I'm trying to score a decent table saw. Heart is set on a delta 34-444. Can't find one, or a similar contractor saw, in my area (Colorado Springs). Wife and I just bought our first house after 15 years of moving around with the Navy. Looking for wisdom from the community here on the following:
1) any good deals on craigslist, etc. near Colorado Springs (I'll drive if needed). If you see one link it up and I'll go after it...
2) is anybody making a reliable saw new? I'd pay ~$600 if needed.
I'm tight on space in our new 2 car garage. My intent is to build the contractor saw into a workbench with casters. That way I can wheel it out when needed and otherwise tackle normal household chores on the workbench.
Welcome to the forum, Mike! Add your location to your profile so it shows in the side panel. Add your first name to your signature line so we'll remember (sorry, but we'll forget otherwise).
How big of a hurry are you in for getting your saw? Surely in an area like Colorado Springs there's bound to be one or two turn up often. I've never used or owned a contractor saw but I see new ones advertised for about $350 up to more than a grand.
Done! Thanks for the tips. I'm not in a hurry...wife is! She wants desks for the kids and I would like to build a dining room table (simple flat tops with steel legs procured from the web).
My advice is be patient and keep looking on Craigslist. Eventually something will show up with your price point you should be able to buy a decent machine.
My advice is be patient and keep looking on Craigslist. Eventually something will show up with your price point you should be able to buy a decent machine.
That Craftsman saw made in the 1980's is perfectly good. I have one of its brothers sitting in my garage since the mid 1980's.
As long as it is belt driven and not one of the direct drive models.
The problem is with the fence and not the saw. It is not that the fence will not work, it is that the fence is just a pain to align each time you want to change your ripping cut. After many years of cussing how long and how much care it was to set the fence accurately, I upgraded. At that time got a Craftsman X-2424.
There are other fences available, both used and new, that will fit this saw. In the meantime, the original fence will work, it is just more work to set it accurately.
Thank you very much. I would have overlooked that General International (wasn't familiar with the brand). It's currently sitting in my garage! Next challenge - it came with an ~84" fence rail system. As mentioned before I'm tight on space and was going to build a workbench ~42" x 96". The length would have been the run out table. For some reason, before I drove 1.5 hrs to pick it up, I assumed that rail system would break down to two or three pieces (doesn't make sense I know). Now I'm at a loss - thinking about building a workbench that incorporates the entire fence and having an extension that I can remove when necessary. Don't have the heart to cut that rail system down. Not sure if I'll be able to find someone to trade down for a smaller rail system. Regardless, good problems to have.
DirtSailor;2074671.................Next challenge - it came with an ~84" fence rail system........ thinking about building a workbench that incorporates the entire fence Don't have the heart to cut that rail system down......[/QUOTE said:
Mike, glad u got that saw. As for the fence, think about it for a while before you do anything. You may find that you use that extra length of fence more than you think, especially if you build furniture and cabinets. Just keep tellin yourself "I will cut it down smaller - Soon, but not today.
Try to come up with a work bench design that incorporates the full length of the rail using the space under it for storage. Then put the whole thing on wheels. BTW, if you build that cabinet/workbench, more than likely, you will be using the full length of the fence rail.
BTW, if you build a new work bench, you van remove the legs that came with the saw and incorporated the saw into the bench. if you do this, keep in mind that you will probably have to leave an open space or hole under the saw for the sawdust to fall down into. Maybe even a wooden box with a trash bag liner.
I have had that saw with a 52" unifence for about 20 years. Never had to do any repairs. Been an excellent saw for the stuff I do.
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