TABLE SAWS, who makes a great one?

[wade clark]

My Craftsman portable worksite saw just bit the dust...3 or 4 years old, hardly used. Really disappointing! The motor's throwing sparks and tripping the breaker...just started doing this. I'll probably get it repaired, but I'm going to buy another saw to replace it anyway.
What does everybody recommend? I think I'm done with Craftsman.
I use my tablesaw some in wood carving, cutting blocks to size. I'd assume many of you do the same.
Wade

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

When I moved to Az from Co I had it set in my mind to get the large Ridgid tablesaw, lots of good features, good reviews, however do to a lot of things, I ended up getting the portable contractors model on wheels by Ridgid, and I am glad now I did, easy to move if one needs to, but still a nice tablesaw. I also have a delta contractors saw ....I had to have something immediately when we moved here....now its for sale lol..but anyway, its a decent saw, but some things I don't like about it, for instance, a ridge on the blade side on the back corner of the fence, run a board thru and it catches on the ridge...thats just poor quality control and I don't like surprises with a tablesaw, they can get you and spit a board back real fast! thats my story and I am sticking to it LOL

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

reread your post....if you want a "great one" they are very expensive but there are out there, since they are out of my range, I can't think right off, General I believe is one....if you get on the "Wood" magazine forum they have reviews on about any tool/saw you can name...might do a search there. Dave

[Claude]

Probably just a naive question, Wade, but could it just be needing new brushes for the motor?

Claude

[wade clark]

Claude,
You're probably right, but as new as it is I'll probably try to get it to a Sears repair center if I can find one. I'm sure it's out of warranty. Wouldn't the brushes be a gradual thing, arcing a little more at a time until it stopped? This started throwing sparks like crazy, then slowed down before I could even turn it off, and started smoking as soon as I shut it off. It also tripped a breaker about the same time I hit the off switch. I cleaned it out good, turned it back on and it ran half speed throwing sparks and tripped the breaker again within 5 seconds. I almost bought the DeWalt saw like this one (folds up to roll around on a jobsite) but the Craftsman looked a little more substantial.
I used to buy all Craftsman. I bought a C'man bandsaw the blade won't stay on, a C'man cordless drill that they changed the battery shape on so I couldn't buy a new battery for it, a belt sander that Sears is the only place that sells that particular size of sanding belts, can't get them at the lumber yard or Lowe's, a C'man chainsaw that screams to high heaven! Now I think I heard they merged with K-Mart. My older Craftsman tools I was very happy with. I sold them when we moved and bought new...they've been disappointing. My Brother-in-Law bought a C'man riding mower last year that developed a bad knock the second time he mowed. He took it back and bought another brand.
Sorry about polluting the Forum with my complaining!
I really would appreciate any info on brands any of you have been happy with though, cause I'm definately in the market for a new saw, can't live without one!
Wade

[Kenny_S]

Wade, not really and yes, Sometimes they go just that fast and sometimes it takes a while. Had a 10 inch bench do the same thing. However, being a cheap import, no brushes for it. Tried several different brands, thinking brushes are brushes, to none working correctly. I can't help as I have a Craftman 12 inch industrial table saw with the extented table, 2 and a 1/2 hp motor and knock on wood(rapping himself on the head), no problems for 4 years. Now, I will say, I am not a fan of Craftman saws as I have been trhough 2 differnt scroll saws, and a band saw. None last more than a couple of years but then, I use mine.
Sorry, maybe I should have not posted with no more info than that.

Best wishes on finding a table saw. I would hate to be without one. I probably use the tablr saw more than the band saw, but I sure do like my Grzzly band saw.

[Tom-H]

Wade, Recently my old Craftsman contractors saw went belly up. Well the motor did. It lasted 18 years of very heavy use. I did all the research on a new saw, contacted all my buddies, and got tons of information. I did not want to spend over $400. But I had to have a belt drive, and not the direct drive that the usual table saw at that price has. I settled on a 10" Hitachi, semi cabinet table saw, for $400 from Lowes. This saw is not as substancial as the more expensive ones, but so far I have had no trouble with it. I have cut up over 100 sheets of 3/4" cabinet grade birch, and still no problems. My recommendation would be to get a saw that has the belt drive over the direct drive. Then replace the blade with a top of the line blade. Tom H

[Ashbys]

Wade ,
Picked up one last week the craftsman pro 10 inch model. They were on sell with 20 percent off the sell price. The 10 inch 1000.00 saw was 679.00 . Cast base 400 pound saw. For the price , value and quality , it was the best I could find.

Ash

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I have had the same problems with craftsman but it wasn't recently, back in the early 80's....no more for me! I have a DeWalt Scrollsaw I love, and have a number of DeWalt cordless tools. I have several Ridgid, have a jet, maybe you should look at the Ridgid, the Grizzly, the Jet, DeWalt......those are not bottom of the line, nor are they the top, the top of the line tablesaw is going to run multiple thousands...probably about 35 to 4500.

[squbrigg]

If ya have lots of money to spend, Laguna has a beauty ($2500 - $3000). The older Sears are fine, but the new lines are crap, in most of their stuff. I have an older rebuilt one and it cuts grand. My contractors bench Delta is useless. There was a good review on table/cabinet saws in Fine Woodworking , with Grizzly, Powermatic and Sawstop coming out on top. Grizzly was the best value at just under $1000.

Bob