I was looking at tablesaws this afternoon, and saw that some have steel
wings and others have cast iron wings. Cast iron wings usually increase the
cost of the saw considerably, but I'm curious what advantage they would
have over steel wings?
I've never had a problem with the steel wings on my current saw, though
admittedly it's a very low end saw. And I see a lot of people make wood
wings to mount routers in anyway.
I could save about $100 on a new saw by choosing steel wings. Would I be
losing much?
Thanks,
Anthony
On Dec 3, 8:04 pm, HerHusband <[email protected]> wrote:
> I was looking at tablesaws this afternoon, and saw that some have steel
> wings and others have cast iron wings. Cast iron wings usually increase the
> cost of the saw considerably, but I'm curious what advantage they would
> have over steel wings?
>
I would agree and go with cast iron extensions. Rigid, flat, sturdy,
substantial, provide clamping access.
Look for a USED saw and save the $$ that way.
Also look at OLDER contractor saws for heavier cast Iron trunions
(undercarriage/motor & blade mounts. Look to accessory (third patry)
options to see what is sold for which saws. SEARS made a BS that was
very difficult to find stuff for. There are alignment adjusters
available for SOME saws and not others. I would rather own one of
those SOME saws.
If you can find an estate sale where wife is selling dead hubby's
tools you may find a sweet deal an o great saw and accessory fence. If
you can't wait for a sale, buy the cast iron and a great fence with
solid, one-piece support rails.
On Dec 3, 9:28 pm, David Starr <[email protected]> wrote:
> HerHusband wrote:
> > I was looking at tablesaws this afternoon, and saw that some have steel
> > wings and others have cast iron wings. Cast iron wings usually increase the
> > cost of the saw considerably, but I'm curious what advantage they would
> > have over steel wings?
>
> > I've never had a problem with the steel wings on my current saw, though
> > admittedly it's a very low end saw. And I see a lot of people make wood
> > wings to mount routers in anyway.
>
> > I could save about $100 on a new saw by choosing steel wings. Would I be
> > losing much?
>
> > Thanks,
>
> > Anthony
>
> Cast iron never bends, so the machined flat surfaces stay flat forever.
> Sheet metal will bend, and stay bent, which throws things off. Power
> tools made out of cast iron stay true, flat, and in alignment, and do
> accurate cuts, year after year. Tools made of sheet metal can get bend
> out of shape, yielding inaccurate cuts.
> Granted, a table saw extension can bend or sag a bit without hurting
> anything, much, but I'd prefer a cast iron one. As usual price is a
> consideration, decent table extensions have been made from sheet metal,
> so I might conpromise and go with sheet metal. But I'd rather have cast
> iron.
>
Cast iron doesn't bend: it does warp. A careful check of all flat cast
iron parts should be made to check ono flatness. Today's cast iron is
almost never seasoned as it used to be, so warping is more of a
problem. Once a cast iron surface IS flat, it stays flat, barring
accident, excessive heat or similar problems. Oh, sorry. Issues.
Cast iron also adds to the saw's mass, and, all else being equal, the
more mass, the less vibration.
On Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:04:03 -0600, HerHusband <[email protected]>
wrote:
>I could save about $100 on a new saw by choosing steel wings. Would I be
>losing much?
Bite the bullet.
You'll be glad you did.....until you have to carry the saw.;-)
Mike O.
HerHusband wrote:
> I was looking at tablesaws this afternoon, and saw that some have steel
> wings and others have cast iron wings. Cast iron wings usually increase the
> cost of the saw considerably, but I'm curious what advantage they would
> have over steel wings?
Heavy is good, as a property of a stationary tool.
>
> I could save about $100 on a new saw by choosing steel wings. Would I be
> losing much?
>
I've had both, and I'd buy the cast over stamped wings, unless I knew I
will install a router table or sliding table.
No matter which wings you choose, some bags of "tube sand" over the legs
can improve the operation of contractor's saws.
>
> My first table saw and band saw had steel wing extensions. They work but
> they typically have to be tweaked 7 ways to Sunday to get them flat.
