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Table saw keep or buy a new one

948 views 7 replies 6 participants last post by  therealSteveN 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hello every one,

I have a craftsmen cast iron table saw with no riving knife and the micro jig wont fit in there as the thickness of the insert is too small and there is just cast iron underneath.

I have found on craigslist a delta 36-441 $325 https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/hsh/d/new-prague-delta-table-saw/6976031697.html

And a ridged R4512 for $500

Also the fence on the craftsmen is not 90 degrees to the table and I have no idea how to adjust that. It is aligned with the saw blade though.

Any help would be appriciated.
 
#3 ·
Check any saw for wobble and bearing runout, buy the one with the least. Most anything else can be easily fixed/replaced.

Bigger is better = more weight

Table rust sands off with your ROS, a scotch brite pad and some used oil. Follow with a razor scraper and a final paste wax polish, no biggie.

Most saws benefit from a fence & miter gauge upgrade (Incra man here but let's not reopen the eternal 'best fence' debate … )

YMMV

M
 
#4 ·
A delta contractor saw is not bad, would consider it about 1/2 or maybe 1/3 the saw of a unisaw. They wear out much sooner than a uni, no experience with a rigid. Used to think a Delta contractors saw would be the bees knees, but then worked with one, power is weak, accuracy not so good. First time I used my Uni to do 45 degree angles, put 2 -45 angles together and checked with a square and they were dead on. My uni is 15 years old and still works as close to perfect as possible.
 
#7 ·
I have the Ridgid R4512, and $500 is to much.
HD has it for $649 brand new.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-13-Amp-10-in-Professional-Cast-Iron-Table-Saw-R4512/202500206

So today, I love my ridgid saw. But I have been a huge critic of it in the past. The factory fence is total crap. I would not by it again. While saving to buy a better saw. I stumbled across a Biesemeyer Commercial Fence for next to nothing, and turned that ridgid saw into a good machine. Also, I have read where older models of the r4512 have blade alignment issues too.
When you look at what a fence upgrade should cost. It makes no sense to buy this saw. A used unisaw, or a new Grizzly is a better deal.
Delta makes a good product, But I have no experience with that saw. Its an older model, I would say $325 is a little overpriced maybe. New version at lowes is $599.
Your previous post has no photo. Try adding photos of your saw. Maybe we can help adjusting the fence.
 
#8 ·
"I have found on craigslist a delta 36-441 $325 https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/hsh/d/new-prague-delta-table-saw/6976031697.html"

That Delta has stamped steel side tables, your vented cast iron on the Sears saw are much more rigid, and a much better lasting material. Not to mention more stabilizing from a weight point of view. At $325 I believe it is priced too high. I have a Delta 36-979 which is 1 1/2 Hp motor, with solid cast iron tables, and I have been considering letting it go. I was thinking 400 bux. I'm going to follow that ad, and if it sells for that I will raise my price, that's for sure. Heck I ought to raise the price if a rigid anything is worth 500.

It would be along drive to get my saw, but I would suggest if you want a good contractor saw to look for a Delta 36-979, and or a PM 64, either are very sound table saws, with good solid frames, and motors that will make all but the most heavy cuts. Actually they can/will make the cuts, but you need to slow down, and let the saw work on really dense woods, and cuts pressing their ability for thickness.
 
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