Thread: What Would You Do?

Are the fence measurements taken off a tape stuck to the rail with a pointer on the fence? If so, you can buy metric stick on tapes from most suppliers, like Carbatec and Timbercon.

It may just be my inexperience or lack of training, but I've never used the fence measurements to actually set the fence.

Well I do look at them when I have to move the fence a poofteenth, but poofteenths aren't marked on either metric or imperial so I'm just sort of guessing by looking at the nearest mark. At that stage I'm using the digital calipers anyway, (just so I can see the number mind, not to measure to three decimal places of a mm).

Cheers,

P

If the only thing stopping you from buying this saw is the fact that the measurements are in imperial, I would buy it. It such a small detail that can be easily worked around, or fixed.
As Silent says, there are plenty of people around who will sell you a strip of plastic/metal with metric increments on it.

Do it.

Budget of $2,500.

Desired saw is $1,800.

Simple workshop math means you will have about $670 to throw at that pesky little measurement problem, which should cover it without too many problems I would think.

*Workshop math always includes money for preferred 'thinking drink'.

offer them $1500 because it aint metric

I agree with the above posts, the imperial measurements are a small issue, when I bought my incra 1000se jig I thought that the imperial measurements would be an issue but I have never directly relied on them to set the mitre gauge and stops. If your budget is $2500, use the change to buy an adhesive tape measure and pocket the difference.

Regards,
Felixe.

"pocket the difference."
No no no no... buy more tools!

I had a good look at this saw today and it is a lot bigger than I thought. The blade is 24", I don't know if it is a good thing or not now. Is it too big for hobby use? I can see it would be good for breaking down timber from very large sizes but I want somethging I can do smaller stuff on as any of us would for home use. Any thoughts?

Buy It

How far above the table does that 24" blade protrude? It's possible to get a (say) 16" blade to fit (they can be re-bored to match the arbor). I'm guessing a 16" blade would give you a 4" cut. That's unless there are several good blades with the saw, in which case don't worry about it.

There will not be any saw on the market anywhere that will touch an old cast iron saw for smoothness and accuracy, as long as the saw's motor and arbor bearings are in good shape (or replaceable). If the castings are not damaged, and the top is in good (or restorable) condition, everything else is detail work. My advice would be to get it, fix whatever (if anything) needs fixing, and give it a good coat of paint and enjoy it until your heirs take it over or the trees are all gone.

Cheers

Greg

Thanks for the replies and advice, I will have to think about it. I am still doubtful about buying it as I write. I just can't imagine doing smaller stuff on it and that is what worries me. This saw obviously came out of a timber yard or similar.

I had a call from the vendor of the table saw. He needs the room so offered it to me for a $1000. The blade size is my biggest concern; where will I get 24'' blades and will they cost a fortune? The other big problem is moving this thing, it is seriously heavy, I would reckon at least 600kg. I am just about convinced to buy it now.

Originally Posted by Mini

where will I get 24'' blades and will they cost a fortune? .

Buggered if I know.

What's stopping you putting a smaller diameter blade on it?

It's only the depth of cut you are losing isn't it?

Mini,
I have a stack of big blades that I was keeping to fit to the break down saw/sawmill that I was going to get "aroundto" building one day. I'm sure there will be something (probably more than one) that will fit. I'm sure we can work out a mutually agreeable deal. Also, as others have said, you can fit smaller blades. I got a 16" rip blade for my panel saw and it cost around $100.

Mick (who's scrubbed building a sawmill off the list of things to do - however, buying one hasn't been ruled out )