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I’m planning on purchasing a new 5ph tablesaw, and am trying to weigh the pros & cons of the the above 4. From what I saw in a showroom, I’m leaning towards the General Ltd (Canadian), but really hadn’t ever heard of it before. It’s machining appears to be superior (no slop whatsoever in the rip fence), and while the blade-guard is unimpressive, who use’s it? It’s the same price as the Delta, $400 less than the Powermatic (Motor used in the General & the PM is the same), and $150 more than the Jet. I’ve been reading a lot of complaints lately about Delta’s components (especially quality of outfeed tables), I was warned away from the Powermatic by the sales rep, who said they haven’t upgraded their machining process in 40+ years and have incorporated plastic shims as a part of their fine-tuning, and away from the Jet based upon the thinner guage steel used both on the table top and the fence rail. BUT, I’ve never really heard much about the General 350-T50-M2M. Does anyone out there have one, or an opinion on them? Am I being too easily led by a sales rep with a bias? Thanks.
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Michael, I have the General and it is an excellent saw. The rip fence that came with mine ( 8 or 9 ) years ago was a typical sloppy standard fence. I re-machined the handle mechanism and made parts to make it very tight and smooth. I sent the plans for the new setup to General and they seemed impressed. Maybe they actually improved the old design. I also had an article for Wood magazine about the subject. My saw is as solid and smooth as they come. Don't know about the current models, but I'd bet they still make an excellent saw.
*Mike,
View Image © 1999-2001"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle
*Hello Joe, Things staying busy in NY or has it slowed any up there. Slow here.Frank
*I have a powermatic 66 and am very happy with it. I got mine for a thousand even second hand with the 3 phase motor on it. It's kinda hard to waer out a cabinet saw. If you're not to fussy about appearances, try the want ads for a month or two.
*Hi Frank,
View Image © 1999-2001"The first step towards vice is to shroud innocent actions in mystery, and whoever likes to conceal something sooner or later has reason to conceal it." Aristotle
*Hey this post comes at a perfect time for me too. I am looking to upgrade from my Delta contractors saw to a cabinet saw. I noticed an ad for Bridgewood saws, what if anythig do you know about them. I am not familiar with their products but they look as solid as anything else. Have use Delta and Powermatic and liked both. The Bridgewood has the ability to use 10" or 12" blades, I'm not sure how much this would mean to me, but a nice feature if the saw is any good. Also they will put almost any fence system on the market on the saw. Please fill me in.ThanksWTN
*Hey Michael,Like Joe sez.........The Powermatic 66 is the best. No doubt about it in my view. However, being in Texas USA, I haven't seen the General. I hope that Jet, now that they own Powermatic, doesn't change a thing. The old 66 is the standard by which all saws should be made. (However, I think they tilt the wrong way, but that's because I'm used to the Unisaw.)I haven't used the 5hp. My Unisaw has a 220v 3hp motor, and it gives me all the service I can throw at it with no hesitation.I keep an old 60's Unisaw at the shop with a Biesmeyer fence system. Sidefeed and backcatch tables all around. It's old, but works great. I doubt I'll upgrade. But if I do, I'll look for a green 66.Ed.
*There ya go...like Joe says, you like what you know...I have a General, I'm working on two others daily right now, and I've worked on dozens of unisaws and generals and assorted others (except powermatics; mostly ridiculously expensive in Canada, though I did go over one as closely as possible at a dealers, and I was very disapointed). I think the General is top of the class, and not just for saws. They still make stuff the way it should be made. I can't understand, with the exchange rate the way it is, why the General isn't exploding in the States.
*Mike,I don't think you'll go wrong with any of the brands you have mentioned. If you can find one, a used cabinet saw will save you some money. These saws are built pretty well and there's not a whole lot that can go wrong with them. But, a good used saw is in demand and expect to pay about 2/3 the price of new.I agree with Joe and Adrian that folks tend to like what they know. I have an ancient unisaw that I would be lost without. It only has a 1 1/2 HP motor but I've never felt the need to upgrade. Personally, I think a 5 HP motor on a 10" saw is overkill but that's another matter. I've used Powermatics but not long enough to feel comfortable with the saw. I've seen Generals when visiting friends in Canada and these saws look good. I think the reason they haven't really caught on, in a big way, in the States is a lack of retailers and the price. I don't know of a General distributor in the Detroit area. When I was looking at the purchase of a new 8" jointer I would have had to drive 4 hours to Hamilton Ontario to see the General model and the price, in US dollars, was only slightly less than the Powermatic version.
