Shop Fox Table Saws

Shop Fox professional woodworking equipment is made by a company called Woodstock International, one of several offspring of Shiraz Balolia, the founder of Grizzly. Balolia was a metalworking expert who turned his expertise towards woodworking and began to design and produce his own products as he found the competition woefully lacking. After Grizzly’s success he expanded his attention to woodworking accessories which he designed and sold through a dealer distribution network. That company was Woodstock and later they added the Shop Fox line of woodworking tools. Many Shop Fox models have identical Grizzly twins which extends your reach when it comes to searching for deals. For example, the well regarded Shop Fox W1677 retails on Amazon right now for about $1450. Its twin, the Grizzly 1023SL is on sale direct from Grizzly for $895.

When it comes to comparing pricing, however, make sure you consider the shipping costs. You can buy Shop Fox Table Saws and when on sale they can be a great bargain, even with shipping charges added. For example, the base model Shop Fox W1677 sells through Amazon for around $1390 with shipping. The same saw with a different model number can be bought on sale direct from Grizzly for $844! Let’s take a look at some of Shop Fox’s more popular models.

Shop Fox W1677 Cabinet Table Saw

This is their basic left tilt cabinet table saw with a 26” rip capacity, available with a 3 or 5 hp motor. In addition, you can add a right hand extension table, which extends the rip capacity to 50 inches. There is also a mobile base available as an additional option as well as optional extended rails. The saw comes with the Shop Fox Classic t-square rip fence. Many reviewers feel this fence is as close to the acclaimed Biesemeyer fence system as you can get. If you’re concerned about safety features, the saw’s included splitter assembly can be replaced with an aftermarket true riving knife, the BORK (Bolt on Ripping Knife). This add-on moves with the blade as it rises, lowers, or tilts. As you may know, new model table saws must now come with true riving knives but to date no one other than General International has come out with a “retro-fit” offering. The General only works with their own models but now there’s the BORK, available from Walnut Acre Woodworking.

 

Shop Fox W1711 Cabinet Table Saw

The 1711 is very similar to the 1677 but it comes with a 5 hp motor standard. The drive system is triple belt and Shop Fox spares no cast iron when it comes to this saw. The table surface, the extension wings, and even the miter gauge are all cast iron. It comes not only with a standard insert but a dado insert as well. Many reviewers appreciate the large, cast iron hand wheels on these saws which make raising, lowering, and tilting the blade a snap. To increase rip capacity to 52 inches you can get the W1711EX1 with a right extension table. The EXT2 model comes with a mobile base and a 52’ rip fence while the EXT3 comes with the fence only.

Shop Fox W1748 Hybrid Table Saw

If you don’t need the capacity of a cabinet saw but want something a little heftier than a contractor saw, a hybrid table saw is for you. The Shop Fox W1748 has a poly V belt drive system with a respectable 2 hp motor which yields 4,000 RPM. The table surface, extension wings, and hand wheels are all cast iron, adding up to a hefty 300 pound saw. As with other Shop Fox heavy saws, you can add a mobile base to the W1748 for around $60.