looking at new table saw...shop fox 10" 2hp w/220 power. any thoughts or comments on this saw...thanks
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table saw
- Thread starter johnw
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I am not familiar with the Shop Fox TS and you may not get much feedback on this forum since it is visited primarily by woodturners who do mostly round stuff except for the segmented turners like guru Malcom Tibbetts who cuts thousands of tiny bits of wood on the tablesaw.
A better web site to search for feedback on woodworking tools is WOOD Magazine's web site, WOOD Online which gets a very high volume of traffic and has a Tool & Tool Buying forum.
Bill
A better web site to search for feedback on woodworking tools is WOOD Magazine's web site, WOOD Online which gets a very high volume of traffic and has a Tool & Tool Buying forum.
Bill
Is just me? It seems like I'm to one to suggest a better saw or lathe, etc. The Delta Unisaw is a classic which will last a lifetime, mostly made in USA. About $1500.00 at Woodworkers supply. I have the Bei----fence, table, and mobile base on it. It is the 3rd saw I purchased before getting it right. That is over a 25 year period of time. GT
Steve Worcester
Admin Emeritus
I don't thinks it's just you, I personally have the Jet left tilt cabinet saw. I don't think I ever use it for real flat work. Mostly to make jigs for wood turning and glass work.
My typical methodology in buying these type of products is to look for (recent) reviews of items in that price range with an open mind, and maybe an open pocket book. If I am looking at a $1000 item, but a $1500 item has features that would work better, hold up longer, then I might go for that item. I would rather pay for the quality up front that have to settle or fix something later on.
My typical methodology in buying these type of products is to look for (recent) reviews of items in that price range with an open mind, and maybe an open pocket book. If I am looking at a $1000 item, but a $1500 item has features that would work better, hold up longer, then I might go for that item. I would rather pay for the quality up front that have to settle or fix something later on.
If it can be afforded, the Unisaw left-tilt as mentioned above is a fantastic saw. We use it for cabinetry and combined with the Amana Prestige blade, gives perfect glue-line cuts on most any hardwood.
In my opinion average tools make average woodworkers make average stuff, but great tools make average woodworkers make great stuff. I bought a Delta Unisaw with Beisenmeyer (sp?) fence and the difference in the quality of my flat work improved at an unbelievable rate over work with my cheaper tablesaw. Just added one of those overpriced fancy Jessem Miter Gauges. Worth every penny, everything has taken another step up. Not sure what this has to do with Shop Fox tools, really I was just agreeing with the above that Delta Unisaws are worth what they cost.
I used a Sears Craftsman 10" table saw for almost 25 years before I upgraded to a Delta Unisaw. I wouldn't claim that my work has improved, but it sure has made doing some things a lot easier.
Please don't forget to include...............
Powermatic and General in that better, best equation. Pricey but well worth every penny. 😉
georgetroy said:
Powermatic and General in that better, best equation. Pricey but well worth every penny. 😉
I'm personally not impressed with the Biesemeyer fence. We have it too. We have also attached a permanent sliding arm to the left side, essentially making it a sliding table saw. Makes parts perfectly square, as we've noticed the occasional out-of-square sheet of plywood wreak HAVOC in wall cabinets.
The Biesemeyer fence is NOT a good choice for use with a slider sled (and I do recommend a good slider sled if you can afford it, we have the Sommerville). It cannot be adjusted the way the Unifence can--- when cutting, say, two feet from 8 ft stock , you must use the fence, but you ***cannot*** use the fence travelling the full length of the table as the piece you just cut can pinch and hurl at you. You must use a stop-fence (I can't remember what you actually call it) so that the piece you cut just plops free once it's cut from the stock and isn't pinched.
The Unifence can be retracted easily to expose only and inch or two of the very end of it to index your cut, and the rest of the fence is out of the way.
