« back to Power Tools, Hardware and Accessories forum
03-31-2015 02:33 AM
|
Topic tags/keywords:
question
tablesaw
shop fox
grizzly
general
craftex
cabinet saw
I also posted this on sawmillcreek. just for an FYI
Looking at getting either a General International 50-275RC30 (which I seem unable to find any reviews of ($1,799)) or a Shop Fox w1819 ($1841.90 shipped) (amazon.ca) which is the Grizzly 690.
What I have now is a Bosch jobsite Saw GTS1031 . it works okay but with what I do, the fence is too small, the table in front of the blade is too short, Rip Capacity is always too small. The finish on it likes to rub off. The plastic ZC inserts flex and make ripping thin stock almost pointless unless you love gouges and burn marks. Its a hard start 5000 rpm and the thin kerf blades always flexed on start up chewing up the zero clearance.
What I do. well I am mostly a toy/model builder. I also build furniture, boxes, urns, sculptures and other woodworking projects. I need a fence that stays true, a blade that stays true no matter where I raise or lower it. easy adjustment of the riving knife or blade guard. I can just cut a 8 inch wide then rip half a dozen 1/8 strips. My current saw you have to take the insert off raise it all the way up, use a wrench to unlock as the finger lever (plastic) broke off after 2 weeks and never was able to get a replacement. sawdust gets in there and moves the riving knife slightly causing problems. so I just never use the guards. actually the guards on the Bosch are flimsy and have caused more danger then prevented.
Reasons for the General well the dealer is 1 hr drive away (on sale right now for $1500). can not seem to find any reviews except for comments from 2010 to buy the 350 which I wish I could as it was Canadian Made. I will be in Thursday to get medication and will have a look in person. 1 year warranty I also own the industrial 14 inch bandsaw that has done a lot of work, and General Mortiser not as much work as I was hoping.
Reasons for the Shop Fox lots of reviews, easy to remove/change the riving knife, lots of potential addons. I might want to add on to cut capacity later. the w1820 is $1100 more for a 50” instead of a 30 which seems crazy to me. Craftex sells the same saw as the cx201 and the 50 is the same price as the Shop Fox 30 but too wide for my current shop and that is before shipping. 2 year warranty on the shop fox
Reason for not buying used. I always have had bad luck buying used. I do not look constantly but when I do see them on Kijiji its a 5hr round trip just to look at it given their size and my arthritis I need one or two people to go with me, or they have been in a storage shed for… years and rusted covered top. or and almost always not a cabinet saw.
I have looked at getting a saw stop but $2000 vs $4600. anything will be safer then my current saw.
Business is really picking up here and I do not have time to spend tinkering with an oldie ( though I wish I did would love some table saw you needed a drive belt and a stationary engine for)
-- "as a carpenter would or a shoemaker, if meeting in either of their shops with some shavings, or small remnants of their work, thou shouldest blame them for it?" Meditations Marcus Aurelius
|
17 replies so far
#1 posted 03-31-2015 03:22 AM
|
IMHO, for what it is worth, all of the saws are made offshore and many are exactly the same under the hood with cosmetic changes requested by the so called onshore manufacture. That being said, service and replacement parts are more important should you have a problem vs the brand name.
Research the reviews to determine the problems, then go from there.
-- Respectfully, Paul
|
#2 posted 03-31-2015 08:25 AM
|
The base model is the 50-275R. Try searching for that and you should have some better luck with reviews. For my money I would go with the general simply because it has a cast iron plinth while near as I can tell the shopfox has sheet metal. I am a big believer in more metal being better. Also because its apparently cheaper.
|
#3 posted 03-31-2015 09:35 AM
|
The Canadian made “General” 350 and 650 are no longer available, and were among the very best saws made…. General “International” is not the same, so don’t let General’s reputation sway you blindly. Both lines were owned by the same Canadian family.
From a glance of the schematic in the manual, the W1820/G0690/CX200 appear to have more robust under pinnings than the 50-275. The 50-275 has nearly identical guts to the Powermatic PM64B hybrid style contractor saw…the biggest difference being the size of the motor. The 50-275 also has an aluminum fence rail. The GI 50-270 is built more like the W182O et al. It’d be best to see them all in person, and go with whichever floats your boat. I’d be inclined to go with the more proven SF, Craftex, or G0690 just out of familiarity.
You can add about 10 rip capacity to any of the saws you mentioned pretty easily.
GI50-275:


PM64B:

Compared the pics above to these:
G0690 (W1820/CX201):


