$600 For New Contractor Saw: Bosch vs. Rigid vs. Grizzly vs. Jet
SawmillCreeker Wayne Ilfrey has $600 and a sweet sweet dilemma - how should he spend it on a new saw? He brought his question to the SawmillCreekers and since it’s so on topic with my recent ToolCrib posts I thought I’d cover it for you today.
Mr. Ilfrey’s Question:
I have about $600 i can spend on a new contactor style TS. I have been looking at these 3 brands that are in my price range… Jet, Rigid, and Hitachi.
Anyone have any opinions on these saws? I mostly do smaller work like decorative boxes & childrens toys etc. But occasionally build a bookcase or blanket chest etc.
Here’s how his fellow Creekers recommended he spend that $600:
Used Cabinet Saw: 10
Bosch: 4 overall votes
Bosch 4100: 3
Bosch 4000-09Rigid: 4 overall votes
Rigid TS3650 3
Ridgid 36XXGrizzly: 3 overall votes
Grizzly G0444Z
Grizzly 1023sJet: 2 overall
Jet 708100
Jet ProShop hybridGeneral International contractor’s saw: 1 vote
Dewalt 744: 1 vote
Craftsman 22114: 1 vote
Delta: 1 vote
From the looks of it the question asker first checked out his local Craigslist and then decided on the Rigid… Read the entire post here: Need your Table Saw opinions.
Seeing as how the majority of Creekers suggested he buy used I thought it would make sense to offer this guide: Buying a Used Table Saw. I have a strong feeling that this guide will inspire a future writing project of mine 
Other Resources:
Bosch 4100? (from WoodNet forum)
Grizzly Tools - What is Your Opinion?
A Table Saw Buying Guide: Benchtop vs Contractor vs Cabinet vs Hybrid
Q/A: Best DIYer Table Saw for Ripping Plywood… Under $300?
DIY Table Saw Alternative: EZ Guide + Circular Saw
Woodworking Without A Table Saw
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Revkopp Says:
October 26th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
I have a rigid job site saw and LOVE it. I us it for home remodeling, but the ripfence is quality enough to make several pieces of furniture in the past several months that I have owned it. Plus if you don’t have a huge shop to leave it set up you can just roll it outside to do your cutting (my problem). Wouldn’t buy anything else.
Nate Says:
October 28th, 2007 at 8:37 am
The results are stunning and offer terrible advice. There are more tool accidents from table saws than all other (common) tools combined. Cabinet saws are perhaps the worst; safety mechanisms typically find their way to the consumer/prosumer market first (and both lag behind European safety initiatives). Out of all of the ones listed, the Bosch 4100 is the only one that has made significant changes to address the safety issues. Most table saw accidents are from kick-back. Reduce kickback and you’ll reduce accidents. The 4100 has a legit riving knife to do this, plus visibility through the blade guard. All of the other do not. Plus, if you want a contractor saw there is no better device than Bosch’s gravity rise stand that comes with the 4100.
To me, this is no contest. I have owned a dewalt, ryobi, and bosch and have tried the old bosch (4000-09) and ridgid. The 4100 is a stand-out. For $600 you can easily get it with free shipping from a number of places and have enough left for a spare blade (I’m _actually_ quite happy with the stock blade so far…)