Saw this new craftsman table saw.
Hey Everybody,
It seems like folks here are pretty much universally down on craftsman table saws. I just got a craftsman club thing in the mail and they had this new table saw in it.
It looks appealing to me for several reasons. It has a built in router table, it has a built in miter sled, it looks like the fence might be good, and it stores vertically on its own stand. My shop space is super limited so something like this might be worthwhile to me.
I’m going to ask the guys over in knots also to get their opinions too.
Daniel Neuman
Oakland CA
Crazy Home Owner
Replies
Despite the (often well deserved) Craftsman knocking I do remember seeing a review of this saw somewhere recently that was actually quite good... sorry I can't for the life of me remember where.
PaulB
Despite the (often well deserved) Craftsman knocking I do remember seeing a review of this saw somewhere recently that was actually quite good... sorry I can't for the life of me remember where.
I don't think my local Sears will have one in stock (this ghetto Sears does not seem to have the expensive stuff in) but I will try to swing by there and see. I'm hoping that I can tell by jiggling the knobs and playing with it if it would be worth buying.
Daniel Neuman
Oakland CA
Crazy Home Owner
I haven't seen that saw, but for a 100 more you can get a bosch or dewalt, which by default half to be better then crapsman ;)
just saying, explore all options.
I may be wrong, but I thinks the craftsman is actually made by Ryobi...
FWIW..they make some serious good tools for the areospace and industrial markets..big azzed stuff. My old planer is a testament to that...25 yo Ah115.
I think they dropped the ball on most of their offerings to the market of us that can afford to actualy own the stuff. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"I don't think it's funny no more" Nick Lowe.
You're correct. This is the same as the Ryobi BT3100 with a few cosmetic differences. ive had the ryobi for a couple years now and its held up well. I like the miter sled. The ruter table attachment is a bit gimmicky but some seem to like it. maybe its just I could never get it set up properly.
BIL has an older Ryobi TS. Maybe 12-13 yo. The only router that will fit his saw is the Ryobi router.
Is that true with the newer model also?
Dave
Rule number 1: everything is always overpriced at sears ..
Rule number 2: everything at sears will eventually be on sale at half price ..
Rule number 3: even at half price Rule number 1 still applies ...
Wonder if they ever thought of just selling things at more "retailistic" prices?
The clearance rack at sears can be pretty good though. I've bought several tools for 1/2 what you could get them from anywhere else. none were crapsman though
Okay everybody. Got a chance to swing by my local Sears and Home Depots yesterday to check out the saws. Man, my Sears is low budget. I didn't see the saw out on the floor so I asked the tool manager about it. He said that they only had two in stock and that he was not going to put the saw out on display. I said, well how are folks going to check it out? He said that he would bring it up and I could look at the box!?!?! Gee thanks...that'll tell me a lot....
I went over to HD next and man that place is so ghetto also. All the table saws they had were crammed together along one isle. They were all half put together and missing pieces and loose and geez what's the point really. They did have the Ryobi clone and the Rigid TS so I could at least check them both out. No dewalt or Bosch though.
The Ryobi saw was well...kinda cheap looking and feeling (but not as cheap as the crappy $99 TS). The fence was a step up in quality from the crappy $99 Skil TS that I had borrowed in the past but not at the level of the Rigids. I like the built-in cross cut sled-miter gauge thing (as an idea) but it also didn't feel like a quality piece. After playing with both the Rigid saw just felt better-higher quality with a much nicer fence. I know that some of you have produced good work with the Ryobi but for me I think I'm going to pass it up and get one of the higher grade portable contractor saws.
Thanks for all the replies-opinions.Daniel Neuman
Oakland CA
Crazy Home Owner
Being the Mad Scientist that you are...living on prime real estate...I wouldn't be concerned about the "getto" stores you've visited...but maybe how you'll secure your new saw...haha...why display a saw you won't sell!! Go for a Sunday ride...lots of quality shops in the area. I've a old Delta contractor saw...but these new Bosch gotta be sweeeeet!! and you can always modify to suit your needs...takes a skilled craftsman to produce good work...be careful. Hey it's Friday!!!
rustbucket
I monted the ryobi router to it. I could probably mount my bosch to it if i wanted to but i would have to drill new holes in the mounting plate. There are a bunch of different patterns of holes in the mounting plate but i have no idea which routers they happen to line up with.
Yea but next year they will run that saw for half price . This comming summer I predict the saw to be ran on sale for 225.00.
I always buy in half price days. Never figgured why they do it every single year and then people like me just wait it out.
Tim
Edited 10/27/2005 10:51 am by Mooney
When you inspect, make sure it has a good solid and adjustable fence. I like my Unifence on my Unisaw. My Dad has a Delta Contractor's saw with the stock fence that locks at a 2nd back-rail - PITA.
Another preferable feature is an efficient dust collection port.
Good luck.
If you're set on the router table thing, save yourself $100, go to depot and buy the Ryobi BT3100. Its the same thing. The lowest bidder builds the craftsman power tools and it looks like ryobi did it this year.
I have the BT3100, its not a bad saw. The fence is good but I wasnt overly impressed by the router table side of things (not very accurate).
BTW I ultimately ended up with the Bosch table saw. The lift mechanism gave up and took well over one month to be repaired under warranty.
I think if I were you, I would base my decision on if you think that Sears will back you up and provide customer service after the sale. I say this because we have many customers who come in my store looking for "Craftsman help" which we don't offer.
However, my Bosch rep is fantastic! If one of my Bosch customers has a problem, he calls them directly and takes care of it. Thank you, Dan Garcia! You are awesome, and thanks for backing me up.
Go for the Bosch!