Hello everyone,
My birthday is coming up and I am looking to buying myself a new tablesaw. I have an old cheap table top model, with a crappy fence. I keep it around for ripping stuff, but would never consider doing any fine cuts with it. I am looking for something that is portable, and by portable I mean something I can move myself. So probably another table top model attached to a nice stand with wheels. I would like something that has a nice fence. Let me know what you think would be a good setup.
Thank you,
Dan
“Life is what happens when you are making other plans.” – John Lennon
Replies
Are you a straight guy for the Taunton editors? Check out the current issue. It has a review of half a dozen saws that would work for you.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
Thank you Ed,
Did not even see the new issue yet. Sure enough, checked the pile of mail, at the bottom. Have to talk to the wife about burying my treasures like that.
Dan"Life is what happens when you are making other plans." - John Lennon
She was probably holding it back so she could review the article and surprise you with a new saw. Yeah, that's it.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
all that and ya never told him to go out and get a Bosch 4000... argh!!!
For the money, I'm having good luck with my Craftsman portable TS. It's easy to move and packs/unpacks quickly. It's very stable even when ripping 4'x8' sheets of MDF. I have to admit, its downfall is the fence. I can't just set it and go. I have to check that it's square pretty each time I use it.
Just bought the Bosch 40000-09 with the stand. I LOVE IT!!!!!!
Used it on Saturday on a job. Changed the blade to a laminate one in about 2 minutes. Sets up easily and the fence is rock solid.
"Sir! You are drunk!"
"Madam! You are ugly, and tomorrow I shall be sober!!" Winston Churchill
I like my BOSCH too -- only drawback is not sure it is suppoed to be used for dado blades -- have to take part of the sawdust catcher off to mount the blade -- good power, soft start, great fence, and lots of extas that are evident to the good engineering that went into the design
The instructions do have a section explaining a dado blade install...... I haven't read that far yet!!!! Didn't need it.
But yeah!!!!!! What a beautiful piece of work."Sir! You are drunk!"
"Madam! You are ugly, and tomorrow I shall be sober!!" Winston Churchill
The Bosch 4000 is rated for a 8" (max 13/16" width) stacked dado blade. The other fellow metioned a section in his instructions about using dados, my instructions said to refer to instructions that came with the dado or somthing like that...not very helpfull.
I phoned Bosch to find out what it was rated for. I also had to phone them back to learn the trick for installing the blade when set for 13/16", as the arbour is too short if you don't know the set up. You have to use the outside washer on the inside and set the inside washer aside. the arbour nut is used by itself for the outside.
Edited 6/27/2005 10:30 pm ET by nails2
Thanks nails for that instruction.Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
No prob... I was very frustrated when I didn't know how to install it at 1st.
Mails 2 -- I figured out that I had to remove the inside washer because of the short arbor -- it worked great -- just did not like having to turn the saw over to get to the 4 screws that hold the dust collector on in order to get the dado blade over the arbor -- it is a small thing as only need it occasionally on cuts that I have to do a lot of tha single passes will just either take too long or not give the finish I need
I don't know.... sounds to me like you're doing things the hard way. I don't have to turn my saw upside down , and I sure don't have to remove any screws. You are using a stacked dado, right?... simply put each blade on one at a time...easy. maybe there's something about the dado blade you're using I don't know. does it have to be assembled before you put it on the saw?
you do have to tilt your blades and chippers slightly as you slip it onto the arbor, but I find it really no trouble at all. and with the great arbor lock that the Bosch features, changing blades is a snap!
I moved up from a cheap Craftsman to the Ryobi. Love it!
Easy to use and very stable. Fence seems acurate, though I haven't done any fine work yet.
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
If I hd to it again I would buy the Bosch with the Rousseau table/fence..
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The best you can afford.
I'm not being cute, but because of the importance of the tool, it seems to me to be the most often used power tool in the shop, and one of the most dangerous. Therefore, if this is a 4-5 times a year, tool, any of the cheap ones will do. If this is a montly thing, then a good contractors saw with a nice fence. If this is a weekly or daily tool, a Unisaw or Powermatic is the ticket.
Regards,
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934
For me it came down to the Bosch and the Porter Cable. IN the end the Bosch won out because of the superior table extension set up. and the rating for the 8" dado blade which I have. The PC is rated for 6".
The PC table extension support is kinda Mickey mouse IMO.
What I did like about the PC that would be nice if the Bosch had was the very nice miter gauge. It has a T slot so it wont fall out when extended at the front of the table, it will even support stock with out falling. I have seen a lot of bigger shop saws with this type of miter gauge.
also the PC fence has holes so that you can bolt on an auxiliary fence. The Bosch you'd have to clamp one on.
I am very happy with the Bosch though and would recommend it highly. I'm absolutely enthralled with the arbor lock, makes changing blades a snap!
I'm using the Bosch at work now, its a decent saw, very well made, excellent adjustments and bonus, the blade tilts to the left for angle cuts. For rabbets, trim cuts. strips and shelving, its a nice saw. The gravity stand only takes a second to set up and is solid.
In my basement, I've got my old Ryobi BT 2000 on a folding Rouseau stand. I've done alot of cabinet work, alot of everything with that saw, I still think its great. It has an accurate solid fence on sliding rails and will cut to a max of 31". The sliding miter table is unheard of in a portable and still operates beautifully 8 years later. The whole saw breaks down into pieces which makes it easy to transport but gets to be a pain setting up taking down every day. If I was going to be working with a lot of built in cabinetry, I'd take the Ryobi over the Bosch because of the 31" cut, the router mount and the sliding table.
I have the Makita with a Rousseau table. The Makita will cut 3 1/2" in one pass and it has a powerful motor. The miter slot sucks but my SCMS is good for crosscuts.
