looking for new table saw

[woodydiver]

Hello all,
i am looking to upgrade my table saw. i currently have a delta ts350 (direct drive 1 hp). it does ok with the plywood and thin hardwoods but it boggs down oh the thicker hardwoods.
Looking for some recomendations on a table saw around $500.
Has anyone used the delta 36-979? It is a belt driven and has a 1.5hp motor.
I am also wondering how much better the beismeyer fence is than the delta t2 or unisaw fence.
thanks again all , i looking forward to the responses

 

[Woodsaw]

I went through the same thing as you do. I think you should look at a cabinet saw. If fund is an issue, go with the used one in goad condition.

Good luck.


Qui

Hello all,
i am looking to upgrade my table saw. i currently have a delta ts350 (direct drive 1 hp). it does ok with the plywood and thin hardwoods but it boggs down oh the thicker hardwoods.
Looking for some recomendations on a table saw around $500.
Has anyone used the delta 36-979? It is a belt driven and has a 1.5hp motor.
I am also wondering how much better the beismeyer fence is than the delta t2 or unisaw fence.
thanks again all , i looking forward to the responses

 

[SteveHall]

I have a Delta 36-682, basically the same as the 36-979 except right-tilt and with the Biesemeyer fence. It's probably not up to commercial shop standards, but it has plenty of power for my hobbiest needs. I was looking hard at the Ridgid when I came across a floor model when the GSO Rockler store closed about a year ago.

The top is flat and the fence is super strong and straight, although I can't compare it against alternatives. I purchased a thin kerf 50T Freud blade and it barely hesitates ripping pine about as fast as you can push. Hardwoods are not a problem either as long as you make sure the fence is properly aligned with the blade. (I mentally cut each piece before I actually do it so I go slowly enough to avoid stalling and fast enough to keep from burning it.)

I would avoid buying new, there are plenty of good saws that come up used in the usual places like craigslist. For $500 and several months patience, you'll likely even find a unisaw.

 

[Jon]

I have the tablesaw you are talking about for sale for 500 and it has upgraded belt and pulley set and the aline it system installed and it has a jessem router plate and the 50 inch T2 fence.

http://www.ncwoodworker.net/ppclass/showproduct.php?product=81&cat=1&limit=recent&date=1185816476

 

[NCPete]

Yup, I agree that used is the way to go when availability and patience work out together:icon_thum

 

[Inflatable Screen Door]

Used is a very good route but you need to know what your looking at. A good TS is a very heavy duty machine that will last a long long time. Even very old machines can work as well or even better than a brand new one.

I think a contractors saw is plenty good for most hobby shops. A cabinet saw in many cases is overkill for most hobby shops. But pay close attention to the fence. The fence is a big factor on a table saw.

 

[FIVEBYFIVE]

have you seen the Saw Stop? They have a demo of how it works. How much are your fingers worth? Its out of your figured budget, but it is still a kick @ss saw. http://www.sawstop.com/products-cabinet-saw-pricing.htm

 

[Inflatable Screen Door]

Saw stop is very cool and also very very expensive. And even a saw stop can not save you from a kick back.

 

[Travis Porter]

I am not familiar with the specific Delta model at which you are looking. When comparing though, I would suggest using amps compared to HP as a better guide to know how much power. Belt drive is better and 2 belts are better than one. Most contractor and cabinet saws have very poor dust collection so take a look and see what they do have and how they compare. Even if you don't use dust collection today, it is a function that should be taken into consideration in the future. I would also make sure that whatever you get can take a 13/16" dado and that you can make table inserts for it as well. Some saws inserts are made in such a way that you have to buy them and cannot make them yourself.

As for the fence, they both have their pluses. The Biesemeyer has been around for a long time and is duplicated by many manufacturers. The only negative with the Bies (which also applies to the Unifence) is that it does not clamp down in the back which can be a pain when using feather boards from the top. The Bies is pretty easy to make jigs and accessories for being it is a U shape so that is a plus. The uni has the adjustable fence height, and can be moved backwards so it can be a cut off stop. To me, it is a matter of which features you will use the most. I don't believe you would go wrong choosing either of them.

 

[Nativespec]

If you are not going to buy a 220volt, look at buying a used contractor saw (or you may luck out on a cabinet saw) and spend what is left on a good fence, Delta mobile base, dado set and a good rip blade.

David

 

[cpowell]

I have the Bisesmeyer fence and really like it. It is a rock solid, proven design and does not deflect under pressure. (I haven't used a T2 fence).

I don't know that the Biese is any better than the Unifence. They are different fence designs but I believe that both styles are highly regarded.

I would also recommend buying used since you can recover most of your money if you ever re-upgrade. Of course I generally buy new because when I get the urge I "buy now"...I'm an instant gratification kinda guy. :lol: :lol:


Chuck

 

[junquecol]

Don't get too excited about people telling you that you need more HP. My Rockwell, Model 10, contractor's saw has a 2.0 HP motor. I restored this saw, and had the motor. Using the DeWalt/ Delta 7657 blade (full kerf), I have been ripping 12/4 laminated oak legs with no problem. Today I ripped them to finish size. To make laminates equill, I ripped off about 3/16" from each side. This meant I had a veneer that is 1/16" on the outside of the blade. Smooth as a baby's backside. I have four (4) of the belt drive contractor's saws, along with a Uni. My best friend bought one of the contractor's saws and left it at my house. He said if anything happened to him to keep it. He died suddenly less than two months later. Two came from Craigslist. They needed some TLC and a new fence. The Uni hasn 't been used since it arrived at my shop five years ago. Makes a great place to store an old radial arm saw. No, I don't want to sell the Uni- someday I'll get around to hooking it up.