I have a 4 1/8" Craftsman, that was given to me as a gift about 10 years ago. From the listed specs, the one you linked has a 2 1/2" longer overall table length and a more powerful motor (10a as opposed to 5.6a with mine). Mine sits on the shelf and I use a Stanley Jointer plane because it works better and is more accurate:
Cons (of mine):
1. Had to flatten the infeed and outfeed tables, as well as smooth them. The mill cutter marks were so bad you almost could not push wood across them
2. Had to level the infeed table. This is a major pain and requires 50% diassembly of the unit and is done with it laying on its side, setting it back up to check, repeat, repeat, etc. Setting upside down on a flat surface speeds things up but is difficult with the front panel hanging in the way with all the wires, etc.
3. Blades do not hold an edge and are ridiculously difficult to adjust. Okay for pine or poplar, but will start to dull after about 10 feet of white oak.
4. Fence is flimsy and will not hold its setting as to being vertical. Readjusted and shimmed the mounts, but they are cast in a quarter circle to allow tilting the fence, and are not true, so fence goes out of alignment as soon as it is moved.
5. LOUD
6. Tables are short: Infeed 9" and outfeed 10" It looks like the new one has extended the tables a smidgeon but kept the same length fence.
Pros:
1. At about 38 lbs, easy to move around
2. The soft blades are easy to sharpen yourself (Sharpening takes about 1/4 the time of adjusting them)
3. Mine came with nice push blocks that I use with the TS.
The newer model may have addressed some of these deficiencies, but unless all you ever plan to do is small projects, I would not get the small one. A decent 10" table saw with a good blade and a couple jigs will square and flatten a board better than this will, as well as do a lot more besides. This will flatten a slightly wider (1/2") board providing you can get it accurate.
JMTCW
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