Table Saw Review

[mgbbob]

I do want to hijack MRHarts thread so I thought I would start a new one and tell my story.

I have an older Delta contractors saw with a table the exact size as my Shopsmith. I went to the woodworking show and came home with a "Dubby" miter sled. I couldn't decide if I should mount it on the Delta or the Shopsmith. I called the owner of In Line Industries and he told me they had quit manufacturing a set up for either saw because the table dimensions were to short. He recommended a Craftsman 113 xxxxxx saw and assured me i would be very happy with the results. He also said to expect to spend some money on new bearings, etc.

I am 90% complete with the restoration of my almost free cat. I have replaced the bearings, motor, feet, belt, cleaned and painted and aligned. I have only done one test cut but the saw sounds great.

It is considerably bigger than my Delta but definitely quieter. I will post some pictures when finished. Only time will tell if I made the right choice for a 2nd saw. I will have about $200 in the saw when finished.

The saw is a beast and difficult to move without the wheels. I will probably opt for a mobile base.

Now as far as the Shopsmith saw goes, I think it is great. Smooth cuts, good dust collection and for 90% of my work I expect to use the Shopsmith. I will give this a try and if I don't like the outcome the then one of the kids will add to their shop equipment.

[pennview]

Mgbbob, I think you'll be happy with both the saw when it is restored and with the Dubby. I have a shop-built knockoff of the Dubby. If you didn't get the stationary panel that mounts to the table when using the Dubby so that you have a flat surface across the surface of the saw, you should make something similar. With the Dubby alone, having short/small off cuts drop onto the table when you complete a cut can result in the material bouncing into the saw blade and getting launched about the shop.

[mgbbob]

Hi Art, I did buy both panels. I still have everything boxed up. Hopefully by the end of the weekend I will finish the saw and start setting up the dubby. I had been wanting to build a sled for a long time and the woodworking show came along at the right time. the wife was nice enough to buy the dubby set up for an anniversary present.

Of course the Craftsman contractors saw and the restoration came after. I am not sure she is very happy about more iron in the basement. I must do some home projects soon or there will be a unhappy CEO of the household. And then there is the greeny in the spare bedroom!

Bob

[pennview]

I had one of those Craftsman contractor saws, but sold it when I bought the Shopsmith in 1980. Having used it before getting the Shopsmith is part of the reason I don't use the Shopsmith for table sawing except on rare occassions. You get spoiled by the ease of doing things on a tablesaw.

What I didn't like about the Craftsman was that the blade tilted to the left. I'm probably one of those few guys today who wants the blade tilting to the right, and I'd guess you'd have to look long and hard to find a new one these days that tilted right.