Hey Murph. Sounds like your contractor will give you the goods on that saw. IMO a fence that runs true is worth its weight in gold. A good after market fence is in the $300 range.

You can always pick up a piece of maple 4x4 to test the saw's capability before committing.

Is the seller including any blades in the deal?

Mark. All consumer companies rate their power tools at max power draw ie: that point just before the motor blows and goes up in flames. No joke!

Fred

-------
Blujays1: Spending Fred's money one bottle at a time, no two... Oh crap!