HELP

Don’t know much about table saws but I have done alot of Reasurch into lathes and recently purchased a new one myself. The lathe I got was this one from harbor freight. It’s a good tool especially for the price. It’s exactly the same as a jet 1236 lathe and in another thread someone said that the jet parts will even fit this lathe. For $260 you can’t go wrong.

Here is a review I found to be very helpful in my decision to purchase this lathe.

Good luck and all the best.

with a $600 budget, i’d look to the ridgid 4512. 1.5hp dual voltage internally mounted induction motor, CI top, riving knife, 30” rip capacity, integrated mobile base, integrated dust collection pan, 90 day satisfaction guaranty, 3 year new tool guaranty and eligible (with owner registration) for ridgid’s LSA (lifetime service agreement. free parts and labor for life). find a HD that accepts harbor freight’s “20 or 25% off any single item” coupon and @ $375 to $400, that’s a lot of value for a new 10” CI TS. just check the blade alignment at varying heights prior to assembing the whole saw as this is a problem that has reportedly been addressed, but seems to rear it’s ugly head from time to time.

regarding the PC TS sold through lowes, the only real knock i’ve heard are that some part of the elevation/bevel assembly(s) are plastic gears. durability might become an issue. also, that the fence is a bit cheesy, although i’ve liked it’s action whenever i’ve played with one in the stores. first rate micro adjuster! course, if time is not of the essence, there’s always CL.

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

I bought a used rigid contractor saw. I would go with the rigid for your budget. It’s a great saw.

4512’s do seem to be resonable bang for buck. Before you put the legs on it and all, make sure the blade is close to square with the miter slot. If it is less than 1/32, I think – it’ll be OK. Otherwise you’ll waste 1/2 an afternoon putting it together to figure out it won’t align.

Google “4512 alignment” and you’ll see that there were problems with the trunions being off. If you have one with that problem don’t waste your time – return it. Same deal with the Craftsman saw, and I’m not sure if the Porter Cable at Lowe’s is still the same saw or not.

I got a 4512 in January and returned it because it wouldn’t align so they are still out there.

But – there are many happy folks with those saws.

THanks bunches, I have bin on the internet since I got home from work looking at them, Is the fence that hard to ajust at set up or should I go right to a after market? Need to stay in budget if the fence will take some small abuse I will stay with it.

-- Tite Lines, May the wind be at your back

My fence is great, very easy to adjust and keep accurate. I would go with an aftermarket miter gauge though. I bought my saw used and ordered the rigid miter online. Big mistake and waste of money. I should’ve just went with a nice one the first time. The rigid will work fine, but there is no way to make it fit tight in the slot, and it is hard to repeat angles. Good luck! Haven’t had any other issues with the saw though.

Thanks Shelly, i have two miter gauges both are from old Delta saw (solid as a rock ) I will try them first when I get the saw all set up ( have to move first ) hope the blade ajustment is not as bad as I have heard on some blogs
Time will tell. first thing I have to make are builtin book cases for my wife!!

SGV

-- Tite Lines, May the wind be at your back

Your welcome. Mine hasn’t been hard to align. I will warn you though, I got the easy alignment kit from woodcraft….don’t get it for this saw. The bolts are too long when you tilt the saw to make bevel cut, the motor will hit them so you can’t get all the way to 45.

I took them off and went back to the old way of loosening the bolts and wacking it with a mallet a few times. There may be a way to modify it, but I didn’t feel like messing with it. I align my miter guage, sleds, etc.. to the blade anyway, not the slot…and you could do the same with the fence if you wanted.

I’m not sure what the alignment kit is for fence, miter gauge

Thanks I will look it up to day

-- Tite Lines, May the wind be at your back