Table saw recommendations?

Ricardo

Looking for a table saw; needs to be smallish/portable, but decent (fence can be set true and stay true, angled cuts dial close to reality, etc). Want to stay at or below $500ish

Looking at this Bosch (a little higher than budget, but seems to be very good):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000S5S5CW/ref=s9_simh_gw_p60_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0595FGGGPFSYG17C4S8G&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

Any other recommendations? Any experience with this Bosch?

Have to invest the money of my carver/monitors sale in something

strider

I bought this one at Sears last winter. Pretty satisifed with it, I don't have room for a workshop at my house so I have to do most of my table saw work outside. The design of the stand makes it real easy to wheel out of the back room to my yard, easy to set up and collapse. Comes with a miter table and miter gauge. The dust collector works very well and the fence is simple to set up and has stayed fairly true.

The small table surface does make it difficult to cut full sheets on, but I think that's par for the course on portable saws. Infeed and outfeed supports or tables make it possible to make accurate cuts on full sheets.

Ricardo

Thanks Ben. That one looks good. I've seen the cheaper Craftsman tables and they are not very good. Need to look at this one. Does the miter fence/gauge eliminate the need for a cross cut sled?

The nice thing about the Bosch is that they sell extension supports for around $30.

janmike

I own that Bosh table saw with the gravity stand. Work great for me and I am no pro.
I did up grade the blade.

Jstas

I've heard good things about JET

http://www.amazon.com/JET-708315BTC-JBTS-10BT-3-Benchtop-Table/dp/B000CFH3A8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1266002185&sr=1-2

And you can't really go wrong with a Porter Cable or Delta saw. They may be a bit above your price point but if you are willing to blow an extra 100 beans on that Bosch, the Porter Cable and Delta entry level stuff is light years beyond the rest of the stuff at that price point and usually $50 or less over the $599 price point. That's personal experience with the Porter Cable and Delta equipment. I have friends who love the JET stuff because it's accurate, durable and comparatively inexpensive.

Then again, at that price point and below, you can pretty much go with any brand (aside from the more esoteric ones like Delta, Porter Cable and so on) and get the same saw. Take a close look at many of them. The Makita, Milwaukee, Craftsman, DeWalt, RIGID, and, well, you get the hint. They are all the same with slight variations.

You could even go for this example:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=46813

and you will honestly be getting the same thing. They all buy from a common builder and rebrand with different case colors and stickers.

If you want something more than a mass produced item from China, you gotta go for the higher level stuff that professional woodworkers use. Lotsa names you've probably never heard of but incredibly precise equipment. And none of it is made in Asia. It's all German, Swiss or American/Canadian made.

But depends on your use. If you want something to rip down plywood for construction purposes then a cheap saw will do fine. If you want to do finish work, cheaper saws have wider tolerances in the armature assemblies and they don't offer as precise and accurate of a cut. That shows in the final product.

However, if you are just starting out as a hobbyist woodworker I think that Bosch would do fine.

But I gotta say, Porter Cable and Delta have customer service levels rivaling that of Polk Audio.

Sears supports their tools very well too. Before my dad got his Delta, he had a Crafstman saw that was just shy of 70 years old. Sears still serviced it and sold him parts. But they said when the armature finally goes, he's outta luck 'cause they didn't have any more and making a new one would be a couple grand and not worth it.

kcoc321

Bosch does make nice tools. And the Jet is awesome, if you have a workshop.
I have the Dewalt Jobsite and I really like it. One of the primary features why I went for this one is that it has is a gear driven Rip fence. Both ends of the fence lock into pins, that are mounted on rails and controlled by a gear. I have had mine for 10 years and have only had to adjust it twice. And that is after being hauled around in a truck, banged around, ect... It is also great for makeing those minute adjusments, using a control knob, you can dial it in precisely. And it will do 24" rips!!!

http://www.lowes.com/pd_246259-70-DW744X_4294936478_?productId=1207929&Ntt=tablesaw&Ntk=i_products&pl=1&currentURL=/pl_Tools_4294936478__s?Ntk=i_products$Ntt=tablesaw&spellCorrectedTerm=tables

Ricardo

Thanks Michael/John.

I don't need anything pro grade, but want some level of precision. I've seen the Jets and look pretty nice/have great comments, but since I never heard the name, well, you know...

So far I'm between the Bosch and that Craftsman pro. The portability/cart makes them easy to move and store.

Any others?

Ricardo

That Dewalt is only missing the wheels Geared fence....that's a great idea.

Jstas

Ricardo wrote: »

That Dewalt is only missing the wheels Geared fence....that's a great idea.

Geared fences are nice but you gotta watch them. As they wear out, they can lose precision and slip.

