Table saw upgrade???

[Jay Yoder]

Good morning everyone!! Just thought i would throw this question out for all...next spring i plan on selling my craftsman 22114 hybrid, and going with full out cabinet saw. I believe i have narrowed it down between steel city, Jet and a shop-fox...i really like the steel city, but am kinda nervous about service parts for a company that just started...i have and love my Jet equipment, so they get the nod for my personal experience, and the shop fox i looked at looks well built and i can get a 5 hp 52" rt cut for about 1500...this purchase hopefully will last me for 30 years...anyone have personal experience with any or all of these? Thanks alot!!!

[Matt Meiser]

If you are considering Shop Fox, look at Grizzly too--they are the same company. And there are many, many Grizzly cabinet saw owners, and they are well known for thier customer service.

[James Phillips]

I am biased toward my sawstop, and will make just one arguement here. If you are tuly looking at a machine to last 30 years i would look at the SawStop or a powermatic. I know both are more expensive than the ones you listed, but IMHO both are much much better.....

Good Luck in you r decision

[Jim DeLaney]

I've had the Shop Fox 3 hp for about five years now, and can't say enough good things about it. It's been absolutely 'bulletproof.'

Fit and finish are great.

Table has less than 0.002" variance overall, and the arbor has virtually zero runout.

The Shop Fox Classic fence is a very good copy of a Biesemeyer, and just as solidly built as the Biese, but has removeable/adjustable (via shims if you need them) faces.

In the five years I've had it, and I've used it a lot, it has NEVER needed to be adjusted/realigned. It's just been rock solid, dead-on.

I have no clue what dealer support is like - because I've never needed it!

[Ron Jones near Indy]

I too have a Shop Fox at home. I have used a Unisaw (right tilt) and 2 PM 66s (left tilt) at work for nearly 40 years. The Unisaw gave way to the PMs in the fall of '75. When I bought one for home use, I looked at Delta, PM and SF. It was an easy decision. I have had the SF for nearly 5 years and it has done everything I have asked of it with ease. I would do the same today.

[Ed Falis]

I've had the Shop Fox 3 hp for about five years now, and can't say enough good things about it. It's been absolutely 'bulletproof.'
...

Jim, I remember when you got it. Glad to hear you're still delighted with it! I'm still happy with my Bridgewood, too, that I got around the same time. Too bad about Wilke getting out of that business, though.

- Ed

[John Shuk]

All bulletproof saws in a similar price range. You might want to keep your eyes open for the new Delta offering this July as well. I'm hoping it will be a big improvement over the Unisaw which I own and love.

[Jay Yoder]

Thanks to everyone's inputs...i am probably going windown shopping this afternoon to look first hand...i would also like to see a jet cabinet saw, but the woodcraft near me only has saw stop and pm...and jet contractors saw...i like the way steel city does the table extensions...allows set screws to level the wings!!

[Rod Sheridan]

You could purchase a North American made saw (General is made in Quebec).

I have the 650 model, really like it.

Regards, Rod.

[Clint Winterhalter]

I've had the Shop Fox 3 hp for about five years now, and can't say enough good things about it. It's been absolutely 'bulletproof.'

Fit and finish are great.

Table has less than 0.002" variance overall, and the arbor has virtually zero runout.

The Shop Fox Classic fence is a very good copy of a Biesemeyer, and just as solidly built as the Biese, but has removeable/adjustable (via shims if you need them) faces.

In the five years I've had it, and I've used it a lot, it has NEVER needed to be adjusted/realigned. It's just been rock solid, dead-on.

I have no clue what dealer support is like - because I've never needed it!

Jay,
I have the same saw that Jim does. (I got mine a few months ago). Jim is right on the money regarding build quality. Mine didn't require much adjustment at all right out of the box. I'm currently waiting for delivery of a Shark Guard / blade guard / splitter system. The guard along with a crosscut sled and out feed table have made the saw a real work horse for me.

Good Luck, let us know what you decide on..

Clint

[Jay Yoder]

I went and looked at the shop fox, delta and steel city, also a bit at general...i was really impressed with the quality of the steel city...it actually felt sturdier than the unisaw! Guess for the money i see it steel city, then shop fox. I know it is a bit more for the SC...i just really liked the feel!!! Seems like a top notch company too! Anyone else had experience with Steel City or their products? Thanks again all!!!

[Tom Henderson2]

By all accounts the Sawstop is a superb machine. I can't recall hearing one negative comment about them from anybody that has used them.

But your comment about lasting 30 years got me thinking.

The cartridges are a proprietary product. What happens if Sawstop goes under, or moves on to newer designs and stops supporting the original design? Can you use the Sawstop if you don't have an unfired cartridge available?

This isn't a dig at sawstop; I hope I don't get flamed for asking what I believe is a fair question. Stationary power tools of the Sawstop quality are intended to last a lifetime or longer.

[Brian Clevenger]

I am biased toward my sawstop, and will make just one arguement here. If you are tuly looking at a machine to last 30 years i would look at the SawStop or a powermatic. I know both are more expensive than the ones you listed, but IMHO both are much much better.....

Good Luck in you r decision

They've been making some great tooling in McMinnville, TN for a long time.

I'm currently searching for a 66 myself. I like green. :cool:

[James Phillips]

By all accounts the Sawstop is a superb machine. I can't recall hearing one negative comment about them from anybody that has used them.

But your comment about lasting 30 years got me thinking.

The cartridges are a proprietary product. What happens if Sawstop goes under, or moves on to newer designs and stops supporting the original design? Can you use the Sawstop if you don't have an unfired cartridge available?

