Rebuilding A Rockwell Tablesaw. This model was the precursor to the current delta 34-444 and I'd imagine most of the items discussed are relevant to similar contractor-style saws. I acquired an old 10' Rockwell Contractors Saw and wished to make it 'run and look like new'. The mobile base was in good shape, as were the wheel cranks. Rockwell Model 9 Contractor`s saw with Jointer. The saw and jointer run off of the same motor. It works fine. Bring someone to help you load it as it`s heavy and I have a back injury and unable to help. The wheeled furniture cart it is on is not included.160.
I can't speak for everyone, but I find working with my router (1 3/4 hp Porter-Cable, the Honda Civic of routers, from what I understand) to be terrifying freehand. OK, that's an exaggeration, but I'm more apprehensive about it by far than working with my table saw. Mounted on a table, it's much better. Freehand, though... It spins at twenty seven thousand, five hundred RPM, for pete's sake! It has noticeable gyroscopic force! It has a switch, not a trigger!
There are of course many ways to mitigate this (D-handles, variable speed versions, etc). But ultimately, not a fan. It's a tool, and I'm glad I have it. They say with a router, you can do basically anything. But I only use it freehand when there's basically no other viable option. IMO, YMMV, etc.
On an unrelated note, I actually tried to mount a single blade from my dado stack into my circular saw, but I couldn't make it work. Shame, that would come in handy occasionally.
There are of course many ways to mitigate this (D-handles, variable speed versions, etc). But ultimately, not a fan. It's a tool, and I'm glad I have it. They say with a router, you can do basically anything. But I only use it freehand when there's basically no other viable option. IMO, YMMV, etc.
On an unrelated note, I actually tried to mount a single blade from my dado stack into my circular saw, but I couldn't make it work. Shame, that would come in handy occasionally.