charlottend

I'm just starting out and I'm trying to find an accurate tablesaw for a reasonable price. I've been thinking of getting a used one since I hoped that might get me a better tool for the dollar.

I've found 3 on craigslist that are around $240-$250. One is new, and the other two are used to some extent. From what I can find, reviews on all seem to be pretty good.

Any advice would be appreciated, especially on the drawbacks etc. that I should be on the lookout for.

Hitachi 10" C10FL - $250 used
8 months old, supposedly paid $500
http://images.craigslist.org/3k33md3...5001e0159e.jpg

Craftsman Professional 10" Portable Model 21829 - $250 new, normally $479 new at sears
http://images.craigslist.org/3n53p93...526312181e.jpg
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...criptionAnchor

Upgraded Craftsman 10" 315.22851 - $240
w/ cast iron wings, two miter gauges, thin kerf blade, router board, 4" dust collection port, zero clearance plate and an extra long 54" fence, for a total of 71" fence

http://images.craigslist.org/3n93m23...1f0449106e.jpg

Sleeper

I’m kind of partial to the Upgraded Craftsman 10" 315.22851 - $240, because its what I got and with all the upgrades sounds like a good deal. I know that you might find better but you have patience to get a realy good deal and that requires time. I paid $200 just for my fence up grade and $90 was just in shipping because I had to buy the rails and fence separately.

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JohnnyB
"I do what I do well, but I still like to dabble in what I don’t do well"

charlottend

I've been told that patience and craigslist are a good thing :) Thanks for the advice.

knotscott

You've got 3 different types of saws there....all with different strengths and weaknesses.

The Hitachi C10FL is essentially a hybrid saw, which is much like a contractor saw but with the motor moved inside the enclosure, which offers several advantages over an outboard motor....better dust collection, shorter drive belt, smaller footprint, no lifting hazard when the motor is tilted. I'm not a big fan of the stock fence on that saw but it works, and it can always be upgraded later. It also has steel wings.

The 21829 is rebadged and updated Ryobi BT3100, which is a compact saw with a belt drive universal motor, and a sliding miter table, router table, and roll away stand. It's smaller, easier to move, has the slider, is louder, not as stable, and possibly not as robustly built. BT3Central.com is website dedicated to that type of saw...tons of helpful info.

The Craftsman is a TTI/Ryobi era contractor saw. It's a full size cast iron saw with a belt drive induction motor like the Hitachi, but the motor hangs out the back. It has a decent, but not great fence IMO. The solid cast iron wings are nice.

They all seem like fair deals to me, and all look to be in good shape. There are happy owners of each. With proper setup and good blade choice, all should do a good job. I'd lean toward the Hitachi or the Craftsman contractor saw because I prefer larger saws with induction motors, but it's more important to buy the one that suits your needs that you like best.

Good luck

GeorgeC

Ditto.

George

charlottend

Thanks again. I may jump on that one. I'm also looking out for used R3650's or maybe even the new R4511 on sale.

dbhost

I would go with either of the Craftsman models.

I am a big fan of the Ryobi BT3x00 series, which the 21829 is an update of... Good saw, nice safety features, well made, easily moveable, honestly, VERY overbuilt for the Ryobi table saw name... The newer ones are nowhere near this nice... The aluminum top has its purpose, but may not be what you are after... The plusses of a 21829 are mobility, safety with the riving knife etc..., and expandability. There are a TON of upgrades for these saws..

The 315.22851 is another really nice saw. Not a superbe fence, but not somethign that is going to mess you up either... The cast iron top is wonderful in that it gives you more stability, simply put, this is one of the more standard Craftsman branded saws. An Emmerson built one would be nicer, but this is good. This is what you might consider a hot rodded, Craftsman branded variant of the Ridgid TS3650 TS3660.

I should mention I like the Hitachi tools I have, but I have read some bad reviews, and some safety problems with the C10FL, particularly with the wiring. You may want to steer clear of this machine.

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KevinK

From my experience I wished my second saw was my first. I would be patient and look for a saw that has better resale value, craftman and hitachi are useable saws but limited. When you decide to upgrade (and you will want to, trust me) you will have a hard time getting rid of these saws. I would save your money and wait until something comes along with a history and solid construction, such as Powermatic, General, or Grizzly appears to be getting good reviews on this site as well. Don't jump at the first saw you see...

Good Luck

Kevin

trident98

I agree with Kevin. If you plan on using the saw alot then get a better machine to start with. also depends on what you will be using it for. Carpentry maybe ok, furniture, no way. Save your money and get a Jet, powermatic type brand. They will always sell for more if it doesn't work out for you.

GeorgeC

I have already responded to this one.

George