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Craftsman Table Saw 21833 Review


I’ve had my Craftsman 10″ Contractor Table Saw Model 21833 (351.218330) for about a year now, and it is rock solid!  I previously owned a craftsman saw that had the tabletop made out of aluminium.  It was okay for the money, but wasn’t very sturdy.  Frequently when I would feed plywood into the table it would tip the whole saw.  My new saw has been really solid and almost a year later I can say I’m very happy with it.

 

Craftsman Table Saw 21833
Craftsman Table Saw 21833

Before I go any further though I have to say I have a weird myopic bias for and against Craftsman tools.  I believe that Craftsman makes the worlds best hand tools.  No one beats them, and the warranty they provide.  Power tools on the other hand are a different story.  I think as a general rule high-end Craftsman power tools are usually pretty solid, but if you get the low-end or middle models of a craftsman power tool it’s a bit of a gamble.

 

 

Craftsman Tablesaw 21833 Top
Top of table saw with blade guard
Craftsman Tablesaw 21833 Front
Front of Saw

The table saw I purchased is the Craftsman 10″ Contractor Table Saw Model No. 351.218330.  This is the second table saw I’ve owned, but I think it’s a great starter saw if you can afford it.  I paid roughly $550 (on sale)for this one, and that’s not a bad price for a solid table.  If you know for sure that you’re not going to use it much then save your money and go cheaper.  Conversely, if you know your going to want to use it every day, then you may want to look at an even higher end saw.  This saw for the money and performance was a perfect balance for what I need.

 

I’ll try and break down the best features of the saw as I see it:

  • The saw allows for cutting at a 45″ angle.  There is a blade tip wheel that allows you to easily adjust this.
  • The saw includes a solid rip fence.  I’ve read other review where folks weren’t too happy with the rip fence.  I’ve never had any problems with it and I use mine all the time.
  • The saw comes with a miter gauge that is adjustable from 30″ to 90″.  I usually only use this to square up stock, but I have made a few cuts adjusting this to a 45″ angle and it was dead on.
  • The saw comes with two table inserts.  The first is a standard insert, and the other is a for a stacked dado blade.
  • The saw comes with a REALLY nice feature for me and that is a foot lift lever on the bottom of the saw that allows it to be moved easily.  The saw is on four wheels and the lever engages those wheels making easy to move.
  • The saw includes a riving knife and blade guard.  I have to confess I frequently remove the blade guard, it’s a little bulky, but the riving knife is great and really cuts down on kick back.
Craftsman_Table Saw Rip Fence
Table Saw Rip Fence
Craftsman Tablesaw 21833 Side Vide of Top
Table Saw Side View of Top

I think my biggest criticism for this saw was the initial setup of the saw.  It was a nightmare!  Truly a nightmare!  It felt like a thousand pieces, and a couple of times it was a must to have two people flip it over and then right it.  I had to adjust the rails numerous times.  It was truly an afternoon, nearly all day project to put this thing together.  In Craftsman’s defense I complained about his install to a friend of mine who has a large heavy-duty Rigid saw and he informed me it was the exact same headache.  So I can’t necessarily blame Craftsman for this, as it appears to be a common thing.  However, keep in mind if you purchase this don’t think you’ll be using it an hour after you get it home.  You’ll easily spend an entire afternoon putting this thing together. Also another thing that bugs me about table saws is that they don’t include Zero Clearance plates. You can buy one over at amazon by clicking here, or check out how I made my own zero clearance plate.

Overall I really like the saw!  I think it’s a solid entry, and mid level grade saw.  If you’re a casual woodworker like myself I think you’ll find that it’s an excellent way to go.

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36 Comments

    1. try loosening the bolts on the clamp end, line it up with the blade and retighten the bolts, that worked pretty good on mine

  1. Thanks for sharing your review about this saw. I’ve just got one of these and it works fine. But every time I start it, the band squeeks for a moment, do you think I need to clean it or give some adjustment?

  2. Not sure why that is happening. Make sure belt has proper tension. Or maybe try a dry lubricant at the bearing points, toothed belts don’t normally slip, make sure belt is undamaged.

  3. One more thought – It is too hard to turn the knob to raise/low the blade. Where can I look for too tight bolts or something to adjust? Thanks in advance.

  4. Remove the rear cover, and check the acme screw assembly for the lift mechanism. Make sure that the pivot is free and not over tightened.

  5. I have had this saw for about 3 years. You are correct about putting the saw together. It is hateful. You have to set aside a full day to set the saw up and you need help to flip the saw over. I only use my saw as a hobby, used only on the weekends. Once I got it set up and adjusted, it has not given me any trouble. I would recommend this tablesaw to anyone who is looking for a starter saw. I have never liked Craftsman power tools, but I really like this saw.

  6. I read this review solely to see whether the mitre slots are standard. My craftsman saw is great but I can’t use standard attachments. For instance I use a magnetic feather board because I can’t find a good one that fits their non-industry standard slots. It’s a good saw but I wouldn’t buy it again.

  7. Hi Dave, would you please tell me how to adjust the acme screw assembly in order to get the tilt wheel working, I mean It takes a lot of effort to turn this wheel. I’ve already removed the cover but I can’t figure out what to adjust.
    And how to set wirings for the motor to work on 220v. Thanks in advance!

      1. Make sure the center locking knob is loose enough. Also, make sure you try raising and lowering the blade with both the splitter and riving knife attachments removed.
        As for the wiring, refer to page 9, remove jumpers from between 1 to 3 and also from 2 to 4, then add a jumper from 3 to 2

        1. Thanks for your answer. Locking knob is completely loose. splitter and riving knife are out. Still mechanism is very hard. I know that there are some screws on the mechanism that should be checked for not be overtighen, but I don’t know where to search for.

          1. Outside of checking the lift mechanism, I do not know what to tell you. My saw operated fine right out of the box and the blade height adjustment was never an issue. If you lift up on the blade, does it make the process any better? I would make sure that the motor bracket is not binding against the main trunion, but after that I do not know where to direct you.
            I have read a couple of threads on other forums about people with a elevation issue, but have seen no resolution to it.

          2. I see. Perhaps a full disassembling of the mechanism would lead to some clues. It’s a pitty that here in Mexico, Sears service really sucks. Thanks for your patience.

  8. Second video is very informative, it sheds some light on where to look, I’ll try it tomorrow. On the first video the guy doesn’t elaborate a lot on the mechanism, because he’s dealing w/ the alignment issue, but interestingly he seems to struggle to lift/low the blade while testing it. Thanks a lot again!

  9. i’d like to have one of those table saws
    I have an older 113.29901.
    It needs bearings though.
    2602-10 2rs. The 10 denotes 10/16 or 5/8.
    I only paid $50.00 for the saw.
    I got a 30″ T 2 fence for $160.00 to my door. It should be a pretty good saw when I get done with it.
    It’s still available kinda cold here though, it would be nice to bring it up here in the living room, but it’s too much trouble

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