Mine is an older craftsman and not very powerful but good enough for what I need. The BIG advantage is its dang solid now and that means it wont move and the saw cuts much better. The legs they come on are not very good at all..... There are very good videos on youtube that show you how to build some very elaborate tables and some very nice wooden fence systems. I have seen a few thet are simple to build and would be light years ahead of the cheap fence systems these little saws come with.
I know what you mean if I put any more machines or cabinets in my pole barn I would not have room to build anything. Once upon a time I could move all the machines to one side and fit a truck in there, not anymore
There are very good videos on youtube that show you how to build some very elaborate tables and some very nice wooden fence systems. I have seen a few thet are simple to build and would be light years ahead of the cheap fence systems these little saws come with. Pallet Pete, 100% in agreement with you. Some of these fences on some of these "table top saws" as I call them are crap. Period. Most people would be better off building one to the many nice wooden designed and built fences that are on Youtube. I can't even begin to imagine how many of the table saw injuries are caused by the cheap fences, which in turn make the table saw branded as a "dangerous machine". I am due for a new jobsite saw as I call it. My good one is an old green Makita 8 1/2" blade. My other is the Ridgid. I plan on craiglisting the Ridgid and picking up the new Skil worm drive table top saw. I am a worm drive guy so I think I am going to like it. It is suppose to take a 10" blade but I think I am going to just standardize with 8 1/2" blades. I have had the Makita for almost 20 years and it doesn't owe me a nickel. The wife thought I was nuts when I bought it because it was new and expensive at the time. In my shop I got a Jet contractors saw and the Unisaw is in the process of being rebuilt. My plan is to keep a dado stack in the Jet when I get the Unisaw running like I want. Oh boy, the garage is filling up.
I've never seen a saw setup to cut on that side of the fence... are you left handed or something? Seems backwards to me...
I have a support column to the left of my saw. If I have a wide piece of plywood to cut, I'll use the right side of the fence, otherwise I use the left.
I'd REALLY like a saw just for a dado set. I have the room for it. Got any pics? I bought mine in the late 80's, I think, and it runs like buttah.
papadave, Currently no photos. But, I will take your request to get some done asap and put them up. thanks for the interest.
papadave, you can find a good used Craftsmen, Delta or Jet for about $300 or less and you'll have the dado set for good. The other thing I do is use the DeWalt small radial arm saw for a dedicated dado stack too. Makes drawer construction a breeze. The small DeWalt RAS can be had for $50. I got mine for 2 cases of beer.
Already have a RAS and a dado set......just need to find an older saw. Haven't had the RAS setup for almost 20 years....I wonder if I'll remember how to use it. 1/2 laps too.
Hey Pete that's a great looking fence! The fence is what separates a good saw from a great saw! I have a very old Craftsman model 80 which is gold in color that I bought used from a classified ad 30 years ago.. The top and extensions are cast iron and the roller after the work leaves the table is made of what I believe is hard maple.. I replaced the motor (a 1/2HP motor which grounded out and shocked the hell out of me!) with a 3/4HP but the fence system sucks! I feel a good fence would make all the difference.. I am guessing this saw was made in the late 50's or early 60's..