The Rousseau stand and fence are excellent. I recommend it for any portable saw that you buy.
Billy
I also have the makita/rousseau setup and it is top notch stuff.And yes the mitre slot is useless but i would never use it anyway.
Thank you to everyone for your input. It looks like the Bosch 4000 is what I am looking for. Kind of a good thing that I asked, my wife told me tonight that she was planning on ordering the DeWalt. It probably would have been ok, but the Bosch sounds like it is alot better. No just have to order it. Anyone now of a good buy on the Bosch 4000. Amazon has it for $550 with a $25 discount and free shipping, probably the best deal I can find.
Dan"Life is what happens when you are making other plans." - John Lennon
Good deal on saw, they have them on their website too, if you don't want to wait for auction. I bought a recon and I'll be darned if I can find any deficiency. SOP blade/ fence / miter slot adjustment and good to go.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20789&item=4390727479&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW
The Rousseau is great, not as cool looking as the Bosch, but more functional IMHO. Takes less than a minute to unload and setup. Get the extension table...you'll love it!
Rousseau part numbers 2500,2520,2521. Free freight from these guys. Get a zero clearance insert from them, too...Bosch TS-1005.
http://www.northwestpowertools.com/index.htm
I have this setup, ask any questions you like.
Edited to add: I looked at your profile for location. If you're in Boise, and want to saw a board or two to check it out, let me know.
PJ
Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.
Edited 6/28/2005 10:57 am ET by Peter J
Amazon had it for 479 in a catalogue I received last night -- add the 25 off and the free shipping and maybe no tax and it is a deal
sometimes U should listen to yer wife.
I'd not trade my old DeWalt for a brand new Bosch!
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Jeff,
I had told her in the past that the Dewalt looked pretty good. That is why she was planning on getting it. The stand that comes with it does not have any wheels though. I really like the stand that comes with the Bosch, kind of reminds me of my ridgid mitersaw stand. Best stand that I have for anything by far. I will take another look at the Dewalt though. Planning on making a trip this weekend and will look at both saws hopefully.
Dan"Life is what happens when you are making other plans." - John Lennon
I wouldn't buy a table saw just because of the wheels!
btw ... the Trojan has nice wheels ... does nothing more than turn the saw into a big hand truck (dolly) ...
I would buy a table saw because of the fence.
and there's still nothing on the market that beats the DeWalt fence.
any of these saws mentioned will cut most anything U throw at them with a sharp/clean blade ... so I look at features that make my life easier and day go quicker.
And to me ... on a table saw ... that number one feature is the fence.
What are you going to be using the table saw for?
I'd start there ... the intended use ... and decide from that.
I work lotsa with a buddy that has the Ridgid ... I gotta admit ... loading and unloading ... that one hand fold up stand is nice .... and it's got plenty of power .... but for detailed work where just another smidgon will make for damn near perfect ... give me my DeWalt and that fine adjustment knob any day.
and since we're talking portable table saws here ... look hard at a coupla good roller stands.One off the side ... one or two more off the back ... one-man whole sheet ply ripping station! Piece of cake.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Jeff,
I agree with you on the wheels not being a reason to buy a tablesaw, but it is something I want. I also want a really good fence. I will have to look at both saws in person to get a feel of which one I like best. If I like the DeWalt better I can always get a stand with wheels for it. I see that Tool Crib sells just the stand for the Bosch 4000, could probably make it work with the DeWalt.
Dan"Life is what happens when you are making other plans." - John Lennon
a lot of work to get that arangement to work....
I'll check the literature that I got with my 4000 when I get home. I remember seeing a list of all the different brands of saws that fit the stand. "Sir! You are drunk!"
"Madam! You are ugly, and tomorrow I shall be sober!!" Winston Churchill
I have the Dewalt as well as the Rigid. The non-wheeled stand that's made for the Dewalt is very stable but I've got to admit, it's kind of a pain to set up and can be a finger pincher. The saw has been very good to me and, yes the rack and pinion fence is very easy to adjust and has never gone out of whack. ( I don't abuse the saw though). It would be more ideal with a wheeled stand methinks. Perhaps the Bosch or maybe an aftermarket Rousseau stand.
The Rigid (there was a deal at HD. The saw was reduced to $399 and $100 off that price if you brought in any table saw. I brought a ten year old beater of a saw that I originally got from Harbor Freight for $59.) is heavy to lift by yourself. I've got that one on a wheeled stand from Rousseau, but I rarely move it because it's at a vacation house. As I've said before, I'd love to hate that thing but it works great. The fence is accurate and the on-board storage of the fence and miter gauge is a nice touch. I don't like the sound it makes when you first turn it on, but I guess that it should be a reminder to me to have hearing protection on.
Many on this forum love the Bosch for it's fence, soft-start, and wheeled stand. (It wasn't available when I bought either the Dewalt or the Rigid), and many others love the Rousseau table and fence with a Makita saw.
I think the ideal set-up would be the Dewalt fence, the Bosch soft-start and wheeled stand, the Rigid on-board storage, with maybe a Rousseau after market table (oh, and maybe the motor made by Hilti).
Have fun deciding. I don't think you can go seriously wrong with the saws from any of the major players.
Edited 7/1/2005 10:22 am ET by fingers
I have the Makita with a Rousseau table set up. Whatever saw you buy, don't even think twice, get the Rousseau set up with the extension table. Takes about a minute and a half to unbungie it from the truck take it out and set the entire thing up, and then you have the capacity of a cabinet shop saw. It's very portable, and the fence on it is the same as the big cabinet saws Beisemeir, and is dead on. I love my little Makita 81/4" saw and am so used to it since I've had it for 19 years but would love to upgrade to a 10",either Makita or Bosch, but that would mean buying a new Rousseau since it's a different size. Good luck.