Thread: difference between triton 2000 and mark3?

Mark 3 fence = painfull

in what way -(fiddly, not accurate, useless ?)
thanx
Bob

Mk3 fence is a right royal PITA.

If you want to rip > 300mm you have to flip the table top, but even then that only gives you up to 450mm

2000 fence is fully adjustable, and very easy to use, and from memory it goes further that 450mm.

The 2000 fence is also useful when using the planer attachment. Too much trouble to bother with the mk3 fence.

If you must get a triton get the 2000. The fence is the biggest advantage but there are also others, getting parts for the mk3 will likely become increasingly difficult, if you want to get some of the new accessories they will fit with less fidddling around on the 2000, etc.

I started with a 2000 and then upgraded to a tablesaw but you can get a great deal done with 2000. Its limitations are mainly not been able to tilt the blade, the saw is loud, the mitre slot is hopeless and dust exctraction is not great withou the dust bag. Having said that you can get around most of these by making your own jigs (except for the noise).

regards

Marios

I have a Mk3. Bought it at a run-out price when Triton was introducing the 2000.

It has served me very well and whilst there are the purist woodworkers (= woodworking snobs ) who will suggest that the Tritons are a toy compared with a heavy cast iron table saw, the mere portability of my Triton has seen me do a helluva more work out of doors with it than I could have done with something else. eg being able to toss it in the back of my station wagon and take it to my Mum's house to use in renovating her bathroom was a great convenience some years ago.

Having said that though, if I had my time over, I would probably try to find the extra $ to get a 2000 for all of the reasons stated. I would not upgrade from the Mk 3 now as my next upgrade will be to something else but there have been times when I have found the fence a bit tedious to use.

Mm. Tricky. The 2000 is definietly better. The real question is is it better value given the s/h prices of mk3's.

Dunno.

For what it's worth I think you need to decide why your getting a Triton in the first place. They are very good at what they are designed for, portable, pack away, versatile. The real question is what do you expect to be doing and how is your space situation ?

If you don't have room to have a permanent bench setup the Triton is magic. I set mine up in the space my car usually occupies, and a bloke across from my girlfriend pull his out in the driveway most every weekend. (That's an opening for Cliff

The other huge advantage with them is they do general carpentry. Most other "systems" are joinery focused. That's fine if you want to make dovetails all day, but they have serious limitations when you want to say make big timber frames. Some years back I knocked down an ancient post and rail hardwood fence. I built a 10' by 2' by 8' high set of HEAVY shelves for engines and stuff. Woodrat and Incra would have been next to useless. Triton is very handy for that sort of thing. Building a timber shed ? or a house ? Triton will be somewhat useful. Maybe a drop saw is more useful for crosscuts and a table saw for ripping, but they become limited for joinery. So you either buy all the specialist tools and end up with a nicer workshop but at greater expense and space requirements or if your doing a bit of everything you get a Triton. Or you define a limit to the scope of work your undertaking. Or you go for handtools, powered or unpowered.

So the point is you have options, and Triton is one good option.

Has anyone else noticed the finger jointer has no length limits on it ? When I get round to putting mine together I'm going to see if it can be used for dovetails. I have a feeling with a bit of fiddling...

Yes I would go for the 2000. Have only seen a MK3 once and I didn't like much about what I saw. It was in my shed for a few months while my Uncle was building our house and the couple of times I had to move it were enough to make me glad mine was a 2000.

Yes the triton is the best for me ..... space....portability....and other options.
I will get the 2000 as that is the consensus ( but it makes sense when you think about it newer version would have to be improved on the previous model.)

thanx for all your input I feel confident now in my decision .

Bob

Bob,

You will not be disspointed in the 2000 in any way. Iv'e had mine since 2000 and its always been one of the best things I have ever bought. its survived 4 moves including one interstate and done a swag of work with it and its still going strong. My saw still has the original blade on it and its probably going to need a trip to the saw doctor one of these days but just not yet.

Damian summed it up pretty well. I started with a old 2nd hand Mk3. flaking paint on the top etc, but it served me well. I then upgraded to a 2000 and it is much better, which rips up to 620 wide.

Mk3 fence has two locking bolts, and two scales. The scales are two far from the locking bolt, so it may say 210mm at one end when you lock it on, when you lock the other end at 210mm, the original now be 205mm. Takes a bit of fiddling to get it right. reset the 205 to 210, and the other end my now be 211.

The 2000 locks on at 210mm and stays there, regardless of the other end of the fence.

I don't think parts for the mk3 are much of an issue as most can be made from something else if needed, (except for the top)

Both are portable. Portable not just to take it to some other work-site, but portable in that it can be either packed up out of the way, or simply pushed into a corner for storage, something a table saw can't do as readily.. 2000 folds up in no time, the mk3 takes a bit.

Accessories are designed around the 2000 and are a compromise fit for the Mk3.

thanx guys for all your advice. taken on board and 2000 will be it. it feels good to make a decision.

Good choice.