I'm in the market for a table saw for my home shop, and I have a
couple questions about the tools that are available in my price
range. (<$500+/-100). I intend to use this tool mainly to make
relatively small household pieces (display boxes, cutting
boards, small picture frames, etc.), but there are a couple of
larger jobs I have in mind as well (some shelving, a workbench,
and a vent hood for finishing work). Based on this, I don't
expect to be making deep cuts through hardwood any time soon, if
ever. I also don't expect to do much more than occasional
processing of large pieces of sheet wood. (Most of that I'll
have done at the lumber yard).
So, this has led me to believe that a Delta 36-650, -444, or
-430 10" contractor's saw might be a good fit. Since I'm a
beginner (aside from a couple years of HS wood shop class), I
don't really expect that I'd be able to immediately appreciate
the true benefits of a cabinet saw, even if it was in the cards
to drop a couple grand on a tool. In contrast, a lot of the
lower-end tools I've seen at local retailers look quite
limiting, even to my eye: Plastic/Aluminum contstruction and
universal motors don't exactly inspire a lot of confidence.
So, if anybody has any feedback on the models of Delta saws I
mentioned above, I'd appreciate it greatly. As I understand
things from my groups.google research, the saws stack up like
so:
-650
* Made in Taiwan
* Uni-rip fence
* 1.5hp at 115/230
-444
* Made in the states
* Uni-rip fence
* 1.5hp at 115, but 2 hp at 230 (I have 230/20A service)
* The base saw of the -4xx series
* Better blade than the -650
* 25lb lighter than the -650
-430 (or is it -467)
* A -444 modified to fit into one box
From this, I have a couple questions:
* Is it correct to say that the -444 will develop more power
than the -650, when wired for 230V? Will this matter for my
use cases?
* What's the significance of the 25 pounds of additional weight
of the -650? Will this materially stabilize the saw any?
* Is the -444 saw materially more likely to be upgradable with
additional parts later on (fences, jigs, etc.)
* Is it possible to fit effective dust management on either
of these saws?
* Are there any "hidden" differences in construction that
would cause one saw to be prefered over the other? Based
on the parts lists' exploded views of the saws, most of the
guts of the two saws look the same. (But I haven't seen a
-444 in person.)
Thanks for any advice you can offer, If there are any other saws
in this price range that are worth considering, I'd appreciate
hearing about those, as well.
-Mike
--
http://www.mschaef.com
Mike
I just got a new Delta saw here in Canada. Its not a true cabinet saw just a
"contractor" with a cabinet around but I cant get over the quality of the
product for the price...including fence (which I like by the way) was 899
Canadian $....so I think that translates to about 600 to 650 or so in real
American bucks. Take a look on the Delta Woodworking site and search for
product 36-655...
Hope this gives you a start on your search for a new centerpiece for your
shop.
Ken
Burlington, Ontario, Canada (eh!!!)
"MSCHAEF.COM" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm in the market for a table saw for my home shop, and I have a
> couple questions about the tools that are available in my price
> range. (<$500+/-100). I intend to use this tool mainly to make
> relatively small household pieces (display boxes, cutting
> boards, small picture frames, etc.), but there are a couple of
> larger jobs I have in mind as well (some shelving, a workbench,
> and a vent hood for finishing work). Based on this, I don't
> expect to be making deep cuts through hardwood any time soon, if
> ever. I also don't expect to do much more than occasional
> processing of large pieces of sheet wood. (Most of that I'll
> have done at the lumber yard).
>
> So, this has led me to believe that a Delta 36-650, -444, or
> -430 10" contractor's saw might be a good fit. Since I'm a
> beginner (aside from a couple years of HS wood shop class), I
> don't really expect that I'd be able to immediately appreciate
> the true benefits of a cabinet saw, even if it was in the cards
> to drop a couple grand on a tool. In contrast, a lot of the
> lower-end tools I've seen at local retailers look quite
> limiting, even to my eye: Plastic/Aluminum contstruction and
> universal motors don't exactly inspire a lot of confidence.
>
> So, if anybody has any feedback on the models of Delta saws I
> mentioned above, I'd appreciate it greatly. As I understand
> things from my groups.google research, the saws stack up like
> so:
>
> -650
> * Made in Taiwan
> * Uni-rip fence
> * 1.5hp at 115/230
>
> -444
> * Made in the states
> * Uni-rip fence
> * 1.5hp at 115, but 2 hp at 230 (I have 230/20A service)
> * The base saw of the -4xx series
> * Better blade than the -650
> * 25lb lighter than the -650
>
> -430 (or is it -467)
> * A -444 modified to fit into one box
>
> From this, I have a couple questions:
>
> * Is it correct to say that the -444 will develop more power
> than the -650, when wired for 230V? Will this matter for my
> use cases?
