From: ramos@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (richard.ramos)
Newsgroups: rec.woodworking
Subject: Re: Table saws: Contractors, Tilting Arbor, or Grizzly?
Date: 8 Sep 92 14:15:56 GMT
Organization: AT&T

In article <1992Sep3.210911.21030@ichips.intel.com>, pmeyer@.intel.com (Paul Meyer) writes:
> 
> 	I'm finally going to stop considering and get a table saw!  I
> thought I'd air my decision-making process here and see if anybody can
> poke holes in it.  This is my first stationary tool (besides a router
> table).  I see myself doing furniture making for my house: a desk, book
> shelves, coffee table, a chair or two.  I've built a NICE computer table
> (just finished it last night) with planes and portable power tools, as
> well as building my bench and router table.  I've been wood working for
> about 3 months.
> 
> 	I'm looking to spend between $500 and $1000 now.  I looked at
> the following saws:
> 
> saw			~price   ~price w/good fence
> ---			------   -----
> 
> Delta Contractors	$600     $800  (30" unifence)
> 
> Grizzly (1023?)		$900     $900  (included fence)
> 
> Delta Tilting Arbor	$900     $1170 (52" unifence)
> 
> 
> 	
> 
> 	The options I considered seriously were buying the contractor's
> saw with 30" unifence, buying the Grizzly, and buying the Delta Tilting
> Arbor saw with Jet-lock and getting the 52" unifence in 6 months.  At
> the prices I've seen so far, I only save about $20 by getting the 52"
> unifence at the same time as the saw.  
> 
> 	
> 	The big advantage of the Contractor's saw is that it is 120V.  I
> won't have to wire 220 to my garage.  And it seems to be a popular saw
> around this group.  One purely emotional downside is that it doesn't look
> as sturdy as a cabinet saw.
> 
> 	The Grizzly is 500lbs, 3hp motor, and I've heard good reviews of
> it.  The downside is that the review I read talked about the milling he
> had done to make it better.  I don't have access to a machine shop and
> don't want to deal with it.  The other thing is that it almost seemed
> like too much saw.  500lbs is a lot to cart around.  
> 
> 	Then there was the Delta Tilting Arbor.  2hp, 300lbs.  I haven't
> heard any reviews of it, but it's basically the contractors saw with a
> cabinet and a more powerful motor.  Again, I'd probably get it with the
> JetLock, and get the real fence in six months.  If I will save a
> considerable amount of money (>$50-$75) I'll consider buying the 52"
> unifence with the saw.
> 
> 	
> 	When I buy something, I tend to buy the best I can afford (or
> even a little more than I can afford).  The Grizzly seems like the
> strongest, most powerful of the bunch, but I'm leery of it.  It's too
> big, for one.  And I don't know enough about table saws to feel
> comfortable 'fixing' the Grizzly if it is rough around the edges.  And
> I'm not equipped for metal work.  
> 
> 	So the choice is between the Delta's.  The contractor's saw
> looks like a good saw, but it isn't as powerful or sturdy as the Tilting
> Arbor saw.  So I'm leaning towards the Tilting Arbor saw.  
> 
> 
> Here is what I want to hear:
> 
> 	Is the Contractor's saw (with 30"? 52"? unifence) really all
> I'll need for a good long time and I should save the extra money for a
> (jointer, bandsaw, etc.)?
> 
> 	What do I gain (in real terms) by going to the Tilting Arbor
> saw.  Is it worth $270 more?
> 
> 	Is the Grizzly going to let me do better/easier woodworking
> than the Contractor's?  Than the Tilting Arbor?  
> 
> 	If you own any of these tools, or have used them, please let me
> know how you feel.  E-mail me, and I promise full summary to the net.
> 
> -- 
> Paul Meyer
> pmeyer@sedona.intel.com

I wish I had seen this before posting a similar request for info this 
morning.  Sounds like we could use a comprehensive comparison on the
net.  Didn't someone propose a tool review FAQ recently?

Rich Ramos 
908-576-6267
Newsgroups: rec.woodworking