Thread: Anybody have any experience with these table saws?

I wouldn't expect much out of those saws at all. Pretty much all of the table saws I've seen under the $500 mark are a total waste of money IMO.

I have owned an MJ2325 for quite a few years now and although it was a big step up from the Ryobi I had before it, there are a few things that let it down.

This is my experience only, i'm sure others have thier own opinions.

First up I'll start with some positives. It's a heavy, solid beast. Don't believe the Carbatec website, it weighs more than 49kg, more like 149kg. It has cast iron side wings and a strong 3hp motor that i have never found wanting, even with some pretty big rip cuts (with the appropriate blade of course) and it's pretty quiet in operation.

Negatives...it requires a 15 amp outlet, so you will have to get one wired up if you don't have one. The cast iron top on mine is not flat, the fence is rubbish (twisted from front to back) dust extraction is not the best, the mitre guage supplied is crap (most are though) and the blade insert is not flat to the top (sits below the top surface). Some of these issues can be avoided with the use of jigs and sleds but if you are expecting accurate cuts out of the box you may have to look elsewhere.

Steven

Just goes to show how shafted we get in this country, that's an appalling lack of quality out of a $1500 piece of machinery.

Have a look at the Harvey's. there are a few reviews on this site

Originally Posted by bueller

Just goes to show how shafted we get in this country, that's an appalling lack of quality out of a $1500 piece of machinery.

When I bought mine (pretty sure it was circa 2010), I'm pretty sure it was just over $1000. Not sure if quality has improved since then.

When it comes time to update, Ill be looking at a Harvey me thinks. More expensive than this but it's getting good reviews.

Steven.

Ribbed Al tops are fine for light work but if you want strength/stabiliy and longevity then a cast iron top is a minimum.

If you are looking for something to "drag around"the workshop then a wheeled under carriage should be OK .... If you need to drag around sites than you cant go past the Bosche, DeWalt, mobile saws.

My first saw was like the Gumtree one .. did a lost of things with it and I am amazed that it actually worked so well ... but it had its limitations ... OK for boxes and small stuff, or small outdoor furniture... but totally out of its capability to make larger stuff or where accuracy with first cut is essential.

It lasted about a year .. then the got beyond repair .. the blade height failed as did the angle set.

I too the leap and got a reasonable cabinet saw .... Oh the bliss ... and after a couple of years learning it is absolutely amazing the things that can be done ... much more that rips and crosscuts.

in the end it is all about what you want to do .. If it is for roughing out simple boxes then the cheap (Under $300) saws can do a passable job.. ... if you want to cut panels, joints (tenons, fingers, bridals, halflaps, etc) then you will find the cheap saws just frustrate you (and waste lots of timber). You will struggle to do dados, or raised panels of any size (other than for box like projects on a cheap saw)

Becase the mitre slots on the <$300 saws are so bad you will find that any decent mitre cuts, or splines, or sled use are beyond its capacity.

The mobile Bosche and Dewalt are a much better product (Under $1500 usually) but if you want to make fine furniture with repeatable accuracy and exploit the things a cabinet or table saw can do ... the go for the Laguna Platinum or Harvey equivalent (there was a Harvey on the sales board section a couple of weeks ago)

Regards

Rob

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll stick to saving up my youtube money

I thought the carbatec saw would have been a good piece of kit, for that price I'd expect it to be. I'd rather spend a little bit more (when you're at the $1500 range anyway) and get something to last forever.

So something like this:
Harvey HW110LGE-30 Table Saw - Bigger Boyz Toyz

With moving it around, I'm not planning on moving it from job site to job site, more moving it around my shed, I'm sure like a lot of people I wish I had a bigger space, but I don't. So I need to be able to move it against the wall, then back out into the middle of the shed again when in use.

Harvey HW110LGE-30 Table Saw with Excalibur Overhead Blade Dust Extraction

Wrong state

I agree with the general opinion here that the cheapies are not going to do the job if you are after precision cabinet work - carpentry/fencing would be a different story. New gear is also pretty expensive so, if you can take the time it would be a good idea to keep an eye out for second hand gear. Even some pretty old gear can be great.

The other thing to consider is a good European combination machine. A few years go I did some training at a professional workshop that had an ancient Luna combo machine. It was excellent and I've seen them very reasonably priced on second hand machinery online and Gumtree. There are other brand combo machines around - but do, IMHO, look for the European brands.

Don't be afraid of the weight for mobility. A good mobility kit will help you move even a heavy machine. I have a 6m x 6 m workshop that has an over 500 kg combo machine smack in the middle of it (and taking up most of the space). To be able to run long boards over it I just put the mobility "lever on wheels" under one end and she rolls beautifully over to the doorway so I can run the boards out over the grass. BUT, the $100 'universal mobility kits' will not necessarily do a good job. I've been happy to throw those in for free with machines I've sold when I've traded up.

good luck

David

What do you guys think of these ones?

https://www.gregmach.com/product/lag...n-10-tablesaw/

https://www.gregmach.com/product/woo...ing-table-saw/


Free shipping to my area too!

I like the first one more, but it'd take me another 2 months to save up for...

EDIT..

Found some reviews for the laguna. Looks good.

Hi there,

I had a Laguna Fusion 36 inch before I bought a Harvey. The Laguna Premium and the Harvey are basically the same.

The Fusion is a good saw .... quite capable and there are many good reports ... its a 10 amp machine.

For the same money you can get equivalent to the Laguna Premium ... the Harvey. The Harvey is 15 amp, 3hp, triple belt driven and cabinet mounted trundle.

The Woodsman is not in the same league ... IMHO ... just look at the fence set up and switch arrangement.

Regards

Rob

Well I got one. Site unseen, without many details:
https://www.pickles.com.au/general/i...e-Saw/22061622

From what I can gather, it's a sliding table saw (blade is on the edge of the table).

But it's from a shutting down training complex, so should be a good quality one. Is a little old, but I'd imagine good and should hold up well. We'll see.

Now I just have to figure out how to get it home.

Got it for $400 too, so well pleased.