NEW TABLE SAW
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Like so many other woodworkers I did a lot of research before I decided which saw to buy. In the Fall of 2005 I bought a Craftsman table saw for about $575. It has a 10” blade, the motor is 1 ½ HP developing a maximum of 2 HP, weighs 350 pounds and including the wings has a 27” x 40” cast iron table. The model number is 152.22.
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I am delighted with its performance. The rip fence can be aligned with the miter gauge slot by sliding the fence adjacent to the slot and changing its alignment by loosening two hex nuts, making the adjustment and tightening the nuts. It also has an extra, aluminum fence which can easily added to the main one. The table can be aligned parallel to the saw blade by loosening the nut under each of the table top’s four corners, moving the table top slightly one way or the other and tightening the nuts.
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The miter gauge also has an additional aluminum fence that can be added to it.
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It came with an all around 40-tooth blade. I mailed in a coupon that came with the saw and I received an 18-tooth crosscut blade and a 60-tooth blade for plywood, gratis.
It comes with a 4” dust port that I don’t use. It has an open stand to which I taped on three of it’s sides card board pieces which touch the floor and a fourth piece in front which is attached with Velcro. From time to time I lift up the cardboard piece in front and sweep out the sawdust. I do this to avoid the noise, cost and lost space of a vacuum.
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I made three sleds: one for cross cutting, another for using dado blades and a third for bevel cuts. Each one has ½” MDF for a base and two runners. The cross cut sled is 16” deep and 40” wide with 1” of plywood for each fence and a clear acrylic blade guard. It is easy to use, I get consistent cross cuts and it is quite safe. I can also attach stops and a tenon fence. The other sleds are smaller, measure 12” by 20” and have hardwood fences.
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I have had three occasions to call customer support and each time a person answered my call quickly and if they couldn’t help they transferred me to someone who could.
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On the negative side the screws supplied to attach items to the table’s sides did not work. I found the saw blade guard such a nuisance that I removed it. The miter gauge is just so, so.
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All in all I couldn’t be happier with my choice of table saws.
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Because it is my first one I bought a copy of “The Table Saw Book” and the accompanying DVD by Kelly Mehler. I studied them both very carefully and found them to be a tremendous help.
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G. H. – Beaufort, SC 7/1/07
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Replies
"I found the saw blade guard such a nuisance that I removed it." The problem with almost all stock blade guards. I do hope you have a splitter installed! Very dangerous to work without one. But seeing as how you were smart enough to buy and read Mehler's book, you already know that, right? ;-)
Yes, I always use a splitter.
hildy,
18-tooth crosscut blade ?? Are you sure it isn't a rip blade?
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
I spoke from my memory when I said it was a cross cut blade. Now I think I was wrong. I examined it and compared it to the saw blade descriptions in Mehler's book. It is a flat top grind (FTG) with a 20 degree forward rake. I tried it on a piece of 3/4" Southern Pine, both crosscutting and riping. Both were clean cuts with the rip the nicer of the two. It is an Orion 35931 blade. I tried to find a description of it on line without any luck. Sorry for the misinformation.
No issue here, it just seemed to me that an 18 tooth would be more of a ripping blade than a crosscut blade.
Happy trails with your Table Saw. Stay tuned in here as these folks are the greatest!
Cheers,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 7/3/2007 9:34 pm ET by KiddervilleAcres
Edited 7/3/2007 9:35 pm ET by KiddervilleAcres
Sounds like what is commonly known as the model 22114 "zipcode" saw.
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&pid=00922114000&cat=Bench+Power+Tools&subcat=Table+Saws&vertical=TOOL&ihtoken=1
I don't know what the term "zipcode saw" means but the link you provided goes to the saw I purchased.
The number 22114, being a five digit number, could very easily pass as a zip code in our mailing system. Some one noticed that and nicknamed the saw a zip code saw.
Couldn't find a match for the 22114 zip code but it is the model number for a Hamilton Beach 2-slice toaster! Bet it doesn't cut wood that well but maybe could be a mini kiln for small pieces of wood!
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
The model 22124 was the one that started the "ZCS" nickname...I believe it was over at Woodnet, but it spread to the 22114 and 22104. 22124 is the zip for Oakton, VA.Enjoy the new saw Hildy!
Edited 7/3/2007 7:04 am ET by Knotscott
You, with over a thousand posts to this forum, are pulling my leg!
tinkerer2,
Ooooopppsss, I thought I was over in Breaktime! No I wouldn't pull your leg, I only pull cabriole legs out of the vise when shaping them.
:-)
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 7/4/2007 8:49 am ET by KiddervilleAcres
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