[2 of 4 customers found this review helpful]

Craftsman Professional 10 in. Table Saw Review

Awesome saw with some great innovations

"The 22124 successfully bridges the huge gap between the shortcomings a of a traditional contractor saw and the overkill and power requirements of a full 3hp industrial cabinet saw. It offers many of the advantages of a big cabinet saw but will run on a standard 110v circuit, and doesn't tax the budget as heavily.

- The Biesemeyer Commercial grade fence is often touted as the number one in the industry. It's the same fence that comes standard on many $1900 Unisaws and $2500 General 650s, and is the most copied design on the market for higher end saws. With the twin 12" cast iron wings, plus a laminated extension table, the usable table surface is nearly 60" wide. The rip capacity is 30" to the right of the blade and 18" to the left in it's stock configuration, but if you don't need that much capacity to the left, it's very simple to slide the rails 10" to the right for a capacity of 40" to the right. The foldup outfeed table is a convenience for supporting longer work pieces.

- The dust collection from the fully enclosed cabinet is a huge improvement over a traditional open back contractor saw with the motor sticking out the back. The internally mounted motor of the 22124 takes up less space, and doesn't pose the high risk of hitting or lifting surrounding items when the motor is bevelled, which greatly reduces the chance of knocking out the alignment.

- The cabinet mounted trunnions are a significant departure from the puny table mounted trunnions on most contractor saws. This mounting style is much more similar to the methods used by the industrial cabinet saws. They add considerable mass and stability, and are much simpler to reach and adjust for blade alignment....sure beats laying under the saw trying to tap the trunnions into alignment with a hammer and 2x4! The connection rods are much beefier too, and I've read that they're indexed to prevent twisting.

- The short serpentine belt is not only quieter than a standard v-belt but also offers more efficient power transfer. The 22124 won't match the power of a big 3hp Powermatic 66 or Delta Unisaw for industrial use, but with good alignment and a good blade it'll cut readily to full blade height (without requiring a 220v outlet). It's extremely well suited to the hobbyist....newbie and veteral alike.

- The miter gauge has fairly average accuracy, but does offer miter slot adjustments to reduce slop in the track, and it also offers a very nice miter fence with an effective hold down clamp. Another terrific convience is the large paddle on/off switch, which allows both hands on the workpiece while quick nudge of the leg turns off the saw. The stock Leitz blade is a gem for a stock blade and is worth keeping and using.

- The saw is heavy...~ 425#. That makes it a bit more awkward to move alot but offers incredible stability. A mobile base is a terrific option if you need to wheel it around the shop. There are several aftermarket mobile bases available, including one from Sears. The throat plate opening is the same size as the popular Delta Unisaw, meaning that inserts made to fit that saw will also fit your 22124.

- I'm not crazy about the plastic handles on the handwheels, but that's an easy beef to live with compared to many of the other well thought features. This saw has a great deal in common with the Steel City hybrids and are both a significant improvement over the nearly 60 year old design of the traditional contractor saw. Kudos to the designers for the innovations they introduced. Mine's been in use for over 2 years now, and is the 6th saw I've owned and is one of over 10 that I've used, and it continues to impress."