Cabinet Saw A-B Comparisons?

[U-CDK_CHARLES\Charles]

List:

A recent poster (Charlie S mebbe?) talked about the difference between saws when you "pop the lid."

I've only seen one review--last years FWW Tools and Shops comparison of midline saws--that did just that, other than a single tool review.

Is there an article online that does that with cabinet saws?

There's PLENTY of opinion here, of course, amounting to "Everyone is happy with the saw they own now . . "

I'm after somethign along the lines of FWWs midline saw comparison, only for the heavy iron.

[Charlie Self]

Charles Krug states:

I'd love to do that one. Got the shop crane all set up and waiting, but it would have to be one at a time, as the shop itself isn't large enough for the dozen or so saws that would qualify. Lessee: Jet; Delta; Powermatic; Grizzly; Woodtek; Grizzly; General; Bridgewood; Craftsman; Shop Fox; Sunhill; Dayton and a few less familiar names I'm sure are still out there in one incarnation or another.

A huge (and expensive) amount of work, so don't look for it soon.

Charlie Self "A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward." Franklin D. Roosevelt, radio address, Oct. 26, 1939

[U-CDK_CHARLES\Charles]

Well a huge DOH on my part. I found one ten minutes later.

ya what Charlie, I bet you could find folks who'd help you with that. I have space for one.

[patriarch]

[e-mail] (Charlie Self) wrote in news: [e-mail]:

And where does one draw the line for heavy iron on the upside? Where does that market get segmented?

Our adult ed program just declined to install a Delta 12/14 saw offered to them, opting for another 10" Unisaw instead.

Just curious. I've already got more tooling than I really require.

(now I'm pretty certain the woodworking gods will require an offering based on that blasphemy...)

Patriarch

[Joel Corwith]

Find a place with a Powermatic and jet or delta. Compare the trunnions between the 2. Powermatic and General have "massive cast-iron trunnions" compared to what I consider Unisaw knock-offs. Yes, even the Unisaw isn't what it was. I went with a General, because at the time, it was the cheapest (of the big 3) if you ordered it from Canada (even with the shipping!).

Joel. phx

[Andy Dingley]

My Wadkin is similar to the Powermatic design. It's a substantial piece of work, but if it does ever get worn, it's a lot harder to repair and remove wear by bushing or sleeving it, compared to the Unisaw pattern.

[Charlie Self]

Patriarch asks:

Makes sense. My guess is that there probably aren't more than half a dozen hobby woodworkers who have ever needed more than a Unisaw/Jet/General/Powermatic/Grizzly/Shop Fox and other cabinet saw, and a great many who don't need that. For the most part, the contractor's saw does a great job, at a lower cost, with a shade more upkeep.

To go to 5 HP, or up to a 12" blade, is overkill. And so is the blade price. Got the the CMT USA site and compare the prices of 10", 12" and 14" blades--and compare the selection. Well, shoot, they don't have prices there.

Amana's 4 year old price list (only one I have) shows a 10" glue line rip at MSRP of $103.75, with a 12" version at $125.60. The 14" is over $128.

Everything on the larger saw costs more.

Charlie Self "A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward." Franklin D. Roosevelt, radio address, Oct. 26, 1939

[Edwin Pawlowski]

"Charlie Self"

I can arrange that and have the saws shipped to you. Of course, I'll need your home address to make the arrangements.

Yeah, that's it, send me your home address (value $500 on the internet) and I'll get it started. Yep, all I need is that one bit of legal information. Oh, be sure to let me know when you'll be home so I can have the driver personally hand you the proper papers.

Ed (who is soon to be $500 richer)

[Unisaw A100]

Also, and you can ask Pat Barber about this, the opening for the saw blade on the 12/14 is farther back (to the rear) on the table. Most users have a sense that they've compromised their center of gravity (extended their reach way more than what is comfortable) when using a larger saw.

Not poo-pooing the 12/14 saw, just an observation based on what users have found/I have heard about.

UA100

[Charlie Self]

ROTFLMAO!

Charlie Self "A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward." Franklin D. Roosevelt, radio address, Oct. 26, 1939

[David F. Eisan]

Keef,

I agree.

When I was teaching a woodworking for Women class at a local high school last year, I got to use a 12/14 for the first time, you have to be a tall person to be able to push wood through the blade comfortably.

P.S. I just brought home a cast iron plinth Unisaw last night from a local prison that closed....

[Pat Barber]

Yep...the larger saw requires more "adjustments" and more expensive blades. It also requires a more expensive base, more expensive fence, and is more difficult to work "close up" with the blade.

I really got lucky on my saw, but the bigger saws have things that you don't expect, like a 1" miter slot. That doesn't sound bad until you realize you can not buy any of those snazzy little adapters or jigs.

The larger saws often come with "bastard size" arbors such as 1" or 1.25" which requires more expensive and hard to find blades. I got lucky and found a 1" which are "fairly" common but still scarce.

The blade is at least 6" closer to the back than a "normal" saw. This requires some "leaning over" that I don't care for but I'm getting used to it.

While I LOVE the saw, my preference would be a standard Unisaw if I got a chance to find a replacement. I would probably keep the big guy for ripping and use the Unisaw for the "close in" work.

Parts for old Unisaws are very easily found, while parts for the 12/14 saws don't exist for any price. The 12/14 is a big brute of a saw that is beyond most folks needs.

The term "standard" has a real meaning in table saws.

Unisaw A100 wrote:

[U-CDK_CHARLES\Charles]

WWW in Paramus used to have Delta, Jet, and PM. Alas gone.

The only local dealer, Montegue Supply (about ten miles south of Montegue in Branchville) only carries Delta.

Moreover, neither one of them was inclined to "pop the top" on a saw so that I could examine said Trunions, though I suppose I'm welcome to crawl on the floor and look upwards.

Who sells General in N. Jersey or WAY NE PA?

[Charlie Self]

Charles Krug asks:

Looking up is about the only way in most dealerships. Can't really blame them.

Don't know how far you are from York, PA, but try Wilke Machinery.

Charlie Self "A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward." Franklin D. Roosevelt, radio address, Oct. 26, 1939

[Robert Bonomi]

*sigh* wrong brand. "Free the PM 66!"

[U-CDK_CHARLES\Charles]

That's about the same distance as the nearest Grizzly showroom. Where I may go yet and save the shipping.

[Joel Corwith]

??? I just popped the blade insert. Surely they're willing to demonstrate how difficult it is to remove their bladeguard. The trunion is all the way around the blade on the more expensive/beefier machines.

Way back when General listed dealers on their website. I called the ones in ca to find a low price, though I don't know how the dollar compares now.

Joel. phx