What’s a good basic table saw? I look at them online and can’t really tell much a difference. I’m tempted to just get a harbor freight one but know the fence will probably be loose and other annoyances…
Anyone have a specific recommendation for someone who is only occasionally playing around with simple carpentry?
I’d recommend a sawstop, even the folding or contractor one. It’s a fingersaver.
The most expensive table saw is not “basic”.
Edit: You’re telling a person who occasionally does wood work to buy a thousand dollar saw. Do you people even listen to yourselves? I bet you all bought $600+ saws when you were occasional woodworkers right? What a joke this thread is
The contractor one isn’t that expensive. And it saves on medical bills if an amateur cuts their fingers.
But yeah be a prick about it.
Yeah it’s only a thousand dollars right? Just 3-5x a normal table saw!
How much is your finger worth then in your opinion?
The guy asked for a basic table saw. A thousand dollar saw is not basic.
I agree, but I would suggest the guy should be willing to spend the money for safety. If he cannot afford it get a handsaw.
Surely you can see how silly that is. You can cut your finger off with all kinds of woodworking tools. Does Sawstop make a hand saw? How about chisels?
You can, but it is less likely. Most likely you draw blood but the would heals normally in a week without needing a doctor
chisles are more dangerious but you normally work away from your body.
When my wife and I bought ours it was only 1.5x a comparable (similar motor/blade spec) DeWalt/Bosch, maybe 2x a comparable Delta. The only saws available at 1/5 the price were on Craigslist.
Yeah, it’s more, but as hobbyists we figured we were (1) more likely to make a painful (and costly) mistake than a professional who’s working with the thing day in and day out and (2) less likely to be able to restore/maintain a used saw of unknown age, provenance, condition, etc. Worth it for us, and IMO probably for most serious amateurs.
In the US, my emergency room bill (just stitches thank god) cost significantly more than the $900 smallest Sawstop.
Most table saw accidents happen because of a lack of riving knife. Use that and the blade guard and your chances of losing a finger drop dramatically.