Originally Posted by
Patrick Kane
Speaking from a person who has moved big stuff into a basement, this would have to be a one and done for me. Before I move stuff out,i might have to cut in a double door, because it was that much of a hindrance for me moving stuff in. That is where my experience ends and opinion begins.
I may have missed it in the discussion, but is this saw free? If its not free, is it in the neighborhood of $1000? I dont know diddly about Altendorf's from the 80s, but all of this sounds like a ton of time. I dont know your financial situation, but I would personally avoid the martin AND the altendorf. I imagine you know the market just as well if not better than me, and so you know theres going to be a great saw for under $10k in the next 3 months. From what youve said, i take it you have a T54? Id love to have a T54, and maybe some day i will, but for the interim i have some generic PF500 that does the job 90%+ as well as the martin. I own a 700 series Felder, and while i havent used dozens of sliders, i know theres better than my machine. With that said, my machine was cheap, cuts squarely, and is a good machine for me. Is the outrigger a little flimsy, yes. Is the cast iron table kinda small, yes. There are a lot of features on the machine that i would ideally want improved, bu they wouldnt be worth the opportunity cost. Either id have to give more of my time to rehab a better quality machine in worse condition, or spend more money that could otherwise go in an investment account. As you mentioned, sometimes you need to settle for 'good nuff'.