Replies

1. 
   Ricks503 | Jun 23, 2005 12:46am | #1

   I will add some more cunfusion for you.  The new Craftsman Hybrids have been getting some real good responses from others here.  I own the ridgid and am happy with it. If I was in the market today, If I could hit all the sales and discounts, I would go with the sears.  List is about $850 ( the price of a grizzly cabinet saw) but with sale, discounts and such I have heard of people getting the saw with the 2 yr warranty for $600 - and sears will deliver it for you.

   1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go        4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
2. 
   Steve50 | Jun 23, 2005 02:14am | #2

   I don't really pay a whole lot of attention to editors choices, best value, or whatever they want to call them.  These are biased by the individual habits and preferences of the reviewer and they may not be your preferences.  Each saw will have its pros and cons.  I recommend using the magazines and other forums (such as this) to solicit facts about a particular machine.  It is up to you to separate the facts from the fiction.  I get irritated at magazines and others who state that a particular saw or whatever is the "best".  Quite simply, no one, myself included has used every saw and can make such an assessment and have any shred of integrity left  If you are interested in the General and it appears to fit your needs, solicit feedback from actual users of that saw and make your decision if it is right for you.  If the General is what you want, by all means go for it!

   Good luck with your decision. Steve

3. 
   Dustmight | Jun 23, 2005 03:23am | #3

   I used the GI 50-185 for 27 months and thought it was a great contractor saw. Never once did it ever occur to me that the cursor was too fine, nor did I miss t-slots in the fence. Instead, I really liked the ultra smooth faces of that fence....which by the way are nearly identical to the same ultra smooth faces on the Biesemeyer fence that Wood Magazine rated #1....hhhmmm....egg on their paid-off faces! I will concede that the manual isn't very good, but it was good enough to get me through the assembly. I learned later from the internet that it really wasn't any good! ;-) (LOL!)

   That review was so critical on a couple of knitpicks on other saws, yet they forgave shortcomings that I view as incredibly important, and omitted mentioning several other things on other saws. I guess the point here is that reviews aren't to be taken as gospel. If you think the GI has what's important to you, I can vouch that it's a fine quality saw that's built to perform and last.

   I recently traded it for a Sears 22124. It's cuts just as well as the GI and I really like the full cabinet and improved DC, smaller footprint, cabinet trunnions and many of the other features....although the GI has the better stock miter gauge. If the price is right, the 22124 is quite a bargain.

   In this price range it's hard to go wrong...pick the one YOU like best.

4. 
   BG | Jun 23, 2005 01:57pm | #4

   Shalom,
   A ley differentiator that most in this hobby/profession look for is manufacturer support. Having someone knowledgable to talk to about issues or suggest repair/correction methods is extremely helpful.
   General along with Delta, Powermatic and now Grizzly have good support...I'm sure there are others....but Craftsman, Rigid, etc. don't get mentioned much for good support.

    

1. 
   Ricks503 | Jun 23, 2005 11:18pm | #5

   Actually, I think over in Knots there has been some favorable posts about sears service responses for their new saws.1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go        4 - get a new board and go back to step 1

1. 
   BG | Jun 24, 2005 01:53am | #6

   Rick503
   Perhaps I am being a bit to critical of Craftsman support. I was approaching the issue from two perspectives: (1)an infrastructure to respond to customers questions/issues, and, (2)sufficient experience with the saw to resolve issues appropriately. I suspect there has been such little change in Delta, Powermatic, General over the years that they have a strong knowledge base to work from, plus, of course, the number of piecees of equipment in the field, certainly stronger than many competitors. 

2. 
   Dustmight | Jun 24, 2005 04:00am | #7

   I agree with you Rick...Orion has been tremendous.

2. 
   WillGeorge | Jun 25, 2005 08:46pm | #8

   I have a Rigid TS.. I like it ALOT! BUT.. I called once.. Told me to hall it to some 'shop' they had to 'fix it'  DAMN!

