Table Saw – Cast Iron vs. Steel Wings?
kentmich
| Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
I’m just setting up my first shop. On the new Jet hybrid table saw I want, the cast iron wings add an extra $100 to the price. Are they worth it? If I get the “steel” (ie. sheet metal) wings, at what point might I wish I had shelled out the extra $100 for cast iron?
Replies
YES, YES, YES, get the cast. They add umph to the saw wich gives you stability(less vibration). If you can swing it get a cabinet saw. You don't mention your ability to use 240. I went from a shop smith to a cabinet saw. What a difference! Good luck on the new shop!
If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
Edited 2/2/2008 8:04 pm by bones
" ...the cast iron wings add an extra $100 to the price. Are they worth it?" Absolutely!!! I had steel wings on my old Jet saw when I got it, stumbled across a set of CI wings and could not believe how much nicer it was with them on there. Get the CI wings!
I started out with pressed steel wings, and cast-iron was a great improvement. They're not only heavier, they align better and the sleeker surface helps with wide panels and jigs.
Jim
Kent,
Yes.
Chris @ flairwoodworks
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
CI is a "nice to have" IMHO, but not a "have to have". I think it's worth the $100 but if you've got to cut a feature, using steel wings is the lesser of two evils as opposed to a lesser fence or cruder trunnion design, and makes little to no difference in performance. You can always add one or both CI wings later, and maybe add some sort of laminate extension in place of one wing. You may regret not getting them, maybe not...it's probably cheaper to get both now than later, so ask yourself if you will still be missing the additional $100 six months from now. b/c you'll definitely still be enjoying the CI if you go that route!
Edited 2/3/2008 10:51 am ET by Knotscott
Sold - Cast iron it is! Thanks to you all.
"Sold - Cast iron it is! Thanks to you all."...Could have sworn I heard a roar from the crowd! :D
Edited 2/4/2008 3:49 pm ET by Knotscott
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