Thinking New Table Saw Time

[honesttjohn]

My old Craftsman (13 model) keeps giving me fits.  Pulleys won't stay lined up and that leads to a lot of vibration and heat.  Looking at a new replacement table saw.  I don't need anything fancy so a low end entry level small shop one should work ($1200 +/-).  I also have to get it down to the basement and the doorway is 29 inches wide.  Been considering the Laguna F1, but there seems to be a quality and alignment with them.  The Grizz 962 looks promising, but the fence isn't the greatest ----- but I have a Vega fence on the Craftsman if it'll fit.  Also looked at the Delta from Lowes, but there seems to be a motor problem with them.  Jet is a maybe, too.  There seems to be some type of problem with all of them.  Any opinions on where to spend my money?

[BillyJack]

I’d just buy from Grizzly

 

[Gerald]

My Grizzley has been going over 25 years and no problem at all. You can always upgrade fence.

[JimM]

Check for a good used one in your area.  Lots of woodworkers aging out of the hobby or moving to another area.

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

I like the used idea, but if I was picking from your choices I'd go with the Grizzly.

[smitty10101]

@honestjohn

 

see my answer on WOW forum.

[honesttjohn]

I found a Delta Platinum Edition. Tag says Delta Pittsburgh PA - Made in USA - Manual is dated right around 1999. Anybody know anything about these. I know the newer Delta's are crappy.

[BillyJack]

Every 20 years they are going to say the old was good and the new is junk. 20 years from now it will repeat..

[Danl]

7 hours ago, honesttjohn said:

I found a Delta Platinum Edition. Tag says Delta Pittsburgh PA - Made in USA - Manual is dated right around 1999. Anybody know anything about these. I know the newer Delta's are crappy.

I am still using one.  I purchased it new in 1999 (I think).  The one issue is the switch will need to be replaced now or then.  Parts are available.   They sold both right-tilt and left-tilt arbors.  It has been a very good saw with cast iron wing.  I can rip 36" to right of blade.  What is the seller asking for price?  Danl

 

 

 

 

[honesttjohn]

He wants $900.  He has it with a built in cabinet under the extension and a 3 x 4'  folding outfeed table, all on a custom base on rollers, along with all the accessories he's added thru the years.

[Danl]

I can not advise you which TS to purchase, but the used Delta has a cast iron wing and the three new saws have a sheet metal wing.  In general, the cast iron is machined +/- 0.010.  The sheet metal may be +/ 0.030.   Danl

[honesttjohn]

Don't know if it's a good price or not AND whether it'll all fit in my space.

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

The pricing is hard to judge. But if that saw fits in your space it would be a good one to have. The fence alone would put it on mu consideration list. I had a delta contractor saw and then a Unisaw and both had Unifences. I've moved on to a Biesemeyer type and still miss having the Unifence.

[Larry Buskirk]

17 hours ago, BillyJack said:

Every 20 years they are going to say the old was good and the new is junk. 20 years from now it will repeat..

 

My Delta is only 92 years old this year. 

 

Edited February 10 by Larry Buskirk

[Ron Dudelston]

2 minutes ago, Larry Buskirk said:

 

My Delta is only 94 years old this year. 

My Delta is 78 years old.  Wouldn’t trade it.

[HandyDan]

Not sure how old my Rockwell is.  Love it!

[DuckSoup]

 My craftsman is only 71 years young. 

[BillyJack]

He might find a great deal on a used saw if he starts looking, but you deal with a lot of frustration looking. Missed deals, too high, too far away. Buying a new saw from Grizzly will come with none of the frustration except some assembly. Plus a warranty.

 

I bought my Unisaw in 1999 because my salesman had a deal on it.Now with that in mind, if he had not offered the deal, I would have went straight to Grizzly.

Edited February 10 by BillyJack

[honesttjohn]

That's probably the way I'll go.  Gonna see if i can adjust the old one one more time.

[honesttjohn]

Dug into the Craftsman 113 a little more.  The arbor pulley had the hidden side 1/2 broke off.  I had a kit that had 2 new pulleys and instead of a belt it's a linked fiber chain.  After a couple scraped knuckles and a few choice words I think I got the new pulleys and linkbelt on.  Runs quieter for sure, and little or no vibration.  This is probably the third or forth set of pulleys I've put on it over the past few years, as well as a couple new belts and countless motor adjustments.  Still would like a new saw, but will see if this works for now.  Thanx for all the input.