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JRMapes Tablesaws and Wheelchairs
June 10th, 2005 04:16 AM
Goodmorning Folks,

I am have got a hair pulling quandry. Like most folks that are getting ready to buy a new Tablesaw I want to get something within my price range, that will fit my space, and will do what i want it to do. I don't plan on doing any fine woodworking. At best I will be building the occasional bookshelf, poarchswing, picnic table, or small side table. I will also be using the saw to cut trimwork and cut down plywood along with as SWMBO just reminded me, build her, her bird houses and flower boxes and the garden arbor i have been promising... Heh. Basically small projects indoor and out. My price range is around $400 with little wiggle room and my workshop space is limited (873 sq. feet shared space indoors with about 800 sq. ft. useable by me at any given time ) so I need something she can also help me move outdoors under the yard canopy when need be.
Now for the real kicker...

I am a paraplegic. I have no use of my legs and do all my work from a wheelchair. Prior to the chair I had extensive woodworking and carpentry training so i am familiar with the ins and outs but in the past recent years ive been working wood primarily as a "Neander." This also means that most all table saws stand almost 9" too high for me to safely use. This means that which ever saw i buy I will have to build a new stand that is the correct working height for me.

I have looked at numerous Bench Saws and narrowed it down to the Craftsman Jobsite Pro, the Rigid Jobsite, the Ryobi BTS20 and the Porter Cable. The Bosch 4000 is on the extreme end of my price range and I doubt it would be an option, but it sure looks like a good saw.

The Contractor Saws I have looked at are the Ryobi BT3100, Delta TS300 or TS350, SunnyHill SM-250A, the Harbor Freight 10" Pro, and the Grizzly G0444 (which is also in my extreme $$ range and at this point unlikely but if i could come up witht he money it would be my first choice). I would love to pick up a Powermatic or Jet but they are just out of my price range (or at least the ones i can find).

The bench saws are attractive to me because of weight and i dont have to worry about a motor hanging out the back and a special bench would be easier bacuse i wouldnt have to build with the motor so much in mind. On the other hand the idea of a screaming banshee TS with lots of vibration isnt really attractive to myself or SWMBO who would get annoyed easily with me using a very loud saw when shes trying to watch a movie.

A saw that i can either buy or fairly easily make and use attachable jigs on would be a real plus. I know many saws have offsized miter slots and cause headaches in these cases. I would like to avoid that if possible but it could be a workaround if it came down to it.

Any advice would be appreciated.... especially if any of you are or know a 4 wheeled woodworker that has got around these headeaches.

Thanks
JR Mapes
Arcadia, KS
Follow Ups:

Sears Saws by Joe 2005-06-10 06:22:17

My uncle by Joe 2005-06-10 06:24:43

Tablesaws and Wheelchairs by JRMapes 2005-06-10 10:50:09

Professional Jobsite Saw by Adam 2005-06-10 11:37:54

Jobsite saw addendum by Adam 2005-06-10 11:41:44

Tablesaws and Wheelchairs by JRMapes 2005-06-10 12:50:29

Sears by Joe 2005-06-10 14:29:04
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