Hi Guys,
It’s time to buy a new TS, my old on is all shot. So I need your opinions on the following saws. Delta #36-979, Jet #JWTS-10 and Hitachi #C10FL. I don’t know if I should even consider Craftsman at all. I know a lot of you guys recommend the Hybrid saws but the size of the contractor saws fit my shop better and the price my pocketbook. So, what do you think?
Thanks ZABO
Replies
"the size of the contractors saw fits my shop better"
Is your shop too big for the hybrid? As far as I know, all the hybrids have a smaller footprint than their comparative contractors model and I doubt the price is very different. You can use that extra space to walk around it. I think the contractors saws are on the way out.
Edited 2/26/2008 7:25 pm ET by Tinkerer3
Edited 2/26/2008 7:25 pm ET by Tinkerer3
Zabo: I'd go w/ the hybrid. It doesn't have the motor hanging out back, so it takes less room than the contractor saw & has a bit more HP.
James
ZABO: I share your hesitation about anything Craftsman, but, when I had gotten tired of my under-powered Delta contractor's saw and had decided to look at a hybrid, I went to check out the Craftsman. I ended up buying it and have never regretted it. More power, dust collection better with a closed base and no motor hanging out the back. Go see one and you'll be surprised. I don't know if they still put them on sale, since demand has risen, but they might.
Also, it comes with a Biesemeyer fence standard.
Bob K
Edited 2/26/2008 8:30 pm ET by bob k
ZABO,
If you are going to get a contractors saw, get the Ridgid TS3650. With a TEFC motor an all cast iron top, a better fence, more rip capacity and an excellent mobile base, it's twice the saw for about the same price as the ones you mentioned.
If you can swing a couple hundred more, look at the Craftsman 22124. It is over $1000 at the regular price but they frequently have it on sale for closer to $800. A really nice saw with a lot of features and an excellent Bessy fence as standard equipment.
Rob
The hybrids occupy less space, plus have better DC and a shorter drive belt. Jet, GI, Steel City, Craftsman, Grizzly, Sunhill, DeWalt, Shop Fox, and Delta all have good hybrids.
The Delta contractor saw you mentioned does have an excellent steel T2 fence, which is basically a "Biesemeyer Lite".
ZABO:
I purchased the Craftsman hybrid used over a year ago and have found it to be a much better saw than my old Craftsman contractors saw. So far no problems, fence is good, dust collection is good, and it fits in the space the old contractors saw occupied.
Good Luck with whatever you decide.
Zabo, I bought a Delta left hybrid. Very disappointed in it at first. Now that is set up and calibrated it works well. Bed was not milled flat, a ridge in it. Alignment was over 1/4" out, and two service calls to get it correct. It uses trunnions and bars to adjust it, and can move out of alignment if you rough move it. Paid 699 on special from Rockler, wish I spent another 600 on a Power Matic with 3 HP.
Check out this video. It compares 6 hybird saws.
http://fw_woodworking.permissiontv.com/index.html?showid=402947
ZABO,
Don't go the contractor saw route! I bought my Delta contractor saw right around the time the new DeWalt hybrid came out. I liked the idea of the hybrid with no motor hanging out the back, but I went the more traditional route. I really can't stand the motor hanging out the back, it gets in the way more than you realize and it has no real ability to collect the dust flying everywhere.
I would strongly suggest you stay away from anything that's a traditional contractor saw design, save yourself a great deal of aggravation down the road. Such as? Difficulty adjusting blade to miter slot, and the fact that the adjustment flies out the window when you tilt the blade to 45 degrees.
The Craftsman "ZIP Code" hybrid has served many people well, though I suspect the resale value suffers from Craftsman's bad rep. If you simply cannot afford a hybrid or a cabinet saw, buy a used contractor saw, and start saving up for a better one down the road. Or, as Rob A. mentioned, get a Ridgid contractor saw (and hope they don't stop stocking parts for it the way they have their planer. Oooh, sorry)
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 2/27/2008 2:26 am by forestgirl
Thanks for all the info guys it will help me with my decision.
Thanks ZABO
I have the Delta left-tilt cabinet saw and you couldn't take it away from me without a large gun. Think long-range; think cabinet.
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