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
[email protected] wrote:
>
> 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).
Run, do not walk to that transaction. Make sure it's a single phase
machine, though.
>No Mitre
> or other accessories.
So what? Factory miter gages usually suck anyway, and you're going to
build a sled for 90 degree cuts. <G>
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
On 31 Aug 2005 19:50:05 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
>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.
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.
--
LRod
Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite
Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999
http://www.woodbutcher.net
Proud participant of rec.woodworking since February, 1997
[email protected] wrote:
> 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
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.
[email protected] wrote:
> [email protected] wrote:
> > 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
>
> 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.
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.
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.
Robatoy <[email protected]> wrote in news:design-C32EDD.23221931082005
@nr-tor01.bellnexxia.net:
> In article <[email protected]>,
> [email protected] wrote:
>
>> 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
>
> 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.
>
Agreed. This is one very good saw. It's pretty hard to wear one out in a
home shop in twice that long...
Patriarch
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> 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
Where is this saw?
--
Chris
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a
soldier. If it is in ebonics, thank your Congressman.
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> 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.
>
I knew it. I was looking at that one too.
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] wrote:
> 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
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.