> Typically they have angle brackets that have to be tightened, adjusted,
> retightened, over and over PLUS getting it flush to the TS table top.
>
> The cast iron adsorb vibration much better and need to only be aligned to
> the same plane of the TS top.
>
> If money is important the steel will work but like every thing else, the
> better choice is almost always more expensive.
>
I have to agree with Leon. When I bought a new TS last year, I opted for
the steel wings. This was a big mistake as I spent most of a day trying to
get them aligned. I would have saved $100 by buying the cast iron extensions
with the saw instead of seperately. I installed the cast iron extensions and
they work a lot better. YMMV
Allen
HerHusband wrote:
> I was looking at tablesaws this afternoon, and saw that some have steel
> wings and others have cast iron wings. Cast iron wings usually increase the
> cost of the saw considerably, but I'm curious what advantage they would
> have over steel wings?
>
> I've never had a problem with the steel wings on my current saw, though
> admittedly it's a very low end saw. And I see a lot of people make wood
> wings to mount routers in anyway.
>
> I could save about $100 on a new saw by choosing steel wings. Would I be
> losing much?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Anthony
Cast iron never bends, so the machined flat surfaces stay flat forever.
Sheet metal will bend, and stay bent, which throws things off. Power
tools made out of cast iron stay true, flat, and in alignment, and do
accurate cuts, year after year. Tools made of sheet metal can get bend
out of shape, yielding inaccurate cuts.
Granted, a table saw extension can bend or sag a bit without hurting
anything, much, but I'd prefer a cast iron one. As usual price is a
consideration, decent table extensions have been made from sheet metal,
so I might conpromise and go with sheet metal. But I'd rather have cast
iron.
--
David J. Starr
Blog: www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
On Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:04:03 -0600, HerHusband <[email protected]>
wrote:
>I was looking at tablesaws this afternoon, and saw that some have steel
>wings and others have cast iron wings. Cast iron wings usually increase the
>cost of the saw considerably, but I'm curious what advantage they would
>have over steel wings?
>
>I've never had a problem with the steel wings on my current saw, though
>admittedly it's a very low end saw. And I see a lot of people make wood
>wings to mount routers in anyway.
>
>I could save about $100 on a new saw by choosing steel wings. Would I be
>losing much?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Anthony
Personally, I'd pick the cast iron. It will stay flat and there will
be less vibration. The better saws have cast iron, not stamped steel.
But, wings are not the most important part of a tablesaw. Take a
close look at the fence, that's important.
On Dec 3, 8:04 pm, HerHusband <[email protected]> wrote:
> I was looking at tablesaws this afternoon, and saw that some have steel
> wings and others have cast iron wings. Cast iron wings usually increase the
> cost of the saw considerably, but I'm curious what advantage they would
> have over steel wings?
>
> I've never had a problem with the steel wings on my current saw, though
> admittedly it's a very low end saw. And I see a lot of people make wood
> wings to mount routers in anyway.
>
> I could save about $100 on a new saw by choosing steel wings. Would I be
> losing much?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Anthony
I added the cast iron wings to my table saw. As others said, adds
mass, less vibration. Go with the cast iron.
Dave
Mon, Dec 3, 2007, 7:04pm (EST-1) [email protected] (HerHusband) doth
wonder:
I was looking at tablesaws this afternoon, and saw that some have steel
wings and others have cast iron wings. Cast iron wings usually increase
the cost of the saw considerably, but I'm curious what advantage they
would have over steel wings? <snip>
Do you mean stamped steel wings? You didn't specify.
Given the choice, and available funds, I'd opt for cast iron wings.
However, if it came to a choice of stamped steel wings or no saw at all,
I'd take steel wings in a heartbeat.
JOAT
Even Popeye didn't eat his spinach until he had to.
"HerHusband" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I was looking at tablesaws this afternoon, and saw that some have steel
> wings and others have cast iron wings. Cast iron wings usually increase
> the
> cost of the saw considerably, but I'm curious what advantage they would
> have over steel wings?
>
> I've never had a problem with the steel wings on my current saw, though
> admittedly it's a very low end saw. And I see a lot of people make wood
> wings to mount routers in anyway.
>
> I could save about $100 on a new saw by choosing steel wings. Would I be
> losing much?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Anthony
My first table saw and band saw had steel wing extensions. They work but
they typically have to be tweaked 7 ways to Sunday to get them flat.
Typically they have angle brackets that have to be tightened, adjusted,
retightened, over and over PLUS getting it flush to the TS table top.
The cast iron adsorb vibration much better and need to only be aligned to
the same plane of the TS top.
If money is important the steel will work but like every thing else, the
better choice is almost always more expensive.
mac davis wrote:
> On Tue, 4 Dec 2007 22:33:14 -0800, "RonB" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Anthony:
>> I have had both and my current saw has cast iron. Properly
>> installed and aligned, cast iron essentially provides a single,
>> smooth table top. The joints practically disappear. Much better
>> surface on which to work and handle your material.
>>
>> RonB
>
> Yep.. and both rust well..lol
>
> I saw a review of a saw the other day.. maybe Steel City?, that had
> titanium coated table and wings as a $200 option.. on a cabinet saw,
> if I remember right..
> If it works, it could save more than $200 in rust remover and
> topsaver over the life of the saw..
Don't bet on it. I have a titanium coated drill bit here that is
nicely rusted after getting about three drops of rain on it and not
getting promptly cleaned.
--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
mac davis <[email protected]> wrote:
: I saw a review of a saw the other day.. maybe Steel City?, that had titanium
: coated table and wings as a $200 option.. on a cabinet saw, if I remember
: right..
Steel city offers a table saw with a granite top.
http://www.steelcitytoolworks.com/newsreleases.cfm
"machines perfectly flat, will not warp or change. It is not affected
by heat, cold or humidity and will not rust like traditional cast iron
table tops. The heavy duty stone top helps absorb vibration making
the cut smooth and blade alignment accurate. It is also virtually
maintenance-free."
--- Chip
On Tue, 4 Dec 2007 22:33:14 -0800, "RonB" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Anthony:
>I have had both and my current saw has cast iron. Properly installed and
>aligned, cast iron essentially provides a single, smooth table top. The
>joints practically disappear. Much better surface on which to work and
>handle your material.
>
>RonB
Yep.. and both rust well..lol
I saw a review of a saw the other day.. maybe Steel City?, that had titanium
coated table and wings as a $200 option.. on a cabinet saw, if I remember
right..
If it works, it could save more than $200 in rust remover and topsaver over the
life of the saw..
mac
Please remove splinters before emailing
Anthony:
I have had both and my current saw has cast iron. Properly installed and
aligned, cast iron essentially provides a single, smooth table top. The
joints practically disappear. Much better surface on which to work and
handle your material.
RonB
"HerHusband" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I was looking at tablesaws this afternoon, and saw that some have steel
> wings and others have cast iron wings. Cast iron wings usually increase
> the
> cost of the saw considerably, but I'm curious what advantage they would
> have over steel wings?
>
> I've never had a problem with the steel wings on my current saw, though
> admittedly it's a very low end saw. And I see a lot of people make wood
> wings to mount routers in anyway.
>
> I could save about $100 on a new saw by choosing steel wings. Would I be
> losing much?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Anthony
"HerHusband" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I was looking at tablesaws this afternoon, and saw that some have steel
> wings and others have cast iron wings. Cast iron wings usually increase
> the
> cost of the saw considerably, but I'm curious what advantage they would
> have over steel wings?
>
> I've never had a problem with the steel wings on my current saw, though
> admittedly it's a very low end saw. And I see a lot of people make wood
> wings to mount routers in anyway.
>
> I could save about $100 on a new saw by choosing steel wings. Would I be
> losing much?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Anthony
Cast iron wings are stiffer and stronger. Stamped steel wings are cheaper.
Jim