What’s a good basic table saw? I look at them online and can’t really tell much a difference. I’m tempted to just get a harbor freight one but know the fence will probably be loose and other annoyances…
Anyone have a specific recommendation for someone who is only occasionally playing around with simple carpentry?
I got a delta 36-725T2, it was around $650 when I got it, looks like it’s gone up around $50 since then, but I still think that’s a good deal.
The fence is super solid, the saw is on wheels but they retract for a super stable feel, I really like it.
That being said, if you can’t buy a quality new saw (plan to spend at least $500 and harbor freight is NOT quality) I would start scouring the classifieds.
Any older craftsman 10" saw will be worth a look. Delta, DeWalt, Milwaukee, Bosch, and Rigid are also solid brands.
You should mainly narrow down if you are looking for a portable saw or not.
If you have an area you can dedicate to woodworking, I would highly recommend a cabinet or contractor saw. The stability and capacity you gain over a bench top or job site saw cannot be overstated. That said, if you do need a portable saw I would recommend a job site saw over a bench top model if you can afford it.
I cannot make any recommendation on portable saws, but for me, I was between the Rigid R4560 and the Delta. I ended up getting the Delta simply due to the fact that I felt the fence was a bit more stable. There are upgrades for both models, so really it’s just a personal preference.
I love my Sawstop Contractor saw, but honestly the biggest upgrade was going from an aluminum jobsite saw to the then 20-year old Taiwan import Contractor saw I had before the Sawstop. I’d say it’s an even bigger step than going from an old-design 110v motor-hanger (of which the Sawstop is last man standing, I think) to a big 220v cabinet saw.
