Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Apr 19, 2004 04:24pm | #1

   Craftsman has made dozens of table saws, what model and style of saw are you talking about?

   John W.

1. 
   Bluegillman | Apr 20, 2004 04:11am | #3

   The good old boy is over 25 years old... still looking new! It is a 10 inch saw model no. 113.299142

2. 
   Dave45 | Apr 19, 2004 04:28pm | #2

   You said that you "tuned the table".  Have you tried loosening the arbor trunnion bolts and aligning the blade to the table miter slots?

   A few years ago, I loosened the trunnion bolts, raised the blade to near full height and clamped a piece of angle iron to the blade so it reached past the front and back of the table.  Carefully measuring and adjusting, I aligned the angle iron to the miter slots and tightened the trunnion bolts.  It's been dead-on ever since.

   If you don't like using those 'star' type lock washers, you can replace them with the regular kind - they're reusable.

1. 
   Bluegillman | Apr 20, 2004 04:21am | #4

   Yep, followed the manual to do it... and very much just like what your doing. What is their real reason for doing that? Are all brands of table saws that way? Why not have a steel dowel pins on each end which would put the blade to + or - .005 within the slot at each tear down or setting up?

1. 
   Dave45 | Apr 20, 2004 04:47am | #5

   That kind of dowel setup would add to the manufacturing and production costs which would run the customer price up. 

   Craftsman has always targeted the mass market - the guys with the basement or garage shops and their tools are just fine for the majority of these users.  Most of these folks just rip them out of the box and plug them in.  The instructions get tossed in a drawer and eventually wind up in the trash.  My own experience is that Craftsman makes a pretty decent saw - if you use good blades and take the time to set it up right and keep it 'tuned up'.  I also saw a substantial improvement in performance when I went to the link type drive belt and put on the Craftsman XR2424 rip fence.  Is it as good as a Unisaw?  Of course not!!  Has it done pretty much everything I've needed?  Absolutely!!

   I'm taking my 25 yr hobby/part time business to a full time business and will eventually need to get a better saw.  The old Craftsman will still have a spot in the shop - maybe as a dedicated dado machine - lol

   Edited 4/19/2004 9:49 pm ET by Dave