>
> * What's the significance of the 25 pounds of additional weight
> of the -650? Will this materially stabilize the saw any?
>
> * Is the -444 saw materially more likely to be upgradable with
> additional parts later on (fences, jigs, etc.)
>
> * Is it possible to fit effective dust management on either
> of these saws?
>
> * Are there any "hidden" differences in construction that
> would cause one saw to be prefered over the other? Based
> on the parts lists' exploded views of the saws, most of the
> guts of the two saws look the same. (But I haven't seen a
> -444 in person.)
>
> Thanks for any advice you can offer, If there are any other saws
> in this price range that are worth considering, I'd appreciate
> hearing about those, as well.
>
> -Mike
>
> --
> http://www.mschaef.com
Mike I have to agree with Ken.
I got the 36-650C contractor saw in Canada for $750.00 in January 02.
For an offshore product it performs very well and I have been very
pleased with it.(The fence on the 655 looks much better however). One
word of advise is to change the v belt to link belt (Lee Valley cat.
page 99). You will be amazed how much this reduces vibration and
improves the cut quality.
Dave, in Nova Scotia.
Ken in Canada wrote:
> Mike
>
> I just got a new Delta saw here in Canada. Its not a true cabinet saw just a
> "contractor" with a cabinet around but I cant get over the quality of the
> product for the price...including fence (which I like by the way) was 899
> Canadian $....so I think that translates to about 600 to 650 or so in real
> American bucks. Take a look on the Delta Woodworking site and search for
> product 36-655...
>
> Hope this gives you a start on your search for a new centerpiece for your
> shop.
>
> Ken
> Burlington, Ontario, Canada (eh!!!)
>
> "MSCHAEF.COM" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>I'm in the market for a table saw for my home shop, and I have a
>>couple questions about the tools that are available in my price
>>range. (<$500+/-100). I intend to use this tool mainly to make
>>relatively small household pieces (display boxes, cutting
>>boards, small picture frames, etc.), but there are a couple of
>>larger jobs I have in mind as well (some shelving, a workbench,
>>and a vent hood for finishing work). Based on this, I don't
>>expect to be making deep cuts through hardwood any time soon, if
>>ever. I also don't expect to do much more than occasional
>>processing of large pieces of sheet wood. (Most of that I'll
>>have done at the lumber yard).
>>
>>So, this has led me to believe that a Delta 36-650, -444, or
>>-430 10" contractor's saw might be a good fit. Since I'm a
>>beginner (aside from a couple years of HS wood shop class), I
>>don't really expect that I'd be able to immediately appreciate
>>the true benefits of a cabinet saw, even if it was in the cards
>>to drop a couple grand on a tool. In contrast, a lot of the
>>lower-end tools I've seen at local retailers look quite
>>limiting, even to my eye: Plastic/Aluminum contstruction and
>>universal motors don't exactly inspire a lot of confidence.
>>
>>So, if anybody has any feedback on the models of Delta saws I
>>mentioned above, I'd appreciate it greatly. As I understand
>>things from my groups.google research, the saws stack up like
>>so:
>>
>>-650
>>* Made in Taiwan
>>* Uni-rip fence
>>* 1.5hp at 115/230
>>
>>-444
>>* Made in the states
>>* Uni-rip fence
>>* 1.5hp at 115, but 2 hp at 230 (I have 230/20A service)
>>* The base saw of the -4xx series
>>* Better blade than the -650
>>* 25lb lighter than the -650
>>
>>-430 (or is it -467)
>>* A -444 modified to fit into one box
>>
>>From this, I have a couple questions:
>>
>>* Is it correct to say that the -444 will develop more power
>> than the -650, when wired for 230V? Will this matter for my
>> use cases?
>>
>>* What's the significance of the 25 pounds of additional weight
>> of the -650? Will this materially stabilize the saw any?
>>
>>* Is the -444 saw materially more likely to be upgradable with
>> additional parts later on (fences, jigs, etc.)
>>
>>* Is it possible to fit effective dust management on either
>> of these saws?
>>
>>* Are there any "hidden" differences in construction that
>> would cause one saw to be prefered over the other? Based
>> on the parts lists' exploded views of the saws, most of the
>> guts of the two saws look the same. (But I haven't seen a
>> -444 in person.)
>>
>>Thanks for any advice you can offer, If there are any other saws
>>in this price range that are worth considering, I'd appreciate
>>hearing about those, as well.
