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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
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    South of Perth
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    Default Rockwell 254mm table saw

    Hi all, newbie to the forum and first post. I am looking to purchase my 1st table saw, and while I would love a $1500 cabinet saw, my finances, as dictated by SWMBO , will never stretch that far. As such I find I have to limit myself to $3-350.
    Having looked around, it is almost impossible to get a decent 2nd hand table saw for that price, especially here in Perth, meaning I am pretty much resigned to buying either the Ryobi TS or the Ozito flip from the big green B. I have seen on this interwebby thing that there is a Rockwell TS available for close to my price range, and after a bit of research found out that Rockwell used to own Delta, and that Rockwell seem to have a reasonable rep in the States. They don't have the router table option like the Ryobi, but am willing to sacrifice that if it is a better quality ts. I have read all the opinions on the Ryobi (especially regards the rip fence), and know that for the price I can afford it is almost decent, so it is currently the front runner for my meagre spend. Have never bought Ryobi before, have some Bosch, GMC, Ozito (jigsaw has lasted me 12 years of infrequent use) and recognise that the quality is not that of a Makita, Hitachi, Jet, Delta etc., but being a single income family of 4 for the last 21 years, and requiring two budgets due to my travelling for extended periods for work, I have learned to adapt and overcome.
    Has anyone here purchased or looked at one of these saws (RT7251),and do they have any opinions on them compared to the Ryobi/Ozito. Thanks in advance for any comments.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Melbourne
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    Default

    Hi. I have had some experience with Rockwell, Ryobi and Ozito whilst not specifically with their table saws. Firstly, I would say steer clear of Ozito. My four year old uses a screwdriver I bought as a drill as it is in no danger of doing any harm to him and useless to me!

    Ryobi I have found to be ok having used several of their products. Bear in mind they are definitely pitted at the DIY market.

    I have a Rockwell SCMS and after learning its quirks I am satisfied with it for the moment. Unfortunately, it goes out of square a little too often and there is a little too much sideways travel (2mm either way) in the sliding arm that I have to compensate for. This is probably what I suspect will be the case with the cheaper items and brands.

    If I could make a suggestion I would look into the Triton range. This is what I use as a table saw. I have a space problem and simply cannot fit one in my workshop so a portable Triton Workcentre does the job for me. If a new one from Carbatec is too expensive have a look for a second hand one on eBay. You might be lucky and find one that meets your budget. All you need then is a circular saw that you may already own or have the opportunity to buy one that then has a dual purpose. They also have a smaller one, the compact table saw, which is serviceable but wasn't as popular and now no longer available new. I have found Triton to be of good quality and accuracy for the DIYer, semi-serious woodie. Checkout one of the sponsors of this forum Stu's Shed for heaps of reviews.

    Hope this helps.

    Also, I have just looked at the Rockwell and I am confident it will basically do the job but don't expect the accuracy, power and perhaps repeatability of the more expensive saws.
    Last edited by metester; 23rd June 2010 at 08:36 PM. Reason: Further info

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
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    Bundaberg
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    54
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    Default

    G'day Lifer,

    With your budget you are going to struggle to get anything really good new. I also have no knowledge of the specific saws you're looking at buying but I do know budget tools (from bitter experience!) The table saw is probably the most useful and used item in my workshop; I have two. One is an old Power Devil I improved; this is a smaller and cheaper version of the Ryobi machine. The other is a Triton 2000.

    The Triton in my mind is definately the preferred one to go for, keep a keen eye out for 2nd hand ones in the Trading Post, Quokka and E-bay. This machine has been worshipped and sworn at in equal amounts but I will only get rid of mine when I can afford a Felder. If you can get one with the proper Triton saw, the wheels and the height winder you're onto a winner. Add one of the extension tables and you've got a machine that has the potential to do almost anything a proper panel saw will. It all boils down to how well you set it up in the first place, if I was to buy a 2nd hand model I would strip it down and start again from scratch.

