Table saw buying strategy

Grab a ~$100 C-man or Delta contractor saw to get you by, and then buy your real saw after you move. The contractor saw is a big step up from a portable jobsite saw, easily movable, and you can usually re-sell them for what you bought them for, so you won’t have to move it when you do. If you are diligent, you can usually find them with all sorts of upgrades already included (mobile base, upgraded fence, multiple faceplates, jigs, etc…).

Cheers,
Brad

-- Brad in FL - In Dog I trust... everything else is questionable

Guess I’d wait a year before buying the heavy iron. Meanwhile you could make do with a track-saw which will give you highly accurate cuts both rip and cross cut in larger stock, and doesn’t take up much room. There are a ton of options out there from simple to guides to elaborate and expensive systems that allow you to effectively replace a table saw for most tasks. Maybe get/keep a portable saw around for other tasks. And how much noise and dust are you allowed to make on the 3rd floor of an apartment?

After you move and you’re ready to purchase the bigger system, you’ll find that you always want your track-saw around. They are so useful for sheet goods and other carpentry tasks like ripping and cross-cutting a door to fit.

And how much noise and dust are you allowed to make on the 3rd floor of an apartment?

Thanks for the ideas, Brad and Sark. Re the apartment, our unit spans the 2nd and 3rd floors of a three flat, so the noise on the 3rd is largely a non-issue (except to my wife and dog). And so long as I clean up the dust when we move out, my landlord is fine with whatever.