Table Saw for Newbie

Fence is not the best but it’s belt drive, has casters and a nice miter gauge and is only $125 – I say go for it. You could always sell it for that later if you don’t want it.

Honestly Lil Buddie, I totally hate anything craftsman except there wrench and socket sets. The saw your looking at is a very basic starter. If that’s where you at and your comfortable that it will meet your needs. Go ahead. $125 should not break the bank. Just accept that this a learner and as your skills progress you will want a better saw. IMHO it won’t take a lot to out class that Sears. The only accessory I would suggest is a quality blade. Again, IMHO anything else that attaches to the machine is money that could be better put aside for a top quality upgrade. Kind of like the one the seller is upgrading to. Best of luck and welcome to LJ’s.

It needs a good tune up and cleaning, but nothing you cant handle. Well worth the price I’d say. Make sure the blade is parallel to the miter slots and that fence is then parallel to the slots as well. If your fence isn’t parallel to the blade you’ll have problems. You might consider an aftermarket fence, again getting a used one from Craig’s List would be where I’d look. I once owned a similar saw.
Cheers,

-- Glen

Looks like a good stater saw.

-- Bondo Gaposis

Just make sure you incorporate a splitter. If the seller has the OEM splitter, it functions quite well, as splitters go. I have two similar saws and kept them over a 70’s vintage unisaw I refurbished. The fence isn’t the best but careful attention to the owners manual will make it serviceable. Good luck.

-- there's a solution to every problem.......you just have to be willing to find it.

Looks like there is a Diablo blade in it which is about $40 in itself. You’ll also need to close it up for some dust collection, I’d say offer $100 with $25 in another pocket, sad to see a top that rusty when the radial saw looks so clean. If you’re around DC, I’ve got a dust chute for the bottom of the saw for a shop vac you can have. Good luck!

BTW This is a really good book, if you’re not very familiar with how a TS is put together and could use advise for best practices, some of what you’ll see on you tube is scary

-- I've decided 1 mistake is really 2 opportunities to learn.. learn how to fix it... and learn how to not repeat it

Rust is no problem. I used liquid wrench to get it off. Disagree with BurleyBob. Those older craftsman 113.xxx are OK for the average person. Lots of people on this site have lots of $$$ to spend. Some of us on fixed income make due and still have fun with wood. I added a Delta T2 to mine.

It’s a good saw and is upgradable. My wife’s grandpa had one that we sold to one of my buddies for 70 but it was a friend price. I played with it and had a lot of fun with it.

sugnim

I looked at the CL ad and I don’t see anything about the 2.5 hp on the table saw. I had a saw just like that and stock it was 3/4 hp. I replaced the motor with a 1 1/2 hp and an upgrade fence and was happy with it for a long time. Only thing is after all that you’ll have well over $500 in that saw. That’s one way to go but you might get considerably more for your money in a saw that’s already set up, depending on your budget. If you’re serious about that saw MAKE SURE on that horsepower. You’ll pay $200 for just a cheapo 2 hp motor, otherwise it could be underpowered.

It seems to have everything required for a startup. Just ensure alignment. If it is right go for it.
You can always make a sled …... & a lot of dust.

-- shuja

I had a saw just like that and stock it was 3/4 hp. I replaced the motor with a 1 1/2 hp and an upgrade fence and was happy with it for a long time.

Are there any issues with replacing the existing table saw motor with a heavier duty one? I have a Jet table saw with a 1 1/2 HP motor on it currently. I wondered about putting a 2 or 2 1/2 HP motor on it. Would that cause any problems with the saw operating properly?

Sorry to slightly derail the OP’s thread, but this question might help him as well.

The saw will do anything you want it to do. The fence is garbage it needs replaced with a good aftermarket. It will not stay square to the blade.

-- Bruce, Boise, ID

I had a saw just like that and stock it was 3/4 hp. I replaced the motor with a 1 1/2 hp and an upgrade fence and was happy with it for a long time.

Are there any issues with replacing the existing table saw motor with a heavier duty one? I have a Jet table saw with a 1 1/2 HP motor on it currently. I wondered about putting a 2 or 2 1/2 HP motor on it. Would that cause any problems with the saw operating properly?

Sorry to slightly derail the OP s thread, but this question might help him as well.

- MadGerman

I don’t know what the current prices are, but 6 years ago or so, a Jet 1-1/2HP replacement motor was over $300. If you’re replacing a motor on a contractor saw (as opposed to a cabinet saw), a 2- or 2-1/2HP will be even more; that’s an awfully big chunk of change to put into it.

-- My mother said that anyone learning to cook needed a large dog to eat the mistakes. As a sculptor of wood I have always tried to keep a fireplace. (Norman Ridenour)

Save you money and buy yourself a good hybrid from Powermatic, Delta, or Dewalt.

-- Roger M, Aiken, SC

If it has a two and a half hp motor, I would take it over anything I can get from a big box store for under $500. They’re decent saws. The only problem is the fence, and if it is a little jumpy, you may want to get a link belt.