table saw quest

[Charlie McGuire]

I've been thinking of getting a new table saw and was interested in the hybrids since I'm limited to 110.

So, I've read a lot of good things about the 1.7 HP Steel City saws with riving knife. I don't think I'm interested in granite tops, but assume the saw can be built with cast iron.

My problem is I'd really like to look at one of these saws in person, but from where I am in Eastern Iowa, there's no dealers within 100 miles and one dealer (Woodsmith) listed in Des Moines says they don't have any 1.75HP models. Anyone know of any other places closer to Eastern Iowa that carry these saws?

I was also under the impression that these saws could be purchased for 1K or thereabouts. On-line prices I've seen at Woodcraft or Toolking are 1250. And then there's shipping. Is this the going rate ?

Thanks,
Charlie

[Matt Woessner]

Charlie,
Have you seen the new Ridgid 4511 TS. It does have a grainite top though, but looks really nice. It is 1.5HP. They seem really nice and they are around $599 at Home Depot. Just another option.

[Charlie McGuire]

Matt, no I haven't seen the Ridgid. I'm not sure they are in Home Depot's yet - nearest HD to me is 30 miles. Not sure what component/quality differences there might be between SC and the Ridgid.

Charlie

[Myk Rian]

Here's a review I did on the SC 65670 when I put mine together.
http://www.routerforums.com/tool-reviews/7758-steel-city-65720-review.html
Good price here.
http://www.dynamitetoolco.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=STL-35670&click=123
(http://www.routerforums.com/tool-reviews/7758-steel-city-65720-review.html)

[Charlie McGuire]

Myk, I see in your review you mention riving knife. I didn't think the 35670 had riving knife - just the newer models 35900x. ?

Charlie

[Prashun Patel]

FWW really liked this one in 2007:

Woodtek 148-271

I'm happy with my Jet JPS10 Proshop.

[Randy Tullis]

I am in the same boat you are as far as only having 110 in my shop. I did some searching and ended up getting a General cabinet saw that runs on 110. I got the extended table and I love it. General make a good table saw. You might want to look into them.

Randy

[Myk Rian]

Myk, I see in your review you mention riving knife. I didn't think the 35670 had riving knife - just the newer models 35900x. ?Charlie
No riving knife, just the splitter/guard.

[Bob Rufener]

I don't know if this will help or not. There is a Woodcraft store in Madison, WI. Not terribly far from eastern Iowa depending on how far south you are.

616 Westgate MallMadison, WI 53711 Phone: (608) 273-8868 Fax: (608) 273-3409 madison-retail@woodcraft.com (madison-retail@woodcraft.com)

http://www.woodcraft.com/stores/images/button_visitstorepage.gif (http://www.woodcraft.com/stores/store.aspx?id=504)

[Charlie McGuire]

After more poking around at prices, etc, I'm now considering 3 HP saws.

I think I have it narrowed between Grizzly G0691 and Steel City 35618.

I like the design of the 691 (dust port on side). The SC looks like the fence may be nicer. Warranty on SC is 5 yr, Grizzly I assume 1 yr.

Anyone have any fit/finish comments or other comparisons between these two ?

Thanks,
Charlie

[Thad Nickoley]

Well, I did it. Thank you for all the help offered here and all you input. I just orderd the Grizzly 1023SL. I will keep you all updated........ They are offering free shipping right now. I dont know how long the offer is going on but that helped make my decision.

[Don Morris]

Join the 1023SL club. Just happened to be up late and browsed the thread. I've got the 1023SL as do a number of "creekers", and for the most part we're very, very pleased with it. Enjoy!

[glenn bradley]

The Steel City is a near twin of the Craftsman 22124 (designed and manufactured by the same people). Is there a Sears near you?

[Charlie McGuire]

The Craftsman 22124 is a hybrid saw. I've looked at them and decided not to go that route. Not enough improvement over my contractor saw except for dust collection for more $$.

The SC 35618 is a 3HP cabinet saw.

The G0491 is the new Grizzly 3HP with riving knife.

The 1023SL is tempting with free shipping. So how great would it be to have the riving knife ?

[Chip Lindley]

Charlie? How you gonna use a 3hp saw on 120v???? Surely not on a 15a or even 20a circuit! If you are gonna have to re-wire for a huge 120v breaker, might as well run a 240v line!! Then you are ALL SET!

[Charlie McGuire]

Chip, yup, you're right.

After looking at the prices of hybrids, I decided I would be better off biting the bullet and having a 220 line installed and going with a 3HP saw.

The Grizz G0691 is very tempting, but it's a new saw and haven't seen too many reviews from folks who've bought one. It's pretty too. Trying to decide how important or desireable a riving knife is. Very handy with some cuts, but not used most of the time if the guard is on (I keep my guard on). I have a shark guard on my contractor saw that I really like for the on/off ease and dust collection. Hate to give that up. Wondering if the fence is the SF Classic.

The SC 35618 is 3HP but no RV.

Then there's the 1023 SLX. Two CI wings or one? Has free shipping now.

I'm figuring this will be my last saw for a good many years at least.

[Don Morris]

Opppps, wasn't thinking well up late. If you go the 1023SL you will need that 220v line. As far as the riving knife and the 1023...I read a thread by Scott Spencer and he mentioned Bob Ross offers a riving knife for the Griz 1023 and Shop Fox left tilt cab saws....it's an aftermarket riving knife that travels up and down and tilts with the blade...~ $125 IIRC. Do a "search" and you can find that thread. Haven't done it because I put in a removable Biesemeyer splitter which I use. The Bies splitter was for a Unisaw which as you will find, the 1023 is a darn close Chinese clone of the Unisaw. Went on without any modifications. Decisions, decisions, decisions.....

[Paul Wunder]

Charlie,

If you can't look at the Steel city Hybrid, go to a Sears and look at their 10" hybrid professional saw 22124 (known as the zipcode saw). It is the original of the Steel city. The Craftsman is made by Orien, which is the OEM division of Steel city and was its predecessor. The guts are pretty much the same with cabinet mounted trunions and a 1 3/4 hp motor. Nice machime. I have it now for two years and like it very much. The Sears model comes with the Bies commercial fence. You can also call Steel city and ask them to email you an instruction manual in PDF format. That's what I did and it was very helpful.
I'm not suggesting that you buy the Cman instead of the Steel City; just pointing out that you can tell a lot about the SC by looking at the Cman.

Good luck.