I recentley bought a Steel City Table Saw #35685 50″ Industrial fence with the mobile base #80101 and the table extension base #80104. I assumed with this set up I could maneuver the saw around my garage for set up easily, but its more like trying to move a stubborn elephant! The caster wheel slides sideways instead of turning in the direction I’m wanting to. Its useless. SC sent a new caster but thats no help. I noticed the 80101 under the saw has two holes drilled in wheel end with wheels in lower position hole from the factory. I need four people to lift saw to try in top holes. Before trying that, anyone have the same saw and problems? Also a loud screech from belt at startup. I’ve never had such a powerfull saw before so I’m not sure if this is normal. Thanks to anyone who can help!
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I don't have that mobile base but I have had two different sets of casters which exhibited the same behavior this year. The solution for me was to spray lubricant into the ball bearings in the pivots. It makes a surprising difference.
davidb
Thanks Dave for the advice, I'll give it a try.
Which saw is that? That number isn't on their website anymore -- the model numbers are constantly changing. I have #35905, the 3hp "lighter" model, which is still over 400 lbs. I resisted the temptation to go 50" and I'm glad I did. I have the same mobile base sans extension. It's good and solid, but the pedal raises the rt. hand side quite high, so that when you eventually release it it comes down with a helluva clunk. It's mobile enough without the extension, but I have a hard time visualizing how the extension can work properly with the basic base tipped so much. Having only one turning wheel in the middle of the saw would seem to compound the problem for extension users. I've always found General style bases too flimsy, but having 2 turning wheels in front makes a lot more sense with an extension. The SC base seems to be a Delta clone, so perhaps someone with a Unisaw can give you better advice.
Jim
"The SC base seems to be a Delta clone, so perhaps someone with a Unisaw can give you better advice." Following a great deal of input from Knots members, I bought the Delta base for my Unisaw (53" fence, so there's the extension). It is extremely smooth and easy to move, and very sturdily made, much beefier than the Shop Fox or Jet for instance.
If anyone with a Steel City wants measurements from the Delta base, just LMK, I'll provide them. Oh, ease of assembly?? Fantastic.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I've been looking at my base, and I don't think moving the fixed wheels to the higher slots would help mobility. The net effect would be to bring the frame closer to the ground, less clearance, and wouldn't that have the opposite effect? It would also raise the right side of the saw when the foot pedal is used, and affect the setting of all of your adjustment feet.
It is an awkward setup to use if like me you're used to having the swivel casters at the sawfront, but I'm getting used to it. You more or less have to use the extension table like the handle of a wheelbarrow, which is a pain if you keep it against the wall.
Re the screech: do you have the one-belt or the three-belt model?
Jim
Jim, the SC#35685 is the 50" version of the SC#35675, and it isn't shown on their site, ??? Your foot pedal raises your saw up high enough to make a "clunk" upon release, where mine barely lifts it high enough to to lift the rubber feet off the floor. Compounded by the nylon feet on the extension side, its just impossible to move this thing without getting a hernia! Very frustrating for the almost $200 bucks it cost me. I'm ready to junk it, buy a little welding rig (i've always wanted one anyway) and make my own! HTC has some nice looking ones on their site but none for my setup yet. Thanks for all the advice.
Sounds like you've got some heavy lifting ahead, no matter what. Too bad in a way that the base comes fully assembled. I went ahead and used mine without double-checking the lifting mechanism, which seems to be the problem with yours. SC might replace the whole thing -- I've found their service people quite helpful. I take back what I said about using the alternate holes, since that might raise the right side of the saw a bit, which might help.
The numbering system drives you crazy. I waited for the riving-knife model, and it went through 2 or 3 number changes before it hit the street. The number on the manual isn't the same as the one on the website. Going to be fun ordering parts.
Good luck,
Jim
Thanks Jim for trying to help me think this out. I've got to come up with something because I find myself not using my Dream Saw because its such a pain in the butt to move to the center of my garage from the wall where I store it. I havent spoken to Sam @ SC in customer service in awhile, who was genuinely interested in resolving this problem by sending out a new caster. Bottom line is SC has to fix this. Base and saw amounts to close to $1500 for a saw I curse to use. Also, in reply to your belt question, it is a single belt drive. Just a quick SCREECH and its ready to go. But I'm worried over time it may cause belt failure early. Of course if I never use it much because of the base problem, I guess the belt will last a lifetime! I'll let you know what SC says. Thanks again!
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