This isn't a dig at sawstop; I hope I don't get flamed for asking what I believe is a fair question. Stationary power tools of the Sawstop quality are intended to last a lifetime or longer.

I am going to assume that if SawStop were to go under (which I doubt based on the quality of the product) that they would release information on how to bypass the safety features in the event a cartridge was not available. If they did not someone on the net would...

[Ron Jones near Indy]

I don't think anyone can question the validity of Tom's question concerning the future availability of the Saw Stop cartridge. I'm not being critical of the saw or the company. I'm just assuring him that he needn't worry about criticism for asking the question. My guess is that the market will determine to future availability of the cartridge. However if one cartridge fails to preform as advertised, the future of Saw Stop may be determined in a courtroom.

[Jim O'Dell]

I went and looked at the shop fox, delta and steel city, also a bit at general...i was really impressed with the quality of the steel city...it actually felt sturdier than the unisaw! Guess for the money i see it steel city, then shop fox. I know it is a bit more for the SC...i just really liked the feel!!! Seems like a top notch company too! Anyone else had experience with Steel City or their products? Thanks again all!!!

Jay, I don't have personal experience, but have read a few reviews on the Steel city products, and they were glowing! I seem to remember 2 had calls to customer service, both handled quickly and properly. One of those the president of the company was who answered the CS line! That would work for me! Jim.

[James Phillips]

I don't think anyone can question the validity of Tom's question concerning the future availability of the Saw Stop cartridge. I'm not being critical of the saw or the company. I'm just assuring him that he needn't worry about criticism for asking the question. My guess is that the market will determine to future availability of the cartridge. However if one cartridge fails to preform as advertised, the future of Saw Stop may be determined in a courtroom.

I personally do not think your last statement is accurate. If one cartridge fails versus the number of cartridges produces they are clearly operating at or near a "six sigma" process. I think there would have to be multiple failures traced to negligence for any real concern, JMHO

[Ron Jones near Indy]

I personally do not think your last statement is accurate. If one cartridge fails versus the number of cartridges produces they are clearly operating at or near a "six sigma" process. I think there would have to be multiple failures traced to negligence for any real concern, JMHO

Here's hoping that situation never occurs.

[Bart Leetch]

1 question why do you need a 5 Hp saw?

[James Phillips]

Here's hoping that situation never occurs.

Agreed 100%

[Jay Yoder]

i think i would have trouble persuading my wife of anything over 2300! The saw stop sounds like an interesting idea, although i guess i am chicken...i pretty much have decided on 3 or 5 hp steel city, unless i can find someone with a Jet cabinet saw...i actually looked at their DP too, it was built like a tank. Story i got was that about 30 ex delta employees, left and formed SC...they were tired of cheapening their saws to make bigger profits...Place i looked had both Delta and SC and really had no reason to make anything up...

[Ryan Bess]

I recently sold my Craftsman contractors saw and bought a Steel City 35618 (3HP, left tilt, 52" industrial rip fence) table saw. I spent two months pouring over reviews, and making drives to shops that were already using saws from Grizzly, Delta, and Powermatic. Finally, I went to Berland's House of Tools to "play" with a Steel City. After seeing this saw right next to a Delta X5, my mind was made up almost immediately. Cast iron extension wings on both sides, inductions brake on the motor after shutdown, an EXCELLENT rip fence, great handwheels, a general feel of above average quality for its price.....needless to say I bought it.
However, I did have an issue - but it was remedied. The cast iron wings would not mate to the saw flat. I had a .020 dip across the table (wings tipped up to the outside). To my surprise, the first time I called Steel City - I was able to speak to an actual human being that couldn't wait to help me. Michael Box went out of his way to accomidate me and get the problem resolved. Customer service was a perfect 10 for me. In it's price range - I can recommend Steel City.
Ryan

[Kim Spence]

I am going to assume that if SawStop were to go under (which I doubt based on the quality of the product) that they would release information on how to bypass the safety features in the event a cartridge was not available. If they did not someone on the net would...


Worst case - remove all the stock electronics and install a standard starter & switch and you still have a dang nice saw with a riving knife!

[Jeffrey Makiel]

Regarding a standard tablesaw (that is, one without electronics), I don't think much can go wrong of which the acquistion of future repair parts is a significant issue. The most likely time you may need a unique factory part is right after taking delivery. The shipper may have been rough on your saw and a casting broke. Or, after you unpack it, you discover something was not made correctly at the factory.

As far as other parts, unless the motor has a unique mount, it can be replaced if it burns out. If it does have a unique mount, it can always be rewound by a motor winding shop. The only other wear part is the bearings. Unless they are defective, they should outlast 5 human lifetimes in a hobbyist environment...and even these are easily obtainable.

The way things are these days, there is risk purchasing from even the most tried and true companies, or risk of experienceing model obsolesence in which parts are no longer supported. However, this is a tablesaw, not an automobile.

Happy hunting.

-Jeff :)

[Bart Leetch]

I purchased my Unisaw when it was 64 years old it was already be on social security for a couple of years actually it was disability because it was 3 phase & the building only had 1 phase. Man don't sweat the small stuff. I put a 1 phase motor in this saw & a Shopfox fence & extension table & router table in the left wing & put it back to work a total of $900 with the router table & router.

This saw was made in 1940 before they started calling them Unisaws from what I understand it doesn't even have a model number. But is a Unisaw in every way. Pick a saw with a good reputation & get it a get to making whatever you want to make using it.