167 Re: Table saw opinions - Ryobi vs Delta.
Description
This article is from the Woodworking FAQ Collection 4, by multiple authors.
167 Re: Table saw opinions - Ryobi vs Delta.
From: bennett@adobe.com(Bennett Leeds)
Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1992 20:22:38 GMT
In article <17459@sybase.sybase.com> hsc@stroid.sybase.com (Howard Cohen)
writes:
> qq Re: table saws
From what I can see (and I've talked with someone who owns the Ryobi, and I
> own the Delta), it really depends on:
>
> - What kind of work you do.
> - How much space you have for tools.
I'd also add cost as one of the major factors. For the equivalent functionality
and accuracy, the Ryobi is cheaper - although at the expense of capacity and
robustness (you need an aftermarket blade, fence, and sliding table for the
Delta). Of course, the argument can go that at least you can upgrade the
Delta's accuracy and functionality but you can't upgrade the Ryobi's robustness
or capacity.
>...
> Some indicators that the Delta is the right saw for you might be:
> ... the
> sake of having your $ go to an American owned company, and
> arguably for a product made in America -- I still don't know
> based on the net.comments thus far.)
As an aside,I have a general ideological question:
Is it better to buy a machine made in the US by a foreign owned company
(Ryobi table saw) or to buy a machine made overseas by a US owned company
(16.5" Delta drill press)? The former gives jobs and money to American workers
(and companies that are subcontracted to make pieces for it), the latter gives
American stockholders dividend profits.
> - the desire to have your saw weigh a lot (for stability).
Except for tools that spin the work (like lathes), I see no real value to heavy
tools. I believe that increasing the mass of the machine's case is the wrong
way and place to reduce vibration - I prefer better balanced critical
components (like the arbor). But, I seem to be unique in netland in this
belief.
> - The desire to use an aftermarket fence, or some other aftermarket
> tablesaw accessories. Some accessories won't care what kind of
> saw you have, but others do. However, I doubt you can attach a
> Beismeyer fence or Unifence to your Ryobi.
On the other hand, the Ryobi's standard fence reduces the desire to put an
aftermarket fence on the saw, whereas the Jet-Lock crys out for replacement.
But, Howard's right that some aftermarket accessories may not work, for
instance, magnetically attached holddowns don't attach to aluminum table tops.
Overall, a good summary on Howard's part.
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