Inca 259 v. SawStop?

[Evan Patton]

I'd pretty much convinced myself that I could live without a table saw, and if I did need one, I'd get a SawStop. This week I came across an Inca 259 10" tilting-table saw with mortiser that's causing me to rethink things, and I'd like opinions on how to proceed.

A little background--15 years ago I was really into woodworking, but was limited by space and funds. After a few life changes and some time, I find myself with the ability to put together a shop and get back into it. Back when I was into woodworking, Inca was an unreachable goal. It was the ne plus ultra of small equipment--precise enough for turning out the highest quality work, and with a price to match, but small enough to fit into hobbyist shops.

Fast forwarding, I've got a good band saw, a 12" jointer/planer with helical knives, and enough Festool stuff to think I don't need a table saw. Now that I've found this quirky little green machine, however, I'm thinking it sure would be nice to have a little table saw, not to mention the mortising table (which I'm sure could be duplicated by the CMS).

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Evan

[mike holden]

Sounds like you have an itch to scratch.
You lusted for an inca in the past, and now that one is available to you, you want it.
Assuming you can get it and keep food on the table and a roof over your head - go for it.
Even if you turn around and sell it, you will have finally owned the object of your dreams.
Mike

[Judson Green]

2nd that.

You could easily sell it if you decided its not for you.

Go for it!

[Evan Patton]

Man I love enablers!!!
I had similar thoughts. Worst case I'd lose a couple hundred bucks on the deal (assuming I don't succumb to one of the accidents SawStop likes to highlight in their marketing materials).

[Rich Riddle]

I had an Inca 259 and loved it. You have to take the good with the bad though. It sits much higher on the stand than a traditional table saw, you won't be cutting sheets with it, the blade is small, the fence leaves quite a bit to be desired, etc. The good side is the machine makes extremely good cuts and for working with small pieces it places them closer to eye level. The tilting table part comes out neutral, some love it and some hate it. The table moves up and down on that saw, not the blade by the way. Don't own a Sawstop but have used them a lot in military hobby shops. After using many types there, went with a European slider.

[Evan Patton]

Rich,
Thanks. One of the thinks I like about the SawStop is dust collection, which is non-existent on the Inca. I won't use the bevel cutting, and the raising/lowering table may get to be a drag, although with small pieces it's less of an issue.

Did you use the mortiser at all? If so, what bits does it take?

Evan

[Loren Woirhaye]

INCA 259 is a good tool for joinery.

Sawstop is a cabinet saw, a tool usually set up for breaking up plywood.

Most of the dust on the INCA falls through the hole in the base to which a dust port or chute can be attached.

[Kevin Jenness]

I had that saw for a while. If you are doing only small work it may suit you. I found the table rise/fall annoyingly slow and the tilting table a nuisance. Be aware that you can't lower a 10" blade below the table. The machine as a whole is well put together, but too light for a lot of work. The mortising table stops are not reliable- I replaced them with a grub screw/collar arrangement- and the setup is too light for much more than chair parts or similar scale. The arbor rotates counterclockwise, so you will not be able to use standard end mills; birdsmouth style bits are available from various sources like Morris Tool.

[Art Mann]

I just looked it up on the internet and I can't imagine what I would do with it if I owned one.

[Evan Patton]

I had that saw for a while. If you are doing only small work it may suit you. I found the table rise/fall annoyingly slow and the tilting table a nuisance. Be aware that you can't lower a 10" blade below the table. The machine as a whole is well put together, but too light for a lot of work. The mortising table stops are not reliable- I replaced them with a grub screw/collar arrangement- and the setup is too light for much more than chair parts or similar scale. The arbor rotates counterclockwise, so you will not be able to use standard end mills; birdsmouth style bits are available from various sources like Morris Tool.

Kevin,
Wouldn't the rotation be clockwise in reference to the piece being mortised?

Evan

[Loren Woirhaye]

I mortised with it using router bits. They turned the correct direction.

Jointer/planer/mortiser combos that lack a reversing motor require special bits for mortising. The Kity K5 mortiser is like that. The Robland XSD has a reverse switch that makes the cutterhead turn backwards so standard end mills or router bits can be used in the mortiser chuck. Those are the ones I have experience with.

[Evan Patton]

Thanks Loren.

[Kevin Jenness]

Sorry, my thinking was reversed. Loren is correct.