Subject: Sears TS?

From: [email-masked] (DR)
Date: Sun, 09 Feb 1997 08:30:54 GMT

I've been reading various messages here regarding buying new TS's, but
I haven't seen anything about what is apparently a new Sears saw.

I'm in the market for a TS and  I'd just about decided on a 
Jet JWTS 10J F 1.5 HP 10" TS when I happened by Sears and saw their
(apparently) fairly new belt-drive 10" TS. I've had some variable
experience with Sears stuff, but this saw looks pretty good. They rate
it at 3 hp but I understand that they tend to overrate their power
equipment. Both the Jet and the Delta (34-444) I'd looked at had
stamped metal extentions. The Sears has cast iron. (I presume this is
a plus.) Also the fence they have on this saw looks good (not thier
old screw-down-tight model) - similar to the Jet, which felt very
good. 

I know most people like Delta, and I have nothing against it, but the
Delta saws I looked at just didn't give me the right feeling,
including the contractor's saw and models with the Unifence. I've also
read messages from people who are very happy with their Jets.

Does anyone have any experience with the Sears belt-drive TS? Am I
being naive by even considering Sears?

Thanks for any advice.

Bob Dykeman

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From: [email-masked] (Pat Nealy)
Date: Sun, 09 Feb 1997 13:26:45 -0500

I have the Jet (having replaced a Ryobi) and I am very happy with it.
While I and others have had various luck with Sears tools, the variance is
not from tool to tool, but from time to time. I am reasonably pleased with
the tools I still have from Sears that are >7 yrs old. Anything newer, and
I have been either dissapointed or frustrated.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Pat Nealy

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From: [email-masked] (michael buening)
Date: 10 Feb 1997 19:46:22 GMT

I saw what I think this person is talking about at Sears my last trip there.
It clearly stands out from their other saws on the floor as potentially
a real machine.  I played around with the controls and the fence and whatnot
and it seems tight and sturdy.  Did not take time to check any alignments
or was there any opportunity to use the saw.

The thing was...when it was all said and done with the "nicer" fence installed
it was about $750.  I do not have the resources or space to get a table
saw yet but in all the looking (and dreaming?) I've done it seems you can get
as good or better saw from a competitor with a much better reputation for
this or less.

On the upside maybe this is a hint of good things to come.  I like the Sears
company and their store but I too realize their power tools often lack too
much.  This looks like a really good saw and if it were say $150 less it
might be a winner.

-- 
Mike Buening 
Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry
University of Notre Dame
[email-masked]        http://www.nd.edu/~mbuening

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From: [email-masked] (Alan P. Kefauver)
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 02:02:53 GMT

I have the sears tablesaw you are speaking of, and I am very happy. It
took two days to put it together, and my only complaint is the casters
which were an add on. Get a rolling base! (I'll sell you my casters
for half price). I use a Systematic rip blade and a Forrest WWII for
crosscutting. The fence is very very accurate. After I put the WWII
blade on, I aligned it to the miter slot with the rear trunnion
adjustment, and it has stayed in alignment for 3 months and lots of
wood. Mostly Cherry and 3/4" Cherry ply. I really like the cast iron
tables which I aligned with clamps and then bolted down. Table is as
flat as any straight edge I have, and -flatter- than my delta 14"
bandsaw table.

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From: [email-masked] (Hackwood)
Date: 11 Feb 1997 03:36:12 GMT

Yes, you're being VERY naive. I have one (year old). After a year of
frustration I went out and bought a 12" INCA. Have you tried changing the
angle to 45 degrees on the Sears?  It's murder. And, it's not just mine. I
went to the store and tried out a few of theirs.  As you get closer and
closer to 45 degrees, the resistance increases disproportionally to the
point where you say 35 degrees is good enough.  I still have the Sears TS,
but only for cross-cuts with a 7.5" thin-kerf blade and for dados. Also,
with all the fiddling I did, I never once got a nice clean rip cut.  I had
Sears service come out several times, but they were never able to help me.

Let's see what other Craftsman's tools are dying on me: Electric drill
(run out is enormous), belt sander, router (fortunately, I have some real
routers so I'm not hurting there). I now have a whole shelf of moribund
Craftsman power tools. Not quite sure what to do with them. They're not
fully dead, so I hate to throw them away. On the other hand, if my kids
ever piss me off enough I could always give them all to them.

Weasel (tm)

"I have something to say: It's better to burn out, then to fade away"
--------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for any advice.

Bob Dykeman

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From: [email-masked]
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 13:48:15 UNDEFINED

In article <[email-masked]> [email-masked] (Hackwood) writes:
>From: [email-masked] (Hackwood)
>Subject: Re: Sears TS?
>Date: 11 Feb 1997 03:36:12 GMT

>Sears service come out several times, but they were never able to help me.

What a surprise.  Why don't you SELL that beast.  I know from experience they 
sell fast.

Weasel (tm)

Ooh, trademarked now.  I don't think others would feel the  need to use it.

>"I have something to say: It's better to burn out, then to fade away"

If you're gonna use quotes, at least get it right:  "I got sumpin to say:  
It's better to burn out, then fade away"

Rich

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From: "Andrew Patterson" <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 1997 23:59:06 GMT

> it was about $750.

I think all of Michael's comments were very good. I saw that saw a while
ago and it looks fairly nice (enough so I gave it a fairly close look) but
I decided the Delta Contractor Saw was better built, and for the same price
(maybe even a bit less, but very close) I got the Delta with 28" Biesmeyer
fence, which I like a lot.

As you point out, many people here like the Jet; all the comments from
local wood shops steered me to the Delta (and I looked at both).

Andrew

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From: Chuck Riccardo <[email-masked]>
Date: 12 Feb 1997 01:59:19 GMT

>ever piss me off enough I could always give them all to them.

Very close - relatives - I gave all my sears power tools to relatives. 
More exactly, unhandy relatives. They think I am a great guy! cmr

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From: [email-masked]
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1997 20:48:08 GMT

>More exactly, unhandy relatives. They think I am a great guy! cmr

Keep them for when the neighbors come to borrow tools!