new table saw advice needed

[Stephen Sebed]

after using a cheap craftsman bottom of the line saw for the last 10 yrs or so; I finally managed to wear out the motor. So I'm in the market for a new saw. While I'd love to have a large cabinet saw, there is no way I could find a spot to put it! I'm looking at the contractor style saws on a folding mobile base. Right now I'm looking at the Bosch 4100 model. Any reviews of this saw or recommendations for another similar size saw?

[Van Huskey]

The Bosch is considered a bench top (though often used by contractors), a contractors saw is the next class up and not nearly as portable, and thus you hardly ever see a contractor using one...

The Bosch is the best in its class it is as simple as that though I prefer the Dewalt fence. Although I cringe at the thought of that much money for a portable saw I understand the situation. With any of the portable saws I suggest finding a way to weight the stand down when in use.

[Don Sundberg]

I have the Bosch 4100. It was my first saw and done every thing I have asked it. The fence is decent, dust collection is OK, and has had enough power with a thin kerf blade to do everything I have asked. The thickest hardwood I have ripped on it was 8/4 oak. I have cut a lot of PT with it which seems to be the hardest cutting just because it is wet and likes to react when being ripped. The riving knife is nice, easy to pop up and down, and works well.

If you want it to be portable (IE. load it up into your truck and go to a job with it) then the gravity rise stand and the slide out extensions for the table are very nice. If you are going for a less mobile setup then you could build into a bench.

About 8 mos ago I bought a used Unisaw at a school auction. After cleaning it up and replacing all of the bearings and belts, it is a horse. I put an Incra fence on it and would recommend this setup to anyone. That said I am keeping the Bosch because it is portable. I can fold it up and haul it into the house a job quick and easy. Sometimes it's nice to have two setups in the saws at once also. If you want a portable solution, the Bosch is one of the best choices.

Don

[Sam Murdoch]

I have been using the Bosch 4000 on a Rousseau 2500 base for the last 8 years or so. It was the smallest most affordable, most transportable saw and best featured saw, before stepping up to a 3 hp shop saw. I hated the 2 stands that Bosch sold at the time. The gravity rise has such a huge footprint and the smaller red stand was not portable - no wheels. The Rousseau made this saw a perfect set up. If you wore out the motor on one saw I'm guessing you use a T saw pretty regularly. I don't know for sure but I'm guessing that the 4100 might prove to be too much of a small saw. The Bosch 4000 might be a better next saw for you that would serve you well for many many years.

[Robert Chapman]

If you really want a "contractor" size saw I would stronly urge you to look very seriously at the SawStop Contractor saw. I don't own one but I just bought a SawStop Professional Cabinet saw and in addition to the SawStop safety feature it is a very high quality table saw. Having said that I also think that you cannot go wrong with most Bosch products.

[glenn bradley]

I guess I'll be the one to mention that a cabinet saw's footprint is often smaller than a contractor or a job saw and stand ;-) One of the advantages I got when moving to a cabinet format saw was all the room I got back.

[Kevin W Johnson]

after using a cheap craftsman bottom of the line saw for the last 10 yrs or so; I finally managed to wear out the motor. So I'm in the market for a new saw. While I'd love to have a large cabinet saw, there is no way I could find a spot to put it! I'm looking at the contractor style saws on a folding mobile base. Right now I'm looking at the Bosch 4100 model. Any reviews of this saw or recommendations for another similar size saw?

What kind of room are you dealing with? I'm with Glen, the footprints aren't any different. Saws like the PM66 and Delta Uni with standard tops aren't very big, and on a mobile base can be moved around the room easily. I have my PM66 in a 12'x20' shop, it's kept company by 2 rolling tool boxes, a Rikon 10-325 band saw, a 60gal air compressor, refridgerator, bench drill press and disk/belt snader on a rolling cart, 15ft or so of work bench w/ my lathe mounted on it, a computer stand w/computer and TV with radio and amp mounted above it, a Craftsman 10" band saw (Rikon 10-305 clone), and a rolling router table.

[Stephen Sebed]

I'm working in a double car garage with very little extra space on the sides or up front. At the end of any work day everything is folded up and rolled to the edge of the garage so two vehicles can still be parked inside.

[Bill Huber]

When I started looking at getting a new saw, I looked at cabinet saw but my shop is in a shed and the weight of them was more then I wanted. Space is a biggy for me and I went with the Jet contractor saw, the motor is in side so the saw takes up no more room then a cabinet saw and it is lighter.