    If you decide to go down the new tool route then I probably would go for the Ryobi. I own a few Ryobi bits and while I would say they are overated they are at least a known brand; from what I've seen of Rockwell they look to be another Ozito. Then, when funds permit, ditch the blade and buy a better one (CMT, Flai or Freud, not Irwin or Torquata). This will transform the machine's abilities. You may not use the router attachment for a while but you will want to! BTW, probably only Ryobi routers will fit in it though.

    As an aside however, this week Aldi are flogging a table saw similar in spec to the Rockwell for $200. I would certainly have a look tomorrow when they go on sale and take it into consideration.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    South of Perth
    Posts
    54

    Default

    Well, I am now the proud owner of a Triton 2000 saw bench with 235mm Hitachi saw, as well as a Triton Router table with Hitachi Router, along with a spare crosscut blade and 20 odd router bits, for the princely sum of $350. I am looking forward to becoming familiar with all the words of praise and condemnation that other users of this gear experience. Thanks to those that replied to my original post and guided me in what I firmly hope is the right direction for a long and rewarding relationship with my new Triton tables. Even SWMBO was reasonably impressed with the deal when I showed her a few Ebay offers.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
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    Melbourne
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    Default



    All that for $350??

    WELL DONE!!

    Hope you enjoy using it

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Melbourne
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    Default

    Nice work. That is a great deal. My tip is spend a little time at initial setup and check everything is adjusted properly and nicely square and recheck on occasion and you won't be disappointed. Good luck. Looking forward to seeing some posts of your work

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Katherine ,Northern Territory
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    69
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    1,977

    Default

    On saw blades , check Northwood tools , I bought a blade off them a while back (2yrs ago ? ) it was quite reasonably priced .
    I have it in my SCMS and it has cut a ton of timber and also some aluminium bar stock and small green logs .
    It is still cutting nice clean cuts after all this time ,I'm impressed with it .
    I reckon you got a good deal on the Triton stuff , much better value than you would have got from what you were looking at before.

    The only Ryobi table saw to get is the BT3100 ,around $900 give or take a few $ from Bunnings
    It still needs work but it has a big following in the US and they even have a website and forum dedicated to it.
    The 300 dollar one just dosent cut it at all.(pun intended)
    I don't think you'll be disappointed with the triton .
    Kev.
    "Outside of a dog a book is man's best friend ,inside a dog it's too dark to read"
    Groucho Marx

  9. #8
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    Jun 2010
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    Bundaberg
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    Crickey, you got a bloody good deal there; well done!

    The best thing you can do now with this gear is strip it all back down and rebuild it from scratch taking your time to get everything absolutely spot on. Do this and you won't regret it; I built mine in 2004 and I've only actually had to re-adjust the saw position once after using it most weekends and three interstate moves.

    Did you pick up all the instructions and spare odds and sods for them? I can help you with the instructions if not, just PM me.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    South of Perth
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    Default

    Thanks for the offer Tiff (you ex navy by any chance?) Both tables came with original instructions, and appear to be complete with most of the smaller bits and pieces. On closer inspection they are running a Hitachi C9 circular saw and Hitachi TR-12 router, from what I can glean from the internet, both very good products. Have always liked Hitachi, ever since my days of assisting doing home extensions. Used to have a 9" Makita and a 7" Hitachi, and wood that was bogging down the Makita, or even worse, that it couldn't cut, the little green machine just chewed up and spat out.

    I had a look at the work that the elderly gentleman I purchased it from had done, and was extremely impressed, I am satisfied that the saw is set correctly, he actually made a couple of cuts in front of me. He actually told me that it took him 4 days to set it up, because a job worth doing is worth doing well. The intention now is to spend this weekend cleaning it up as best I can, so any tips on maintenance would be greatly appreciated.

