Want New Saw - your thoughts

[ewingda]

All,

I would like your thoughts on my desire for a new saw. I recently moved to NC and visited the local Woodworkers Supply - great place! There I got to see the Steel City, Woodtek, Jet and Delta saws. Specifically the hybrid and cabinet saws.

I had been watching the hybrid reviews with interest of late. While I enjoy the BT3100 - it has given me good service, I want to get a more mainstream saw. I want to go this route because of the availability of jigs (incl. Shark too!), weight and stability, size, and power. Well the power is a real big thing.

So they had a deal on the Steel City delux right tilt saw - 3HP, 50" rip capacity, Beise like fence, upgraded miter. All this for $1200. Reason is Steel Ciy is going to all left tilt - which is great but right is fine if you are careful and even rip with fence on left to avoid pinch. My thinking is Im going to pay $750-$1000 for a hybrid...why not go the extra couple hundred and get the real thing.

Please provide me with your thoughts. Im interested in real evaluations..not being flamed for "ditching" the BT. I think it is a great saw...but I just want more now that I have the space in my new home. I respect your thoughts and opinions - thus my query.

Thanks alot!

Dave

[Knottscott]

...My thinking is I'm going to pay $750-$1000 for a hybrid...why not go the extra couple hundred and get the real thing.

Dave - I think you're 100% on the money with that logic. While a good hybrid is plenty capable for a home workshop, a cabinet saw has every mechanical advantage. The downside is somewhat higher cost and the requirement of 220v electric. If you've got the cost and electric covered, a cabinet saw will get you the most saw for your money in that range.

[SARGE..g-47]

The right tilt is fine for that price, Dave. The only time it will affect anything is on an angled cut.. but just put the fence left of blade not to trap the stock between the fence and blade. Other than the few (most likely) angle cuts... everything else is equal with the blade sitting at 90 degrees on the majority of cuts you will make.

You better hurry as the Steel City saw is excellent and I might drive from Atlanta to get it. Just kidding.. I have the SC 18" BS.. 8" jointer and would have thier 17" DP and 12" 5 HP Industrial saw if I didn't already have a Uni-saw that I got at a price I couldn't refuse.

I have demo'ed some Steel City at the Atalant WW Show and am currently field testing their Black Granite Fence on my SC jointer. Excellent design by tool guys and they back it up with a 5 Year Warranty.

And don't fret about the SC TS fence you mentioned that is like a Biesemeyer which I have on my Uni-saw. The SC Industrail fence (if that is what it is) is better than the Biesemeyer. I never thought I would be able to say that... but it's that good. If you unlock it and give it too much of a shove toward the end of the rails... you better hual *ss down there and catch it before it launchs and ends up in the next county. It's that slick..

Good luck...

[drumpriest]

I went from the bt to a pm2000, and I'm glad that I had the opportunity. I would probably steer you away from the hybrids in general, just because they don't provide a large enough difference in power over the bt. My checklist was as follows...

-3hp+ power
-riving knife
-left tilt

That's pretty much it. The riving knife and left tilt are for safety reasons, I personally don't fancy getting hurt by a saw, and I didn't want to take a step backward in terms of safety gear. That pushed me up in the money range though. Jet has some new saws that feature these attributes for much less than I paid for my powermatic, but I've been happy with the new saw.

The first project I did after the upgrade was a table featuring 3" thick tapered oak legs, and the 3hp made it easy and safe.

[Uncle Cracker]

It seems lately that I have seen a lot of the big Deltas and Jet saws for sale second hand. I mean with 50" rip, Beise fences, wheel kits, the works. Unless you just gotta have a new saw, and gotta have it right now, you might want to hang out and be ready to jump on a good deal when it comes along. Could save bucks and buy more tools that way. Only thing new ones have that used ones won't is the RK (which is a good feature). Left tilt is a plus if you will be cutting much plywood, like you would expect to be if you get a 50" saw.

[RodKirby]

If you use your rip fence on the right of the blade 100% of the time - like me - left tilt is the ONLY (safe? comfortable?), way to go.

[cabinetman]

Here's a saw you could check out. I had one of their saws years ago and got good service from it. They are up in your neck of the woods. I don't know about prices, but they sure were more than competitive.
.

[LarryG]

One year ago, I was in much the same position as you are today. I wasn't unhappy, exactly, with my BT; I considered it then, and still do today, an amazing piece of machinery for the money. But I was never much of a fan of the SMT, and I wanted a larger rip capacity, and more power; so when I unexpectedly got the chance to move my shop into a larger building, I decided to upgrade to a cabinet saw.

Like Keith I bought a PM2000 and don't regret one penny of what it cost. You don't have to spend that much, though. I've looked at the Steel City saws and have no doubt I'd be more than satisfied with one of those, or any number of other makes/models.

Although I do regard left-tilt as a plus, I don't consider it a deal maker/breaker. It was one of the features that attracted me to the PM2000 but probably the least important on the list; I'd have bought the saw even if it had been right tilt. BTW, Uncle Cracker mentions that a left tilt is an advantage when cutting plywood, but I think what he meant is that it's an advantage when making bevel cuts on plywood.

[Cdr4]

I recently bought the new Jet Deluxe 10" with rebate for $1429. It is an excellent saw. I looked at SC, PM2000, and Delta before buying this one. I didn't see the extra $700 in the PM2000. This saw has a 3HP/230V motor, riving knife, solid fence, and a 50" rip capacity. Definitely a saw worth looking at.

Paul

[Carlos]

I hate using the table saw. I hate all table saws I've ever used. I avoid using it if at all possible, pretty much only when the piece won't fit in the bandsaw or miter saw, and can't be effectively cut with the circular. I think it comes down to never having used a really great saw. The BT is good compared to all the cheap saws, and even some slightly more expensive saws (it replaced a DeWalt $550 contractor saw). It was good when it was the only decent tool in my shop, and I liked the SMT until I got a really high-end 12" SCMS.

The most recent issue of "Tools & Shops" has made me lust after a Woodtek hybrid ($760). It was not only rated the best value, but best saw out of the test. However I don't know how much I really need a table saw. I disagree that it's the "center" of the workshop. Right now mine is covered with junk and hasn't been used (for other than a glue-up table) in a while. I'm reconsidering the need for something so expensive and so wasteful of space. I'm thinking that with a large bandsaw (I have the Jet 18"), a great circular saw (Festool maybe?), great SCMS, and a jointer, I don't need a TS.

[Uncle Cracker]

BTW, Uncle Cracker mentions that a left tilt is an advantage when cutting plywood, but I think what he meant is that it's an advantage when making bevel cuts on plywood.

That's what I meant. You'll be needing the extra capacity of the extended table, and right of the blade is best for that, and you don't want the blade tilted toward the rip fence in that usage. In the vertical blade position, whether your saw is right or left tilt really makes no difference.

[Scottydont]

I upgraded from the BT to a Delta Hybrid with the Biesemeyer fence. As a weekend wood warrior, I feel like I am being spoiled with it. The only thing lacking is I have not bought a shark guard guard for it yet. Lots of power for my needs, adaptability of bigger brother cabinet saw accessories, large table, very stable but still easy enough to move around my shop on mobile base. If i were doing production work or heavy useage I would recommend a legitimate cabinet saw. Otherwise no regrets here! My only trouble is getting enough shop time to properly bond with it.