capt jake Posted February 9, 2003 Posted February 9, 2003 Let me throw something else in here to confuse the issues. I use a blade called Marathon made by Irwin (I think). Thin kerf and only about $20, in 8 1/4. I have been very pleased with thier performance, and the price is right. I have no experience with thier 10" blade though. Quote
Frank Hagan Posted February 10, 2003 Posted February 10, 2003 The blade in question is creatively called a Freud 10 " Combination premium quality Carbide Blade. It is a 50 tooth blade' date='with anti kickback design, thin kerf cut, laser cut plate, expansion slots, c4 carbide...Works great. I have 2 of them so I have one when I get the other one sharpened. IIRC they cost less than $40.00.[/quote'] I gave my Freud blade away to my brother with my old Craftsman table saw. I bought a Forrest Woodworker II Thin Kerf blade, which was just over $100. The Forrest cut slightly better, but just slightly. Now that my Forrest has died a spectacular and exciting death (teeth flying all over the place!) I wish I had my old Freud blade back. The Jr.'s Tools store in town closed up, so I can only get them mail order now, and I just haven't gotten to it yet. The Forrest is great, but not worth twice the price of the Freud. Even if the Freud is french! Quote
capt jake Posted February 10, 2003 Posted February 10, 2003 a Freud Combo blade is an outstanding upgrade to a Craftsman saw My Craftman is still a piece of @@it. I have replaced the bearings and reset the arbor. It still has an excessive amount of runout. Me old friendly Grandfather saw is the true and tested work horse!! I see my Grandfather now, gleaming with pride!!! It actually is my Uncle's, though he hasn't had a place for it in over 20 years!! He just came here today, drooling over it. I know I need a replacement saw very soon. I want the twin to this saw!!!!!! :) Quote
Frank Hagan Posted February 10, 2003 Posted February 10, 2003 I think I'm going to go with the Jet 10" Contractors saw. ($549.00) I went into my local Woodworkers warehouse yesterday and drooled around the place. The saw' date=' from what I can see, Is just as good as the delta, and actually is a little heavier in steel. It will cut all the same cuts. I think on the real high end, Delta would be my choice, but I feel Jet will be just a bit more bang for the buck in the mid range saws. I haven't read a bad review yet. Assembly according to some, can be frustrating, but I figure that's a one time thing so I can handle it.[/quote']That's the saw I bought. It comes complete, but there are two things you might think about getting: one of those thin kerf Freud combo blades we've been talking about and a mobile base (that is, if you decide to move it around!) But don't go nuts with the mobile base ... they can run up to $100, and I think are probably a big margin item for the stores to make up for the skinny margins on the tool itself. Every now and then Harbor Freight has the mobile base I use for $20 ... you use 2" hardwood for rails, as its just the corners, two casters and the lever you step on to allow the saw to move. But, if you are not going to have to move the saw often, just grab the blade! And don't worry about putting it together, it takes a while but the instructions are good, the fit and finish of the parts is excellent, and everything goes together just like it should (at least that was my experience). Quote
Frank Hagan Posted February 10, 2003 Posted February 10, 2003 The Freud blade is actually made in Italy. Well, that's good! I like the Italians better than the French (the Italians know how to fill up a plate, not arrange little tidbits of food on the plate so the "presentation" is more important than the food!) Quote
Bill Posted February 10, 2003 Author Posted February 10, 2003 Looks like I'll just pick up a blade the first time around...If there is any money left in my wallet later this month I'll probably know better by then if I really need any thing else. I doubt I'll need any mobile base for it. My shop area is so small that once I figure out exactly where it's going to go, it will probably have to stay in that spot. I could always build a base too. I like the tenon jig idea. But thinking about it, I'd better watch the cash for a bit and save the extra toys for later. Thank's everyone for your input on it. Tommorrow I go to pick it up. I'll let ya know what happens (and of course, have a few more questions re: tuning ).... Bill Quote
Frank Hagan Posted February 10, 2003 Posted February 10, 2003 Looks like I'll just pick up a blade the first time around...If there is any money left in my wallet later this month I'll probably know better by then if I really need any thing else. I doubt I'll need any mobile base for it. My shop area is so small that once I figure out exactly where it's going to go' date=' it will probably have to stay in that spot. I could always build a base too. I like the tenon jig idea. But thinking about it, I'd better watch the cash for a bit and save the extra toys for later. Thank's everyone for your input on it. Tommorrow I go to pick it up. I'll let ya know what happens (and of course, have a few more questions re: tuning )....Bill[/quote'] I bought a tenoning jig, the heavy Delta one, that was on sale. Its nice, and I have used it. I have found several articles with plans to build ones that would work as well (and for much less than the $85 I paid for mine). Quote
Bill Posted February 10, 2003 Author Posted February 10, 2003 Got a link to the jig plans or are they hardcopy somewhere...I went over to our local "Big-book-store" last night and it seems they are remodeling and the Building and tools section has gone from about 10 shelves to 2 shelves for the time being :cry: I was not a happy camper... Bill Quote
Frank Hagan Posted February 10, 2003 Posted February 10, 2003 Got a link to the jig plans or are they hardcopy somewhere...I went over to our local "Big-book-store" last night and it seems they are remodeling and the Building and tools section has gone from about 10 shelves to 2 shelves for the time being :cry: I was not a happy camper...Bill I have it at home ... its either in a book or a magazine I have. I saved it so I should be able to find it (that's not always the case though!) Quote
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