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Sawstop Mobility Base and Cast Iron Wings

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1K views 15 replies 7 participants last post by  DaveMills 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I'm shopping for a new Sawstop contractor saw-down to picking out the optional parts. I was in a Woodcraft store yesterday, looking at the floor model. The salesman said that the mobility base works well, but that it is not compatible with the cast iron wings; he said they made the saw too heavy for the base. Does anyone have experience using the mobility base with the cast iron wings?

Thanks….
 
#2 · (Edited by Moderator)
EDIT: I reread your post and noted that the salesman had not said "incompatible". The salesman just said it didn't work well. So I'm modifying my answer a bit.

I went out to the SS website and it will let you outfit a CNS with mobile base and cast iron wings. The cast iron wings are 35 pounds each, although the added net weight will be less (deduct the weight of the stamped steel wings not being installed.) If the net added weight is about 50 pounds, I don't think the mobile base will be hampered that greatly.

I know that the website will not let you spec a saw with mobile base and certain other features. For example, the site says the PCS with integrated mobile base is not compatible with the floating dust collection guard or with the router table option.

I also looked at the CNS and there are configurations which the site states are incompatible with the mobile base, but the cast iron wings are available with the mobile base.

My PCS has the integrated mobile base. I would consider it to be similar in design and concept to the CNS mobile base. It's not the smoothest in the world, but it does work.
 
#6 ·
Cost is not a problem. I picked the CS because (a) I'm a total novice, (b) it's going into my two car garage (with my wife claiming use of as much space as needed to hold her car, with generous provision for me to take the whole garage when needed). (Balancing the novice part is that I'm an old guy, and I'm going to buy one table saw, ever, so might as well buy one that won't disappoint.)

The space consumed: I see that the PCS has a not much large footprint than the CS. But it weighs 500 lb., vs 350 lb; is that a factor in moving it out into the garage to use it (i.e., is the mobility base on the 500 lb beast effective?)

As long as I'm on the fence, and will have to have a 20 Amp circuit installed, at least, to accommodate either one: a 3 HP motor is overkill for a home shop?

Thanks to all for the advice.
 
#7 ·
I have the 3HP PCS. 36" T-glide fence. Hobbyist shop. Old guy; retired.

Not hard to move. I don't, now, because I have a dedicated shop building. But I shared a two-car garage back in 2012 when I got the saw. The garage was 22X24 and my wife had half of the space during the cold months of the year. Enough room to park her Toyota Highlander.

Regarding which mobile base: There are two that are compatible with the PCS. One is the PCS integrated mobile base; this is the one I have. It's OK; just OK. The ICS mobile base is also available for the PCS; I've read that the ICS base works much better, but I haven't used one myself. You might want to consider that upgrade.

Learning woodworking with a real cabinet saw versus a lighter saw is no issue. Many of us start with lesser capability tools because that's what we could afford at the time. My first saw was a 10 year old Delta contractor saw that I got for $300 in 2001. I had been woodworking seriously for 13 years when I upgraded to the PCS. I'm considering an upgrade to the 5HP Industrial Cabinet Saw, but only because I have happened across one. If that upgrade doesn't work out, I'll be happy to stay with my 3 HP PCS.

Is 3HP overkill for a home shop? Not in my opinion. I suppose it really depends on what you want to do. But 3HP will give you a wide range of possibilities. both in terms of stock thickness and choice of species. That 3HP will be able to easily cut just about anything you want to. The PCS is also capable of very fine, exacting work. This is a matter of sleds and jigs for just about any saw.

You may want to add the optional outfeed table. I didn't have one for my PCS when I was in the two-car garage. It would have been a big help. I now have a large outfeed setup in my current shop.

Thanks for allowing me to help you spend your money. :)
 
#8 ·
I don't know anything about CS base but the PCS with industrial base (ICS) is breeze to move. There is small hydraulic pump you pump with your foot to lift the saw. Also, all 4 casters swivel so easy to steer wherever needed. I believe the PCS base is tricyle base with 3 casters and only 1 swivels.
 
#9 ·
I would not say 3 HP is overkill, but the 1.75 HP model will do a lot of work, in some cases just a little more slowly. I didn't look at the specs of the CS, but it's possible the PCS will actually take up less room, simply because it doesn't have the motor hanging out the back.
 
#10 · (Edited by Moderator)
Cabinet saws take up nothing in the way of additional space, given the same rip capacity and fence, and the PCS with ICS mobile base is quite easy to move. That'd be my choice for sure.

3HP is definitely not overkill for a home shop or for a relative novice. Once you get a cabinet saw dialed in, it's fantastic.

I started with a contractor saw because it was all I could afford. When I upgraded to a cabinet saw, I was blown away by how much better it was in every respect.
 
#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
Thank you all for your information. I'm now convinced (ha!) that I should get a PCS model. Which, now down the rabbit hole, I'm looking at the router table extension on the right side. Any thoughts on that? The SS router lift? How about a sawdust grabber that's adequate but not overkill? (The aforementioned sales guy said the Contractor Saw required at least 350 CFM.)
 
#12 ·
If the router table extension had been available, I would have included one on my saw. It's a good option for workshops with limited space. You'll need to buy the ICS mobile base to accommodate a router table extension.

I've since built a router table, and so I'm not in need of one right now. My router doesn't require a separate lift mechanism, so I can't talk to that.

Can't advise on a simple dust collection system; I use a two-stage cyclone with multiple drops for a whole-shop solution. I know there are a number of single-machine dust collection systems.

I think you're really going to like that saw.
 
#14 ·
Good choice. As for the dust collection, let's face it…for good DC you need lots of airflow, and if the pick up is of a small diameter even a big DC may not do that well. The alternative (with a small port) would be to use a shop vac. They are made for that and would probably do what you want.
 
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