If you get a geared fence make sure the clamping device is independent and does not put stress on the gear teeth. Otherwise it can make stuff wear prematurely.


And yeah, the JET stuff is designed to give you the precision of a pro-level piece of machinery but with consumer level prices. They don't have as many bells and whistles and gimmicks as the other stuff at their price point but for that they are, they certainly do perform. I wouldn't hesitate to get one. Infact, I might get that one I posted myself.

Besides, that JET saw I posted, Amazon sells a cart for it to be easily portable.

mhmacw

Ricardo wrote: »

Looking for a table saw; needs to be smallish/portable, but decent (fence can be set true and stay true, angled cuts dial close to reality, etc). Want to stay at or below $500ish

Looking at this Bosch (a little higher than budget, but seems to be very good):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000S5S5CW/ref=s9_simh_gw_p60_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=0595FGGGPFSYG17C4S8G&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

Any other recommendations? Any experience with this Bosch?

Have to invest the money of my carver/monitors sale in something

i bought the ryobi model witht he built in stand and wheels. its been great for home projects. i think it was about 270 at home depot and with the same budget(500$)i bought a chop saw as well. they have both been great . i do understand the ridgid is the same manufacturer but just a scosh better quality. i however haven had any problems at all with the ryobi.

strider

Ricardo wrote: »

Thanks Ben. That one looks good. I've seen the cheaper Craftsman tables and they are not very good. Need to look at this one. Does the miter fence/gauge eliminate the need for a cross cut sled?

The nice thing about the Bosch is that they sell extension supports for around $30.

Yes, the sliding miter table is pretty much the same thing as a cross cut sled. It also comes with a router attachment, which I've never used.

The fence/rail system is fairly sturdy, but I still check for square every time I bring it out.

I've also heard good things about the JET saws, but have no personal experience. There's also not much of a middle ground in their product line, at least that I've seen. They seem to jump from the benchtop model Jstas linked (and what looks to be the same saw but with a stationary stand) to the big boys designed to be in a full on woodshop. My decision to buy the Craftsman saw hinged upon a sale (around $400 IIRC) and having Sears giftcards at the time.

vlam

I purchased the Rigid table saw from HD on black friday 3 years ago for $299. Not very portable on the road but great around the garage.

I think it is similiar to this one. Mine is a the older model.

http://www.amazon.com/Ridgid-TS2410LS-14648-10-Inch-Portable/dp/B001W0ZI9K

Ricardo

Here's a "better" Jet on sale...

http://www.amazon.com/Jet-JBTS-10MJS-10-Inch-Jobsite-Table/dp/B001O0D6MO/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1266006018&sr=1-5

kcoc321

Ricardo wrote: »

That Dewalt is only missing the wheels Geared fence....that's a great idea.

Actually there is a wheeled stand Dewalt makes. But it's another $100 or so. It is light enough to carry. But I usually don't have to carry it too far.

Jstas wrote: »

Geared fences are nice but you gotta watch them. As they wear out, they can lose precision and slip.

If you get a geared fence make sure the clamping device is independent and does not put stress on the gear teeth. Otherwise it can make stuff wear prematurely.

Regarding slipping, mine is 10 years old and doesn't slip. But there is a separate 'clamping' mechanism on the Dewalt, so it does not rely on just the gear to hold it. The gear is just used for adjustment. Regarding clamping device, it is seperate, so it does not put any stess on the gears.

Ricardo

strider wrote: »

It also comes with a router attachment, which I've never used.

You mean to be used as a router table? I like that.
I have a Sears hardware store close by. I'll have to go look at it.

Jstas

Ricardo wrote: »

Here's a "better" Jet on sale...

http://www.amazon.com/Jet-JBTS-10MJS-10-Inch-Jobsite-Table/dp/B001O0D6MO/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1266006018&sr=1-5

Ooooo! It's $599.99!

That's snazzy!

Might have to dig in the pocket a bit!

Jstas

kcoc321 wrote: »

Regarding slipping, mine is 10 years old and doesn't slip. But there is a separate 'clamping' mechanism on the Dewalt, so it does not rely on just the gear to hold it. The gear is just used for adjustment. Regarding clamping device, it is seperate, so it does not put any stess on the gears.

That is exactly what you want. I've seen some very cheap models that rely on the geared fence to hold itself still and all you need is one good kick of whatever you are cutting to bend/break a tooth and then you can't trust any measurement on that fence again.

Jstas

Ricardo wrote: »

You mean to be used as a router table? I like that.
I have a Sears hardware store close by. I'll have to go look at it.

