this post was submitted on 21 Mar 2024
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Woodworking

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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?

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago

The HF Hercules might not be that bad; it's lifted a lot of idea from the well-regarded DeWalt jobsite saws. I will second the other people on here and suggest you get something with a 27" cast-iron table, whether new or used (an old craftsman belt-drive can still be a good deal especially with an upgraded fence). The improvement in work handling, accuracy, and stability is absolutely night and day, not to mention that they pretty much all use induction motors which, while still loud when cutting, don't scream like a banshee the entire time they're turned on. Putting it on casters somehow will help you live with it in a garage shop more easily.

Barring that, I'd still say get something with the biggest table you can fit, probably a Ridgid aluminum table; consider a folding stand too. A table saw can be insanely versatile, but anything other than lengthwise ripping is a pain the ass without a big stable surface. If you STILL want something small, the DeWalts are the best, but then you're gonna end up building some bespoke outfeed workstation to bolt it to and/or using all you saved in money and space to get a sliding compound miter saw.