Small table saw for ripping?

[Alan m]

I use a Makita combination Chop / table saw its quite small but use it most days when installing kitchens / bedrooms. Realy a great little saw for mitring cornice , light baffle and plinths and use the table for ripping down plinths and infills. Its about 10 years old now and considering the new 305 version. Isnt it time Festool made a combo saw? I for one would want to complete my Festool collection,

now theres something festool could do.
i like the idea of those saws. great for some jobs.
festool could make one with 2 blades, one crosscutting or ht echop saw and a ripping blade for the tablesaw part.
fits in the systainer footprint

 

[TomGadwa1]

I'm an owner/fan of the Dewalt 745.  If you are doing all your work on site, it's wonderful, especially the fence.  I use the Bosch VAC004 adapter to hook it to my DC.
That said, it is still a 120V direct drive motor, and the arbor won't take a dado set.

If you are more stationary, I would suggest a contractor saw.
Alternately, if you are really needing the capacity for furniture building, a decent bandsaw might be just the ticket. 

Bandsaws rip with the greatest of ease and there is very little danger of kickback. As long as you do not want to rip WIDE pieces a bandsaw is the safer more efficient method for ripping stock.

 

[John Stevens]

As long as you do not want to rip WIDE pieces a bandsaw is the safer more efficient method for ripping stock.

Tom or anyone--how much power do you need in a bandsaw to rip 2" thick hardwood?

Regards,

John

 

[ScotF]

As long as you do not want to rip WIDE pieces a bandsaw is the safer more efficient method for ripping stock.

Tom or anyone--how much power do you need in a bandsaw to rip 2" thick hardwood?

Regards,

John

+1

Band saws do not need a ton of power since the blade is so narrow -- not much material being removed compared to a table saw blade.  With a good blade and accurate fence you can get very, very accurate cuts.  I can get cuts off of my machine that are very close to what a table saw is capable of doing.  For two inch stock a 3/4 HP motor works.  You need more power for bigger saws to power the cast iron wheels.  Also, resawing thicker wood requires more power.  I have 4.5 HP on my saw and it does not even breath hard resawing 12 inch stock.  Tom is right that the biggest limiting factor to a band saw is the throat depth -- the distance between the blade and the column.  On big machines you can get above 20 inches with a fence and on smaller machines this distance is less.  This may or may not be an issue depending on what you are doing.  My dream band saw is a 28 inch or 32 inch that would allow 24 inch rips and more resaw in a similar footprint to what I have now.  Of course then we are talking 3 phase power and a much, much bigger machine -- height becomes an issue with these machines. 

Scot

 

[mastercabman]

I have the dewalt little saw.
Don't like it much.Can't never cut straight.And i hate that fence system.
It's ok for small rips but if you are ripping anything wide and/or long be careful.
I would like to get more feedback on the new Bosch saw.
But whatever brand you get,put a thin kerf blade,it will help.
I use the Freud Diablo blade

 

[illumicon1]

I can't believe I am saying this but years ago I had a Ryobi BT3000 table saw (semi-portable). It actually was a beast. The basic table was large. All kind of extra's were available like a few different router extensions, sliding miter table, outfeed extensions. I found one this morning with every extra they made for it including two router tables that inserted into the top. The whole unit looks to be well taken care of. Seriously thinking of buying it.
As I stated earlier I've had the new Bosch portable table saw, did not like it. Very underpowered. I've got the Dewalt 745 now and although the fence system is funky and the table is small it's not a bad saw, plenty of power. I think I am still within the 90 day return policy of Lowe's so I might return it and go buy that Ryobi.

 

[rvieceli]

If anyone is looking to pick up the Dewalt 745, Amazon US has dropped the price to $299. There is also a $25 off fathers' day promo that works until the end of June. You'll need to almost go through the whole checkout process to see the 25 off.

If you have Prime it is eligible for free 2 day shipping or if not then taqke the free normal ground shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW745-10-Inch-Job-Site-Capacity/dp/B000HXT2N6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371994157&sr=8-1&keywords=dewalt+745

 

[duburban]

If anyone is looking to pick up the Dewalt 745, Amazon US has dropped the price to $299. There is also a $25 off fathers' day promo that works until the end of June. You'll need to almost go through the whole checkout process to see the 25 off.

If you have Prime it is eligible for free 2 day shipping or if not then taqke the free normal ground shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW745-10-Inch-Job-Site-Capacity/dp/B000HXT2N6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371994157&sr=8-1&keywords=dewalt+745

rrrrrrrrrrrr  :-\ thankyou?!? order placed. more money gone.

 

[rljatl]

Did I miss it?  Looks like it is back to $332.96.

 

[rvieceli]

you missed the 299 price, it went up on Monday. however, the 25 off promo is still there and $307 shipped is still the cheapest around for a new 745.