Thread: What table saw to buy for DIY 2024 in the UK?

I guess you realise this an Oz site?
If I was you I’d be getting onto a UK WOODIES group and see what they recommend.
Im a big fan of UK built Wadkin Bursgreen AGS tablesaws. Last made in 1970s!
Do a search on that and you’ll get stuff for sale and if you ad ‘any good?’ You should be directed to the local groups over there and the resident experts and their opinions.
H.

If you want future proof, then get something with an induction motor, and not a "universal" motor,
as if those let out the magic smoke, then you'll be lookin for a new saw.

I'd be looking on ebay and gumtree to find something like a Startrite 275 or Sedgewick 315,
or something similar, ready for work for 500 quid.
That'll likely be three phase, so a hundred quid VFD will be needed, especially for the soft start feature, if using 13a plug.
Might get lucky though, that is... should you have 16a "commando" sockets, and find a 240v machine if,not wanting the fuss of three phase .

I wouldn't recommend anything else, and suggest you find someone who can give you a rundown, or
find an honest, non honeymoon video of one of those box store types, warped tables, flimsy inserts, rickety fences what won't stay true,
and all in all, not worth the money or time investing in bells and whistles for, and not all that junk you might see from youtubers recommendations,
but stuff like infeed, (for the PAIR of real HSE UK spec pushsticks'450 mm long)
as I've not seen anyone equipping such an infeed for comfortable controllable use,
not to mention something mentioned will have a proper crown guard and not some token gesture,
or indeed adjustment for ripping, with the machine at least be worth sorting that with something nice, if not present,
Much quieter, reliable, worth making good jigs for; I could go on.

Just saying, those box store saws are a danger in my book.

Presumably, you might have copped that the American videos are not to be trusted, unsafe, i.e
on average
sixty five thousand hospital visits involving circular saws per annum!
99% of anything you'll see will be breaking the rules,
the rules in the UK that is, Steve Maskery and Roy Sutton safe wood machining would be two fellas worth looking up,
saying that, you'll not get a complete show, but merely some tips, but probably the best start you'll find,
aswell as the 20 UK threads I've linked to, in a recent post.

Presumably you've been to that place and also theWoodhaven2 for a mooch around,
might be worth keeping an eye, to see if something might pop up there also.

Good luck
Tom

And also worth noting, the ability the surface the timber face and edge prior, is a given,
as you're not cutting rough timber for close enough,get er done, building site purposes, kinda thing.
So a hand plane or two is a must, even if you've got a lunchbox screamer, thicknesser, as you still gotta make it straight first.

Like you, I also use CAD - I have a slight preference for Rhino 8 or Autocad over Fusion 360, but use all three - and also use CAD to design how to make something. Forces me to really think through what I am doing. "If I cannot draw it, I cannot make it".

Those furniture products that you listed cab be made from solid timber or from sheet material. If the latter, then I would question whether you "need" a bench saw. I hate the dust from MDF and chipboard. I get a local joinery to supply, cut and edgeband (if needed) sheet materials. It is cost effective, no dust to breath and cutting is really accurate (~0.1 mm).

Your first sentence stated "I am an electronic engineer by profession and live in the UK." Did you wish to tell us that you have never done anything with your hands or that you have an engineer's inherent love for precision and efficiency? Or both? "Future proofing" probably infers the latter. There are a number of options.

Commercial Equipment

If you have three phase power, then used commercial equipment can be extremely good value for money.

For smaller equipment you may be able to use a VFD on single phase.

Pro-sumer Equipment

I will give you a hierarchy of table saws for a small workshop.

• deWalt 7492 - from c.£900,
• Festool Precisio family - from c.£1200,
• Mafell Erika family - from c.£1500.

Then go along to your local deWalt dealer (or two) and have a good look at the sawbench, look for precision of parts, rigidlty, ease of adjusting, ease of use and listen to it running; you ears are good quality control agents, and try using it, if possible.

Then ring you local Festool dealer, make an appointment for a demonstration of their Precisio and repeat the above. Warning; the agent knows that Festoolitus is contagious. Note the difference in quality and decide if it is worth £300 to you.

If you liked the Festool, then do the same with the Mafell. Is the price variance justified to you?

Then have a look at as many videos of the Mafell, Festool and deWalt being used. I think you might come up with a precision and ease of use hierarchy of Mafell, Festool and then deWalt. It does not take many stuff ups and wasted materials to justify a £300 price variance. But I am not you.