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Table saw decision

Table saw decision (post #169723)

rkbahra on Fri, 02/03/2012 - 14:31

Power Tools and Machinery

Hello fellow forum members --

I know this has been posted before, but was looking to get some more recent feedback around which tablesaw... long story short, luckily was given a 3k budget to finally upgrade from my Bosch portable. I've narrowed it down to either the Unisaw or the PM2000, but keep getting pro/cons to both and as a result am sitting on the fence - my original thought was to pick up an xacta saw and use the left over funds to grab a jointer. But I'm of the school buy once/cry once and figure I'd be better of getting the 'better' saw and grabbing a jointer later.

Any thoughts, advice or recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

raj

WOW 3k (post #169723, reply #1 of 7)

by bones in reply to rkbahra [original] on Fri, 02/03/2012 - 17:37

Man that's a cool budget! You have tons of choices. Going from a bosh to either of those will be a dream. I've been up close and personal with both. I love the design of the new Unisaw. both right there on the front is very cool. The PM is cool to. I liked the ease of blade changes and its made like a tank as is the Unisaw. If you are set for you other tools then putting all that on a TS would be nice I'd consider the sawstop just because of the safety factor. If you need more than one tool, you could outfit a whole shop almost. I'd get some refurbed old american iron An old Unisaw refurbed or a nice PM or Tanowitz could be had real resonable and a jointer as well. Be patient hit the right locations and watch and you could be sitting pretty. Depending on what part of the country you are more options, but oportunities are there. Anyway good luck post some pics we all love new toys even if they belong to someone else.

...For that old machine lovers: http://vintagemachinery.org/home.aspx

WOW 3k (post #169723, reply #2 of 7)

by bones in reply to rkbahra [original] on Fri, 02/03/2012 - 17:38

...For that old machine lovers: http://vintagemachinery.org/home.aspx

Be the first on your block (post #169723, reply #3 of 7)

by RalphBarker in reply to rkbahra [original] on Sat, 02/04/2012 - 08:56

Be the first on your block to have a new Unisaw! ;-)

Except for the SawStop, it seems to me that the new Unisaw is the only saw on the market to be redesigned to modern standards. While I have great respect for Powermatic, and have a soft spot for refurb'ed old iron, I'd definitely go for the new Unisaw if I had your budget.

Thank you to you both! I (post #169723, reply #4 of 7)

by rkbahra in reply to rkbahra [original] on Sat, 02/04/2012 - 17:32

Thank you to you both!

I was seriously considering the sawstop, but the concern I have is the availibility of parts moving into the future. I think Delta and Powermatic have been around long enough that findings parts new or used is probably just easier. The added safety feature really is a no brainer, but does Sawstop have enough industry presence to be around in 20 years?

I'll admit I am starting to lean towards the Delta but the mobile base option is actually a critical one for me... I'll be working in a multi use two car garage and Powermatic has the base built in vs the Unisaw where its an add on ($300 or so last I checked). And it just seemed to me that the PM2000's built in base just felt a bit more stable than the demo Unisaw I had a chance to examine.

And of course, the idea of buying used/refurb crossed my mind, but that opens up a new can of worms where I need to educate myself on some history/reliability/availibility. I swear - this decision was so incredibly easy a few weeks back - I was just focused on the Xacta saw!

Deleted (post #169723, reply #7 of 7)

by CharlieL in reply to rkbahra [original] on Wed, 03/07/2012 - 13:55

Deleted

If you don't have the time to do it right the first time, when will you ever have the time to fix it ?

I've worked with table saws (post #169723, reply #5 of 7)

by RJT in reply to rkbahra [original] on Sun, 02/05/2012 - 21:29

I've worked with table saws for 40 years and being cut by the blade is a very rare occurence. The most common table saw accidents are due to kick-backs, which the SawStop would not prevent.