About to dive in, sub-$700 budget for a table saw, wwyd?

[Jim Lafferty]

Hi,

I'd originally been considering the DeWalt or (*ducks*) Hercules jobsite saws at just under $400, but digging around I'd seen posts on other forums from 2014/2015 or so saying "the way to get your first saw is to be patient, keep an eye on craigslist, and score something great for $200."

So, I pivoted to that, only I'm finding the only contractor's saws in my area (or, within an hour's drive) which look relatively new-ish and clean, are priced at $350-400. The $100-200 saws: have rusty tops, questionable fences, lack of, and possibly lack of the possibility of, riving knife installs, etc. In short, between renting a truck/van to pick them up, 2 hour round trip, labor and supplies needed to bring them back to working order... a $200 table saw inflates to $500, and a $400 saw hits closer to $600.

So now I'm thinking, hell, why not just get the Delta contractor's saw that's currently in stock at Lowe's? It's $600, model #36-725T2. Has what is by most accounts a fairly good fence. Has a riving knife. I know it's nt perfect or the absolute best, but it seems like a hell of a lot of saw to start with.

Am I thinking correctly? Missing anything I should be considering?

At the moment all I have is a speed square, circular saw and some hand tools. Going to jump in with a table and a miter saw for projects in the Spring. Mostly will be doing larger scale, structural stuff like deck repair, walkway replacement, building shelves & some lawn chairs. Nothing super precise.

Thanks for your shared wisdom.

[Bob Riefer]

For the upcoming projects that you listed, a miter saw might be a more useful first purchase. I did many of those same projects, and after a few months of cutting everything with my circular saw and a square, I bought a decent miter saw... building decks, general construction, and then (later on) breaking down lumber for woodworking projects. It got a major workout for many years.

Also, based on the projects you mention, I think you'll be doing a lot of work with sheets of plywood... Not very easily handled on a table saw in my opinion. A nice clamping straight edge that you can run your circular saw against might be better for those tasks. Later, a "track saw" (just a nicer version of straight edge and circ saw) might be a good option.

All that said.... I love having a table saw and use it nearly every day. The one you list is not one that I've used personally, but it looks pretty nice from a quick read. Some cast iron on the top is nice, and the ability to square the top to the blade is good. The price is certainly right.

[Jim Lafferty]

For the upcoming projects that you listed, a miter saw might be a more useful first purchase.

My thoughts as well. I intend to get the miter first, then the table saw later, then maybe a drill press, and then just tumbling in to spending from there

All that said.... I love having a table saw and use it nearly every day. The one you list is not one that I've used personally, but it looks pretty nice from a quick read. Some cast iron on the top is nice, and the ability to square the top to the blade is good. The price is certainly right.

Yeah, my feeling is if I have the table saw I can for sure find uses for it. I *can* build shelves with a miter saw alone, but I think I can build measurably nicer shelves with a table saw in the mix.

[Lisa Starr]

Jim, depending on the future projects you envision, I'd forgo the miter saw and combine the money with that for the table saw. You can breakdown lumber to manageable pieces with the circular saw. Build a decent crosscut sled for the table saw and you'll be golden for most projects except woodwork in a house or similar. With the combined money, you should be able to go directly to a cabinet style table saw that will serve you well for a much longer time. For your current projects, the miter saw is what you need, but down the road?

[Justin Rapp]

The 600 price point is pretty good. A powermatic contractor saw is 1700 or so but the build quality will be higher, slightly higher hp motor 1.5 to 1.75 and comes with cast iron wings vs stamped wings. The price might be to meet a lowes requirement of putting a saw in at that price point, but quality wise might be the same as Delta's more expensive model but with stamped wings vs cast iron wings. I have a JET contractor saw for about 15 years now and my only beef with it the stamped wings.

So what you will notice with a contractor style saw vs the more portable Dewalt's your looking at is the belt driven blade. The Dewalt and other small portable table saws are usually direct drive where the motor is connected right to the blade, almost like a circular saw. With a belt driven system, you will have less vibrations in the saw and the blade resulting in a cleaner more accurate cut.

One must have upgrade if you want to start working with hardwoods is to use a thin-kerf blade, like a Forest woodworker II.

[Jim Lafferty]

Thanks Lisa. I'd been considering this strongly, too. Just a circular saw guide and the table saw. I fully appreciate the idea behind "just go straight to the best" with the suggestion of a cabinet... however I'm also kind of wary about justifying that from initial cost, to space in my garage, to overall manageability, and finally, would my work justify the need of something so pro? Probably not.

Jim, depending on the future projects you envision, I'd forgo the miter saw and combine the money with that for the table saw. You can breakdown lumber to manageable pieces with the circular saw. Build a decent crosscut sled for the table saw and you'll be golden for most projects except woodwork in a house or similar. With the combined money, you should be able to go directly to a cabinet style table saw that will serve you well for a much longer time. For your current projects, the miter saw is what you need, but down the road?

[Lee Schierer]

A little over a year ago, my son was looking for a table saw and after exhausting the supply of used saws in his area, he decided to purchase a Rigid 4512 table saw. I was there when he put it together and I was impressed with the features and the quality of the saw. The saw alignment right of the box was nearly perfect. The fence locks down repeatably parallel to the blade. The price for the Rigid 13 amp table saws is very close to your target point.

[Rob Luter]

A little over a year ago, my son was looking for a table saw and after exhausting the supply of used saws in his area, he decided to purchase a Rigid 4512 table saw. I was there when he put it together and I was impressed with the features and the quality of the saw. The saw alignment right of the box was nearly perfect. The fence locks down repeatably parallel to the blade. The price for the Rigid 13 amp table saws is very close to your target point.

