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Thread: Input on table saw purchase
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23rd February 2020, 08:16 PM #16GOLD MEMBER
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I have an upgraded Sawstop contractor saw which I'm very happy with. I'd have preferred a pro, but there weren't any available in my 2nd-hand price range at the time. I spent a fair amount of time researching the saws, and couldn't find much negative about them, so I think the pro would be a great buy.
I do spend a significant part of my working life dealing with human encounters with violent machinery, so I am jaded and cynical, and believe you cannot have enough in the way of safety features. Saying that you should not consider a sawstop because it'll make people lax around the saw and the rest of the shop is like saying you shouldn't drive with a seatbelt because it'll make you a less attentive driver. It's daft. Get a machine with as much safety built in as you can, particularly if it's in a 'public' workshop with users of varying ability and common sense.
You should note that Felder have developed their own blade retraction technology - see PCS(R) Preventive Contact System | Felder Group and have a look at the amazing video. It will certainly be reassuringly expensive. The advantage over sawstop is that it doesn't involve a disposable cartridge, and doesn't destroy your blade. You simply reset the saw and carry on. If my hobby ever becomes more than wood-hacking, a K3 or C3 with PCS would be what I'd aim for.
At $130 for a new cartridge, plus the cost of a new blade each time the Sawstop fires, you may find a Felder becomes a cost-effective option...
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23rd February 2020, 09:53 PM #17GOLD MEMBER
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Brian,
I help supervise our local Men’s Shed. A couple of years ago we replaced our Table saw with the Sawstop Pro version. It is extremely well built, accurate and a pleasure to use. My next saw for my own workshop will be a Sawstop if I can fit it in or if not the new version of the Festool table saw (with Sawstop technology as Festool now own Sawstop).
I don’t take the safety mechanism for granted but it is good to know it is there. Ours has certainly saved at least one set of fingers (not mine) during the past two years.
Regards,
Brian
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23rd February 2020, 11:03 PM #18GOLD MEMBER
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Am I correct to say that the table too of sawstop is partially pressed steel, rather than cast iron throughout.
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23rd February 2020, 11:25 PM #19GOLD MEMBER
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On the jobsite saw I believe they use pressed steel, but on the contractor, professional and industrial models the main tables are cast iron. On the contractor model the table wings can be your choice of pressed steel or cast iron. The Pro and industrial models have cast iron as standard. I’d certainly recommend going for the cast iron. I imagine the jobsite saw has the lighter top as it is made to be transported from job to job.
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24th February 2020, 04:01 PM #20GOLD MEMBER
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Yep the contractor version (not the jobsite) comes withpressed steel side tables and the 36” version comes with a larger phenolicresin extenstion.
I bought the optional cast iron side tables. And you canactually fit any of the major (carbatec, timbcon etc) cast iron router tablesinstead of the phenolic resin extension. If you need to save space
It wouldn’t be hard to add wood or any other side extensionsif you don’t want to use the pressed steel ones
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24th February 2020, 08:29 PM #21
Hello Brian,
I recently upgraded my table saw and I considered three of the models on your list and I am able to offer you my opinion on them and my reasoning for choosing the saw that I ultimately ended up with. The saw I was upgrading for was the original Laguna Fusion (2hp) with a 52" capacity rail made out of an aluminium extrusion. My primary reasons for upgrading were more hp to cope with our dense Aussie hardwoods, better dust extraction, better mobility, and I wanted a beefier fence/rail with less deflection. The first one I ruled out was the SawStop Pro 30" because IMO the greater rip capacity and beefier rails and fence of the SawStop Pro 36" was worth the $280 price difference. Thus I narrowed my choice down to the Laguna Dovetail Platinum and the SawStop Pro 36".
After inspecting both saw in store, I ended up choosing the SawStop PCS for the following reasons:
- I wasn't that impressed with the Laguna. It's not that it's a bad saw, it's just that the SawStop seemed better in every category (fit and finish, ease of changing blade guard/riving knife, powdercoating/paint, dust extraction, general design, etc). I've no scientific proof, but I got the feeling that the gauge of steel used for the cabinet seems thicker on the SawStop. At least that was my impression.
- I was concerned about the Laguna's 30" ripping capacity
- the optional HD mobility base for the SawStop was a revelation. Yes it's expensive ($619), but if I chose the Laguna I would have had to buy the all-swivel base with T-extension which costs $420 from Carbatec. I had a similar base on my old saw and it raised the saw too high and it didn't feel as stable. The mobility SawStop mobility base is rock solid and there's no difference in stability with or without it.
In the end my decision came down to the fact that I knew I would have no regrets with the SS PCS and IMHO, the substantial price difference was justified. And although I didn't quite have the funds at the time, I ruled out the Laguna and I decided to save a bit more for the SS PCS. Fortunately for me I didn't have to wait too long. About 2 weeks later a gently-used SS PCS 36" with HD mobility base + overhead dust arm + heaps of extras (blades x 5, dado set, Kreg Mitre gauge, brakes, Magswitch featherboards, insert plates) listed on Gumtree for less than the Laguna. Bargain !!!
I've had it for about a couple of weeks now and I can say it has lived up to my high expectations. One thing that I was pleasantly surprised to discover is how quiet it is. i don't know if it's quieter than the Laguna Dovetail Platinum, but it's definitely quieter than my 2hp Laguna Fusion.
Anyhoo, that's my 2 cents worth. Hopefully it helps you out with your buying decision. Of course, YMMV.
Cheers,
Mike.
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