Thread: Under $1k table saw or 2nd hand?

I will let you a little secret - your order will come in after you have bought the saw, and you may suddenly realise - what I've just bought can not fill in those orders and you upgrade again....

A few years after I first started, a customer asked if I can make her a piece of furniture, back then I only had a chop saw, a table saw and a drill, and I needed a combination machine at least to make what she want, the combo machine is 15 times the $ she is willing to pay for the furniture to be made.

I bought the combo at the end, it served me well, I have made and sold a few things with the combo, I have recouped the cost and also made some machine upgrade money.

I've sold the combo in mid 2018 and bought a near new dedicated panel saw by Griggio, a new Felder AD951 and a 40 yo spindle moulder by Casadei. The spindle moulder maybe replaced next year with a Felder unit (possibly a Format Profil 45 Z), do I make enough now to justify the Profil 45? I certainly dont make enough now. but new opportunity will rise up with purchase of new machinery.

Hope this helps...

Well this is just my experience and opinion.

I had a triton some years back. After about a year I lashed out and bought a proper 12" hybrid saw. I could not believe the difference. I went on to add a router wing and incra and it is now the center of my workshop. Worth every penny. BUT it owes me over $2k.

So what would I do in your position ?

I would look for a good second hand cabinet saw. I wish I'd spent the extra $500 when I bought mine and bought the cabinet rather than hybrid contractors saw. Second hand the price differences are not worth worrying about.

The important thing is the mechanism is good, tight, accurate, smooth winding. You will buy blades anyway and motors are easy to replace. Most tablesaws come with rubbish fences. If the top is flat and the mechanism works buy it and upgrade as you can.

A quality second hand machine is probably a better thing than the news ones, most of which are pos. I spent weeks looking at them before I bought mine and frankly I wouldn't give you tuppence for most of them, right up to the $2k plus mark. Don't overlook 3phase machines. They can sometimes be picked up for almost nothing are excellent quality and conversion either by remotoring or VFD can be very economical.

Edit: I wouldn't bother with any of the machines you list. The ST13 would drive me nuts, flexible top like the triton. Unless you need portability the makita etc are also not good choices.

Just had a poke around on gumtee. Your profile says you are in brisbane so here is what I'd be looking at locally:

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/sand...saw/1201318480

Makita second hand $300. At least if you buy second hand you won't lose as much when you get fed up with it.

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/ceda...saw/1201877065

3 phase panel saw $600. You could buy a vfd or motor and still be under your $1000.

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/pott...saw/1201553076

I don't know what that machine is like, not sure what it is. $750

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/fore...hp-/1201126476

The rolls royce option $800.

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/miam...ner/1193734761

The eccentric option. Not a great saw but better than what you have, plus a planer

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/burp...ner/1201467216

Finally over your budget but I'd be seriously looking at this one.

Hi Albert, thanks for your insights, but no it doesn’t really help. I’m just a home DIYer and not a professional shop so upgrading to the machines I can’t afford or need is not really a solution.


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What about a Jepson brand? Are these any good?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...0147113149698/


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Or a Scheppach HS120 Table Saw Ø315mm Max. Blade Diameter?

https://www.machines4u.com.au/view/a...ameter/317778/




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I'd say no. it's still in the same category as a Triton, only with what looks like it might have a marginally stronger table... I guess it's intended to be adjustable easier which IS a good thing…

I would discount the durden one on gumtree as I don't think it has a tilting arbor, and if that's one of the things you were after....

Edit: and the Scheppach - no way to easily create a sled (no mitre slots), so I'd be saying no there too. Compare it to the SB-12 and you can see the substantial change in build quality and fence quality IMHO. https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/W452

I am very much like you - although I knew before I bothered setting up a Triton that it wouldn't suit. I have done exactly what others have suggested - keep an eye on ebay/gumtree and wait for a good deal on something that is substantially better than what you have. For me, that was buying a Paul Call cast iron topped unit (although it has its own quirks, especially on tilting!!) and I'll keep an equal eye out for another good deal on something that's substantially better than what I have, with the expectation that I won't lose much on the sale of the other one. But also part of me keeps thinking "sawstop" and when I am in a position to, I may well make that move instead of spending 1.5k+ on something second hand that doesn't have that safety feature

Thanks Poundy. TBH I couldn’t zoom in to see the detail on the Scheppach but I can see now why they have those inclined rails to the side, because they don’t have mitre tracks. See I’m such a newbie to these styles.


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What’s the SB-12 like for dust control? Does it most fall under the table or has suction shroud to catch as much as possible? That is definitely a nice machine, wouldn’t mind one of those 2nd hand!


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Originally Posted by Runningman

What’s the SB-12 like for dust control? Does it most fall under the table or has suction shroud to catch as much as possible? That is definitely a nice machine, wouldn’t mind one of those 2nd hand!

The SB12 is basically what I have. I completely removed the plastic shroud off the underside of the blade and fitted an inverted pyramidal hopper in between the base of the cabinet and the legs and cut a 150mm hole in the peak of the pyramid. Then I partially blocked off the back of the saw and it's become one of the better under table dust collections on any TS. In terms of dust collection the OH guard is rubbish but then again they are rubbish on most TS.

Personally, I was hoping to get something that wasn't a contractor saw, but as BobL says you can certainly do a lot with some mods to drastically improve dust collection.

You will find an SB-12 or equivalent second hand, they come up often, just not when you're watching Set up an alert and be prepared to wait, that would be my suggestion, unless you have a project that you need to knock out before Christmas that means you can't wait...

A couple of simple questions:

- do you have ready access to 3-phase?
- can you set up a heavy TS and leave it permanently in place?

'Cos for bang-fer-buck, I'd be looking at something similar to the last few links Damian provided...

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

A couple of simple questions:

- do you have ready access to 3-phase?
- can you set up a heavy TS and leave it permanently in place?

'Cos for bang-fer-buck, I'd be looking at something similar to the last few links Damian provided...

No to 1
No to 2
Lol

Budget is the limit. I can’t justify spending over $1k for a TS I will use every 2nd weekend on DIY stuff.
If it was a profitable business venture then yeah but not for what I need it


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Don't by a saw with a sheet steel table. Cast aluminium or cast iron.

You want miter grooves in standard size. You will regret it if you don't have them or if they are non standard.

As an interim solution the makita for $300 is an infinitely better solution than any of the new saws you have posted.

You did not previously mention you couldn't leave it set up. Mine is on wheels and I can drag it over to the wall. You can also make a top for it (to protect the table) and use it as a workbench. I happen to have progrip clamps and the saw makes a great anchor to sand things using the clamps. No doubt it could be bent to other uses.

As I said you specified a budget of $1000. The 3 phase machines were enough under $1k to allow conversion or vfd.