One major advantage to newer saws is the riving knife. It acts as the splitter and never comes off the saw which is nice when you're not making through cuts or when you need to rake the guard off for whatever reason.
I would thoroughly investigate that alignment issue because that would be a deal breaker. If it's something that can be fixed in your first major set-up and alignment-- in which you adjust the blade, slots, and fence all parallel to each other-- then no problem. But if the trunnion mounts are not adjustable/shim-able then it's no better than a $200 bench-top table saw.
That alignment issue scares me a lot, but it's 10 percent off right now and I've got a 50 dollar gift card somewhere, so that brings the price to $450.00.
If I have the option to return any saw with imperfect alignment, this might work out.
$550 for that particular Jet seems way too much. Don't get me wrong, the older Jets (blue paint job) are strong workers. Fact is that about five years ago I scored a Jet (same vintage) cabinet saw at a local garage sale for $400. Even came with a great aftermarket fenc.
Heavy sucker that works like a charm, tweaked it so everything is dead nuts on and it stays that way. For that $550 you should be able to do better, even if it's an older vintage Unisaw.
I wouldn't give him more than $350-$400 for that saw on a good day.
More like $700 When I bought it about 18 years ago. It was a floor model and they threw in a Jet dust collector like the one in the picture for $100 more.
I have had the saw for over a year. It is a hobby but I have ripped some 2" maple and made a fair number if cuts. Out of curiosity I measured the alignment by using a digital caliper to measure the distance from a tooth to the far end of the miter slot. I got measurements that were repeatable within +/- .001". The reading at the front and back of the blade were the same. So I would say the alignment is within .001". This is good enough for woodworking.
Another use I have is making segmented bowls. With 12 segments there are 24 cuts per ring. Any error in the cut is cumulative. Initially I was using miter saw and the rings would not close. They were off by a degree or more. I built a sled that allows me to tilt the blade to cut the segments. I dial in the desired angle, cut the segments and they fit with no discernible gap. No adjustment needed.
HD is good about taking stuff back. If you get a bad one just return it. Any product will receive some negative reviews but 181 out of 200 (90%) reviewers recommend this product. And you know what to look for.
I got 10% off because Lowes and Home Depot are very generous in giving a discount to all disabled veterans.
EASE test your alignment BEFORE you assemble this saw. Google "alignment issues, R4512" and you will find the procedure. It is simple and only requires you install the blade and have a metal ruler handy. If you saw fails this test, return it. It cannot be fixed. 2 - The fence rail is an issue. Because it is in two pieces, when you have the fence closer than 3" to the blade, the clamping force can change the geometry of the fence, causing misalignment. With that said, if you get this saw without the alignment issue, it is an excellent saw. If you are really careful clamping down the fence, you can avoid the geometry change. There are also many aftermarket fences that fit this saw. Again, there is not as much information out there on the craftsman version, but it is nearly identical to the Ridgid R4512. If you want to do additional research before getting this saw, consider all the reviews on the R4512 as well. In addition, the blade is a throw away. I wouldn't even bother cleaning the grease off and installing it. This is not uncommon and most blades that come with any saw are cheap. You are buying a saw that can provide professional results if properly set up for under 700$. That is a great bargain. Do youself a favor and get a good quality blade or two. If you decide to use the included blade, please do not judge the performance of the saw based on that. I have used it, I can confirm it is terrible. There is no doubt about it. I hope Sears and the others that sell this saw can clear up the manufacturing issues with the trunions. Craftsman has taken a beating lately, and this saw is a real gem and could restore the faith in the brand that our fathers and grandfathers once had. I cannot stress this enough - TEST your saw for the alignment issue. It is extremely common. It cannot be fixed, and it will ruin your work and possibly create a dangerous kickback situation.
You are not going to want a saw with alignment issues!!!!!! THINK OF YOUR SAFETY.
Far better to spend more for a better saw. If you cannot afford one now, save until you can.
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