Word on the street is that Sarge is buying a new Table Saw. Tell us more!
-When did you decide your Unisaw wasn’t enough?
-Why 5HP, when is it really necessary?
-What kind of fence system?
-Riving knife?
-Sliding table?
-Is it an American made motor (Baldor, Leeson, etc) does that really matter?
-What other features?
BTW: I’m on a Delta Contractor’s saw and really want a cabinet saw, mainly for better dust collection and to be on par with my neighbor. 😉
Replies
So what is keeping you from the cabinet saw?
I have four unisaws and a pm66. Two unisaws and the 66 are 5hp. I would recommend 5hp as the minimum for a 10" saw.
It turns out that its money or the fear of spending the money that's preventing me from buying a cabinet saw. For a while I was hell bent on getting a Euro Slider saw then the dollar started sliding on the already pricey Euro saws. And then a sidetrack addiction to crack... errr... I mean Festools. ;).Since I had my shop wired for a motor up to 5HP I guess I could go that route, but just out of curiosity, what will I see with 5HP over 3HP?
Steel City 10" 5 HP model.... 35626
I was looking for a 5 HP when I ran across a great deal on the Uni-saw 3 HP. One I couldn't refuse at the time as finding a used 5 HP is not easy. Plenty of 3 HP on the market used but 5 HP is not as common. I rip quite a bit of 12/4 stock and even though a 3 HP will.. it will hiccup sometimes in some heavy stock that is not as dry as it should be..
For most 5 HP is not necessary.. I could live with 3 HP as I have been doing for years.. the 5 HP just picks up slack in given situations and you can probably run it longer continuously. That's what I have heard and not a scientific statement. I make hour runs in some cases and usually stop for a cup of coffee. So... for the majority Not Necessary!
The fence is the Steel City Industrial. I thought the Biesemeyer I have was the best fence on the market until I used this one. It is the smoothest fence I have ever used. So slick you can nudge it and have to run to the end of the rail to avoid launch. :>)
No riving knife on this model as I will use the same Sarge Guard (very similar to Shark Guard using the Shark Guard quick release splitter itself. Lee Styrone of Shark Guard is an excellent machinist and it doesn't get much better than his after-market splitter. I make my own Crown guards and add on plastic dust shields with 2 1*2" port.
Not a sliding table as Steel City doesn't make one yet. But.. I do know to watch for some new innovation at IWF in Atlanta next month. Can't say what yet but.. a slider will not be one to the best of my knowledge. I love sliding tables if... if you do a lot of panels and ply. I simply don't use it except for dust shields and drawer bottoms. They take a large foot-print and I have no real reason to have one as my TS is used about 90% for ripping with a SCMS getting the call on cross-cutting.
The 3 HP motor on all the 10" SC saws is a Leeson design approved by them made in Taiwan. The 5 HP and 7.5 HP is made in Taiwan by a very reputable manufacturer (the larger Griz's use the same company) and is actually a heavier duty motor than the Leeson's.
50" fence rails... come with quick release splitter stock.. table board extensions.. miter gauge.. etc.
I will modify to accept my Crown guard and over-head 2 1/2" dust port shield. I will probably use a Leecraft insert as I feel it it the best after-market with the most adjustment on the market.
That's about it... any further questions feel free to ask... I will add I didn't have to get a 5 HP.. but when you can switch saws about even as I did in this deal... I jumped. I wouldn't mind having a 12" saw.. but the 5 HP will probably be the last I ever have...
Sarge..
Edited 7/30/2008 5:55 pm ET by SARGEgrinder47
Sarge
In this case, I believe more is better, and it definately makes a difference. If anyone wants to just cut plywood, 4/4 and 8/4 stock, then 3hp is plenty of saw. My current PM66 has the 3hp saw, and it's almost always plenty of saw. However, I used to have a 5 hp Oliver 270, made back in the 40's, with a 16" blade. It was the most awesome saw I ever had, and wished I didn't sell it. It ripped 12/4 hard maple like it was butter, and had the capacity to handle 16/4 stock, and rip through it like it wasn't even there. The legs on my current dining table came from 16/4 cherry, and I cut the blocks with that saw. Piece of cake!
