Got my saw all set up so I can list everything I noticed. Basically, I am very happy with it.
First the short "bad" list dealing with manufacturing.
T-Square fence was welded about 1/2 degree off. It is within adjustment, but I think it should have been better
Edges of the finger hole for the splitter were so sharp they could cut you. Easy filed fix.
Standard throat plate is warped too far to use. I will ask for a replacement.
Shipping: Little ding in the PB/Formica left table extension. Not sure how it happened as packaging was pretty good. I may or may not bother with it as I am going to use it for a swing up left extension.
Setup:
As with previous Harvey delivery, the driver and I rolled it to the top of the driveway. I then threw a chain around the pallet and just drug it up the gravel drive into my shop. Worked like a box scraper and took the crown off the drive. I have a 800 Lb hoist in my shop, so picking it up and putting my DIY frame under it was a piece of cake.
Table was dead on square to the blade.
No problem getting the wings in line. Flat as can be.
Fence took some fiddling, but I eventually got it in
90 degree stop was right on.
Instructions were poor, but then again, if you can't put it together, you probably should not be using one.
Design observations:
No stops on the fence ends to prevent you from sliding off the ends. Easy fix.
Dust port was on a nifty removeable plate, so when you drop your arbor nut, easy to recover. But, It was not designed for good airflow, not quite on the bottom of the tray and was 4 inch. I made my own from a bit pf plywood, set in a 6 inch blast gate.
Window for the fence rule was not a magnifier and is way above the scale, so parallax error. I will re-do.
Fence aluminum extrusion is not an even "inch " size so between upright and laying down, you can't just add/subtract from the fence scape easily. I am used to a fence where my jigs straddle the fence, so I wil probably just cut a bit of HDPE for each side and not use the extrusion.
Fence lock lever is very balky. The tab does not align well and it can take 3 or 4 tries to lock the fence. Not sure if this is a manufacturing or design fault. I am sure I can fix it. Just makes it not pleasant to use to have to fight it.
The blade guard is obviously a generic one and has provisions to add a vacuum port, but they do not have one and have not suggested what other brand names may use the guard and have one.
It does not have a lower blade shroud. As I don't have my ClearView yet, I can't comment on the airflow and dust collection capability.
Table inserts are pretty complex, so I will need to make a router gig for them. They want $60 for a ZCI. I guess trying to make some profit, but shooting themselves in the foot as priced too high.
You can sure tell the mass of the trunnion when cranking up vs. down. If I were designing it, I might put a counter weight on it to make it really sweet.
Cutting:
Put in my Diablo 60 tooth, and as expected, cuts like butter. It vibrates a little more than I expected. I think it is probably the belts ( 3 V-belts) I will most likely get three Gated cog belts and see how it goes. I don't know what to expect as my old saw used a smoother wide multi-groove belt.
Not really much to say. My comments on design do need to be taken into account as this is a very inexpensive saw for the class. If it was a PM-2000, PCS, or the more expensive 4HP line I would be more critical. The little issues and choices all I can fix/improve or just make to my liking. So, at this stage, I can highly recommend it. Plus it was in stock and the competing Griz were not!
First the short "bad" list dealing with manufacturing.
T-Square fence was welded about 1/2 degree off. It is within adjustment, but I think it should have been better
Edges of the finger hole for the splitter were so sharp they could cut you. Easy filed fix.
Standard throat plate is warped too far to use. I will ask for a replacement.
Shipping: Little ding in the PB/Formica left table extension. Not sure how it happened as packaging was pretty good. I may or may not bother with it as I am going to use it for a swing up left extension.
Setup:
As with previous Harvey delivery, the driver and I rolled it to the top of the driveway. I then threw a chain around the pallet and just drug it up the gravel drive into my shop. Worked like a box scraper and took the crown off the drive. I have a 800 Lb hoist in my shop, so picking it up and putting my DIY frame under it was a piece of cake.
Table was dead on square to the blade.
No problem getting the wings in line. Flat as can be.
Fence took some fiddling, but I eventually got it in
90 degree stop was right on.
Instructions were poor, but then again, if you can't put it together, you probably should not be using one.
Design observations:
No stops on the fence ends to prevent you from sliding off the ends. Easy fix.
Dust port was on a nifty removeable plate, so when you drop your arbor nut, easy to recover. But, It was not designed for good airflow, not quite on the bottom of the tray and was 4 inch. I made my own from a bit pf plywood, set in a 6 inch blast gate.
Window for the fence rule was not a magnifier and is way above the scale, so parallax error. I will re-do.
Fence aluminum extrusion is not an even "inch " size so between upright and laying down, you can't just add/subtract from the fence scape easily. I am used to a fence where my jigs straddle the fence, so I wil probably just cut a bit of HDPE for each side and not use the extrusion.
Fence lock lever is very balky. The tab does not align well and it can take 3 or 4 tries to lock the fence. Not sure if this is a manufacturing or design fault. I am sure I can fix it. Just makes it not pleasant to use to have to fight it.
The blade guard is obviously a generic one and has provisions to add a vacuum port, but they do not have one and have not suggested what other brand names may use the guard and have one.
It does not have a lower blade shroud. As I don't have my ClearView yet, I can't comment on the airflow and dust collection capability.
Table inserts are pretty complex, so I will need to make a router gig for them. They want $60 for a ZCI. I guess trying to make some profit, but shooting themselves in the foot as priced too high.
You can sure tell the mass of the trunnion when cranking up vs. down. If I were designing it, I might put a counter weight on it to make it really sweet.
Cutting:
Put in my Diablo 60 tooth, and as expected, cuts like butter. It vibrates a little more than I expected. I think it is probably the belts ( 3 V-belts) I will most likely get three Gated cog belts and see how it goes. I don't know what to expect as my old saw used a smoother wide multi-groove belt.
Not really much to say. My comments on design do need to be taken into account as this is a very inexpensive saw for the class. If it was a PM-2000, PCS, or the more expensive 4HP line I would be more critical. The little issues and choices all I can fix/improve or just make to my liking. So, at this stage, I can highly recommend it. Plus it was in stock and the competing Griz were not!