GI50-270:

-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....
|
#4 posted 03-31-2015 10:42 AM
|
Although a 3HP cabinet saw may be more saw than you need for what you’re doing, times, ideas, and demands change, so if one’s thinking is to have more capacity in a machine today than you may need because you don’t know what tomorrow will bring, then you can’t go wrong with either machine.
Have you looked at a hybrid saw? This one is on sale now for $775 with shipping.
Bottom line: If you can afford it, go for it. You’ll never be limited by your saw. You will have a nicer table saw than alot of ww’ers doing much bigger jobs.
-- Everything is a prototype thats why its one of a kind!!
|
#5 posted 03-31-2015 11:25 AM
|
I have owned three Shop Fox tools for over at least two years each. I could not be happier with the performance from each one. The 1819 saw is easily adjusted and holds the adjustments perfectly, has plenty power for all species of wood. It has the 30” rails and has ample room to mount a router in the RH wing which fits real well in my small shop space. When I bought it from Amazon on sale it was delivered to my shop for less than 1300$. Have changed the belts one time about a year ago. The 1706 bandsaw w/riser block is also a well made work horse in my shop and with a Woodslicer blade will consistently cut very thin slices needing little sanding. The other great Shop Fox tool is the 1676 6X48” belt w/ 10” disc sander. These are the most used tools (more than once daily ) tools in my shop. I am an old woodworker and would advise buying Shop Fox for any of these three. However be advised there is other tools of this brand which do not deserve such good remarks . ,
-- I,ve had amnesia for as long as I can remember. Vernon
|
#6 posted 03-31-2015 03:44 PM
|
The base model is the 50-275R. Try searching for that and you should have some better luck with reviews. For my money I would go with the general simply because it has a cast iron plinth while near as I can tell the shopfox has sheet metal. I am a big believer in more metal being better. Also because its apparently cheaper.
- Minorhero
I have tried so many combinations and variations on what to search and how and still could not find anything.
-- "as a carpenter would or a shoemaker, if meeting in either of their shops with some shavings, or small remnants of their work, thou shouldest blame them for it?" Meditations Marcus Aurelius
|
#7 posted 03-31-2015 04:20 PM
|
The base model is the 50-275R. Try searching for that and you should have some better luck with reviews. For my money I would go with the general simply because it has a cast iron plinth while near as I can tell the shopfox has sheet metal. I am a big believer in more metal being better. Also because its apparently cheaper.
- Minorhero
I have tried so many combinations and variations on what to search and how and still could not find anything.
- Little_Woodworking
It’s not much, but here’s a blurb from Woodshop News: http://woodshopnews.com/tools-machines/tools-a-machines-archives/502218-general-offers-beefed-up-cabinet-saw
There’s also some spec info on the hingmy.com site: https://www.hingmy.com/site/content.php?p=4204
-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....
|
#8 posted 03-31-2015 05:26 PM
|
I just read that the 50-275r is just a 3hp version of the 50-200r which there is a lot of talk about in comparison.
200r does get a lot of comparison to a hybrid saw.
-- "as a carpenter would or a shoemaker, if meeting in either of their shops with some shavings, or small remnants of their work, thou shouldest blame them for it?" Meditations Marcus Aurelius
|
#9 posted 03-31-2015 07:03 PM
|
Look at Grizzly G0690 and for it to go on sale or look for a coupon.
-- Respectfully, Paul
|
#10 posted 03-31-2015 07:08 PM
|
I have the General International 50-200r and am very happy with it. No doubt 3 hp is better than 2, but I’ve not managed to bog the motor down yet.
-- Jeremy, in the Acadian forests
|
#11 posted 03-31-2015 07:22 PM
|
Look at Grizzly G0690 and for it to go on sale or look for a coupon.
- pjones46
Unfortunately the grizzly is going to be $200 more then the shop fox even before the additional shipping costs to Canada.
It seems like my saw takes more and more time to get things rightly set up. Having a table saw that sometimes runs several hours a day. having it stay true is becoming more and more of a necessity then a luxury. I have lots of higher priced items being ordered and looking at one job and the saw is pretty much payed for. This is something I should of looked at more when things were a little slower after Christmas. Now it almost feels like pressured to get a good saw and get back to work. as I keep pushing the limits of my saw in almost every aspect.
-- "as a carpenter would or a shoemaker, if meeting in either of their shops with some shavings, or small remnants of their work, thou shouldest blame them for it?" Meditations Marcus Aurelius
|
#12 posted 03-31-2015 08:44 PM
|
Look at Grizzly G0690 and for it to go on sale or look for a coupon.
- pjones46
Unfortunately the grizzly is going to be $200 more then the shop fox even before the additional shipping costs to Canada.
It seems like my saw takes more and more time to get things rightly set up. Having a table saw that sometimes runs several hours a day. having it stay true is becoming more and more of a necessity then a luxury. I have lots of higher priced items being ordered and looking at one job and the saw is pretty much payed for. This is something I should of looked at more when things were a little slower after Christmas. Now it almost feels like pressured to get a good saw and get back to work. as I keep pushing the limits of my saw in almost every aspect.
- Little_Woodworking
The parts lists look to be interchangeable between the two saws. Shop Fox trunnion parts are all numerically 100 more than the Grizzly counterpart.
http://pics.woodstockint.com/partslists/w1820_pl.pdf http://cdn0.grizzly.com/partslists/g0690_pl.pdf
-- Happiness is like wetting your pants...everyone can see it, but only you can feel the warmth....
|
#13 posted 03-31-2015 09:18 PM
|
Shopfox is owned by Grizzly so may be the exact same items under different names. I bought my G0690 on sale for $1,325.00 plus $150 freight and at that time the Shopfox was more money.
-- Respectfully, Paul
|
#14 posted 03-31-2015 09:30 PM
|
I have been happy with my 1023RLW.


