Official Luthiers Forum!

Has anyone used or had experience with the Rigid table saw that has the granite (or whatever it is) top. Looking at it in store seems nice and decent fence. Getting a new table saw and this is in right price range for what I need it for which is mostly cutting finger boards to width, fret slots, jig. Sure will find other uses in time.

I have a Rigid cast iron table saw. Granite would be nice, but for luthier uses, I think unnecessary.

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

Steve I agree, but it is what have in the store that isn't the smaller contractor type and some other material. I am more into the fence and tolerance stuff for cutting slots etc. I like the bosses Performance older American saw, but darn that is a lot of money. I do buy billets though for cutting bindiing and purf I don't know if make the cast iron in that larger saw 599 isn't bad price it also rolls out of the way and will collapse down easy.

The only thing I don't get is ...what da ya do when the top cracks?

Cast don't crack...may it bend or twist...and can be machined again but granite...hmmm.

the
Padma

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Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


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I had the same thought on it cracking. For some strange reason granite tops are the new fad on table saws. For guitar work this saw is overkill. Ridgid and Bosch have a nice contractors type saw with acurate fences that are perfect for guitars and wood working in general.

I have the Ridgid TS3650 with the cast iron top. I think it's a great saw for the money. The fence
works well, it has good dust collection, and comes with a nice caster system that I need in my
shop. I don't think the Granite saw is actually very much different, just the different top material.
We used to use big granite tables on servowriters for the older disk storage systems. They are very
stable, and have high internal damping. If you mistreated one, it might crack, but it would take some
serious mistreatment. I suspect we're seeing so many of the Chinese saws with granite tables because
a granite top probably costs less than cast iron these days- plus it's a nice marketing feature.

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

What about being able to use a magnet for feather board etc?? I have an aluminum POC for a band saw table and I don't like it at all. For what its worth.

karl

Have chance to get a Powermatic Artisian 63 10", new Baldor 5hp motor (this is an older American made saw about 15yrs old) Made pine furniture with it so needs little clean up and a blade insert. But cleanded and setup at my shop for $300.00. I think this is same model use in Moll's shop. Before buying waiting to hear from a couple of folks if good deal. Built all these guitars and shop for 7 years and first table saw. I think beat Mayes in having one now, at least he never had one few years ago.

Stan have you seen this recall?
http://www.ridgid.com/Download/R4511_PR.pdf









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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Does it come with a fence? And check the top for flatness. If it is out of flat, you can have it ground for a bit over $100. Sounds like an awesome deal to me! - Mike

Jim no and thanks. i pretty much had decided to go another direction and save for a larger saw but this powermatic is looking good and think way i will go. works well for bill and does everything need to do and does it well. has a router table on one end of extentions that works with the fence system. don't know if need that, but cant hurt. this isn't bill's but one like his with exception of router setup

Vega fence system (whatever that is), flat and solid on the cast iron table

Cast iron router table to boot? Do you have any idea what those cost? (hint: more than what you are paying for the saw ) You are getting a freaking deal! And you will find uses for it. Chances are you will have to get a new insert for your router. If its a benchdog, they sell those inserts just about everywhere (except the Borgs). Don't think too much. Go directly to the bank, get the money, and buy it before the seller comes to his senses!

Mike

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09311.html
Just happened to run across this.

1. Never think cast iron won't crack,especially as thin as I have seen it cast on some new machines. Don't drop stuff on it.

2.The Rigid table saw blade can apparently be true to the direction of cut,but WAY off when tilted. This was brought up on another forum,and discussed at length.

3. I don't like granite tops. It is cheaper in China to make these tops than to make them in cast iron. I'm imagining a piece of granite breaking out at the start of a miter gauge slot. There is controversy about which is better. I just like cast iron,and still use my first table saw,a 1963 DeWalt made by Clausing.It weighs twice the wt. of a Unisaw,and is very,very smooth running.