Table Saw & Router Combo

You'll get better-working tools buying separate. Quality routers and
sanders are not very expensive. Quality brands include General,
Powermatic, Makita, Milwaulkee; Porter Cable and DeWalt are generally
good. Pass up Craftsman and Skil.

On 22 Mar 2006 08:20:41 -0800, [email protected] wrote:

>I'm in the market for a Table Saw / Router / Sander / etc. Combination
>and am not sure which to get. I want to get a "good unit", but don't
>want to waste my money on junk. Can anyone offer any insight into the
>models:
>
>1) Sears Craftsman Professional 10 in. Table Saw, Portable
>Sears item #00921829000 Mfr. model #21829
>
>2) Lowe's Skil® XShop™ Convertible Workshop
>Item #: 63022 Model: 3700-01
>
>Are these worthwhile? Any others that are good? Maybe none of these
>combo units are any good.
>
>Any advice would be appreciated.
>
>Thanks...

[email protected] wrote:

> I'm in the market for a Table Saw / Router / Sander / etc. Combination
> and am not sure which to get. I want to get a "good unit", but don't
> want to waste my money on junk. Can anyone offer any insight into the
> models:
>
> 1) Sears Craftsman Professional 10 in. Table Saw, Portable
> Sears item #00921829000 Mfr. model #21829
>
> 2) Lowe's Skil® XShop™ Convertible Workshop
> Item #: 63022 Model: 3700-01
>
> Are these worthwhile? Any others that are good? Maybe none of these
> combo units are any good.
>
> Any advice would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks...
The Craftsman, is a Ryobi Bt3100 on a portable stand. I have never seen a
portable stand on the Skill Xshop. If you aren't needing the portability,
why not buy the BT for a lot less? Check out bt3 central to learn about
this saw, and the users following. I compared the two when I was looking
as I have a tiny shop with no room for a cabinet saw. The Skill was almost
exactly one of those saws I see for $89 all the time. The BT was and is in
it's own league.

<[email protected]> wrote in message
>Are these worthwhile? Any others that are good? Maybe none of these
>combo units are any good.


What do you plan to use it for? IMO, it is a good setup at a construction
site but not very good for any serious woodworking. Ripping a couple of
boards for a deck? Great. Building a piece of furniture? You can do
better.

I'd look at better quality stand alone tools. Accumulate them over time as
you need them and you will have a shop that will outlast you.

About as good as a "one size fits all suit".

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
I'm in the market for a Table Saw / Router / Sander / etc. Combination
and am not sure which to get. I want to get a "good unit", but don't
want to waste my money on junk. Can anyone offer any insight into the
models:

1) Sears Craftsman Professional 10 in. Table Saw, Portable
Sears item #00921829000 Mfr. model #21829

2) Lowe's Skil® XShopT Convertible Workshop
Item #: 63022 Model: 3700-01

Are these worthwhile? Any others that are good? Maybe none of these
combo units are any good.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks...

<snip>
Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks...


Go to Home Depot and give the Ridgid equipment a walk-around. I have a 3650
which sounds like too much saw for your needs and wallet. Check the 2400 or
is it 2420 - don't recall exactly right now. It got great reviews a couple
of months ago and comes with a set of wheels so you can fold up the saw and
stand it in the corner. DeWalt makes a few nice routers but if I had it to
do again I'd vie for a Porter-Cable because of the availability of
aftermarket add-ons.

I bought a Table saw about over a year ago. it was a craftsman 10" on
sale. I was gonna dump it till people told me how useful tablesaws were.

I think I may want to buy a dewalt next time. However, its usefull
enough and works well enough that its not worth me upgrading now. I
learn increasingly that woodworking is not extreme precision work. The
techniques used allow for some play in the sizes. So its allowed me to
get by.

Perhaps its that the saw was better than me when I bought it. And I
have sepent all this time using it and getting better. So im getting
more and more out of it every use. If your already good with a table
saw maybe you will be a bit disappointed.

I cant give you any real complaints except I think the fence mechanism
could be better. if i could do it over i would buy the craftsman again.
But if I started with today's skill I would buy a Dewalt.




[email protected] wrote:
> I'm in the market for a Table Saw / Router / Sander / etc. Combination
> and am not sure which to get. I want to get a "good unit", but don't
> want to waste my money on junk. Can anyone offer any insight into the
> models:
>
> 1) Sears Craftsman Professional 10 in. Table Saw, Portable
> Sears item #00921829000 Mfr. model #21829
>
> 2) Lowe's Skil® XShop™ Convertible Workshop
> Item #: 63022 Model: 3700-01
>
> Are these worthwhile? Any others that are good? Maybe none of these
> combo units are any good.
>
> Any advice would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks...
>


--
Thank you,



"Then said I, Wisdom [is] better than strength: nevertheless the poor
man's wisdom [is] despised, and his words are not heard." Ecclesiastes 9:16