I can't imagine much that a normal furnituremaker/cabinetmaker couldn't handle with the 5 hp motor. Most of us have very little use for ripping 16/4 stock.
Jeff
On occasion I do get some 16/4 rough and frankly wish I could get more. I do it on my 18" BS and one reason I got the larger BS with re-saw the other. In those cases when I do run across 16/4 I would like to have a 12" 5 HP or 7.5 HP O mentioned but I can't justify the extra cost. Justification of this 5 HP new stemmed from I got a deal.. a "real deal" I couldn't refuse or would have been foolish to have done so.
Having restored old American Muscle Cars for a number of years I kind of go by the theory.. "better to have and not need than to need and not have". As mentioned.. occasionally I do need. :>)
Sarge..
16/4.... I'm not even sure where I could get 16/4. Although I guess I can imagine gluing up two 8/4 boards. That begs the question, of why not get a 12 inch saw when you get to 5HP and end up ripping a good amount of 16/4 stock.
Gee... If I knew you wanted a 5hp unisaw motor we could have swapped your 3hp for one of the extra 5hp unisaw motors I have. I've got 9 spare unisaw motors on the shelf, have tooo many 5hp and not enough 3hp.
I could have used one up with an even swap up until last week-end. Not many would have one around as you know and the thought of asking in a classified never really crossed my mind. I just got an e-mail on this deal and never hesitated to jump on it as I was not in active pursuit of a 5 HP at this point.
Regards...
Sarge..
Are you getting the granite top or the CI.?
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You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. Jack London
Cast iron, DG. They don't make the granite in the 5 - 7.5 HP models. As you know being around that business, not as much demand for those larger HP models outside of cabinet shops and a few exceptions with hobbyist as I am. I would love to have the granite as I love not having to wax my 8" jointer BG fence. But.. it doesn't matter as either are fine with me and.... got wax... know how to use it. :>)
Regards from the other coast...
Sarge..
I was torn with mixed feelings, I would have gone for the cast iron myself due to my propensity for drilling holes to mount feeders etc., but I would have loved to read your review of a granite top after having lived with it for a bit.
Looking forward to your review of the saw. Wish I could go to the show but no dice this year, I'll have to rely on your keen observations.
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You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. Jack London
I'll do it the best I can as this thing is only every two years. I just get to preview the week before it opens this time and the entire 4 days plus dealer day the day before it opens. I get to return to the front lines one more time.
BTW.. if think of any product that you have not seen and want someone to take a look at.. I should (?) have time as I will be in a dealer booth demo'ing the entire show. Just let me know.
Sarge..
If you happen to see these folks I am very interested in this tool, I went to Vegas a couple years ago to look at it at the show and could'nt get the limp *ick reps off their arse to demo it.
If you get a chance to try it I would be very interested to know how it performs driving screws in rapid succession, one every 2-3 seconds would be ideal for an 1 1/4 sheetrock screw in hardwood.
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You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. Jack London
Should be no problem and it's your lucky day. Design Tools, Inc. (DTI) is in booth 6513 in Building B in a small booth by the wall.. there is A-B-C and all are huge.. Steel City is in booth 6429 Bldg. B (as most vendors as Delta.. Jet-PM.. Grizzly.. etc) on a main isle and the right rear of 6429 booth is about 30' forward of DTI in 6513.
You could shoot a spit-ball over there from that distance and will save a ton of walking. I have it the DTI5000 in my note-pad to see so barring fire or flood or tornado.. you got it!
Sarge..
Edited 7/30/2008 10:46 pm ET by SARGEgrinder47
At the moment the only 3hp SC saw with the granite top is the entry level one with a single drive belt. The heavier-duty 3 hp model with 3 belts, the "deluxe," is unchanged. The granite model is very similar to a Delta hybrid, with the addition of granite, and riving knives. I guess SC doesn't call any of its saws hybrids because it's never made a contractor model.
