Woodworker's Journal 2010-34-1, страница 52
Tool Review continued Many good changes have taken place in this saw category since we last reviewed them. Generally speaking, these shop mainstays have never been better rip fence with a fine, easy-to-read cursor. At $3,299, a saw should be feature-rich and heavy-duty. While the Unisaw costs a bundle, I still think it delivers admirably on both accounts. General650R-T50 General's Canadian-made 650R-T50 saw has a modest collection of features, and I'm not convinced they stack up to the saw's upper tier pricing. It has the smallest cast table of the test group, but it still offers a generous 14//2" in front of the blade when set to 1". The guard system is split-style with aluminum sides that offer good protection but limit visibility, compared with clear guards. You get two riving knives: one fixed to the guard and a second for non-through cuts. A helpful locking pin enables tool-free changeovers. General International The T-square rip fence locks positively with a sharp, thin cursor for accurate setups. The front rail has no end caps, oddly, and the miter gauge is a basic cast unit with no miter slot bar adjusters. Overall, the saw is well finished, but it could use some hooks and hanger brackets on the cabinet for storing push sticks, miter gauge and rip fence. It has a rubber catch for holding the motor door closed that seems to stretch further than it should; I wonder about its long-term durability. The 650R-T50 did a fine job of cutting during testing, and although the Off button is fairly small, it's easy to reach without fumbling. I pulled out about nine fistfuls of dust — pretty good for the test group. Overall, this saw just isn't a standout for $2,900 compared with other comparably priced models in this roundup. General International 50-300M1 General also provided me a General International 50-300M1, manufactured in Asia, which I found to be appointed with lots of attractive features. First off, this saw has vac hose port in the guard as well as a shroud underneath the blade for two-point dust collection — a great tag team! After my cutting test, with the top guard connected to a separate shop vacuum, the tabletop was not only cleaner than many other saws, but I could only scrounge a handful of dust from inside. The guard offers helpful clarity for seeing the blade, and it's mounted to a high-profile riving knife, plus a second low-position knife comes standard. They switch out with a flip-lever release under the throatplate. Still, unlocking the riving/knife guard is a bit of a hassle: the throatplate can't be removed separately, so you have to lift it with one hand and find the lever underneath to unlock things. Other styles are easier. You'll need a rolling base for most cabinet saws if you need to move them around the shop, but not on this machine. It has integral casters below a cast-iron skirt that crank up and down with a separate hand wheel. The action takes a lot of cranking, but once engaged, you can turn or roll the saw around with ease. Unlike its Canadian cousin, this saw has places to hang wrenches, fence and miter gauge, a clip for a push stick and setscrews on the miter 50-300M1 Rip Capacity: 52"R, 14"L Depth of Cut: 3" (90°); 2X6" (45 Table: 29"W x 42"L Weight: 492 lbs Street Price: $2,499.99 www.general.ca (514) 326-1161 A push-button arbor lock (top) and integrated casters (left) are only two of the 50-300M1's many attractive features. 52 February 2010 Woodworker's Journal |
