glenn bradley
10-07-2006, 2:05 PM
My zip code saw is making sawdust. I had to exchange the whole saw (their idea, not mine) to correct a dished top. I had to exchange the extension wings due to bad bolt-hole placements. All in all after 30 days of trying parts and waiting on shipping time, the saw lives.
With the compensation from Sears and Orion to salvage my customer satisfaction level of zero about a week ago, the saw turned out to be VERY reasonably priced. Others may not have the patience for what I went through but, for a hobbyist with two other saws standing around, it wasn't too painful.
To help others who have chosen or are thinking about this saw, here's what I recommend checking on receipt of the saw:
- Check the table top for flatness. If there is a problem call Orion, not Sears. Orion will send you a new top, Sears swapped the whole saw.
- Check the wings for physical problems where the wing meets the table.
- Check the wings for proper hole alignment for the fence rails, mine were wrong due to a bad run.
Other than that and the time waiting on shipping, the saw's a beaut! Alignment of blade to miter gauge was off by a tenth out of the box. The cabinet mounted trunnions allowed me to correct this to within .001" in a matter of minutes. Quite an improvement over banging on the table mounted trunnions of my contractor saw only to have the alignment change as I tighten the bolts back up.
I plan to drill and use one of the 'spare' cast iron extensions in place of the Biesemeyer extension wing which is a joke. My TS extension-style router table will occupy the left hand side as that suits my shop and method of work. I have a rolling worktable that doubles as an out feed table so I didn't bother mounting the included mini out feed that comes with the saw.
Things I love:
- Biesemeyer fence.
- Once adjusted, top and wings are flat and level and solid.
- Power switch size, function and location.
- Trunnions raise, lower and swing very easily and smoothly and lock down tight.
- Motor behaves like much more than it's rated 1 3/4 HP.
- Dust collection is quite good.
Meeting the pic-police requirements:
With the compensation from Sears and Orion to salvage my customer satisfaction level of zero about a week ago, the saw turned out to be VERY reasonably priced. Others may not have the patience for what I went through but, for a hobbyist with two other saws standing around, it wasn't too painful.
To help others who have chosen or are thinking about this saw, here's what I recommend checking on receipt of the saw:
- Check the table top for flatness. If there is a problem call Orion, not Sears. Orion will send you a new top, Sears swapped the whole saw.
- Check the wings for physical problems where the wing meets the table.
- Check the wings for proper hole alignment for the fence rails, mine were wrong due to a bad run.
Other than that and the time waiting on shipping, the saw's a beaut! Alignment of blade to miter gauge was off by a tenth out of the box. The cabinet mounted trunnions allowed me to correct this to within .001" in a matter of minutes. Quite an improvement over banging on the table mounted trunnions of my contractor saw only to have the alignment change as I tighten the bolts back up.
I plan to drill and use one of the 'spare' cast iron extensions in place of the Biesemeyer extension wing which is a joke. My TS extension-style router table will occupy the left hand side as that suits my shop and method of work. I have a rolling worktable that doubles as an out feed table so I didn't bother mounting the included mini out feed that comes with the saw.
Things I love:
- Biesemeyer fence.
- Once adjusted, top and wings are flat and level and solid.
- Power switch size, function and location.
- Trunnions raise, lower and swing very easily and smoothly and lock down tight.
- Motor behaves like much more than it's rated 1 3/4 HP.
- Dust collection is quite good.
Meeting the pic-police requirements: