For all those who questioned the new Craftsman table saws, I just got back from
Clearwater, where I attended the press conference, ran a bit of plywood through
the saw, and was somewhat surprised at the overall quality of the top of the
line model.
Basically, this new saw has cast iron trunnions that are hung from the cabinet
and connected by steel rods. The trunnions are smaller than those on the
Unisaw, but are far more massive than ANY other contractor's saw trunnions.
The top of the line model does have the 30" Biesemeyer commercial fence. I
forgot my tape measure, but it was identical to the one I used to have on a
Unisaw, and that was the commercial model.
Two cast iron wings. T slot. Small MDF/melamine right side table. Sheet metal
back support. Much better fence--set once, after that, it takes one screw (with
built on handle) to remove and reinstall--it reinstalls without further need
for set-up.
Enjoy. Two things: adjustment handles are still small, though number of turns
from bottom to top of blade height is reduced (I forget the exact number); the
Leitz "variable pitch" blade actually has 4 different sized gullets that help
to reduce blade whine (considerably).
The one I used couldn't pass the nickel test, but that was because it was
mounted on a mobile stand which rested on a carpeted floor, so there was
virtually no chance.
Charlie Self
"The test and the use of man's education is that he finds pleasure in the
exercise of his mind." Jacques Barzun
In article <[email protected]>, Charlie Self
<[email protected]> wrote:
> Whoops. Figured that had been covered already. $949.95 in marketing speak.
> $950
> in real life.
Ouch... It better be a damned good saw.
I was at Sears early today based on their flyer... a pressure washer
marked down $100 (putting it back in the reality zone), and I had a $20
off coupon.
Got there and a saw a toy. Left without it.
djb
[email protected] (Charlie Self) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> For all those who questioned the new Craftsman table saws, I just got back from
> Clearwater, where I attended the press conference, ran a bit of plywood through
> the saw, and was somewhat surprised at the overall quality of the top of the
> line model.
>
I just came from Sears and these new saws really do look pretty nice.
The dust collection system looks like it will really work on all three
models and the $950 one has a real Made-in-USA Biesemeyer fence on it.
Unlike all the other contractors saws which are made in Taiwan, these
new Crafstman saws are made in China including the motors. The $950
saw has a 1 ¾ HP and the contractors version has a 1.5 HP motor. I
guess there is a new kid in town
Scott
On Sat, 12 Jun 2004 19:04:44 +0000, Charlie Self wrote:
> For all those who questioned the new Craftsman table saws, I just got back
> from Clearwater, where I attended the press conference, ran a bit of
> plywood through the saw, and was somewhat surprised at the overall quality
> of the top of the line model.
I looked on the Sears site and saw two cabinet style saws, one for about
$950 abd one for over $1200. From the pics, it appeared they were both
right tilt, but I couldn't be sure. Is the lower priced one the one you
reviewed?
-Doug
--
"If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange apples
then you and I will still each have one apple.
But if you have an idea and I have one idea and we exchange these
ideas,then each of us will have two ideas" George B. Shaw
Doug Winterburn asks:
>I looked on the Sears site and saw two cabinet style saws, one for about
>$950 abd one for over $1200. From the pics, it appeared they were both
>right tilt, but I couldn't be sure. Is the lower priced one the one you
>reviewed?
Neither. Those are Sears' industrial style saws. I don't know--decided to
check. The $950 one shown, 00922124000, is it. It is a left tilt, by the way.
All 3 of the new saws are left tilt. Sears is NOT calling these cabinet saws,
but "cabinet style." Dunno why, since the turnnions mount to the cabinet,
instead of the table, but...the PR release and the catalog and on-line copy
make absolutely NOTHING of the cast iron trunnions, so it's hard to figure what
is important at the time (they were heavily emphasized and passed around at the
press conference).
I think it is possible to get a big break through the Craftsman Club, and there
may be introductory store sales. I'm looking at a catalog price of $849.99, but
the announced price at the press conference was $949.99. All the saws were more
expensive than the catalog shows. I don't know if this catalog is in general
release...my stuff is in a mess. We're moving Tuesday and I've been out of town
since Tuesday.
