Newbie - Table saw help required

**bigsi** · 06-05-2012, 04:48 PM

Hi all, I would like some assistant in the purchase of a table saw. I currently have a couple of options - A local guy has a General Model 350 10" Cabinet Saw. Made in Canada in the early 80s. Biesemeyer T-Square Saw Fence System. Leeson 3hp motor runs on 220V. Almost new Freud Thin Kerf blade - he wants $800. But I have been looking at a new Grizzly Hybrid G0715P for about the same price. My wife and I just bought our first house which needs some tlc and I plan on building all new cabinets and such so the saw is just for home use - any advise? thanks in advance.

**scottspencer** · 06-06-2012, 12:03 PM

The General 350 is an extremely well regarded saw that's at least the equal of a PM66 or Delta Unisaw, and is considerably more saw than the G0715P. $800 for a 350 is an unusually good price if it's in good working order. I wouldn't hesitate for a second to at least take a look, and pay his asking price if it works....I'd guess it'll go very quickly. Be advised that 3hp motors require 220v operation.

**SawSucker** · 06-07-2012, 07:16 AM

A used American made Delta or Powermatic Contractor's table saw with a good fence is all you really need. Lately in my area the Delta's have been selling for around $250, and sometimes have a good fence on them. To me thats a bargain considering that some of the imported lightweight jobsite table saws can go for as high as $700. You don't need an Industrial Cabinet saw, or a Hybrid saw to build cabinets or do homeowner DIY work.

**hcbph** · 06-07-2012, 09:40 AM

Bigsi

First off, welcome to the forum. First thing, saws are like wives and cars - everyones needs and wants differ. Much depends on what your long term plans are for this machine. If you plan on building cabinets, furniture etc, you'll need more than just a saw (just a warning - it can become addictive and pricey at times).

General has an excellent reputation and even a 30 year old General in good shape is a more solid saw than any hybrid you can run into today IMO. Long as there is no damaged parts, the only real wear item is bearings and those can be replaced. Cabinet mounted trunnions are easier to adjust IMO than those on a contractor or hybrid saw if ever needed.
Contractor saws can be gotten fairly inexpensively but may or may not have things like a comparable fence to the Biesemeyer (most are aftermarket purchases). You may have to put some additional $$ into them to do some upgrades to get to the same quality of cut level. You also have things like dust collection is not there by default on a contractor saw like you would on a cabinet saw, it can be handled but you need to do those modifications. Contractor saw does not have the same mass a cabinet saw does but then again most contractor saws can run on 110v while most cabinet saws are going to take 220v, though you want to insure it's not 3 phase or you'll be doing one of 3 things: remotoring, using a vfd or getting a RPC.

Others will disagree but if you're thinking of doing woodworking long term, get the cabinet saw (if price and condition are good).
If you're looking for using something for a while then selling, I think you could use the General for a few years and likely get all your $$ back out of it.
If you're looking for something for quick fix and keep in the corner 'just in case' and really don't plan to do much WW in the future, then a contractor saw may be your better choice.

One additional thing. I don't whether this is a right tilt or left tilt saw (when you set the blade at an angle, does the top of the blade go to the right or left). Doesn't really matter unless you do bevel cuts and which side of the blade the fence is. Some like right tilt, others like left, I prefer left because I use the ripfence to the right of the blade, and that prevents capturing a piece between the blade and fence.

Goodluck whatever you decide.

**SawSucker** · 06-07-2012, 01:32 PM

I get so sick and tired of listening to the constant Cabinet saw and Hybrids sales pitches, and haveing to defend Contractor's table saws. I've been a woodworker for about 30 years, I bought an American made Delta 34-444 Contractor's table saw with a Unifence, and a full size mobile base in 1995. I have made alot of nice things with that saw over the years, repaired antique furniture, built furniture, built cabinets, built numberous garden arbors and trellises, built numberous decks for myself and other people, built a fence for the backyard, you name it, I've built alot with it. I'm still very happy with the saw to this day, and will most likely be the last saw that I'll ever need in my lifetime. Owning an Industrial cabinet saw does not turn you into a instant professional woodworker. And most Hybrids are no more then a marketing ploy thats gone bad, there is no set industry standard on what can be labeled as a Hybrid, I've even seen machinery manufacturers that should know better such as Steel City try to pass their Hybrids off as Cabinet saws. Spend your money wisely, theres going to be alot of other tools and machinery that you will need to work efficiently in this thankless hobby.

**FrankC** · 06-07-2012, 03:22 PM

If you want to spend $800 on a saw get the General, you will have a saw that you will likely never want to replace. If you want something just to build some cabinets and other projects around the home look for a used contractors saw in the $200 - $400 range.

I had a Craftsman contractor saw for years that I picked up used for $60, gave it away a couple years ago and it is still serving the new owner very well today.

Any saw is only as good as the blade and the fence, they all need to be tuned up occasionally so it comes down to personal choice.

**GenerationW.W** · 06-07-2012, 06:54 PM

I would look into the General, great saws and very reliable and sounds like a great price, if it is good working order.

**scottspencer** · 06-07-2012, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by hcbph

...One additional thing. I don't know whether this is a right tilt or left tilt saw (when you set the blade at an angle, does the top of the blade go to the right or left). ....

The 350 is right tilt. They also make a 650 that's left tilt.

Good call to check on whether it's single phase or 3-phase...

**SawSucker** · 06-07-2012, 08:15 PM

Don't buy a used Craftsman or Ridgid Contractor's saw, they actually give the Contractor's saws a bad reputation. They aren't built as well as the Delta"s or Powermatic's

**Woody.** · 06-10-2012, 09:02 AM

I have a new Jet contractors saw with a standard Jet fence for 10 years. I am happy with it. I have built a dozen or so cabinets as well as many other projects around the house. I have done some work for hire but mostly stuff around the house. I consider myself to be an advanced hobbyist / handyman.

Though I am satisfied, I do find limitations to the Jet Contractors saw in power output at the blade particularly on angle cuts. I have had plenty of opportunity to use full cabinet saw, when I took woodworking classes at a local vocational school, and yes there is a significant difference between a contractors saw and a cabinet saw.

Some day, when I can afford it I will buy a Grizzly 1023 cabinet saw with a 220v 3hp motor. Do I NEED it? no --- Do I WANT it - yes.

I would agree that a decent contractors saw, is going to give you a lot of miles. It's a great bang for the buck. Lots of good makers out there. I am happy with Jet, but they are not the only players.