Need a new table saw

[OldMasterTech]

My tried and true craftsman is at the end of its life. I need a new saw but my table is all steel with attached wood/formica top and I don't need a new leg stand. This is a quiet belt drive and I want some equal or better. Here's a pic :
View attachment 468109

Any suggestions? I'd rather pick one up than order. Like to have it this week.

joefromga, I believe my saw is the same as yours and I just took it out of service due to a small accident that broke the fence and the on/off switch. The motor and innards are both in excellent condition. Don't know how to get it from here to there cheaply but let me know if it's of any interest to you.

 

[jenkinsph]

Will a contractor saw accept a dado blade?

My Delta contractor saw works with both dado blades and molder heads. Have table inserts for all three.

The larger scoring saw does not though, it shines for panel cutting.

 

[mapper]

I used to have a Sears 10" identical to Joe's, it cut well but the fence was almost worthless. After ripping an expensive sheet of plywood on an unintentional diagonal one to many times (the fence would not lock down securely ) I replaced it with a Delta Unisaw with a 48" Unifence. Sort of like going from a Yugo to a Rolls Royce. The Sears struggled to rip 8/4 red oak with numerous thermal breaker resets needed, the Unisaw has never bogged down in anything I have put through it.
At the very least replace the motor and get an after market fence for it, you will not regret that in the least.

 

[joefromga]

I ordered a Grizzly motor that got good reviews from Amazon. It will be here tomorrow so I am hoping it will do what I need. I have a delta fence on it already. Other than the motor issue it's been a great table saw.

Will post results.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I have an early 1970's Craftsman 10" table saw, that I bought at a garage sale for $50 back in about 1976. It motor is 1.75 HP dual voltage and can be connected for either 110 volts or 220 volts. When I got it, I took it apart, cleaned and lubed the mechanism, repainted the cabinet, and renewed the table surface to like new. I built a rolling base for it so I could move it around the shop. I added a link belt and it runs with almost no vibration.

I got a great deal on a 3 HP cabinet saw about 5 years ago so, the Craftsman is sitting quietly in the corner of the shop. After I do some re-arranging of my shop I thinking of putting my dado set on it and just use it for cutting dados on projects.

 

[dickfoster]

Will a contractor saw accept a dado blade?

Of course. A contractor saw is just one step away from a cabinet saw and is much more of a saw than a bench top. However they are a bit too heavy to be considered portable unless you want to lug about 400 lbs around. Most contractor saws have cast iron tables and belt drives with induction motors but usually stamped steel table wings.

 

[joefromga]

Of course. A contractor saw is just one step away from a cabinet saw and is much more of a saw than a bench top. However they are a bit too heavy to be considered portable unless you want to lug about 400 lbs around. Most contractor saws have cast iron tables and belt drives with induction motors but usually stamped steel table wings.

That's what I have.

 

[dickfoster]

That's what I have. View attachment 468213

Looks like an oldie but goodie.

 

[mapper]

Joe, it looks like you are going to be in good shape with the new motor. Is it a sealed type or open like the original motor? The location on the contractor saw put the motor in a pretty dusty location, I used to blow a lot of dust a debris out of my Sears saw. The delta has a sealed motor which is really nice.

 

[joefromga]

The Grizzly is sealed with bearings. The original was open with sleeves type shim that requires oiling.