What questions should I be asking?

tsb · 7 Mar 2008

I'm thinking of going to look at a table saw for sale, but its quite a distance away. Before I decide if its worth going, does anyone have a list of questions I should ask the seller about the saw, as I don't know much about table saws. Any advice would be much appreciated, as I would prefer to spend an extra 10mins on the phone, asking questions, rather than wasting time and money travelling

Rich · 7 Mar 2008

Well tsb,
1.... what do you intend to rip/crosscut, will you be cutting 8x4 sheets?.
2....How big is your workshop.
3....does it have a sliding carriage.
4....Is it single or 3 phase.
5....what make is it, compare the price to others.
6.... what condition is it in.
7....any extras with it, ie, extension tables, jigs, spare blades.

I expect others with more experience will have more suggestion but that's all I can think of at the moment, I have an APTC TS200, and it's pretty good, I'll get a cast iron jobby one day when I have a bigger workshop and a bit more dosh.
regards,
Rich.

Gary M · 7 Mar 2008

Hi tsb,
Difficult question to answer mate!
Rich has given you a good idea, but in my experience you wont know if you want it until you get a good look at it :wink:
How old is it ?
Has it had one owner from new ?
Why is it for sale ?
How much use does it normally get (hobby use or heavy use)
You could go on and on.
Ask the basics on the phone and then post again with the information and im sure you will get some more thoughts from others :wink:
What make and model is it as im sure someone on the forum will have experience of it.
HTH
Gary.

andycktm · 8 Mar 2008

If its a long way/lot of money ask if they could email some photo's.

johnnyb · 8 Mar 2008

give us an idea of what saw it is and maybe well help
ps hows that bandsaw?

tsb · 9 Mar 2008

The saw was advertised as a JET. I was hoping it was the JTS250 but it turned out to be a JWTS-10JF, so decided not to bother making the journey to see it. Not the sort of saw I'm interested in. Johnny, the bandsaw has worked a treat, after buying a new blade and spending some time setting it up.