Table saw buying advice!

[smithy6468]

Morning everyone,

I'm currently looking for a table saw to put in my workshop. I'm lucky enough that space isn't an issue, and ive got a budget of around £750-1k.

I'd like to have something that can handle sheet goods as well as the finer work. So I'm really looking for opinions on the options I'm looking at -

Option 1

startrite ta1250, okay its over 20 years old, but theres no substitute for quality right?

Option 2

SIP pro254mm, a newer saw, does this have any obvious benefits? (will probably be the slightly cheaper option)

Or am I way off script here and should be looking at something completely different?

thanks in advance!

chris

 

[DennisCA]

Both of those look like fine machines to me. I think the first one has more capacity for supporting large sheets.

 

[RobinBHM]

The startrite no question, there will be no comparison in construction and the startrite will probably fetch what you pay for it, should you sell in years to come.

20 years might seem very old, but if the machine has been used in a small workshop or one man band it may only have been used a couple of hours a day.

The SIP is probably ok, but will be Chinese built so components will be lower quality and there will be more flex or play in fences, blade tilt, sliding table.

Of course the startrite may be real dog, but you would need to see and check all is ok before parting with your money.

If both machines were new the startrite would be 3 to 4 times the price -compare a sedgewick table saw to a SIP new for an indication.

You wont get a braked motor on the older machine, but only a problem if you employ staff.

Note that these arent true panel saws, they are dimension saw tables with a sliding table added, this means the sliding part is not right next to the fence. Its not a problem unless you are wanting to cut 8 x 4 sheets down all the time. There is a bit more chance for play than the true slding bed panels saws. Having a solid cast table both sides of the blade could be considered an advantage for ripping of solid timbers so makes these machines almost more adaptable.

 

[DennisCA]

I think you mistyped, you probably meant the sliding table is not right next to the blade.

I had play in my table which is a similar setup to the startrite but I was able to get rid of it via the built in adjustment. It's been a pain to get square though but it is adjustable.