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.
In the US, my emergency room bill (just stitches thank god) cost significantly more than the $900 smallest Sawstop.
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.
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.