General 350 Table Saw

[bridgemanusa]

Hi All:

I have been searching high and low for a good table saw in the $400-500 range. I dont want to sell myself short and get anything that would be underpowered (more power is always better than not enough). I will be doing lots of rennovation around my home as well as possibly some cabinet work and have been looking at the Grizzly G044Z, the Delta TS350 and the Ridgid TS3650 (All new of course and above my price). I have also seriously considered the Bosche 4000 as the only choice if I do go for a portable saw again. I also have the chance to pick up a General 350 about 15 yrs old with a Paralock fence (all in good shape) for around $500, supposedly only used in a home shop (as opposed to a commercial environment). No Mitre or other accessories.

Anything I should consider or look out for? I now this thing is a beast and am hedging on getting something that will be too heavy. The built in carriage on the Ridgid is very appealing and may suit my needs. Thanks.

Eric B

[Robatoy]

Whatcha waiting fur? Go get the thing...you can make it right if it's wrong. (Only exception when things are actually broken.. like trunnions... a burnt-out motor will cost you. All stuff you can check.) Paralock can be a pain to get right.

[Patriarch]

Robatoy wrote in news:design-C32EDD.23221931082005 @nr-tor01.bellnexxia.net:

Agreed. This is one very good saw. It's pretty hard to wear one out in a home shop in twice that long...

Patriarch

[LRod]

Assuming this is not a troll...and I say that because in the grand scheme of saws, those others you mentioned are sort of like Pintos and the General 350 is kind of like a Hummer--not an H2, but the real deal Hummer. You're talking Cadillac of saws here. It's in the class of PM66 and Unisaw. It's #2 of the big 3. That price isn't even real. If you can truly get a General 350 for $500 you should have gotten it yesterday, because by today someone will surely have jumped all over that.

Too heavy? With a saw like that (the last one you will ever buy) you make adjustments. You learn to work with a heavy saw. You learn to work with a saw that's far more accurate than you can measure. You learn to deal with a saw that's at least three times as powerful as the others you mentioned. Good god, man, you learn to adjust. You can buy miter gauges.

Oh, and if this is a troll--good one.

[B a r r y]

Run, do not walk to that transaction. Make sure it's a single phase machine, though.

So what? Factory miter gages usually suck anyway, and you're going to build a sled for 90 degree cuts.

You'll need a good miter gage for ANY saw that you buy, so don't consider that the General's is missing as much of a downer.

Barry

[tom_murphy]

Unless something has changed recently, the Ridgid is only a 1HP saw. They don't advertize that, you have to look at the current draw. That's probably enough for many uses, but all of the other saws you mentioned are at least 2HP. BIG difference.

Like everyone else, I'd be all over that General.

[Chris]

Where is this saw?

[vdubbs]

Well, I just bought the Rigid for myself. The motor is labeled as

1.5hp. The saw is well built and has cast iron top and wings. I used a coupon from Lowe's for 10% off and HD honored the coupon. That covered the taxes anyway. One of my friends bought one about a month before I bought mine and he is more than satisfied with it. But that is our opinion and others will vary.

I have owned a three table saws prior to the Rigid. One B+D 8" table top saw that I bought as a teenager. Had a 5/8hp motor and lasted for many years. Next was a Delta(cheap) $120 table top 10" saw that only lasted a couple years till it ate the gears out of the direct drive trans, after I had sold it. The next one was given to me for work done to another TS, it is a 10" flex drive Craftsman. It has seen untold board feet of lumber, plywood, counter top and such over its years and the motor has finally reached the point that 2by wood will stop the blade if not fed straight and slow. Debated over getting a new replacement motor $189 or getting the old one rebuilt and buying a quality fence as well. Boiled down to spending and extra couple hundered dollars and getting a new saw.

Just my two cents, I have never used a saw that has more power than 1hp and I am sure an added .5hp will not make a huge difference, but using a saw that actually has a new motor will make all the difference for me.

[bridgemanusa]

Thanks for all your replies. I ended up borrowing my father-in-laws 35 yr old Delta/Rockwell (with a 3hp, 3 yr old motor). I think the thing wrighs about 400lbs, especially with the 53" Beismeier fence). I think that should get me thtough my projects for a while.

The General was found on CraigsList.org under the "for sale" category in the Boston area.

Thanks again.

[Chris]

I knew it. I was looking at that one too.