    The next task is to convince SWMBO that part of my tax return would be well spent trying to acquire the Blade Height winder, the wheel kit and the maxi slide table to complete the set. After that, a cheap thicknesser and I would be a contented man, whom she would almost never see again, between going on deployments and enjoying the delights of my shed.

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Perth WA (Carine)
    Age
    64
    Posts
    1,325

    Default

    Hi, being an ex owner of the Triton saw bench and current owner of the router table, I can say that you did get an extremely and also rare good deal. Sounds like the chap set the saw bench up for you and you're out of the starting blocks. I have made many raised panel doors on the Triton router table. The doors came up perfect (start with straight stable timber). You can do much with what you have purchased. I'm afraid though - you have started on a very slippery slope. Those tools breed like rabbits when SWMBO is not looking.
    Happy woodworking.
    Regards
    Les

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Lara, VIC
    Age
    50
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    747

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by LifetimeBan View Post
    Well, I am now the proud owner of a Triton 2000 saw bench with 235mm Hitachi saw, as well as a Triton Router table with Hitachi Router, along with a spare crosscut blade and 20 odd router bits, for the princely sum of $350. I am looking forward to becoming familiar with all the words of praise and condemnation that other users of this gear experience. Thanks to those that replied to my original post and guided me in what I firmly hope is the right direction for a long and rewarding relationship with my new Triton tables. Even SWMBO was reasonably impressed with the deal when I showed her a few Ebay offers.
    See if you can get the Triton training DVD. I used to own a WC2K and the DVD was excellent. I kept a copy on XVID as a memento when I upgraded to a cabinet saw.

    The original inventor of the WC2000 takes you through a whole heap of tips and tricks for the workcentre and it's really informative.

    Cheers
    Jason

  13. #12
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    Jul 2008
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    Lara, VIC
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    50
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    Default

    PM sent

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Cheltenham, Melbourne
    Age
    74
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    2,224

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by LifetimeBan View Post
    Well, I am now the proud owner of a Triton 2000 saw bench with 235mm Hitachi saw, as well as a Triton Router table with Hitachi Router, along with a spare crosscut blade and 20 odd router bits, for the princely sum of $350. I am looking forward to becoming familiar with all the words of praise and condemnation that other users of this gear experience. Thanks to those that replied to my original post and guided me in what I firmly hope is the right direction for a long and rewarding relationship with my new Triton tables. Even SWMBO was reasonably impressed with the deal when I showed her a few Ebay offers.
    Has it got the height winder on it?

    First job for the Triton should be to make yourself a crosscut sled for it. You will never regret it.
    Chris
    ========================================

    Life isn't always fair

    ....................but it's better than the alternative.

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    South of Perth
    Posts
    54

    Default Thanks for the info but.....

    I've sold the Workcentre. I have kept the router table however. It was a bit sad, because I could see how the Triton could be real good, but the opportunity to pick up a 10" contractors TS for $325 came up and I really couldn't knock it back, so in the interest of marital harmony, the workcentre had to go to recoup the cost of the TS. I got the $325 I was asking for it, and managed to retain both the Triton router table/stand and the dust collection system, so from that perspective they cost me $25. Again thanks for the good oil on things TSish, and now look forward to playing with my new toys. After a quick 3 days at sea, I will build a crosscut sled and a wheeled base for the TS, then I need to re-install a splitter where it is meant to be, instead of the one the previous owner installed on the fence rail.

  16. #15
    acmegridley Guest

    Default

    The rt7251 saw was advertised in the Mitre 10 Fathers Day brochure for $299 but when I went to have a look at it nobody had one,tried three stores same reply "we can order you one in,Didnt arrive,dont know anything about it
    Seems false advertising to me,seemed reasonably priced at $299. I have emailed the company but have yet to receive a reply,perhaps they are holding them back as the advertised price is $349
    Anybody any ideas?
    I dont want to buy a pig in a poke and would like to look at it before committing to purchase.
    Link is here page 35
    http://www.rockwelltools.com.au/imag..._Product10.pdf

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