I got the Ridgid TS3650 over 13 years ago and have never regretted the purchase. It cuts true and has a great fence. I have it wired for 220V and it has plenty of oomph to get through the heavy stuff. It was less expensive back then, but it still runs like new. The modern version seems to have improved dust collection and a fully enclosed base versus the one I have.

[Stephen Rosenthal]

First a disclaimer: I don’t have a table saw. I have 3 RASs, a SCMS, a Skilsaw and a PC 314 trim saw. Also many hand saws. But in the unlikely event that I ever get a table saw, I would only buy a SawStop. Read today’s earlier entry entitled “Shouldn’t have been cutting - SawStop saved my fingers or worse” and you’ll find out why.

[Brian Tymchak]

Delta has a terrible reputation right now, and has for several years, regarding tool quality and customer service. I recommend going with a different brand.

Given your budget, I recommend a new Ridgid TS4520. It's a little above your stated range, but probably the best quality you can buy at that range. You can get it at Home Depot. I bought a TS3650 maybe 12 years ago, and I'm still using it. I've had no issues with it so I can't comment on customer service. With good quality thin kerf blades, it will cut 8/4 lumber well.

[Patrick Kane]

Hey Jim,

I somewhat agree with the previous advice you have received. I started out with a brand new portable dewalt table saw. Its a fine saw and its great that its so portable, but really, not the best option for building furniture. I quickly sold that table saw for a loss and purchase a 25 year old delta 34-444 contractor saw with a unifence. Awesome fence system combined with a mediocre saw design. With patience and proper calibration, i think you can do almost everything on a saw like that. It cost me $300-350 6-7 years ago. I saw a very similar saw for sale in my area in May-June for $150. I quickly sent it to a friend that wanted to get into WWing, and alongside the text i added, "buy this, quickly". This with a miter saw and a router will have you off to the races.

For your deck project, a miter saw is more important than a table saw. It is very difficult to crosscut a 16 footer on a table saw sled. That would be complicated to do on my sliding table saw with a 8' crosscut fence/outrigger.

[Frank Pratt]

Delta is about the last brand I'd consider buying. For the last 10 - 20 years they have been going steadily down hill have a reputation for having contempt for their customers. The only Delta machines I have now are a bench grinder & a planer. The work fine, but as soon as something breaks, they're garbage because I won't be able to get parts.

[Curt Harms]

Delta is about the last brand I'd consider buying. For the last 10 - 20 years they have been going steadily down hill have a reputation for having contempt for their customers. The only Delta machines I have now are a bench grinder & a planer. The work fine, but as soon as something breaks, they're garbage because I won't be able to get parts.

It kind of looks to me like there are two Deltas with a shared logo. The old Delta that produced the classic Unisaw and 36-44X contractors saw no longer exists. Its classic products have no company support. Part of the value of buying the (old) Delta is that you could get parts for a 40 year old machine. No longer, that company is extinct. The new Delta is owned by a Far Eastern concern. I don't know how parts availability is for products produced by that Chinese (I guess) company. I liken Delta to Bell & Howell. I remember at one time - '60s or '70s Bell & Howell produced well made film projectors among other products. Today? Their products function - sorta and not for long. Polaroid is another example of a name that doesn't mean what it once did.

[Jim Lafferty]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I think I'm just going to get a proper miter saw and sit tight on the table saw for a bit. Nothing quite feels like a home run.

But I am, if I'm being honest, leaning toward a new Delta at my price range. I get the cautions here about QC and support, but it seems even the Ridgid, at $150 more, comes with similar concerns (if you read the reviews). You can buy and return both at a local store, and will have trouble getting people on the phone with both, so it's a wash. It also seems that people who like the Delta, LOVE the Delta. I can't find similar enthusiasm for the Ridgid, and instead have seen some concerning gripes. I feel like my needs and standards probably put me in the pack of people who will be impressed by, and happy with the Delta.

Re: older saws... we're back to worrying about the fence, can it take a riving knife and dado set, is there support for it at all, can I tell what to look for, etc.? I'd have to find a great deal for very cheap to toss all of this stuff out the window and pick one up, and resign myself to some labor/maintenance to make it work out. All in all it just seems like the math is a bit off when taken together. I think... it's the same with photography... after 10 years shooting I can look back and select exactly the gear I need now, and produce a lot with a stripped down, efficient setup. I'd need that kind of experience to buy an old saw with confidence, and I just don't have it.

The saw I linked to that several here seem eager to jump at, please have at it You'll make that guy happy. Tell him I sent you! I just can't justify the truck rental, round trip, etc. at $400.

[Patrick Kane]

I read this a lot on the forums, "parts availability, parts availability, parts availability". Specifically, it is usually directed at Delta. Yes, the american Delta/Rockwell company(ies) and its variants no longer exist or support old tools. Nor do they have a kind old soul answer the phone and walk you through a problem. However, parts are very much available for several/most machines. There is a guy in the northeast that has a warehouse of unisaw parts. Not to mention ebay and OWWM. However, parts aside, i am very curious what people think they will need for the machine? Maybe a broken handle? Mccmaster Carr will have you covered. Missing splitters are made by shark guard. Motors are standard off the shelf stuff. Same for belts and bearings, frankly, better than OEM. Assuming a machine is in fair/good working order when you inspect it, the consumables will be there for decades to come. Even for the the cast/machined parts, chances are a guy has a broken machine somewhere and is parting it out. Now, i am not saying for the OP to run out and buy an overpriced broken 30 year old machine, but I also wouldnt run away from an appropriately priced good condition used machine because Delta/Powermatic/General doesnt have parts stocked on a website.