The Biesemeyer fence is NOT a good choice for use with a slider sled (and I do recommend a good slider sled if you can afford it, we have the Sommerville). It cannot be adjusted the way the Unifence can--- when cutting, say, two feet from 8 ft stock , you must use the fence, but you ***cannot*** use the fence travelling the full length of the table as the piece you just cut can pinch and hurl at you. You must use a stop-fence (I can't remember what you actually call it) so that the piece you cut just plops free once it's cut from the stock and isn't pinched.
The Unifence can be retracted easily to expose only and inch or two of the very end of it to index your cut, and the rest of the fence is out of the way.
Redfish,
Get a real slider. It'll pay for itself. 😉
I agree with you on the fence you mention. We have had two, and I didn't like it either time. This one quit clamping the arm and you have to jam a stick under the clamp now.
You can't replace the sides, and you can't adjust the clamp mechanism. I'd rather have something that allows for idjits that cut into the fence....
Get a real slider. It'll pay for itself. 😉
I agree with you on the fence you mention. We have had two, and I didn't like it either time. This one quit clamping the arm and you have to jam a stick under the clamp now.
You can't replace the sides, and you can't adjust the clamp mechanism. I'd rather have something that allows for idjits that cut into the fence....
John, I repeat, save yourself 500 bucks and buy the Fox, I also do lots of furniture projects and this saw with my Bessermer fence will do anything the Unisaw will do. Its made like a tank and has almost the same specs as the Unisaw. Buy the way, I have used both.
Saw choices
John,
If you have time to look around, I'd recommend seriously looking at two things...
If you are bent on brand new, check out Grizzly 1023 cabinet saw model. They're very good and there are choices in the fence options. Grizzly is not the best manufacturer in the world, but they did things right when it came to their table saw and bandsaw. I wouldn't recommend their lathe, but then I wouldn't recommend Delta's either.
The second thing to look at is the used market. A lot of people are falling into the "got to have the latest model" in table saws and with the exception of major changes in technology like Sawstop a ten year old Delta or Powermatic well taken care of will cost you half a new one and will probably be even more solid than the new ones. I picked up a 2hp Delta cabinet saw (not a uni) for $600 a year ago off ebay. I've been very happy with the saw, with a new blade it does everything I want it too.
Good luck with your selection whichever it may be. By the way, Delta saws come from Taiwan just like everything else except General which is made in Canada.
Regards,
Brodie
John,
If you have time to look around, I'd recommend seriously looking at two things...
If you are bent on brand new, check out Grizzly 1023 cabinet saw model. They're very good and there are choices in the fence options. Grizzly is not the best manufacturer in the world, but they did things right when it came to their table saw and bandsaw. I wouldn't recommend their lathe, but then I wouldn't recommend Delta's either.
The second thing to look at is the used market. A lot of people are falling into the "got to have the latest model" in table saws and with the exception of major changes in technology like Sawstop a ten year old Delta or Powermatic well taken care of will cost you half a new one and will probably be even more solid than the new ones. I picked up a 2hp Delta cabinet saw (not a uni) for $600 a year ago off ebay. I've been very happy with the saw, with a new blade it does everything I want it too.
Good luck with your selection whichever it may be. By the way, Delta saws come from Taiwan just like everything else except General which is made in Canada.
Regards,
Brodie
Just FYI... Shop Fox is a Grizzly brand... and my personal opinon of anything Grizzly is suspect. I whole-heartedly agree that the Delta Unisaw is the best bet, unless you have the cash to go for the Powermatic 66. Several years ago when I was working for Fine Woodworking, I lined my father up with a guy who was selling his Unisaw cheap. Perfectly good machine with very few hours, but the guy was a carver, and had no need for a big saw like that. (long, funny story on how he actually acquired it...) He sold it to my dad for a few hundred bucks, and I am waiting for that day when it will be passed on to me. Not that I want anything to happen to my father mind you, but my current old Craftsman table saw leaves a lot to be desired.
Go with 'quality', it will always serve you better than 'price' in the long run...
ziffy
Go with 'quality', it will always serve you better than 'price' in the long run...
ziffy