I am Stupid
December 20th, 2008New Old Saw, Bought
Okay, let me take a minute to thank all the enablers who read this blog. Enjoy a good laugh at my expense.
I decided to make a deal on the table saw. I didn’t see how I could lose. The saw is clearly not stolen; the guy knows way too much about saws and Corian, and I found his business on the Internet. It’s a table saw, which means it has about four parts, all of which can be replaced when they go bad. It’s a Powermatic, which means it’s US-made and pretty unlikely to drop in value. It’s old, so it was made before the WMH buyout everyone whines about. And he is willing to DELIVER.
I can forget about building a router table now. I can put an insert in the table saw surface. I can get rid of my existing table saw and get all of my money back, except for what I paid for zero-clearance inserts. This thing will take up less room than the stuff it replaces.
I am insane; I know it. But I should end up with a tool that will last for eternity, perform like a dream, and remain worth more than the price I paid. The cost of owning and using the Ridgid will turn out to be sales tax plus a few bucks for some inserts.
That 220 witing is paying off. I think he was stuck with this thing because no one who called about it had 220. I don’t just have 220; I have a SELECTION of 220 circuits. I have 40-amp with one style of receptacle, and I have 60-amp with another style. Because I am crazy. Learning how to do wiring can change your life.
The 64″ fence is not ideal. Maybe I can find someone who will trade a smaller one for it. It will have to be taken off so I can park the car. I don’t know if it works with the usual accessories. Maybe the extra length is not an issue.
It would be fun to yank the guts out of this thing, sandblast it, prime it, and paint it. I don’ t think it would be hard. I believe cabinet saws pretty much fall apart with the removal of a few bolts and screws.
I guess this means I better go back to Home Depot with all the crap I bought to make the router table work.
December 20th, 2008 at 5:22 PM
“It would be fun to yank the guts out of this thing, sandblast it, prime it, and paint it. I don’ t think it would be hard.”
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Anyone taking bets on how long before Steve buys a Powder-coating Rig?
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Here’s the Sprayer:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94244
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And the Oven:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=46300
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I’m taking the “Before the end of 2008” slot 🙂
December 20th, 2008 at 5:39 PM
Great find! Is it green?
The 66 is the workhorse of untold numbers of commercial cabinet shops. As a hobbyist you’ll probably never be able to slow it down. I wanna know all about it. How old, what fence…? Get Kelley Mehler’s book and give it a good clean up and tune up. You got a keeper there.
December 20th, 2008 at 6:01 PM
Sorry, I just now saw the older posts on this saw. You STOLE that thing. Beismeyer fence is good, but not as good as the newer Accu-Fence. The Accu-Fence has a beefier clamping mechanism, and if you should bugger up the fence face, replacement is much easier. Interesting story: For years the 66 was available with either a Beismeyer or a Vega fence. Powermatic didn’t manufacture their own fence. Then Delta bought Beismeyer. So P/M did a little reverse engineering, made a few improvements, and the Accu-Fence was born.
If you feel a need for a shorter fence, just replace the rails. Don’t cut the existing rails, save them. If you ever decide to do anything with full-sized sheet stock, they will be very handy. The local Woodcraft should be able to get replacement rails for you.
December 20th, 2008 at 6:11 PM
“Okay, let me take a minute to thank all the enablers who read this blog. Enjoy a good laugh at my expense.”
You’re welcome.
Bwahahahahah!
Actually I’m jealous.
December 20th, 2008 at 6:13 PM
Nice buy! If you find it too burdensome, you can always sell it for a tidy profit if you are patient.
If I were closer, I’d buy that portable. I’ve been waiting for it to go on sale at the HD. Missed it on Black Friday. My DeWalt is on the blink and my guys are suffering by using the Hitachi with a tin-can fence.
December 20th, 2008 at 6:49 PM
The Biesemeyer fence, I believe, comes apart in sections. It’s a good fence. Even if you have to take it off to park your car. And you can use it to cut your old desk up into pieces.
Happy to be of service, I am.
December 20th, 2008 at 7:08 PM
You’re not stupid. If you were stupid you would have rented “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” from Blockbuster, eaten a Hungry Man frozen dinner and adopted a cat from the local animal shelter.
December 20th, 2008 at 7:21 PM
TC: That was out loud. In case you didn’t know.
December 20th, 2008 at 8:03 PM
Stupid, Steve?
No way. But if you’re worried about doing something stupid in your workshop this xmas, here are some important tool safety tips from the Tool-Time Show:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcAPqfDKiNE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tY5WxDqggbs
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You’re Welcome.
December 20th, 2008 at 9:36 PM
Brilliant purchase in my opinion. I have a great table saw and was sorely tempted to buy the one you linked to – terrific saw at an amazing price. I do not think you will be sorry.
Max
December 20th, 2008 at 11:28 PM
Congratulations! You done really, really good. And you were right to jump on it: hey, bless God on this one.
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I’ve been looking for EXACTLY this same deal for three years now: ain’t happened yet. Ain’t even come close. And delivered??? Dude!
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This is the core of a great shop Steve: enjoy.
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December 21st, 2008 at 1:35 AM
You have totally redeemed yourself vis-a-vis table saws. After you’ve got the thing powered up and made some test cuts and if everything’s aligned properly, leave it alone. Don’t go fixing what ain’t broke. For four and a quarter you’ve got about $2700 worth of saw without the blades and things. You’ll soon see what a real table saw can do. Enjoy.
Gerry N.
December 21st, 2008 at 5:56 AM
>let me take a minute to thank all the enablers who read this blog.
Thank you, too. Keep up the good work.
Merry Christmas.
December 21st, 2008 at 8:28 AM
If the guy that sold you that saw is closing up shop, it’s a sure bet he has other stuff to sell. Think jointer and planer.
BTW, how’s the humidity in the garage? Remember, iron rusts. Get a good surface sealant for the top, and treat it regularly. Talcum powder will work in a pinch, too.
December 21st, 2008 at 9:13 AM
Last year I bought a older Jet table saw for $350 on Craigslist. A college kid at Pitt was selling it and it was so out of whack the first board I test cut kicked back into my stomach. After some simple adjustments and blade change it tears through Baltic birch ply like it’s not even there and every cut is perfect. Building cabinets is a breeze with it.
THe saw you listed is probably twice as powerful as mine with more capacity. I would be all over that deal if I was you.
December 21st, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Remember to go over it with a fine toothed comb. Check all alignments- blade to slot, blade to fence, etc. A kickback on a 5hp table saw could result in being buried under a full sheet of plywood, or becoming impaled. You have more than three times the horsepower of the typical contractors saw there. Enjoy it, but respect it.
December 21st, 2008 at 10:10 AM
Steve, I am glad I could be of service.
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You will never need another tablesaw AND you are able to reduce the footprint in your garage – a real win/win situation. Get it fired up and make yourself some sawdust.
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What Ed said – I’m jealous too. I guess you showed us…
December 21st, 2008 at 2:48 PM
TC, I resemble that remark.
I use Netflix, not Blockbuster. And I adopted two cats, not one.