Jim
Thanks for the info Jim, I have not kept up on their offerings as I am not in the market for a table saw, but the granite tables are a curiousity and Sarge is well known for insightful reviews from the point of view of a machine user.
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You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. Jack London
Pics? ...anyone? ....gotta have pics! ;)
You'll have to wait until the week of August 23rd on a picture as it is the floor model that will be displayed at the International WW Show in Atlanta in the manufacturer booth. I will get some pictures at that time but more important.. you might get and early preview of some other new things that might possibly be un-veiled by the manufacturer.
Or just drop by the Show and see for yourself.. would love to see as many Knot-heads there as possible and look forward to meeting those that do come to the Show.
Regards...
Sarge..
Wow, Sarge! OK, over at WWA when someone gets a cool new tool, and posts suitable documentary pictures, they get a big "You Suck!" from the crowd. Can't wait to see the pictures, so I can officially tell you that you truly do.....well, you know.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
The "You Suck" is very common on several forums I find. Just a poke of fun meaning they would like to have a new tool also. In this case it's really not like I was getting a new tool for the first time. Just doing a little horse trading to acquire another tool that might be more suited to fit my needs.
The young gentleman that is picking up my Uni-saw Saturday is jumping with joy from what he has posted elsewhere. Kind of like his birthday come early. I threw in a full array of home-made "Sarge Guards" for the saw so all he has to do is plug it in and make dust. And of course he will not be allowed to load until after I demonstrate a few safety techniques on how to use his new saw. He has had a Delta contractors for years and not familiar with the how to's on a Uni..
For me the excitement level is somewhat less intense after all these years. I was very lucky to be at the right place at the right time and conversing with the right people. If someone didn't remind me I will be 61 on Oct. 10... I very well might forget and would like to. :>)
I will have to work to pay for the saw as I am working "free" helping set up the manufacturers booth for 3 days the week before the show. Then demo'ing each day during the show including dealer day which is Tuesday before the Show opens to the public.
So.. a case of if you want it.... you work to get it. The way it should be I believe.
Regards...
Sarge..
Edited 7/31/2008 11:32 am ET by SARGEgrinder47
Sarge, Horsepower Tradin.
You pretty much nailed it, GF... hee.......
Sarge..
Ah, to be 61 again. I think I wrote down what it was like somewhere, but can't find the darned note. ;-)
I haven't made it yet Ralph... and I don't take anything for granted. :>) Yep.. age is just a way to recording time... not a pre-requisite for using it. But... I do find myself forgetting details sooner a bit more these days.
Regards...
Sarge..
Sarge,First off, because of folks like you on this forum, I've started being much more safety conscious in the workshop. So thank you! However:"He has had a Delta contractors for years and not familiar with the how to's on a Uni.."I'm not sure what this is about though... It's just bigger, badder, and less dusty than a contractor's saw isn't it? Or are you talking about your safety mods like the use the "Sarge Guard"?
Basically the Sarge Guard.. I will show him how it goes on and off quickly and I'm giving him a spring-board which is set up for that saw with the extra miter slot I added. I will demo a short fence for him and give it to him if he likes it. He can provide the set of Rockler universal clamps at $15.95 a set as nobody is getting one of my 4 sets. :>)
But... it goes further. I will show him how to take off and install the motor cover.. how to on the home-made dust shield over the tilt slot.. belt adjustment while the motor cover is off as a contractor's saw is not the same as you know.. how to adjust and remove the splitter bracket to keep the splitter aligned.. how adjust the Biesemeyer fence as he doesn't' t have the Biese.. etc.. etc..
And all for the low.. low cost of $800. ha.. ha... ha..ha..ha..
Sorry as I may have made the general statement about safety in haste more clear. :>)
Sarge..
Edited 7/31/2008 4:25 pm ET by SARGEgrinder47
$800!!! And you're not going over to his shop to set it up for him? ;-)
If he wishes... I've seen all those cute Auburn University cheer-leaders and that would be worth a trip to set it up. But... unfortunately my wife said I have to stay home and cut the grass. Ahhhhh.. youth. I remember............... I think. :>)
Sarge.
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