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Thread: Beginner table saw opinions.
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5th August 2019, 06:01 PM #1New Member
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Beginner table saw opinions.
New to woodworking. Just looking for some opinions on table saws.
Looking to purchase first table saw.
Preferably between $300-400 and in good condition.
Found a general 350 table saw bit more expensive. bit of a drive to get it though. Have read they are a quality table saw even if they are 20 years old?
But i am also set up in my garage so not alot of space so maybe a portable table saw would be a better buy.
Any other table saws that you would reccommend? Have looked at bunnings table saws but would prefer a better quality used saw between $300-400.
Appreciate any feedback.
Thanks,
-Randy
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5th August 2019 06:01 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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5th August 2019, 06:32 PM #2GOLD MEMBER
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The only problem with a lot of the newish table (or more usually contractors) saws that run a few hundred is they tend to be pretty crap when it comes to rigidity and precision. A second cabinet saw with a good cast iron top is definitely the way to go to get something good and affordable.
If the newer cheap table saws look like they'd do what you want, more or less, an ELU TSG172/173 flipsaw would be cheaper and probably better still if it's been looked after. Depends how big you want to rip stuff though.
I bought a 10" Woodfast (insert Carbatec, etc, etc) cabinet saw from the forum or gumtree with a large cast iron top and sliding panel for $300 from memory, and it's a good upgrade from my old ELU flipsaw.
cheers, Ian
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5th August 2019, 06:43 PM #3Senior Member
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Following this post with interest
Northern Beaches Sydney
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5th August 2019, 07:54 PM #4Senior Member
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Having a look at gumtree and previous experience with a makita site saw...that General was the obvious choice as well provided you don’t mind a bit of fiddling if it needs setup. My advice is don’t buy a saw without cast iron unless you need to carry it to a building site!
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5th August 2019, 09:23 PM #5Member
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My first saw was a second hand Hafco 12” contractor saw... TS12 from memory and they’re still available new. Paid $500 for it and it was a great intro, allowed me to do a lot getting started. The biggest downside of that saw was the fence. It had a Ripmaster fence I think it was called, that clamped at both ends, and so was a pain in the butt for repeatability and I’d have to check it for square before each cut. On the plus side I sold it 6 years later for $500... can’t complain about that!
If at all able, try to get a saw with a T-style fence and it’ll last you a lot longer.
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5th August 2019, 10:36 PM #6
I bought that same saw several years ago for a similar price, sold the Ripmaster fence for $150 (still in its box) and bought an Incra TSLS fence system. I still have it today. I ditched the pressed metal stand and sat it on a 25mm plywood box with a mobile base attached. For most woodworkers it is all the saw you would ever need.
I got sick of sitting around doing nothing - so I took up meditation.
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6th August 2019, 12:11 AM #7Member
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6th August 2019, 09:36 AM #8
Yes, but when I bought my Incra fence the US Dollar was worth less than ours (A$0.73 from memory) and the USPS wasn't treating postage to Australia as such a cash grab.The whole setup cost about $1100 and cabinet saws back then were more expensive too. The maths would not be so favorable now.
I got sick of sitting around doing nothing - so I took up meditation.
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6th August 2019, 11:49 AM #9.
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One of the other pluses for the contract type saw is the base is separate from the cabinet. This makes easy to put a inverted pyramidal hopper in between the base and the cabinet and a 6" dust port in the centre of the hopper for very good dust extraction - ditch the crappy plastic saw blade surround and partially block the opening in the back with a heavy piece of plastic curtin and it adds up to very efficient dust extraction.
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8th August 2019, 05:20 PM #10New Member
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Is the TS12 Hafco 12" contractor saw that has been mentioned a similar build to the Hafco SB-12 that they now sell for around $1,265.
Thanks
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9th August 2019, 02:56 PM #11Member
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