I have been really happy with the Jet, it is a little under power but I still cut 8\4 hardwood all the time.

[Kevin W Johnson]

I'm working in a double car garage with very little extra space on the sides or up front. At the end of any work day everything is folded up and rolled to the edge of the garage so two vehicles can still be parked inside.

So are you folding the saw up so the top of the saw is vertical in storage? Or is the table saw just rolled to the end or edge?

There's also this phrase, " Honey, I think your car would be much happier sitting out in the fresh air". :p

[Paul McGaha]

If I were looking for a contractors saw I think I would keep an eye on craigslist and pick up a good Delta or Powermatic or similar saw. I see quality contractor saws in our local craigslist (Washington DC) routinely.

Glenn and Kevin make a good point though, some cabinet saws don't have a bigger footprint than a contractor saw.

If I was looking for a new contractor saw I think I would also seriously consider a new Sawstop.

PHM

[Van Huskey]

The basic format of the saw comes down to how much room one actually has, the job site saws like the Bosch don't take up much room and can be stored on a bench, on a shelf (how high depends on how strong you are) or even horizontal. The true "contractors saws" take up more real estate than the average cabinet saw. Stephen first has to decide how much room he is actually willing to devote to TS storage.

[Mac McQuinn]

I've been working with a Jet Contractor saw for 17 years and while it's been very reliable and does a great job, it does take up quite a bit of room and produce an abundance of sawdust. I'm going to list it FS in the next few weeks and will be looking very hard at the Bosch 4100-09. I like to push the TS outside to do my cutting and even with a mobile base, a contractor saw is not very portable. Mine will high center on the transition between garage and driveway. I'm also in a 2-car garage and the Bosch is 1/2 half the size of my Jet when folded up, that is a lot of space when it's sparse. On another forum, guys have a lot of praise for the Bosch and have modified it to capture the majority of sawdust with smaller collector. The only real possible downfall I see with the Bosch is it's slightly noisier and the distance in front of the blade seems relatively small, making it tougher to cut sheet goods. This is typical of most bench saw's though. This can be easily addressed by cutting your sheet goods down with a circular saw 1st and then cutting to size with the TS. Prices on the Bosch vary considerably through the year, best I've seen was just after Christmas at $490ish with all rebates, etc.
Good luck,
Mac



after using a cheap craftsman bottom of the line saw for the last 10 yrs or so; I finally managed to wear out the motor. So I'm in the market for a new saw. While I'd love to have a large cabinet saw, there is no way I could find a spot to put it! I'm looking at the contractor style saws on a folding mobile base. Right now I'm looking at the Bosch 4100 model. Any reviews of this saw or recommendations for another similar size saw?

[Sam Murdoch]

For some perspective - here is a photo of the Bosch 4000 on a Rosseau 2500 stand all folded up against the wall. 17" deep and 32" tall and another of it set up to work. Pretty compact rig.

233077 233078

[Kevin W Johnson]

The basic format of the saw comes down to how much room one actually has, the job site saws like the Bosch don't take up much room and can be stored on a bench, on a shelf (how high depends on how strong you are) or even horizontal. The true "contractors saws" take up more real estate than the average cabinet saw. Stephen first has to decide how much room he is actually willing to devote to TS storage.


Yeah, that's why I'm trying to get more details about how he's storing his saw. Just making sure all he's thought about all the angles, as there is no comparsion between a portable TS and a cabinet saw.

[Jim Colombo]

I can't say anything about the Bosch but I can tell you to stay away from the Ridgid R4510. I know they give a lifetime warranty but what good is a saw if you can't use it? I've had mine for 14 months and it's been in the repair shop for over 6 months. Hope this helps you decide.

[Adrian Anguiano]

If you wait 7 more days, powermatic is coming out with a "big suprise." Who knows what it will be. You never know, it could be a portable table saw with blade stopping technology.

[Stephen Sebed]

yes, this saw will be stored folded up at the edge of the garage. I don't have the room for anything like a true contractor or cabinet saw. The bosch 4100-09 is still looking good. How is Dewalt's saw with the rack and pinion fence set up?

Thanks for the heads up on the rigid saw. Rigid tools always look good but I keep hearing bad things about customer service.

[Andrew Pitonyak]

I LOVE my SawStop, but probably too big for you. I almost purchased the BOSCH you mention. I liked how easy it was to move around. I can also say that Dewalt had great customer service the one time I needed to deal with them.

