I'm in the market for four new bench-top power tools, none of which I have ever
owned before: A miter saw, a band saw, a drill press, and a belt/disc sander. I
went out shopping today and the following models caught my eye:
Belt/disc Sanders:
Ryobi BD4600 $99
Craftsman 21536 $120
10" Drill Presses:
Ryobi DP101 $99
Craftsman 21909 $120
9" Band Saws:
Ryobi BS901 $99
Delta BS100 $99
Craftsman $120
10" Miter Saws:
Ryobi TS1352DXL $149
Rigid MS1065LZ $199
Craftsman 21253 $199
All the miter saws listed have laser guides, though I don't know that it's
actually necessary to have one. Essentially I would like to own good, reliable
tools, but I'm not a professional and I won't be using them every day, so I
don't need the top of the line (and most expensive) models. I'd appreciate
hearing opinions not only on the models listed but also on other suggestions
you might have. Thanks.
Randy Anderson wandered in from the void and babbled something like:
>I'm in the market for four new bench-top power tools,
>10" Drill Presses:
>Ryobi DP101 $99
>Craftsman 21909 $120
A 10" drill press is fairly limited in size - only 5" from post to
bit. One you omitted, and that I have is the Delta DP350.
It is a 12" 1/3HP variable speed - with a knob rather than belt
changes. It IS Chinese, but so are they all.
It works fairly well, other than the pulley which failed on all the
early models - and has been redesigned.
I have cut mortises, sanded, drilled 1/2" steel and forstner'ed plenty
of holes in wood. It's OK for the money...
I picked one up for $180.
>9" Band Saws:
>Ryobi BS901 $99
>Delta BS100 $99
>Craftsman $120
Pretty poor, troublesome units all the way around...
>10" Miter Saws:
>Ryobi TS1352DXL $149
>Rigid MS1065LZ $199
>Craftsman 21253 $199
If I were very limited in budget, I would also consider the Ryobi
TS1340 for $100.
The laser guides in the listed models are sort-of useless, a marketing
gimmick. They are non-adjustable, don't mark the wrap of the board,
and are all a bit off. In other words, they don't mark the actual cut
line, but somewhere around 1/8" to 1/32" off. They also only 'light'
when the blade is spinning. They simply replace the standard arbor
washer with this laser thingy... You can buy one and install it on
ANY saw if you really HAVE to have one...
The Crapsman has a taller fence and a padded handle - good. But the
bevel scale is hard to read. And it IS a Crapsman...
The Ridgid is loud as hell, the bevel and miter scales suck, but has a
tall fence.
The Ryobi TS1352DXL is heavy, scales are fair, fairly quiet.
The Ryobi TS1340 is lighter, slightly noisier, scales are better.
Both have short fences.
FWIW,
Greg