Woodworker's Journal 1992-16-5, страница 68

Specifications Chart

¹ U = universal: t = induction * D = direct drive: BMP = belt & puiir. ³ Stacked dado set (siigtn-, tor .voMie typeNadis) 'Table in front of teadmo c<! !• m! iii.^i-,--j t n depth ol cut ⁵ S = standard; 0 » opim H none

Photo 5: Sliding mnvi ut iobl< on Ryobi BT-3000 can hi mountcil on either side of the blade,

cabinet, which makes u much hauler i<> mount the saws (in a bench, utile . \ou make a plywood base for them, as discussed earlier.

Kip Fences

Because table saws arc often used lor ripping, you'll want a rip fence that's accurate anil easy to set. even if the miter gauge isn't. The fences I found most accurate and easy to use were those w ith a single, pull-down lever that locks the fence both front and rear. Saws that have them include the Ryobi BT-3000, Makita, Delta and Skil. The Skil has an especially accurate, easy-to-set fence, given its low price (Photo 3). Also check how easy it is to read the rip scale on the fence guide bar. On most saws, the scale reads in inches and millimeters; the 8 in. Sears saw doesn't have a scale at all.

Miter Gauges

With the exception of the Rvobi BT-*<HM»and Makita 2711, with their sliding

Photo 6: Makita's sliding table ini hide\ hardwood indexing insert to Mifipiiri slock right up to the blade.

i iriolf tables, the rest of the saws have Conventional miter gauges with 60.1 u . I< n riglu scales. I prefer saws with l in t easy-to read gauges. Larger gauges pi ovule better support for the workpl<.. Hid .ne easier to set accurately \M1 Delta and Skil earn big points hen I i (h'i i.illv liked the adjustable unlet stops on (lie AMT gauge (Photo 4t.

Blade Guards

All of these saws li.iv.- blade guard assemblies thai consist ol a > |. ui plastic blade guard, spinier .in,) mil kn kb.n k

pauls. They're all pieuv ......ii tin .tine

in design and function, with tin * m , p lion: The AMT. Reliant. s- .n <n,( Skil saws have externally moumetl Made

guard assemblies, which are co.....Met

by a long rod to the blade carriage assembly. This enables the bladi to U mounted farther toward the rear ol die table, increasing table space in from ol the blade. With these, however. I noticed

thai the splitter tended to move slightly out of alignment w ith the blade when lilted. On the rest ol the saw's, the blade-guard assembly mounts directly lo the blade carriage behind the blade (you must remove the throal plate to install or adjust the guard/splitter position).

While you might consider these assemblies annoying, especially when making crosscuts and miter cuts, you should not remove tiie guard unless you need to cut dadoes or make cuts only part way through the stock thickness (the splitter prevents you from feeding the stock past the blade).

Other Considerations

Controls and Switches — Check out the size, location and operation of the blade elevation and till controls. They should operate smoothly w ith little or no slop in the mechanism. On all hut the Rvobi BT-2500 and Sears saws, till and elevation are controlled by a single hand-wheel (or a twist knob on the Makita) and locking lever on the from of the saw.

All of the saws have a provision for linking the ON/OFF switch to prevent accidental startup (Photo 7). Mosl use a removable plasiic switch inserl (which usually tends to gel lost); the Makita has a separate switch-lock button that must I- i l>re ,1 before you can operate the witch I lie Delta has the simplest atr.uii'enn'Mi a hole drilled through two pu i., line eats on either side of a toggle switch, through which you can insert a padlock (not providedl.

The Wixxiu ort.er"s Journal