I'm looking for a new table saw. I've used a SawStop cabinet saw quite a lot and really like the saw. I believe in buying the best tools you can afford, once in your life. So if I had ample room, I'd buy one despite the cost. But I have a garage shop with limited space and I would prefer something mobile. I'm wondering about the contractor saw. Sure it's way overpriced relative to competing products, but once you've drunk the coolaid on the cabinet saw, the contractor saw seems downright affordable . I'd buy it with the good fence and cast iron wings.
There is a mobile base for the cab saw, but at 650 lbs I just can't see myself moving it much. The contractor saw is "only" 280 lbs, which seems more practical. I'm kind of thinking about it not as buying a contractor saw, but as buying one of the best "mobile" saws on the market. I'm wondering what I'd be giving relative to the cabinet saw? The 1.5 hp motor is one obvious drawback. With the right kind of blade and if it's sharp etc. it will probably cut anything I'm likely to throw at it. But I wonder if I'll be spending my time installing blades and tuning the saw?
Other than the lower power motor, any other gotchas that might make me regret buying the contractor saw?
I'm definitely an amateur woodworker and I don't work very fast. So this saw isn't going to see anything like a production shop environment. I know that there are many terrific woodworkers out there who produce amazing pieces on inexpensive saws, so maybe I'm just being a whiner? It's okay to go ahead and tell me so .
Thx
David