Should YOU buy this table saw? | 10 in. Craftsman Table Saw Review
Should YOU buy this table saw? | 10 in. Craftsman Table Saw Review
When building out a workshop for the first time, it can be a little daunting picking out what tools to get. For me, the first big hurdle was choosing a table saw. I was working on a small budget and wanted something that would be pretty easy to work with, as at the time I was still pretty new to woodworking. I stumbled across this Craftsman Contractor Saw and decided to take the plunge despite not having too many in-depth reviews to work from.
After having used the saw for the past year on numerous different projects, I decided to assemble a list of some of my thoughts (both good and bad) on this tool and tell you whether it’s worth the investment!
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It’s $209 of course there is better but much more expensive, talk about what it has for the price.
Lol thank you for leaving in the bird 🤣
I have this table saw. I like it and I agree on all the cons you mentioned. I would like to make a sleds for this saw but don’t know how to go about making runners(slides)due to the tabs on the mitre slots. I’m afraid to saw off the tab;afraid I might mess it up. I also seem to have trouble cutting wood square to the fence. I had been using a 1”x1”x3’ aluminum bar taped to the l wood to cut straight. Wish you had video on making a sleds for the Craftsman saw since the measurements would the same. Great job on your videos. I plan on making a few projects you mentioned.😊
Has anyone out there made a crosscut sled for this saw and how did you make the runner with the taps on the miter slot??
Great video! I came across your video on making a table for the saw, and said "Hey, that’s my saw" I am in complete agreement with your review. I would like to add a few comments. First I am 150% happy with the saw! I spent the last two years rehabbing a 70 year old house. I was in Lowes when I saw this saw was on sale for $169. Considering that the next step up seems to be in the $300 – $400 range and goes up from there, into the thousands. We have to have reasonable expectations. Having an old house, I was constantly ripping wood to make everything fit. Nothing is the same like new construction. Being that it was light weight I was able to move it from floor to floor and set it up in the room I was working in, the stand is more then stable for that purpose. I enjoyed the experience of the carpentry so much that I felt I wanted to try some fine wood working. That is when I noticed some of its limitations. I will be replacing the throat plate for the reasons you mentioned. It also does not lie flat with table. When making a cross cut sled, I realized the problem with the tabs in the runner slots. I also cut them out with an angle grinder. I read this and experienced this for myself, the coating is not even. This is only a problem in the runner slots. My runners were binding on the ends only, so I sanded the sides down in the high spots, as opposed to assuming it was the runner. I made a box jig to use with the single blade, and my first attempt at using it, my results were not as good as I would like. I need to tweak the jig, which is on me. I also purchased a 84 tooth blade, and will have the original blade sharpened or replaced. Also board width with the fence is limiting. There are some tricks that you can do, one by making a larger table for the saw and mounting the saw so the edge of the table is absolutely parallel to the saw blade. I used the side of the table top of the saw and clamped a straight edge on the bottom of the wood to accomplish the wider cut. So for construction, you can’t ask for anything more at that price. For fine wood working, we may be pushing this saw to the limits. Since I don’t have the room or budget for a more expensive saw, I will make this work.
I have this saw. It’s amazing. The issue I have with it now is that I can’t replace the actual saw blade. It was pre installed outta the box and I can’t take the arbor nut off. Are you able to replace the saw blade pretty easily?
I’m really thinking of getting this table saw. One question: how does it do with hard wood? Does it struggle with ripping hard wood?
?? Model number anywhere?
I’ve had this table saw for a couple years. I really enjoy it, and I’ve made some pretty good stuff with it. My biggest (and only real gripe) is the miter gauge that comes with it. The thing is absolute garbage. Loose fit, 90* doesn’t = 90* on the gauge, and it wobbles around a degree or two either way while sawing. I’ve really enjoyed this table saw though, and am watching your vide on building a bench around it since my little garage is becoming a do-it-all garage and still needs to fit my Crown Vic (single car garage, so it’s REALLY snug). Welding, wood working, car repair, and general DIY stuff.
Built about 25 decks , 40 patio roofs sometimes with tongue and groove and quite a few pergolas and this was the table saw we used over the past 3 years. The motor finally crapped out on us about 2 months ago. This thing went through the ringer and lasted waaayyy longer than it should have for $200. That said if you have long boards it will likely pop your breaker as it tends to overheat quickly, but if you’re taking your time building with this thing it will do perfectly fine.
I’ve had this saw for a little over a year now and have considered getting rid of the little tabs in the track so I can make a sled but I’ve been nervous. How did you do it and how easy was it?
Thanks for putting this together
What are you using for dust collection? I have a Dewalt shop vac that doesn’t fit into the dust exhaust. I bought a 2.5 inch adapter but that doesn’t fit into the exhaust either.