You sound like a pretty decent character. I've got an old Emerson cast iron Craftsman, too. If the blade support is solid, and you put a decent fence on it, a 2+ hp motor on it, good adjustment of everything, it will produce cuts within thousands. I make Neon art. Right now I am making some Zia Sun Signs in cedar, baltic birch, paint and Neon. What kinda things do you like to paint? Do you have a site? Mine is in the process of being re-done. DrNeon.US . I'm in Southern New Mexico