The Sears Hardware stores, they often times have a different selection than what a Sears department store has and are geared more towards the professional. Some have Delta and Porter Cable items. Those items are built specifically for the Sears Hardware stores and aren't always at the same level as other Delta and Porter Cable items. If you go with one of those ('cause they can be very cheap), make sure you read and understand the warranty because Delta and Porter Cable may not support that product directly and you might have to go through Sears for any service.

kcoc321

Ricardo wrote: »

Here's a "better" Jet on sale...

http://www.amazon.com/Jet-JBTS-10MJS-10-Inch-Jobsite-Table/dp/B001O0D6MO/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1266006018&sr=1-5

Gosh that Jet would definitely be a contender. The rip fence looks to be nice and sturdy, and gives a pretty good width. I would find one to look at, and see how it holds up, locally if you can.

kcoc321

Ricardo wrote: »

You mean to be used as a router table? I like that.
I have a Sears hardware store close by. I'll have to go look at it.

Rockler makes a table-top Router table that is pretty nice for $100.

Eventually, what I did was buy an extra set of outfeed arms for my saw and I mounted the table permanently on the left side of mine. Course, I don't need to haul mine around much anymore.

strider

Ricardo wrote: »

Here's a "better" Jet on sale...

http://www.amazon.com/Jet-JBTS-10MJS-10-Inch-Jobsite-Table/dp/B001O0D6MO/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1266006018&sr=1-5

I like that saw.

The router table attachment is ok. Definitely not as accurate or useful as a stand alone table. If I were buying again, I'd look at that JET closer.

Jstas

strider wrote: »

Ricardo wrote: »

Here's a "better" Jet on sale...

http://www.amazon.com/Jet-JBTS-10MJS-10-Inch-Jobsite-Table/dp/B001O0D6MO/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1266006018&sr=1-5

I like that saw.

The router table attachment is ok. Definitely not as accurate or useful as a stand alone table. If I were buying again, I'd look at that JET closer.

Hey Ricardo, I just talked to my dad about that JET saw you posted 'cause I think I'm gonna get one. He highly recommended it. I don't know if you've ever seen the work he's done that I've posted here before but I would trust his experience and recommendations over many people. He said he would take that JET over the Bosch and Craftsman you posted in a heartbeat. He was also surprised at the price. It might be a closeout model from last year but it doesn't matter. At that price, it's worth it. If I were you, I would not be leery about that saw at all and put it on your short list of viable options. It's on mine already.

mjg

Believe it or not, the ridgid portable job site saw is the top rated saw by several wood woking mags. Some contractors I know just bought one and they love it. They bought it over the bigger name brands because the fence is so nice. Worth taking a look at.

MJG

DollarDave

mjg wrote: »

Believe it or not, the ridgid portable job site saw is the top rated saw by several wood woking mags. Some contractors I know just bought one and they love it. They bought it over the bigger name brands because the fence is so nice. Worth taking a look at.

MJG

My choice also.

Jstas

mjg wrote: »

Believe it or not, the ridgid portable job site saw is the top rated saw by several wood woking mags. Some contractors I know just bought one and they love it. They bought it over the bigger name brands because the fence is so nice. Worth taking a look at.

MJG

Top rated saw or top rated portable saw?

mjg

Portable saw. But that is also what the Bosch is. Top rated shop saws are the saw stop and the new Delta unisaw, followed I think by powermatic, and general machine.

Ricardo

Ok. I called the local Jet retailers and no one had one of those nice portable ones. It would take 7-10 days to get one here if I order it. Well, I know Jet has lots of great comments (including John's dad), but I don't think I would order one without seeing it first. Same reason I don't want to order from Amazon (Plus the fact that UPS would get their hands on my heavy table).

I went to Sears. They only had Craftsman, no Delta or P.C. I looked at Ben's table, but I didn't like the fact that it doesn't have a full table, but portions that move back and forth on the rails. IMO it might be a problem if you want to build some jigs/sleds. It does look very nice though. Didn't like any of the other small/portable tables. The one I liked would take half of the space on my small shop.

I went to Lowes and saw the Bosch. Very, very nice. I bought it because they had only one in stock, but need to go back and get it once the wife gets the minivan home.

Thanks for all the input guys!!

dkg999

The Bosch portable table saw is very nice. I like the way their stand works, and the extensions are pretty solid.

jjwm27

get the Bosch, we have had three of them at work for about 5 years and they all have been abused by experts, tipped over, fallen out of the back of pickups, run nonstop all day long with dado blades and all still work perfect, very user friendly and accurate, just make sure you get a good blade like Freud, best blades you can get.

Rev. Hayes

For the money I have always liked the Makita 2703 when used in conjunction with the Rousseau PortaMax table/out feed. the fence that comes with the saw is absolute crap but add the new table (which comes with a tall and sturdy fence) and it's cabinet grade. Ive' seen the saw go for $350 and the cheapest I've seen the table is $199.

gdb

Good info on tools:;)



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