-- Handcrafted by Mike Henderson - Channelview, Texas
|
#15 posted 03-31-2015 10:07 PM
|
Well I will still check out the General on Thursday but I have a feeling I will go with the Shop Fox.
Thank you everyone for the opinions and personal experiences.
-- "as a carpenter would or a shoemaker, if meeting in either of their shops with some shavings, or small remnants of their work, thou shouldest blame them for it?" Meditations Marcus Aurelius
|
Have your say...
You must be signed in to reply.
|
Forum |
Topics |
Woodworking Skill Share
Your woodworking skills are displayed for several lifetimes in each project. Have you had to compromise your project...
|
12695 |
Woodturning
On the lathe, by the lathe: do you have questions? frustrations? tips? This forum is for all the woodturners out there.
|
2569 |
Woodcarving
Relief, 3D, chip-carving, whittling; carving knives, chisels, pocket-knives, power tools. If you are a carver or want...
|
516 |
Scrollsawing
Intarsia, fretwork, intricate design cutting and more! This forum is for scrollsawers: share your tips, ask questions...
|
377 |
Joinery
Have a question? a tip/strategy to share? a challenge, perhaps? Share your "joinery" discussion here.
|
1661 |
Finishing
The finish, whether paint, wax, stain, or something else, can make or break a project. What are your tips and questio...
|
5777 |
Designing Woodworking Projects
Looking for information on designing your projects? Having difficulties reading project plans? Looking for help with ...
|
7380 |
Power Tools, Hardware and Accessories
Are you unsure of which tools, or hardware, you need, or which brands to buy? Investing in tools and hardware can be ...
|
30727 |
CNC Woodworking
Questions and answers about CNC machines, tooling, best practices, and projects.
|
268 |
Hand Tools
Wood, your hand tools, you and a little know-how. Share your questions, tips and strategies for the use and maintenan...
|
5986 |
Jigs & Fixtures
Using a jig is like having a couple extra hands helping out. Show us your jigs, share your tips, strategies and, of c...
|
1624 |
Wood & Lumber
Different wood requires different woodworking strategies - from cutting to finishing. Share your tips and challenges ...
|
6837 |
Safety in the Woodworking Shop
Before you pick up those woodworking tools, take the time to ensure your safety in the shop! Eyes, ears, fingers, and...
|
1515 |
Focus on the Workspace
Are you looking for or do you have tips to share regarding the workshop? Storage, equipment placement, efficiency, an...
|
2415 |
Sweating for Bucks Through Woodworking
If you are selling your work, then you have entered a woodworking dimension with added complexity and stress. If you...
|
1230 |
Woodworking Trade & Swap
All of us are holding onto treasure in our shops, that we either don't need, don't want, or could part with if presen...
|
5146 |
LumberJocks.com Site Feedback
Connect with the Website Gurus and tell us what you are thinking, suggestions, problems, functionality issues, and so...
|
2323 |
Coffee Lounge
Need a break from all the standing and wood dust? Chat with your Forum Friends about their projects, their life, thei...
|
9347 |
|