Steve Sawyer
02-13-2008, 10:08 AM
Sometime in the next few months, I'll be pulling the trigger on a new table saw to replace my almost 30-year-old Craftsman. The LOML has given her blessing to the purchase provided that improved safety is a major consideration in the saw selection. She would like me to buy a SawStop (and I'd love to have one) but that is much more than I can afford. And from what I've been able to learn about the new SawStop contractor's saw, it is really not up to the standard of quality set by their cabinet saw. Plus I really don't want another contractor's saw, especially for the $2000 that they'll be asking for this saw once you add cast-iron extension wings and a good fence.
Obviously user error is the primary cause of injury - and I lost a chunk of my left thumb to my current saw many years ago that bears silent witness to this. But in terms of safety features on the equipment, I believe that the next best thing to the SawStop is a true riving knife and a good overarm blade guard. There are many good choices for the blade guard, both commercial and home-made, so the real challenge is finding suitable saws equipped with a riving knife. My research has only turned up two machines that are both within my price range that are so equpped.
The first is the Grizzly G0661 "contractor's" saw for $820 delivered. I put quotes around the "contractor" because it's really a hybrid with the motor enclosed in the base. The second is the Jet 708674 XactaSaw which is currently available for $1500 delivered.
Grizzly has some cabinet saws w/riving knives also, but the least expensive (the G0651) is about $350 more than I have in my budget, and is much too large for my shop (it includes large extension tables both to the right and on the outfeed).
I've looked at the other major vendors - Steel City, Delta, Powermatic, General International, DeWalt, Craftsman - and they either don't have riving-knife equipped saws at all, or the models so equipped are way out of my price range.
Is there something else out there that I'm missing?
Thanks.
Obviously user error is the primary cause of injury - and I lost a chunk of my left thumb to my current saw many years ago that bears silent witness to this. But in terms of safety features on the equipment, I believe that the next best thing to the SawStop is a true riving knife and a good overarm blade guard. There are many good choices for the blade guard, both commercial and home-made, so the real challenge is finding suitable saws equipped with a riving knife. My research has only turned up two machines that are both within my price range that are so equpped.
The first is the Grizzly G0661 "contractor's" saw for $820 delivered. I put quotes around the "contractor" because it's really a hybrid with the motor enclosed in the base. The second is the Jet 708674 XactaSaw which is currently available for $1500 delivered.
Grizzly has some cabinet saws w/riving knives also, but the least expensive (the G0651) is about $350 more than I have in my budget, and is much too large for my shop (it includes large extension tables both to the right and on the outfeed).
I've looked at the other major vendors - Steel City, Delta, Powermatic, General International, DeWalt, Craftsman - and they either don't have riving-knife equipped saws at all, or the models so equipped are way out of my price range.
Is there something else out there that I'm missing?
Thanks.