>>
>>-Mike
>>
>>--
>>http://www.mschaef.com
>
>
>
In article <[email protected]>,
Ken in Canada <[email protected]> wrote:
>Mike
>
>I just got a new Delta saw here in Canada. Its not a true cabinet saw just a
>"contractor" with a cabinet around but I cant get over the quality of the
>product for the price...including fence (which I like by the way)
Yeah, that was my take away from looking at the -650K over at Lowes. The
trunion castings looked of high quality, and the blade looked rigidly
mounted. The fence, which I think was a Uni-Rip, had a little play in the
far end, but it looked completely servicable. I'm willing to measure my
rips with a square, and use a block to fix the end of the fence in place,
if either of those turn out problematic.
>Hope this gives you a start on your search for a new centerpiece for your
>shop.
It does, thanks a lot.
-Mike
--
http://www.mschaef.com
Agreed Link belt makes such a difference to vibration...Love this 655 saw
glad to hear youre pleased with yours as well
Ken
"Dave Rhodes" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:T%[email protected]...
> Mike I have to agree with Ken.
> I got the 36-650C contractor saw in Canada for $750.00 in January 02.
> For an offshore product it performs very well and I have been very
> pleased with it.(The fence on the 655 looks much better however). One
> word of advise is to change the v belt to link belt (Lee Valley cat.
> page 99). You will be amazed how much this reduces vibration and
> improves the cut quality.
> Dave, in Nova Scotia.
>
>
> Ken in Canada wrote:
> > Mike
> >
> > I just got a new Delta saw here in Canada. Its not a true cabinet saw
just a
> > "contractor" with a cabinet around but I cant get over the quality of
the
> > product for the price...including fence (which I like by the way) was
899
> > Canadian $....so I think that translates to about 600 to 650 or so in
real
> > American bucks. Take a look on the Delta Woodworking site and search
for
> > product 36-655...
> >
> > Hope this gives you a start on your search for a new centerpiece for
your
> > shop.
> >
> > Ken
> > Burlington, Ontario, Canada (eh!!!)
> >
> > "MSCHAEF.COM" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >
> >>I'm in the market for a table saw for my home shop, and I have a
> >>couple questions about the tools that are available in my price
> >>range. (<$500+/-100). I intend to use this tool mainly to make
> >>relatively small household pieces (display boxes, cutting
> >>boards, small picture frames, etc.), but there are a couple of
> >>larger jobs I have in mind as well (some shelving, a workbench,
> >>and a vent hood for finishing work). Based on this, I don't
> >>expect to be making deep cuts through hardwood any time soon, if
> >>ever. I also don't expect to do much more than occasional
> >>processing of large pieces of sheet wood. (Most of that I'll
> >>have done at the lumber yard).
> >>
> >>So, this has led me to believe that a Delta 36-650, -444, or
> >>-430 10" contractor's saw might be a good fit. Since I'm a
> >>beginner (aside from a couple years of HS wood shop class), I
> >>don't really expect that I'd be able to immediately appreciate
> >>the true benefits of a cabinet saw, even if it was in the cards
> >>to drop a couple grand on a tool. In contrast, a lot of the
> >>lower-end tools I've seen at local retailers look quite
> >>limiting, even to my eye: Plastic/Aluminum contstruction and
> >>universal motors don't exactly inspire a lot of confidence.
> >>
> >>So, if anybody has any feedback on the models of Delta saws I
> >>mentioned above, I'd appreciate it greatly. As I understand
> >>things from my groups.google research, the saws stack up like
> >>so:
> >>
> >>-650
> >>* Made in Taiwan
> >>* Uni-rip fence
> >>* 1.5hp at 115/230
> >>
> >>-444
> >>* Made in the states
> >>* Uni-rip fence
> >>* 1.5hp at 115, but 2 hp at 230 (I have 230/20A service)
> >>* The base saw of the -4xx series
> >>* Better blade than the -650
> >>* 25lb lighter than the -650
> >>
> >>-430 (or is it -467)
> >>* A -444 modified to fit into one box
> >>
> >>From this, I have a couple questions:
> >>
> >>* Is it correct to say that the -444 will develop more power
> >> than the -650, when wired for 230V? Will this matter for my
> >> use cases?
> >>
> >>* What's the significance of the 25 pounds of additional weight
> >> of the -650? Will this materially stabilize the saw any?
> >>
> >>* Is the -444 saw materially more likely to be upgradable with
> >> additional parts later on (fences, jigs, etc.)
> >>
> >>* Is it possible to fit effective dust management on either
> >> of these saws?
> >>
> >>* Are there any "hidden" differences in construction that
> >> would cause one saw to be prefered over the other? Based
> >> on the parts lists' exploded views of the saws, most of the
> >> guts of the two saws look the same. (But I haven't seen a
> >> -444 in person.)
> >>
> >>Thanks for any advice you can offer, If there are any other saws
> >>in this price range that are worth considering, I'd appreciate
> >>hearing about those, as well.
> >>
> >>-Mike
> >>
> >>--
> >>http://www.mschaef.com
> >
> >
> >
>