Thread: MBS300 - thoughts and comments

Hi Bunyip,

I saw nobody had replied to this, so I thought I may as well. I have the MBS250 with is pretty much the same as the 300. I bought mine second hand (NZ$1200 with sliding table so was too good to pass up). The supplier sent me new rollers and bits for the fence as the old ones had worn. I wasn't too happy with the fence when I had replecaed everything - there was still a bit of slop in it, which may have been due to it being second hand, so I bit the bullet and bought the Biesemeyer 50" fence as I do a lot of panel work. Strangely enough, I had to shim one end of the B's rail by about 3mm to get it parallel to the mitre slot, which I wasn't happy with. The sliding table is great, oncde I spent about 5 frustrating hours getting it lined up correctly - the manual would have come in useful there. I had to cut down the fence tube of the B. to clear the sliding table though. I am looking at getting some sort of arbour extension so it will take a dado blade - apparently available but I haven't looked in to it yet - anyone know where these are obtainable?

In all, I am very happy with the saw. I started with the Triton too, along with all its accessories. Nest I went to a Delta Homecraft, circa 1930 and finally this.

On another side note, and I am sorry to hijack your thread, but as one of the belts on the saw is getting frayed, has anyone replaced the triple belts with link belts?

Andrew

Originally Posted by BigRed

Hi Bunyip,
I am looking at getting some sort of arbour extension so it will take a dado blade - apparently available but I haven't looked in to it yet - anyone know where these are obtainable?
Andrew

Hi Andrew, Chevpac list an arbour extension for the MBS250 at $35+GST

http://www.chevpac.co.nz/webshop/ite...153638%7C%7C25

cheers,
Tony

Thanks Tony. I never knew these guys existed!

Originally Posted by BigRed

Thanks Tony. I never knew these guys existed!

I only found them by accident by trolling through pages on google finding anything woodwork related in NZ. There are a few machinery businesses in Auckland and Chevpac seem to have quite a large showroom. (I was also actually quite surprised to see Chevpac advertising on TV1 last night)

There are one or two places in Chch also but I'm damned if I can find any equipment suppliers worth a salt in Wellington that actually have any quality gear on display. There was a three year old MBS300 in AKL (complete with sliding table and 50" fence) on TradeMe recently that went for $2200. I'm kinda kicking myself for not bidding on it now as that was effectively equivalent to 50% off new prices.

Your $1200 for the MBS250 with sliding table also looks like a darn good buy. How old was it when you bought it?

Hi Tony,

The saw was about 10 years old. Have you had a look at http://www.machine.co.nz/db_items_list.asp?Alpha=Z - they have an MBS300 at $2800 + GST. These are the guys I bought the 250 from. They supplied all the new bits after I complained that the fence was stuffed. I was tempted to buy this instead of the 250, but at less than 1/2 the cost, it was hard to justify. I agree about Wellie - nothing around to look at. I have bought a lot of machinery from Macma in Akld and they are great to deal with and have good product and pricing. I'd have enough of their stuff to open a showroom down here!

Andrew

I'm very happy with mine its a good solid machine. the fence is a besemyer knock off and I have no problem with mine, & believe me it gets the odd thump.

two cautions
the arbour is short & wont take a dado. (that doesn't bother me)

the motor in mine seems to draw more current than I would expect from a 3HP motor. (It doesn't bother me it runs on its own 20amp circuit).

with any big saw you will need at least a 15 amp outlet (better still make it a 20A)

buy the overhead guide. bore it out & put a bigger dust hose on it. mine now has 2 x 3" hoses.

carbatec have some new machines that may be worth looking at.

still the mbs300 is a solid performer that earns its keep & does what its told.

cheers

Soundman,
probably too late for you but on my last visit to Carbatec I noticed that they are now carrying a dado blade adaptor for the MBS300

Thanks for the thoughts guys - nothing there to dissuade me from the purchase.

And thanks also to our Kiwi friends over there in Kiwi land. Hallooooo over there

OK - now just have to write out another cheque (handing is cramping at the thought) :eek:

Soundman, thanks for the wiring tip. Have just had the new shed wired, with its very own power saw circuit (thank goodnes there is a sparky in the family).

Originally Posted by BigRed

Hi Tony,

The saw was about 10 years old. Have you had a look at http://www.machine.co.nz/db_items_list.asp?Alpha=Z - they have an MBS300 at $2800 + GST. These are the guys I bought the 250 from.
Andrew

I have seen the Mcdonald's site but as most of their stuff doesn't having any pictures I feel it's a little hard to see what you might be buying (plus $3000+ is getting a tad out of my league, unfortunately). I think I need to get up to Auckland sometime and have a mosey around....


And Hallooooo back to you Bunyip...

An interesting feature of the mbs300 is that the arbour is a removable item. aparantly you unbolt the securing rod & pull the arbour out as you would in a spindle moulder. so there should theoretical be a variety of arbour arrangements available.
Its just another indication of the quality of the design, they havn't just threaded the end of the arbour shaft.
you can bet most of the machines with a 5/8 arbour thats exactly what has been done.


I'm not concerned about using a dado set, they sound too damn scary on a table saw for my liking & I have plenty of other ways of doing anything you might do with a dado on a table saw.

I understand they are very good on a radial arm if set up right.

Originally Posted by Tonz

I have seen the Mcdonald's site but as most of their stuff doesn't having any pictures I feel it's a little hard to see what you might be buying (plus $3000+ is getting a tad out of my league, unfortunately). I think I need to get up to Auckland sometime and have a mosey around....


And Hallooooo back to you Bunyip...

If you email them, they will send you pics on the machines. All the woodworking places seem to be in Auckland, dammit...