ss

scully

13/03/2006 6:37 AM

Table saw question

Just bought a brand new Porter Cable Benchto top table saw, see it
here: http://www.porter-cable.com/index.asp?e=547&p=4946

While setting it up I found the machined aluminium table is slightly
concave from front to back It is consistent along the entire width of
the saw table. It looks pretty good from end to end. It is only a
poofteenth [14 thou] from being flat and am wondering whether this is
within acceptable tolerances for this type of saw.
Would they actually machine it like this on purpose? and if so why?

I have never owned a table saw prooir to this and really have no idea
to what sort of tolerances are acceptable.
Thanks
scul


This topic has 14 replies

tt

"todd"

in reply to scully on 13/03/2006 6:37 AM

13/03/2006 12:56 AM

"scully" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Just bought a brand new Porter Cable Benchto top table saw, see it
> here: http://www.porter-cable.com/index.asp?e=547&p=4946
>
> While setting it up I found the machined aluminium table is slightly
> concave from front to back It is consistent along the entire width of
> the saw table. It looks pretty good from end to end. It is only a
> poofteenth [14 thou] from being flat and am wondering whether this is
> within acceptable tolerances for this type of saw.
> Would they actually machine it like this on purpose? and if so why?
>
> I have never owned a table saw prooir to this and really have no idea
> to what sort of tolerances are acceptable.
> Thanks
> scul

Amazon refers to this model as a "Job Site Table Saw", although I'm
surprised at the $400 cost. I figure the common usage for a saw such as
this is for the job site, where 1/64" of concavity isn't going to be a
problem. I see no reason why it would be machined as such purposely. If I
was on the hunt for a step up, I would probably spend another couple hundred
on a Grizzly contractor's saw.

todd

Bm

"Bugs"

in reply to scully on 13/03/2006 6:37 AM

13/03/2006 6:28 AM

All the PC equipment I've seen is subject to poor quality control. Go
Delta for a reasonably priced and warranted equipment.
Bugs

bb

"brianlanning"

in reply to scully on 13/03/2006 6:37 AM

13/03/2006 7:21 AM

>With a list price of more than US$500, I'd take it back to exchange
>for a machine with a flat (to within +/- 0.001") table. It sounds as
>if you got a warpeed casting.

With a price of more than $500, I'd take it back and buy this:

http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0444

brian

bb

"brianlanning"

in reply to scully on 13/03/2006 6:37 AM

13/03/2006 7:24 AM

>I think Morris's comment was more
>about what he thought as a high price for a jobsite type saw.

I thought contractor's saw were jobsite type saws. What the OP linked
to looked more like a bench top saw with a stand.

brian

mm

"mew"

in reply to scully on 13/03/2006 6:37 AM

15/03/2006 6:31 AM

Definately Delta. I bought the Unisaw 3 years ago and it had a 0.01
dip in the middle of the main table. I called and they sent a
replacement even though it was within spec. They did not even want the
"warped" one returned. I cannot bear to throw out the old table top
but have not found a use for it yet. The new top was within 0.004"
which is plenty good enough.

Mike

Cs

"CW"

in reply to scully on 13/03/2006 6:37 AM

13/03/2006 2:58 PM

Easily. You will have no problems with it. I think Morris's comment was more
about what he thought as a high price for a jobsite type saw.

"scully" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Mon, 13 Mar 2006 07:16:55 GMT, "CW" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Check with Delta. There top of the line saw is within specs at +- .015.
>
> So by that measure the one I have would be within that spec at .014?
>

Cs

"CW"

in reply to scully on 13/03/2006 6:37 AM

13/03/2006 7:16 AM

Check with Delta. There top of the line saw is within specs at +- .015.

"Morris Dovey" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:aD8Rf.102no
> | idea to what sort of tolerances are acceptable.
>
> With a list price of more than US$500, I'd take it back to exchange
> for a machine with a flat (to within +/- 0.001") table. It sounds as
> if you got a warpeed casting.
>
> No, they wouldn't intentionally machine it that way.
>
> --
> Morris Dovey
> DeSoto Solar
> DeSoto, Iowa USA
> http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto
>
>

Cs

"CW"

in reply to scully on 13/03/2006 6:37 AM

13/03/2006 5:38 PM

Look around jobsites. The small ones are what you'll see. "Contractor saws"
never leave the shop anymore.
"brianlanning" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >I think Morris's comment was more
> >about what he thought as a high price for a jobsite type saw.
>
> I thought contractor's saw were jobsite type saws. What the OP linked
> to looked more like a bench top saw with a stand.
>
> brian
>

Cs

"CW"

in reply to scully on 13/03/2006 6:37 AM

13/03/2006 8:25 PM

Yes, actually it is.

