Grizzley Saw Asking for Opinions
I need a new Table Saw… OK more like I have some money that is burning a hole in my pocket.
My current saw is a Ridgid TS3650 that I am happy with. OK.. So it is not a ‘real’ TS but it has worked well for me and I have no ‘gripes’ about how it cuts. All bad cuts were Operator caused! I know folks think it is ‘junk’ but FAR from it in my experience.
OK now to ‘tick’ off a lot of folks.
I have considered a Powermatic 2000 and a G0651 10″ Heavy-Duty Cabinet Table Saw With Riving Knife… Yes a Grizzly.. I also liked the Steel City but no riving knife. Somebody posted it has one but not the saw I looked at. It looked the same as a ‘splitter’.
1. I do not want or need a 5 Hp saw. Three Hp. is more that enough for the work I do.
2. I would really like a Right Tilt blade but I have always used a Left tilt so I can live with it.
3. Yes the saw is made in China. I have been in some factories in China. Some are wonderful and some bad. I have no idea where the ‘Grizz’ factory is. All in all, where the saw comes from is not a issue to me. If from the USA ALL THE BETTER.. If I get the same features. I assume the Powermatic is made in Europe. I cannot find any information on where it is ‘really’ made.
4. Be it known I was hit with a hunk of wood for the LAST time so a riving knife is a MUST as far as I’m concerned.
5. The table extensions that are ‘standard’ sort of fit where I will put the saw. I work in a VERY limited space and would have to ‘trash’ my ‘bench’.. I can work around that also with the saw tables. I would have to modify a ‘bit’ OR is that ALOT?
Anyway, I would like opinions (I hope from some that know about this saw).
I have NOTHING against the Powermatic except from a post about the blade removal device. Yes I said I would not get it if true. Then I remembered I could just jam a hunk of wood in there to remove the blade. LESS THAN DESIRABLE option! I went to my local Woodcraft and asked about the Blade locking device and as expected they said ‘Never heard of that!’. Well, I for one believe the poster.
OK so ‘rip’ at me with your opinions!
http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0651
EDIT:
I was also lookin at the ..
RIKON introduces the Model 10-110 3HP Sliding Table Saw .
OK so another China saw.. But nobody has it from what I can find and I asked my Woodcraft place and he looked at me as if I was stupid!
I have a Ricon 18″ bandsaw and it works more than OK!
Edited 10/2/2007 10:29 pm by WillGeorge
Edited 10/2/2007 10:29 pm by WillGeorge
Replies
The G0651 is a new model so there's little if any user base out there. Fwiw the PM 2000 is made in Taiwan. Jet has some new models coming out that have a riving knife http://woodworking.jettools.com/ ........... might be worth a look.
Thanks for the reply. I'll look into it.
Will,
I love my Griz..but I'd have a tough time gettring past the Saw Stop if I was in the market...
WillGeorge,
I am extremly happy with my 12 inch Grizzly but yes it has 5 hp, which if you work the big stuff as often as I do you actually need..
I will say it's tough and durable and thus far came out of the box and worked perfectly since new..
do buy a moble base because table saws take up too much room for how often they are used. 90% of the time mine is simply a storage table.
Assuming that you like working on/with your bench, would you be able to remove the outfeed and back the bench up to the rear of the saw? That way, you don't give up the bench OR outfeed support.
That's a nice looking saw- must be what the technical service rep I talked with was referring to. Looks like the throat plate has a narrower slot, too. Could just be the angle of the photo. If you need to move the saw, the mobile base will be a good idea. HTC is history but Shop Fox and a couple of the others are good.
I have the G1023 with side extension table (router is mounted in it) on a Shop Fox mobile base and it's very stable, easy to move and has done everything I have needed, including acting as a big table.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, If I could find a problem with my 1023slx that I've had for about 3 years now, I'd get the new one. My 3hp does fine for everything I have ever thrown at it. The rear extension table being fixed would take up a little room, but hey whats a little space. I have my workbench backed up to my saw to use as an outfeed table. The riving knife feature is nice. I use a microjig and it does a fine job as a splitter. Ether way you go you will probably be fine. I'll just keep using my 1023. I've yet to have anything get out of alignment. Other than an ocasional shot of compressed air under the trunions and wax, I've not had to touch it. Take care and have fun deciding on the new toy.