But it's a good saw, much better than any similarly priced Craftsman saw that
I've ever seen before (taking into consideration inflation). Sears believes it
is a significant step up. They also are starting to state a closer to true HP
level, while retaining the "maximum developed" HP as a secondary figure,
instead of primary. Maybe someday, someone will replace all those 6-1/2 HP vacs
out there, or the 3-1/4 HP routers.
Charlie Self
"The test and the use of man's education is that he finds pleasure in the
exercise of his mind." Jacques Barzun
I had some tile to kill, and looked at these the other day.
As a former owner of a sears contractor saw. I thought.... Gee, Crapsman has
come a long way. The fence was lightyears ahead of the ones thay had a dozen
years ago. I noticed that they had set screws on the miter bar for snugging
things up. There was an Aux miter fence which was a nice touch. The hand
wheels were a bit small and stiff though.
In short, It ain't a cabinet saw, but neither is the price. This unit did
not appear to suck. If I were in the market for a hybrid (cab/contractor
saw) for 110V I think I would have to look closely at how it stacked up
against the Jet and DeWalt hybrids.
-Steve
"Charlie Self" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> For all those who questioned the new Craftsman table saws, I just got back
from
> Clearwater, where I attended the press conference, ran a bit of plywood
through
> the saw, and was somewhat surprised at the overall quality of the top of
the
> line model.
>
> Basically, this new saw has cast iron trunnions that are hung from the
cabinet
> and connected by steel rods. The trunnions are smaller than those on the
> Unisaw, but are far more massive than ANY other contractor's saw
trunnions.
>
> The top of the line model does have the 30" Biesemeyer commercial fence. I
> forgot my tape measure, but it was identical to the one I used to have on
a
> Unisaw, and that was the commercial model.
>
> Two cast iron wings. T slot. Small MDF/melamine right side table. Sheet
metal
> back support. Much better fence--set once, after that, it takes one screw
(with
> built on handle) to remove and reinstall--it reinstalls without further
need
> for set-up.
>
> Enjoy. Two things: adjustment handles are still small, though number of
turns
> from bottom to top of blade height is reduced (I forget the exact number);
the
> Leitz "variable pitch" blade actually has 4 different sized gullets that
help
> to reduce blade whine (considerably).
>
> The one I used couldn't pass the nickel test, but that was because it was
> mounted on a mobile stand which rested on a carpeted floor, so there was
> virtually no chance.
>
> Charlie Self
> "The test and the use of man's education is that he finds pleasure in the
> exercise of his mind." Jacques Barzun
>
>
>
"Charlie Self" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> For all those who questioned the new Craftsman table saws, I just got back
from
> Clearwater, where I attended the press conference, ran a bit of plywood
through
> the saw, and was somewhat surprised at the overall quality of the top of
the
> line model.
>
> Basically, this new saw has cast iron trunnions that are hung from the
cabinet
> and connected by steel rods. The trunnions are smaller than those on the
> Unisaw, but are far more massive than ANY other contractor's saw
trunnions.
>
> The top of the line model does have the 30" Biesemeyer commercial fence. I
> forgot my tape measure, but it was identical to the one I used to have on
a
> Unisaw, and that was the commercial model.
>
Sounds like it may be a winner for them. If they put it on sale, it could
be a good buy.
Ed
What is the nickel test?
--
KB
"Charlie Self" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> For all those who questioned the new Craftsman table saws, I just got back
from
> Clearwater, where I attended the press conference, ran a bit of plywood
through
> the saw, and was somewhat surprised at the overall quality of the top of
the
> line model.
>
> Basically, this new saw has cast iron trunnions that are hung from the
cabinet
> and connected by steel rods. The trunnions are smaller than those on the
> Unisaw, but are far more massive than ANY other contractor's saw
trunnions.
>
> The top of the line model does have the 30" Biesemeyer commercial fence. I
> forgot my tape measure, but it was identical to the one I used to have on
a
> Unisaw, and that was the commercial model.
