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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
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    Perth
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    Default Good table saw under $400?

    Hi,
    I am looking to buy my first table saw. I have read some stories about cheap table saws having poor alignment, wobbly fences and loose mitre guides. I don't have a dedicated workshop, only a single garage which I try and park the car in when ever I am not working on a project, so need something reasonably small and portable. I was wondering what you think of this table saw from hare and forbes machinery house Model ST-13 TABLE SAW with Sliding Table It is $385. I am not keen to over invest and have a budget of around $400.
    Thanks for your comments,
    DustyFeet.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
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    Mt Crosby, Brisbane
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    Awful. You would be better off with a triton. Some here have argued that saw is ok, when it's been mentioned previously, but I looked it over in H&F and wondered how you could get a good cut off it. Search the forum for previous threads.

    Depends on what you want to do. If your making small stuff that requires precision the tables like the makita might be a good option. If you just want something to saw with consider a band saw which can be parked in a corner, even quite a big bandsaw. If your doing larger jobs which require less precision consider a triton, although second hand prices are apparently up just now apparently. If you can put it in a corner consider one of the quality second hand table saws on ebay, put it on wheels. Most have detachable side wings and can be packed up fairly small, about the size of a fridge. If you can squeeze that in the corner...

    VINTAGE 8inch CRAFTSMAN TABLE SAW Mid 1960s - eBay Saws, Power Tools, Tools, Home. (end time 01-Feb-10 20:44:33 AEDST)

    Artisan combination table saw - eBay Saws, Power Tools, Tools, Home. (end time 06-Feb-10 13:59:26 AEDST)

    TABLE SAW- EZYCUT - eBay Saws, Power Tools, Tools, Home. (end time 11-Feb-10 11:13:17 AEDST)

    need to look at them and see if they would suit.
    I'm just a startled bunny in the headlights of life. L.J. Young.
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  4. #3
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    Try and get a table with a cast iron top. If you find it is not alligned properly, do a search on youtube under tablesaw set up - the is a good series of videos there. Even though you have set a budget of $400, think seriously about spending a few hundred more. Don't skimp now, you will regret it in the NEAR future. Get a mobile base as well to move it around.

  5. #4
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    Feb 2007
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    Katherine ,Northern Territory
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    Default

    Tad more than 400.00
    Just tools has the Makita table saw at around 530 dollars in thier catalogue at the moment.
    Might be worth a look .
    Shows it at $680 on the website but I have thier latest cattle dog and its less than the website price.
    This machine looks to be a solid bit of gear.
    Makita 255mm Table Saw #MLT100

    Kev
    "Outside of a dog a book is man's best friend ,inside a dog it's too dark to read"
    Groucho Marx

  6. #5
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    Aug 2008
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    Shepparton *ugh*
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    Quote Originally Posted by DustyFeet View Post
    I have read some stories about cheap table saws having poor alignment, wobbly fences and loose mitre guides.
    One of those would be the Ryobi ETS1526AL I ended up with from Bunnings as my first saw. At first glance it was ok and did the job, but after maybe 2 hours work with it I was in the Yellow Pages looking for a liquid nitrogen supplier so I could smash the thing into itty bitty bits.

    I'm stuck with it...the magic blue smoke escaped from my Delta 36-600 and I can't get a motor for it...but I can get some quite usable cuts from the Ryobi after doing some mods. The mongreling that has to be done to get around its short-comings is untenable though, and if I had the money I'd get something else decent to last a life time and use the Ryobi as a toboggan.



    ...it probably couldn't even do that right...

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Hobart
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    5,105

    Default

    Hi Dusty Feet

    Collectively, you have received some excellent advice, which should help you make an informed and considered decision. My biggest woodworking mistake over the years has been buying crap tools - fewer good stuff is the way to go.

    I have owned a Triton since 1983 and it has had a lot of use - now on its third saw! If you add up the cost of the triton, 235mm saw, triton stand and the saw plate, then the cost will be well over your $400 budget, and you can buy a far more precise table saw for the same dollars.

    25 years ago the situation was quite different - inexpensive table saws simply did not exist and the Triton was then good value for money. In my opinion, that is no longer the case. (I had better duck before the Triton fanatics respond).

    Good luck with your search

    Cheers

    Graeme

  8. #7
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    Oct 2007
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    Might be a dumb suggestion, but might be a good lead. The Newmac site has an older Gilbro 10inch (Tilting top) saw listed. Woodworking machinery from Newmac Equipment.

    Fairly compact, cast iron saw on a pressed metal base, takes standard 9 1/4 or 10 inch blades (16mm arbour) will carry dado sets to 3/4 thick. Probably well within your price range. They were originlly sold as a combo saw/ 6in jointer but this one appears to have lost the jointer over time. Paid $400 for one (complete) plus a DW radial arm saw, and ten blades about 4 years ago, so it shouldn't cost the earth.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Perth
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    7

    Default Many thanks for the advice

    Graeme,
    I concur, everyone has provided me with some excellent advice and suggestions - all of which I have been considering - many thanks to you all.

    The posts have made me think very carefully about what to buy and see if I can stretch the budget. I have been keeping a keen eye on ebay.

