Custom made table saw

[Marton Czebe]

hi group,

I have the opportunity to have a cabinet saw custom made to my specifications by a professional tool maker (not sure what you call them).

Cabinet saws are at least 4 times more expensive over here in Europe than in the US (perhaps because they are made on order and not mass produced in taiwan).

This guy has already made a jointer and bandsaw for me. Now I'd like him to build me a tablesaw.

As I've never owned a TS and only used one couple of times at a friend I'm not quite sure about my needs.

I've established a few basic feautures:

- powerful motor (4kW) - 12" blade - precise and easy to adjust fence - options to attach extension tables on every side

He had a few specific questions for me, and I'd like to hear other comments to before I hand over the final specifications:

- What table size do I want (excluding extension tables of course) - Where should he place the blade? (1/3rd from left, middle, 2/3rds from left) - Where do I need grooves? (2 on the left of the blade, one on each side etc.)

I'd love to hear about your favourite TS layout/design.

thanks:

Marton Czebe

[Andy Dingley]

Just buy one. You can't afford to have a good one made - it's the cost of casting and machining a decent table as a one-off. If you have a tame machinist and toolmaker on hand, show him some of Karl Holtey's work instead.

If you have plenty of space and money, go to a S/H industrial dealer and pick up something that sold new for $10,000.

[toller]

This is a very odd joke, right?

[Bill Wallace]

I'll assume this isn't a troll.

1. I can't believe it would be any cheaper to have 2. Look at the specs for Delta Unisaw or Powermatic cabinet saws. You can get answers to all your questions.

1. If in-fact you really will have one built, make sure they include a nice way to do micro adjustment on the fence. I really haven't seen anybody that provides a great one. It's funny how metal working equipment always has such precise adjustment easily made but wood machinery never considers it such a priority. I guess since the material might grow by a 16th (a few mm) on a humid day they think it's OK to just get it close.

[CW]

I have seen a few fences with fine adjustment features. I could never see the point. The fence can be adjusted by hand within a .003" or so very easily.

[Bob]

Uh, Jet has a European operation selling same tools as we get here, but to European specifications. For example, the european saws come with a Riving knife. Most are mass produced in Taiwan.

Bob

[brian lanning]

Can't you just import one from the US or canada?

brian

[Marton Czebe]

No...no...guys, I'm serious! Of course it's not the Delta quality, but it WOULD be a cabinet saw. Note: I'm NOT talking about industrial quality, I'm a hobby woodworker. If I had a professional shop I could perhaps afford a brand name.

The cheapest factory TS is around $3600, a used one would be $2000. I've a limited budget, so that leaves me with two options: buy a crappy tabletop/contractor's saw OR have this one machined and built for me for less than $1000. Now, there is a serious difference in that. (more powerful, larger table, stability, better fence)

It's a joke that the Craftsman Professional 10 in. Table Saw costs $900 over there and a similar saw over here in Europe (Jerabek, Hammer, Felder, etc.) would well above $3500. Such a pity they don't sell those in Europe...

As I said, he already made a 12" jointer (will post pictures as soon as I get my scanner working) for $750, I have no doubts he'd make a great TS too.

still doubtful?

thanks: Marton

ps: anyone else in Hungary know a better solution please email me...!

[C.Groth]

It's actually not too far fetched. Several years ago , a cabinetmaker here was retiring and selling off his tools. One of which was a home-made table saw, made by a machinist for his own use that he later sold to the cabinetmaker.

It had a 12" blade, 2'x4'x1-1/2" cast-iron top with sliding-dovetail miter gauge and slot. I have no idea what the motor was. He was selling it for $150.

I didn't buy it for 1. I have a TS, 2. I wouldn't have had space in my shop for that behemoth, 3. I didn't have any money left after buying his jointer and various other tools, and 4. it had a tilting table for bevel! Yes, tilting that massive table!

In short, it was an impressive bit of machine.

[TeamCasa]

Go to Taszar Air Base, find someone to order you one from the base PX.

Dave

[BobS]

Marton,

Since you obviously have web access, do a search for tablesaw specifications such as for the General, Powermatic, Delta etc. Pick a model that appeals to you and go with those specs.

What works for one may not work at all for you - such as height (it should be adjustable). The miter slots should be a standard (3/4" for US) and the gold standard for a fence is the Biesmier.

Making the undercarriage heavy duty, using a hefty 3 belt drive mechanism, accurate (slop-free) blade height adjustment, blade tilt (do you want left or right), arbor length long enough for stacked dado blades (up to 1" in width) and the list goes on and on. Blade insert mounting and how its made can be an important issue for making zero-clearance and dado inserts.

Any chance there is a trade school or a business that you could visit and talk to the individuals that use the equipment and get to see first-hand what is important. A $1,000 custom made tablesaw could turn out to be a real turkey (even though it is made with excellent craftsmanship and materials) if the specs are not right.

From what I've read, a cast iron top should age at least a year before it's milled flat. I doubt you're getting cast iron castings but rather steel plate beefed up from below to maintain flatness.

I believe I would be looking around to see what is available in the used department even if it cost a bit more.

Bob S.

[TeamCasa]

[ted harris]

Sounds to me like it's time capitalism hit Hungary. Why don't you take the mnoeny you have for the saw and go to Taiwan, and find woodworking machinery that would be sellable in Hungary as well as any other European countries where the prices are ridiculous, and open up a supply house like "Grizzly" has done here? Perfect opportunity for you to get rich, and help a lot of unhappy woodworkers.

[bridger]

you can download parts breakdowns for delta products from ace tool repair:

them over, preferably with your machinist friend. could find some good ideas that way.

[Larry Blanchard]

Those are better than General???