I purchased Harbor Freight's 10" industrial table saw and have been *very* pleased. For the price its great.
Very heavy and solid with almost no vibration plus it has plenty of power for thick cuts. It has a geared motor which is an absolute with table saws (direct drive motors will burn up on you much easier.)
I'm no Harbor Freight spokesman (don't buy their hole saws!) but I like a good buy.
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I've got a 7 1/2" direct drive Craftsman portable. It clamps onto a workmate and I've used it to cut everything from HDU to Ceramic tiles. I can set it up in minutes and staart cutting. As far the direct drive motor burning up faster, you're right, but I've been being careful with it the last 15 years. When I finish with nasty stuff like ceramic, I hose it down with fresh water blow it dry with air and spray it with contact cleaner and WD-40.
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I will never own a Sears power tool again. They are cheap...cheap...CHEAP!!!! Thru the 60's they made pretty decent stuff. I began to wonder why Craftsman power tools keep going thru design changes every year or two like cars used to. I found out that Sears tools are manufactured by the lowest bidder!! So I am replacing my Sears band saw, table saw, 6" belt/disk sander with Delta. Replaced my Sears router, drills, jig saw & belt sander long ago.
If you buy a quality tool it should last you through your career. Buy cheap and plan on replacing it often, or being down right frustrated every time you use it.
------------------ Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 ICQ: 21604027 sherwood@up.net
Posts: 5396 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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Emerson Electric used to make the Craftsman tools, then Craftsman started screwing around going overseas to get the stuff cheaper. Emerson now does all the Ridgid woodworking tools found in the Home Depot. Some are good (like the jointer) some are garbarge (belt sander) just in case anyone cares!
------------------ Mike Berry & Arene Luteman Concord Sign Company Concord, New Hampshire
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We like our delta "Unisaw" with "Unifence" A good fence is to a saw what a good antennae is to a radio. This saw is a lifetime tool, and a pleasure to use.
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I'm using an old, '70 something model Craftsman Radial arm saw I got at a moving sale for $150, Cant complain, it works well for what I've paid for it.
BUT, I have had nothing but trouble with every other crafstman electric tool I've ever had. Seems like the triggers are the first thing to go, then its all downhill..
Have had really good luck with Skil tools, cant beat the Model 77 Worm drive saw.That will cut anything, well almost.
Got the DeWalt 12" Miter saw...Now theres a machine...
------------------ -Slashin' Vinyl by the big lake- Brian Ooms for CVD -Custom Vinyl Designs ....New to it all, but tryin'! Zigman or Vinylslasher On Mirc ICQ 124334 ziggy@netnitco.net
Posts: 244 | From: Merrillville, IN | Registered: Dec 1998
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We've been using a Craftsman 1hp purchased new in 75. It has been dependable. It won't take a heavy load cut without binding. There are bushings that wear in places that should house bearings in the arbor. We've built our own extention tables and fence system.
The UniSaw would be my second choice for a new saw. I'want one. I want a saw with a three to five hp motor. A local cabinet shop bought an imitation unisaw (Jet) several years ago and it holds true cuts and is good
Several years ago there was this wood shop all-in-one kinda tool that I saw that was the best I've encountered. It came from scandiavia someplace, and was not like a ShopSmith. This saw had a sliding table that the material clamped down on, so you slide the table rather than pushing a board against a fence. This tool also had a planner, jointer, shaper, mortising jig, and was very heavy duty and accurate. My first choice.
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"The codfish lays ten thousand eggs, the homely hen lays one the codfish never cackles to tell you what she's done And so we shun the codfish while the lowly hen we prize Which only goes to show you that it pays to advertise!" *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ Ogden Nash
The Sign Shop Mendocino, CA.
Posts: 6713 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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