>
> Two cast iron wings. T slot. Small MDF/melamine right side table. Sheet
metal
> back support. Much better fence--set once, after that, it takes one screw
(with
> built on handle) to remove and reinstall--it reinstalls without further
need
> for set-up.
>
> Enjoy. Two things: adjustment handles are still small, though number of
turns
> from bottom to top of blade height is reduced (I forget the exact number);
the
> Leitz "variable pitch" blade actually has 4 different sized gullets that
help
> to reduce blade whine (considerably).
>
> The one I used couldn't pass the nickel test, but that was because it was
> mounted on a mobile stand which rested on a carpeted floor, so there was
> virtually no chance.
>
> Charlie Self
> "The test and the use of man's education is that he finds pleasure in the
> exercise of his mind." Jacques Barzun
>
>
>
"Henry E Schaffer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
>>> When it starts up it jumps so hard that a can of soda pop jumps and
moves!<<<
It's probably demanding a Bud. ;(
On Sun, 13 Jun 2004 19:51:36 +0000 (UTC), [email protected] (Henry E
Schaffer) wrote:
> My benchtop 10" (direct drive) saw works very well, but it fails the
>soda pop test. When it starts up it jumps so hard that a can of soda pop
>jumps and moves! I have never considered this to be "vibration", rather
>a sudden impulse.
My General 650 starts with a POP!
Once running, it'll probably pass a DIME test, so I don't worry about
the startup jump.
Barry
Barry responds:
>My General 650 starts with a POP!
>
>Once running, it'll probably pass a DIME test, so I don't worry about
>the startup jump.
Try it with a nickel first. That 'pop' is the set in the belt from shutting
down and leaving it in one spot (unavoidable). Many newer designs use
multi-groove belts that are very thin and soft, aligned on nicely machined
pulleys. This helps reduce vibration a lot. Powermatic has gone to a two belt
system on their model 66 to help avoid the start-up set in the belts--more
flexible belts are used.
Charlie Self
"The test and the use of man's education is that he finds pleasure in the
exercise of his mind." Jacques Barzun
On 14 Jun 2004 00:20:01 GMT, [email protected] (Charlie Self)
wrote:
>Barry responds:
>
>>My General 650 starts with a POP!
>>
>>Once running, it'll probably pass a DIME test, so I don't worry about
>>the startup jump.
>
>Try it with a nickel first. That 'pop' is the set in the belt from shutting
>down and leaving it in one spot (unavoidable).
I know. <G>
In fact, the 650 uses 2 belts, on nicely machined pulleys. I think a
softer belt would help. I haven't bothered to change the belts, as
the pop really dosen't bother me.
I usually do my final alignment of the cut line after the machine is
running. If I'm using a stop, on a miter gauge or sled, the pop
really dosen't come into play.
Once it's running, a dime will stand on edge all day long, which is
better than a nickel.
Barry
In article <%R7zc.31609$W01.10680@okepread01>,
Rob Mills <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>"Henry E Schaffer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> In article <[email protected]>,
>
>>>> When it starts up it jumps so hard that a can of soda pop jumps and
>moves!<<<
>
>It's probably demanding a Bud. ;(
Definitely *NOT*. has to be soda pop.
The jump is so hard that it is un-beer-able. *groan*
On Sun, 13 Jun 2004 21:14:19 -0500, "Rob Mills" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>
>"Henry E Schaffer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> In article <[email protected]>,
>
>>>> When it starts up it jumps so hard that a can of soda pop jumps and
>moves!<<<
>
>It's probably demanding a Bud. ;(
More likely a Molson Golden or Labatts Blue.
- -
LRod
Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite
Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999
http://www.woodbutcher.net
In article <[email protected]>,
Charlie Self <[email protected]> wrote:
>K. B. asks:
>
>>What is the nickel test?
>
>Stand a nickel on edge and start the saw. If the nickel remains standing, the
>saw is well balanced and low on vibration.
My benchtop 10" (direct drive) saw works very well, but it fails the
soda pop test. When it starts up it jumps so hard that a can of soda pop
jumps and moves! I have never considered this to be "vibration", rather
a sudden impulse.
--
--henry schaffer
hes _AT_ ncsu _DOT_ edu