I’ll second Grizzly. They aren’t cheap if you’re comparing to box store brands, but they also aren’t as pricey as some other higher end brands, while still being very well made. I own a lot of their stuff and have never had issues with any of it. Their customer service is also top notch in my opinion.
I don’t know if it really makes a difference, but I’ve been told by a few different people (including Grizzly themselves), to steer towards their models that are produced in Taiwan, as I believe their manufacturing facilities hold to tighter tolerances than some of their facilities in China, etc.
I also wouldn’t be afraid to watch craigslist, etc., as some of the older stuff is tough as nails, and can be picked up on the cheap compared to new. And personally, I’d rather spend $300 on a 10-year old saw that cost $1000 new, than $300 on a brand new lower quality piece from a box store.