.
If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
Disclaimer: I do not claim to be a machinist or an expert on woodworking tools. I'm a woodworker and a hobbyist at that. I don't have the tools to measure, nor do I fuss over a 1/1000 of an inch here or there. I'm more concered with functionality and usability. This review only reflects my impressions from setting up and using this tool. I'm no expert. I'm just a guy who appreciates the value of a good tool at a reasonable price....Great! I loved that. Tells it like it is! Exactally the way I feel! Why I like my Ridgid saw. It works for what I do!I'd get the G0623X 10" Sliding Tablesaw in a heart beat but I do not have the room for it. Well, I could, but I could not get into my litle shop to use it!
Dear Will,
I have a PM66 and like it quite a bit. I am not familiar with the 2000. If i were doing it again, I would consider the Griz model that you picked out to be quite attractive. An OUTFEED table! Gee, who would of thought! If money was no object, I would be looking at Minimax, in particular if space is at a premium. Otherwise my choice would be the Sawstop. In the 2K range, I think that you should go with whatever machine has the features that you want. Jet certainly makes a nice machine, as well as Powermatic. A lot of folks like Grizzly and Steel City. You have a lot of choices, all of them pretty good. For the record, I am a bit like you, in that I don't check my equipment with a micrometer. I use it.
Best,
John
WG,
Think about the Festool TS 75 plunge circular saw, with its fence and table. It takes up less room, makes wonderful cuts, and it helps you have more self confidence which will make your "significant other" even happier. You have heard about "runners high". I have heard rumors that woodworkers have gotten a "sawyer's high" while using the Festool circular saw.
Mel
PS - When someone asks a reasonable question on Knots, they very quickly get superb information back which answers their question. The natural reaction to good advice is to take it. My approach is to provide the questioner with other thoughts which make them continue to think about what they are about to do. In other words - to have them consider some "farther out" alternatives. It is always easy to return to the more accepted ways of thinking. But how does one ever become truly creative by taking the accepted path all the time? These are eternal questions.
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
i have a ridgid table saw. put an incra system on it along with a router. use it all the time. i also purchased a 5hp 220v grizzly 10" table saw. after cutting a few mdf panels, the starter capacitor went out. grizzly sent me a new one right away. i bet if you look at each table saw, the parts are probably made by the same folks overseas. i am happy with the grizzly and it was a lot less $$$$. got the 5 hp over a 3 hp just for the power of cutting 4x8 panels. would buy another grizzly if i needed one.
Did you get the new one with the riving knife? I have the 1023slx, and that feature would be the only thing I would really like to have althought the microjig splitter I use does a good job. Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
got it a yr ago. it had them, but i took them off to cut panels. i also put a mobile base under the saw. got good casters from castercity. threw the ones that came with the base in the recycle bin. i have some photos to show u, but cannot see where i can attach them. blu
When you click reply, at the very bottom is the button attach files. Its beside the spell check button. It will bring up a new window for you to browse to the location of your pics. Select the files and select upload and bingo you have it. I thought the riving knife was a new addition to the 10" saw. Love to see the pics.
Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
Edited 10/4/2007 12:56 pm by bones
Edited 10/4/2007 12:56 pm by bones
that's willie helping me or actually doing all the work. blu
Is that a slider table on the end? If so, what's the brand?Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
http://www.exaktortools.com/ Exaktor. i find it is a pain to square; but i would still recommend it. i also put casters on the legs of the sliding table. all of my tools have a mobile with the good casters on them. great for moving them around and out of the way. grizzly has a new 12" tbl saw with the knives u want. 5 hp. if u have 220, i would recommend the 5hp. for the $, i don't think they can be beat. hope this has helped. blu
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