"todd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Look around jobsites. The small ones are what you'll see. "Contractor
> > saws"
> > never leave the shop anymore.
>
> When I typed my earlier response, it occurred to me that "contractor saw"
> seems like a misnomer nowadays.
>
> todd
>
>

MD

"Morris Dovey"

in reply to scully on 13/03/2006 6:37 AM

13/03/2006 12:48 AM

scully (in [email protected]) said:

| Just bought a brand new Porter Cable Benchto top table saw, see it
| here: http://www.porter-cable.com/index.asp?e=547&p=4946
|
| While setting it up I found the machined aluminium table is slightly
| concave from front to back It is consistent along the entire width
| of the saw table. It looks pretty good from end to end. It is only
| a poofteenth [14 thou] from being flat and am wondering whether
| this is within acceptable tolerances for this type of saw.
| Would they actually machine it like this on purpose? and if so why?
|
| I have never owned a table saw prooir to this and really have no
| idea to what sort of tolerances are acceptable.

With a list price of more than US$500, I'd take it back to exchange
for a machine with a flat (to within +/- 0.001") table. It sounds as
if you got a warpeed casting.

No, they wouldn't intentionally machine it that way.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto

JG

Joe Gorman

in reply to scully on 13/03/2006 6:37 AM

15/03/2006 11:07 AM

mew wrote:
> Definately Delta. I bought the Unisaw 3 years ago and it had a 0.01
> dip in the middle of the main table. I called and they sent a
> replacement even though it was within spec. They did not even want the
> "warped" one returned. I cannot bear to throw out the old table top
> but have not found a use for it yet. The new top was within 0.004"
> which is plenty good enough.
>
> Mike
>
Put in a blank throat plate and use as an extension table, or modify it
to mount a router in it, separately or attached to the saw.
Joe

CH

"Charlie H."

in reply to scully on 13/03/2006 6:37 AM

14/03/2006 6:51 AM

I think getting the blade square to the table top (miter slot and fence) and
the repeatability of the fence will be much more noticeable than .014 cup
across the table top. Chances are the material you will be cutting will have
more than .014 variance over a much shorter span. If you bought it locally
at someplace like Lowes or Home Depot you might see if you can look at
another one before returning the one you have. Depending on how the table
top is mounted you might be able to shim it in the low spot from underneath,
since it is aluminum it will be fairly easy to flex it .014.
Charlie

"scully" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Just bought a brand new Porter Cable Benchto top table saw, see it
> here: http://www.porter-cable.com/index.asp?e=547&p=4946
>
> While setting it up I found the machined aluminium table is slightly
> concave from front to back It is consistent along the entire width of
> the saw table. It looks pretty good from end to end. It is only a
> poofteenth [14 thou] from being flat and am wondering whether this is
> within acceptable tolerances for this type of saw.
> Would they actually machine it like this on purpose? and if so why?
>
> I have never owned a table saw prooir to this and really have no idea
> to what sort of tolerances are acceptable.
> Thanks
> scul

ss

scully

in reply to scully on 13/03/2006 6:37 AM

13/03/2006 12:38 PM

On Mon, 13 Mar 2006 07:16:55 GMT, "CW" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Check with Delta. There top of the line saw is within specs at +- .015.

So by that measure the one I have would be within that spec at .014?


>"Morris Dovey" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:aD8Rf.102no
>> | idea to what sort of tolerances are acceptable.
>>
>> With a list price of more than US$500, I'd take it back to exchange
>> for a machine with a flat (to within +/- 0.001") table. It sounds as
>> if you got a warpeed casting.
>>
>> No, they wouldn't intentionally machine it that way.
>>
>> --
>> Morris Dovey
>> DeSoto Solar
>> DeSoto, Iowa USA
>> http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto
>>
>>
>
scul

tt

"todd"

in reply to scully on 13/03/2006 6:37 AM

13/03/2006 1:53 PM

"CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Look around jobsites. The small ones are what you'll see. "Contractor
> saws"
> never leave the shop anymore.

When I typed my earlier response, it occurred to me that "contractor saw"
seems like a misnomer nowadays.

todd


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