What do you think about the Steel City Saw with the Granite tops?

[nickao]

What do you think about the Steel City saw with the Granite tops?

Steel City Granite Series

Steel City Granite Table Saw

 

[BarryL]

Nickao

I like the idea for the jointer fence but I am not sold on the TS top.  I am just wondering how it will hold up with wear and multiple boards sliding across it.  I wonder what you would do to resurface it...I suppose the RO 150 would come in handy there.  Another good feature...I can set my beer on it and wouldn't have to worry about leaving a ring!

 

[mastercabman]

Nickao

I like the idea for the jointer fence but I am not sold on the TS top.  I am just wondering how it will hold up with wear and multiple boards sliding across it.  I wonder what you would do to resurface it...I suppose the RO 150 would come in handy there.  Another good feature...I can set my beer on it and wouldn't have to worry about leaving a ring!

But... Don't you need to seal it once a year?

 

[Notorious T.O.D.]

The one I saw at the local Woodcraft store seemed really nice.  It certainly is a different mindset to not have a metal top though.  I read that the granite is actually more wear resistant than cast iron, but that also seems to go against our first thoughts. The one thing I wondered is how well supported the top is by steel under it.  I know with kitchen countertops you have to support the granite well or risk cracking and breaking.  I guess we will see how successful this is in the sales department. Sometimes things that don't fit with our preconceived notions and ideas don't do so well when being marketed to us.

Is this the saw Fred Flintstone would choose?  LOL

Best,
Todd

 

[Dave Ronyak]

I've seen these saws at my local Woodcraft dealer, and they look good.  If I needed a table saw, I would be afraid to buy one with a granite top out of fear that I would likely chip or crack it.  Does Steel City offer some kind of guarantee against breakage?  Also, you cannot use any of the magnetic hold down and featherboard devices with a granite top.  I'd buy the conventional cast iron top or the deluxe version with the TiN coating which also will not rust.  If I had that much to spend, I'd be looking strongly at the PM 2000 and the new Unisaw and the SawStop.

Dave R.

 

[robtonya]

I'd like a granite router table top. I'm sure that Steel City will be at this years woodworking show in Indy. I'll have to check it out.

 

[Jesus Aleman]

My understanding is that the move to granite has to do with manufacturing and material availability.  I think cast iron needs to be aged (6-12 months) to keep it dimensionally stable before parts can be manufactured and remain flat.  Granite doesn't need to be aged and it is dimensionally stable.  The surface is also less rough than cast iron so resurfacing may not be required.  However, you guys have a valid concern about chipping and repairing the granite.  I don't know what a viable method would be. 

JGA.

 

[JayStPeter]

I can see advantages to it, and disadvantages.  I've drilled and tapped my bandsaw table top for jigs, so I would prefer a bandsaw table of cast iron.  I haven't had a reason to do the same to my tablesaw, and a stock feeder is the only reason I can think of.  I don't really have a rust problem, so I'm ambivalent about it for a tablesaw top.  If the rest of the saw is worth the money then what the heck.  I'd rather see riving knives, a nice easily removable blade guard, and good dust collection.  A granite top is waaay down on my list of features I'd pay extra for.
Like Barry, the jointer fence would be the thing I'd like to have in granite.  Those things don't seem to want to stay straight.

Jay

 

[Notorious T.O.D.]

In my old shop up in PA I had a floor mount made for my stock feeder so I could use it with both my tablesaw and shaper without having to move it.  Iit was simply a 1 ft sq piece of steel plate for the bottom with 4 holes to bolt it to the concrete floor. A piece of 6" steel tube to get the height of the mounting base where I wanted it and another piece of plate welded to the top with 4 bolt holes to mount the feeder base.  Worked well, was strong and took up little space.

I thought a granite topped shaper would be nice and you could use a router spindle with it for router bits too...

Best,
Todd