3. 
   Shalom | Jun 26, 2005 07:54pm | #9

   Thank you so much Rick 503, Steve, Knot Scott and BG for your thoughtful comments. I learned a lot. Also, I did decide, thanks in part to your advice, to order the General. I'm really looking forward to getting it home and to cutting my very first piece of wood (which I'll probably frame and hang on my wall). Anyone who wants to come over and help me put it together is welcome. I'm serving cookies and coffee. Thanks again. You are so great. Shalom

1. 
   Ricks503 | Jul 03, 2005 05:54pm | #17

   If you frame it, make sure to make the frames as well - no buying them now!1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go        4 - get a new board and go back to step 1

5. 
   ksrlunchbox | Jun 26, 2005 09:18pm | #10

   I've had one of the Ridgid saws. For a contractors saw it worked very well. However the fence was not up to snuff, for me and i don't like the pressed metal extentions. I replaced the fence with a micro adjust Vega. I recently (6 months ago) purchased one of the General International cabinet saws. The ridgid is a good saw, we still use it for some tasks. It has taken a lot of abuse and other than a belt, blades and the aforementioned fence has given no problems at all. That said, it can't hold a candle to the general. The only possible complaint I've had is that a grizzly sliding table, that i've already got, doesn't work with it. The general is powerful, quiet, exact, and has done everything i've asked of it. Any problems I've expereinced have been the result of my own moronic mistakes.
   Both are good saws, but the general cabinet saw wins hands down.
   good luck
   john

1. 
   Shalom | Jun 26, 2005 10:40pm | #11

   Thanks for your encouragement. I need it. I'm getting the General contractor's saw rather than the cabinet. I expect that mechanically it will work as well. Shalom

1. 
   Walker1 | Jun 29, 2005 08:02am | #12

   I also used a craftsmen direct drive for a few years,had to measure every time I locked the fence.That said for the money I paid I did alot of good work with it ,and it still works as good as the day I brought it home.However a year ago I decided it was time to upgrade I'd earned it. After alot of research and shopping and hours of examining and trying all that were available to me I decided to take a chance on the new General hybrid 50-220 mi and I could'nt be happier. Its a very beefy saw with a ton of power and runs as smooth as silk. I have read a few complaints about it. First was a lack of an instruction manual .Personally I did'nt find a  need for one, if your familiar with tablesaws, this one holds no surprises. I ordered the 52 in rails and beisemeyer fence,yes Ihad to drill two holes to mount the rails because the saw was supposed to come with a cheaper aluminum fence,but after complaints General decided to make the beisemeyer available .I paid fifty dollars extra.I was'nt happy with the miter guage and after complaining got the real one for no charge. After spending an hour or two dialing it in it has been dead accurate and a pleasure to use.I think General delivered an awsome saw for a great price.

1. 
   Shalom | Jun 30, 2005 07:02pm | #14

   Me too. I did a lot of good work with my Craftman 10" and it's still as good as new after about 10 years of service. I don't know what I've done to deserve a better one, but I made I've come to the same conclusion as you did. So I'm getting the General contractor's saw as a reward to myself, perhaps for tolerating that fence for so many years.

6. 
   bert5 | Jun 29, 2005 09:15am | #13

   I have a 10" craftsman (1958) I bought new.  Had many serious run ins with that fence.  Finally, after a broken tooth, I bought a Biesmeyer fence and all the problems were solved.

1. 
   Shalom | Jun 30, 2005 07:06pm | #15

   I should have done the same, but I was told that it was not possible to replace the fence. I didn't investigate further. Now I'm jealous.

1. 
   GaryK | Jul 03, 2005 09:16am | #16

   Just my 2 cents.  I have had a number of saws and now have a Delta Unisaw. The most important things I have found on the saws I have owned are: keeping it well tuned, buying a good after market fence, and a good blade. I agree also that customer service is a plus, but have only had to use it once. The folks at Delta walked me through the repair on the phone. I think I could put my Excalibur fence on just about any of the saws you have mentioned and it would perform more than adequately.

   Like I said,

   Just my 2 cents

   Gary