[Prashun Patel]

If yr dead set on folding it up, I'd go for the Bosch. The product and company just don't get any negative reviews, and I'm sure you'll be able to resell it for good $$ if/when you decide u need to upgrade.

I've used Bosch drills, routers, and sanders, and I can say their quality and service is top notch.

The only reason to get a different saw is if you want MORE saw. In the portables/bench/rollaround/foldups, there just isn't anything significantly better FROM WHAT I READ.

[Jim Andrew]

I have a Dewalt, for a tiny little plastic saw with a sheetmetal top, it's not bad. Best thing about it is the fence. Used it as a jobsite saw, have a Uni in my shop.

[Van Huskey]

If you wait 7 more days, powermatic is coming out with a "big suprise." Who knows what it will be. You never know, it could be a portable table saw with blade stopping technology.

IMNSHO Powermatic will NEVER make a bench top table saw, if they do I will eat my PM2000 manual.

[Stephen Sebed]

Sounds like the bosch is the winner! Any suggestions on what blade I should get for it? I will cut a limited amount of plywood, but mostly will be cutting 4/4 black walnut (had several trees milled last year and I'm itchin' to start using it!)

[Stephen Sebed]

On the same note. Should I use separate blades for ripping and crosscutting? I've always used the same blade on my table saw for both, a 40 tooth freud. Also, I'm looking for a new blade for my miter saw. It's a Hitachi 10" sliding compound miter saw, which usually wears a 60 tooth freud blade. What's a good blade for it?

[Doug Colombo]

Forrest blades for both your saws. WW II for the table saw and Chop Master for the Hitachi.

[Prashun Patel]

For the tablesaw, I'm partial to combo (50t) blades for cross cutting, and a dedicated ripping blade (24-30t) for stock > 4/4. I only put on the ripping blade when I have a bunch of large and rough rips at the start of a project. The combo blade is clean on the cross cuts, but also hearty enough to rip fairly well.

[David Helm]

I'm going to go a different route with this reply. Had a Bosch 4100 that I used as a jobsite saw. I really liked the saw, except for the fact that shortly after the warranty expired, the saw expired. Admittedly I probably used the jobsite saw more than the average amateur woodworker would use it, but for $600 + it was just too short lived.

[Mac McQuinn]

It would be relatively easy for Powermatic to actually do this in a bit of badge engineering as Jet already makes a Bench model saw and I believe they're both owned by same company, WMH.

Mac



IMNSHO Powermatic will NEVER make a bench top table saw, if they do I will eat my PM2000 manual.

[Kevin W Johnson]

Yeah, I agree, a 50T combo blade is a good compromise or all around blade if you'd like to have one blade. Something else to consider is a thin kerf blade, which will be easier on those saws with "universal" motors on them.

[Prashun Patel]

+1 on the TK blade.

[Curt Harms]

There's an embarrasment of riches when it comes to quality 10" saw blades. Infinity tools has a new think kerf 10" blade for $99. Amazon has a Freud Fusion 10" think kerf for $68 w/ free shipping. If budget is an issue, I'd look at Oshlun. They're not well known but I don't believe I've seen a poor review of them. Here's one source:

http://holbren(dot)com/saw-blades/

Personally I've been pretty happy with Freud. If I had a bench top saw, I'd make a real effort to stay thin kerf.

[Michael Dunn]

I just bought the Bosch 4100 and used it for the first time on site today. It is super simple to get in/out of my van (even with a bum ankle...) The stand is brilliant. Although I must confess it took me much too long to figure out how to open it for use. Your foot has to slightly pull the kick bar toward you. For some reason my brain thought it should push the kick bar away when your supposed to pull it toward you.

Dust collection... I'll tell you tomorrow. I ran out of trash bags and had a full shop vac so my suction was low.

The fence is telescoping and was out of square out of the box. I adjusted it in a few seconds.

The miter slots were .006" out from front of the blade to the rear of the blade. I usually try for less than .005". I was in a hurry when I set it up. One day I'll dial it in real good.

I've yet to use the miter gauge, but it seems very nice.

One annoying simple overlooked detail of this saw is that the push stock is stored... IN THE REAR OF THE SAW?!?!? Come on!!!

I'm not necessarily saying that you should buy this saw. I'm just saying that so far my experience has been positive.