Gocubs

Craftsman Club days this week. Taking advantage of all the offers available, the following saw can be had for about $400 (normally $530):
Craftsman 10" table saw model #21829
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...ame=Table+Saws

Seems to have mixed reviews. I've seen a lot of recent vintage Craftsman power tools bashed as not worth the money. Anyone have any experience with this saw or similar Craftsman tools? Been looking for used, but haven't come across anything even close to worthwhile in my area yet. Trying to find something decent to start out with. Thanks all.

Billinthewoods

For the money, I go with DeWalt!

Davet

Not having a miter slot or a standard miter slot just ain't for me.

For that kind of money, I would be looking at the Ridgid TS2400
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ctId=100090444

Or if you have the room look at the ts3650 or ts3660 ...HD should be having
some pretty good clearance sales on these models pretty soon.

I believe dbhost has the saw that you have in question or something
similar to it?..... hopefully, he will chime in soon.

knotscott

Some Craftsman tools are excellent, some not. That particular saw is a version of the Ryobi BT-3100, with the roll away base and router table added. Many love this saw, but I'd be hard pressed to pay nearly $500 for it....it often goes on sale for < $400. Check out BT3Central.com for more answers about it.

If you've got the space, a full size contractor saw like the Delta 36-980 or Ridgid 3660 aren't much more money and offer a lot more surface area, mass/stability, or quieter, and have better long term reliability.

If space is the issue more than money, I'd seriously consider a hybrid saw from Jet, Grizzly, Steel City, Craftsman, Ridgid, Delta, Shop Fox, or General International. They have the same size table and motor as a contractor saw, but the motor is tucked inside the cabinet and takes up less space, while offering better dust collection and several other advantages.

GeorgeC

I am a Craftsman fan. Virtually all of the tools in my shop are Craftsman.

However, I would not have that particular saw for serious serious woodworking. Unless space is a major issue I would get a conventional saw. I have a friend who is a superior woodworker and he will probably get that saw just because he has a space problem. He has been out of woodworking for a few years and now wants to keep two vehicles in his garage but he has a project that he needs a table saw for.

George

99flhr

IIRC
Both Craftsman & Ridgid have the non-standard .750 slot with bars of .742 & .746 respectively.
The other major manufacturers supply a .750 bar with a .755 slot

Gocubs

I've been looking at the Rigid TS3660 at home depot, but it's sitting at $500- I guess I'll have to be more patient and wait for a sale there! They had one on their site a week ago with a granite table for an extra $50, but apparently they don't carry that one now. I didn't really expect the Craftsman to stack up, but figured it didn't hurt to check. Anyone got more suggestions for online sites to buy/check prices from? Thanks again.

mmtools

I have seen many woodworkers looking for jigs (tenon, more accurate miter guage, etc.) who are stymied by the undersized miter slots on the Sears/Ridgid saws. Save yourself future headaches. Go with a Delta, jet, grizzly instead.

__________________
Mike O
Vegetarians, and their Hezbollah-like splinter faction, the vegans ... are the enemy of everything good and decent in the human spirit. - Anthony Bourdain
Toolsandmachinery.com

GeorgeC

Where have you personally "seen" these problems? What method have you used to determine that this "undersized" miter slot was the problem? And not something else causing the problem?

I have had absolutely no problem using accessories that I purchase from sources other than Sears in my Craftsman table saw.

George

99flhr

Well, the Delta rep at the annual Hartville tool sale told my buddy that the Delta tenoning jig would not work with his Ridgid T/S. ?

Davet

Whoops....!
That maybe correct, I forgot reading the slot is size for size to
a standard bar.
This has not been a problem for me yet, I really haven't bought any
after market jigs .. I have made my own custom jigs for the saw.
I bought in slot feather boards and they fit just fine.

Let me re-phrase.
Not having "a" miter slot just ain't for me... and craftsmen also
"use to have" a funky 5/8" wide miter slot on some of thier table
saws, not sure if they still have these slots on some saws or not,
just something to keep in mind when looking. Too me a 5/8" wide
slot is useless.

mmtools, ..Good point! ..about after market non adjustable bar
type jigs.

99flhr ..Thanks for pointing out my error.
I have read some Ridgid saw owners with the non- adjustable
after market bars, sanding .003 to .005" off the bars too get
a nice snug custom low side to side clearance sliding fit.

knotscott

Some of the older Craftsman saws had non-standard slots, but most, if not all of the new ones have a standard slot.

dbhost

I own the Ryobi labeled version of that saw (BT3100). It is dead on accurate, and expandable as all get out. The 21829 is NOT a saw I would pay more than $400.00 for though as it often goes on sale for about $400.00. Go over to www.bt3central.com for detailed information on that saw. Those that own them and actually use them, love the saw...

FWIW, if you absolutely have to have a miter slot, Ryobi has them as an add on, and many users have built add on miter slot tables that will allow you to use typical slot based jigs. Most BT / 22811 / 21829 owners use fence oriented jigs...

__________________
-- Trying to follow the example of the master...

steve mackay

I killed three Craftsman TSs ('bout $500.00) in eight years. This time I bit the bullit and got a Griz ("bout $750.00 w/ shipping). The Griz is bigger, more power, heavier & smoother operating, and all metal construction. Now that I've used it I don't think I'll be able to kill it in TWENTY years. Craftsman is for the "homeowner". And will suite his needs well for the money. All others should consider the wear they'll put on a machine.

mmtools

Mostly in my time in retail sales at Woodcraft.....

__________________
Mike O
Vegetarians, and their Hezbollah-like splinter faction, the vegans ... are the enemy of everything good and decent in the human spirit. - Anthony Bourdain
Toolsandmachinery.com

rag

I worked in a Woodcraft store as well and had herds of guys come in who were at their wit's end over Craftsman 'Non standard' crap.

Be wary of Home Depo and, I guess, lowes as well. I have been told by guys coming into the store that when they called Dewalt service they were told "if it was bought at HD, they couldn't do anything for them". Apparently they are made to lower specs/design that are not supported by manufactures. I was told this by many guys who experianced this first hand.

GeorgeC

I am still waiting for you to provide specifics.

G

GeorgeC

"I worked in a Woodcraft store as well and had herds of guys come in who were at their wit's end over Craftsman 'Non standard' crap."

How did you verify that these people knew what they were talking?

As far as I am concerned people bitching are just rumors unless I can personally verify their problem by getting them to answer specific questions or otherwise. Too often I have listened to people tell stories about various problems and then when I started questioning them they were the one causing the problem.

G