*The powermatic used to be a good saw,probably the best on the market. Powermatic was bought by Jet last year and now all the main castings and parts are made in Japan or Taiwan like the Jet and a lot of the Delta stuff is. About the only way to get a good top quality life time saw is to buy the General.
*Hey Adman,If I need a new cabinet saw, can you fix me up with a General? The old Unisaw is starting to feel its forty years.Ed.
*Yeah, will do....Ashman Technical seems to be the main importer into the States, but they don't seem to be doing a great job...or maybe they are getting hassled at the border. I think Wilke is selling them now too. I honestly would have expected a lot more of them to be showing up down there. I also have a 14" in my shop (in the college); also a nice saw. They also have a 12" one now with scoring, I think.
*Does anyone have thoughts on a panel saw? Seems to me that it would be easier to load large sheets, and take up less room. Additionally, I noticed that Gary Katz seems to use portables more and more as well as keeping one portable set up to dado rather than keep changing setups. Dennis
*Hey Mike,The Powermatic is the best, closely followed by General and Delta. By the way, Powermatic saws are still casted and made in Tenn..Good Luck!Ben
*What kind of hassle is it to buy a General in Canada and bring it back across the border?
*I don't know; I know I've had trouble at the border even bringing something like an American made warranty replacement motor (not for a General)over. I asked the American comapany to check it out; they were told the amount of hassle is pretty much up to the discretion of the border person; they can let it cross with no problem, and sometimes they add a bunch of costs on. It's not supposed to be that arbitrary, but it seems to be. I try to buy things landed now, avoid surprises.
*jcallahan and Adrian,When I was considering the purchase of a General jointer the distributor in Hamilton, Ontario (Ashman Technical Ltd.) assured me that they would provide all of the necessary paperwork to get myself and the machine across the border and back to the Detroit area. Since I decided to purchase another brand I can't say whether everything would have been trouble-free at the Ambassador Bridge. However, they made the border crossing with a big machine seem pretty routine.
*Chip...I think you dodged the bullet, buddy. That's a favorite canadian trick...get an American....tell him "it's gonna be okay, believe me...I'm Canadian, would I lie to you?"....next step....the hoosegow.We get airline points for every one we send up. Two more and I'm going to Florida.
*Hey Adrian,Doubt the "airline points" scheme. Why would anyone living in Cape Breton want to go to Florida? Just doesn't add up. By the way, we'll be in your neck of the woods in about a week. Plan is to spend June 25-26 in Sydney. Will try to contact you if all the sightseeing my wife has planned doesn't get in the way.
*Powermqtic ( division of Jet ) closed the McMinnville Tenn. foundry earlier this year. It may still be possible to find some old stock that was cast in the USA, but not likely. I know of a man who recently bought a model 66 Powermatic . When he went to set it up the table faces were not flat to each other. The side to side variance was almost 3/8 of an inch ! He called Powermatic about this and was told " that is within tolerance" . I would hate to think of paying nearly 2000 dollars for what is supposed to be a life time saw and having it start out with a table out of true by 3/8 of an inch. If it is cast in Japan, that sloppy of a fit , etc. a person should just go ahead and buy the cheaper Jet or buy the General. Why pay more for the powermatic ? My father has a USA made powermatic 66 and is delighted with it. Sadly these are no more.
*Just called Powermatic and was told the Powermatic 66 is still manufactured in McMinnvile Tennessee. But I'm finding the General 350 is selling for around $300 cheaper.
*
I'm planning on purchasing a new 5ph tablesaw, and am trying to weigh the pros & cons of the the above 4. From what I saw in a showroom, I'm leaning towards the General Ltd (Canadian), but really hadn't ever heard of it before. It's machining appears to be superior (no slop whatsoever in the rip fence), and while the blade-guard is unimpressive, who use's it? It's the same price as the Delta, $400 less than the Powermatic (Motor used in the General & the PM is the same), and $150 more than the Jet. I've been reading a lot of complaints lately about Delta's components (especially quality of outfeed tables), I was warned away from the Powermatic by the sales rep, who said they haven't upgraded their machining process in 40+ years and have incorporated plastic shims as a part of their fine-tuning, and away from the Jet based upon the thinner guage steel used both on the table top and the fence rail. BUT, I've never really heard much about the General 350-T50-M2M. Does anyone out there have one, or an opinion on them? Am I being too easily led by a sales rep with a bias? Thanks.