Woodworking 101: My experience in buying a used contractor saw.

Mittwoch, 22. Dezember 2010

My experience in buying a used contractor saw.

Like a lot of people, I decided to buy a used table saw on Craig’s List. About two years later I think my experience can help others in the same boat. What did I need to do to it? How does it cut? Was it worth the savings in the long run?

I have a basement shop with poor access for large heavy tools, so I assumed a contractor saw was my best option (more on this later – I was wrong). I had looked on CL and finally found a guy selling a saw that didn’t look like crap. It was very clean, a right tilt, 30” T2 fence, mobile base included, no rust, still had the miter gauge, but lost the guard. I sort of checked it our for flatness, seemed okay, but I did not have the best tools for this when I was there. $300. Seemed like a good deal.

I took it apart, drove home, carried it piece by piece to the basement, put it together (see, I could do that with a cabinet saw too). Right away I put on a forged pulley and a link belt. That made a difference I could notice. I bought PALS, but never put them on since it lined up quite nicely. I put on a new safety switch, power cords and plugs (proper gauge and not too long – just about 6 feet). I built an outfeed table that does not fold up (this unit is all staying as is and no need to move it around). I also bought a few zero clearance inserts and installed the Micro Jig MJ Splitter. I bought that stamped out aluminum dust collector attachment thing for the bottom, but it really doesn’t work so well (my fault, I don’t have the patience to get this all working perfectly – it all sort of clumps up inside and I clean it out once in a while).

I use the saw all the time. Compared to my previous Bosch portable saw, it is a huge improvement, but still nowhere close to that rock steady power and smoothness I experience when using my friends 5hp SawStop. Still, my cuts are all clean, straight and square (Freud glue line rip and combo – thin kerf). I also bought a 6” Freud dado set. I don’t have problems with the right tilt, but it is a little weird and I think I would prefer left tilt.

About a year later, one day I was sawing away and there was this strange smell. One of the motor’s capacitors was frying. God, what a stink. The thing melted beyond recognition, so I could not tell what it was in terms of part numbers and specs. I thought the Delta website or calling them would lead me quickly to the right part, but they were 100% clueless. The entire motor is “the part” and they were no help. I found other sites and sources with different caps for Delta motors, but nobody was sure what to use and I didn’t want to take a gamble on that or the old motor. So, fed up, I ordered a Leeson 1.5 hp motor to replace it.

All said and done, I’m a little unsure about this as the right investment. Though I have spent half the cost or more, even with that darn motor, I think I would have been better off spending the money on a cabinet saw, because that is what I want and where I am going with my woodworking. If my ultimate goal was a contractor saw or even a hybrid, then used is less attractive because with a used saw you are going to need to spend on this and that and all the time and tweaking adds a cost too. I think I got lucky with a pretty decent tool and a pretty honest seller, but I have seen some real rust covered abused saws out there. I would not pay more than $100 for some of the sad cases out there (maybe that would make a restore worth it). Even if you get a nice used saw at a deal, what about safety and features? Riving knives are pretty much standard on any new saw these days and used saws will hardly ever have the guard or splitter. Dust collection is pathetic on old saws and better on many new saws… Flatness, adjustments, condition of the fence, wear… this can all be important.

All said and done, I like my saw, it works well, but I wish I would have bought a nice 3hp cabinet saw to start with. I am certain that I do not want a hybrid – I want the power of a cabinet. Having this saw made me realize this. Overall I say go for new if you can. Remember, used will cost more than you estimate in time and parts. My $300 saw cost $700 over two years. A new $700 saw would have cost me $700 over two years!

All I know for sure is this. When I do get that cabinet saw, someone is going to find a nice cared for Delta contractor saws on Craig’s List and not have to deal with any of this!