Ebay or Craigslist as well . Happy hunting : )

-- Dusty56@comcast.net

Damian, At the time I was shopping for a saw, I really only had 3 choices in my price range for a saw that had a riving knife and a below table dust collecting blade shroud – Deluxe Xacta, PM2000, Laguna Platinum. I could get the Jet and PM locally and the Jet was $500 cheaper. Both are made in Taiwan, whereas the Lagunas and the Grizzly 651 are made in China. Since Taiwan still elects its political leaders, I chose a Taiwan made saw.

Damian, I was mistaken when I said the Grizzly was made in China. Taiwan made.