    They certainly designed equipment to last back in the 50's and 60's! Seems like today they have pushed the price point so low, the equipment is barely functional based on some people's experience!

    I am leaning towards an older unit, or something with a solid table. In terms of new the Makita looks good - I have a black and decker workmate and may be able to build a base that I can clamp to the workmate. I have already build a simple router table that attaches to the workmate. Will need to sweet talk the misses a little more though.

    The older units look impressive - really solid. Safety is a bit of a concern as some seem to be missing guards and electrics look a bit ordinary in some cases. I will still keep looking and have my eye on one suggested. I would prefer not to spend time refurbishing however.

    Our first born arrived 7 weeks early a couple of weeks ago so things have been a bit hectic. I am frantically trying to find time to finish a change table while juggling work and trips to the special care unit at the maternity hospital. The cot is the next project on the to do list. A table saw will help speed things up.
    I'll keep you posted on what I buy.
    Thanks again everyone. Great forum.

  10. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by GraemeCook View Post
    My biggest woodworking mistake over the years has been buying crap tools - fewer good stuff is the way to go.
    Never a truer word said.

    Like a lot of people I learned that the hard way, and nowadays I buy even something simple like screwdrivers and drill bits singularly for the price of a "common" set because I'm sick to freakin' death of things breaking, bending and doing worse jobs than you could with a lengthy fingernail.

    Although, I'll concede that sometimes budgets and long term requirements allow you to get away with the cheapies.


    Congrats on the bub too Dusty

  11. #10
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    Apr 2006
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    Hobart
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    Congratulations on your first-born, Dusty.

    Now the little one is going to need a lot of stuff, and you will need a nice saw to make it ......

    If you have the time to wait and to search, I fully concur that quality used gear may be the way to go.

    Good Luck

    Cheers

    Graeme

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

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    Quote Originally Posted by DustyFeet View Post
    The cot is the next project on the to do list. A table saw will help speed things up.
    Congrats on your first born

    This part of your post caught my attention. I am assuming you are aware there are some fairly strict requirements for building cots, primarily due to things like SIDS and such. I know myself as I am also expecting my first and had considered building a cot, but decided against it as I don't trust my skills as yet to build something that would comply.

    Cheers
    Jason

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7

    Default I bought a Makita MLT 100

    I looked hard and long at ebay, particularly the ones Damian suggested - many thanks. The artisan went for over $900! It was really hard to assess the quality of the second hand saws. Particularly the electrical safety. I didn't want to start a refurbishment job and buy additional parts.
    I found the MLT100 for $549 on special at Powertool specialists in Carlton Vic and visited last sat. (This special has ended now, but they are available on ebay for similar prices).
    The saw is very impressive, slow start and brake. Cast alum table top, sliding table, table extensions, cam lock fence and mitre gauge. These parts fit neatly on the side out of the way when you don't need them. I had a chat to the guy in the shop and also bought an aluminium cross cut blade to cut melamine chipboard. I mounted it on my black and decker workmate for now. Still thinking about a long term solution.

    My first impressions were - 'this thing is powerful!' I spent a bit of time checking alignments and fitting the riving knife and blade cover. The first cuts I made I couldn't believe how quiet it was compared to my knackered out circular saw. I have only been cutting melamine chip so far.

    The only problem I have found is that the dust from the aluminium blade is like talc. A mask is a must. My old vacuum cleaner is plugged in to the dust extractor port and still struggles to grab most of the dust. There is no dust port on the blade cover and some dust spits back at you if you stand in line with the blade. The fence supplied is not perfectly square with the table surface, but pretty good otherwise.

    Table is best lifted by two people unless you visit a gym regularly or don't want to visit your chiropractor. I am thinking of making a pulley and winch system to store it up above the car. Space is a bit of a premium in my single garage. For now the saw has presidence over the car.

    Overall, I am very pleased and looking forward to putting it to good use.

    TCT Blade diameter - 260mm
    Depth of cut @ 90 degrees - 91mm
    Depth of cut @ 45 degrees - 63mm
    Bore size - 30mm
    Table size - length 590 x 790mm, width 610 x 760mm
    No Load speed - 4500rpm
    Input Wattage - 1500w
    Net weight - 38kg

    And a couple of pics, one of the saw
    Thanks for all your suggestions and help.

    and one of the new addition to the family (Littlefeet) Born at 33weeks weighing 1.17kg (2.5lbs).

    (Jason, Thanks for the reminder on cot safety, I am still researching the design and might buy some plans. I found a copy of the standard and will check it out.)

    Regards,
    Dustyfeet and Littlefeet.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
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    Lara, VIC
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    Who would ever buy a triton now when you can get a makita like that!

    Will be interested to see long term what your impressions are. It looks pretty cool, now how does it cut stuff other than chipboard

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    blue mountains
    Posts
    4,882

    Default

    Dustyfeet,
    Looks like a serious bit of gear. I have never seen a makita like that. It does pay to have a good look around and not opt for the first thing that comes along.
    Congratulations on the family addition too. Should keep you alert for the next 20 years or so.
    Regards
    John

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    us
    Posts
    1

    Default

    You can buy a table saw from China with cheap price and good quality to save your money.

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