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  1. #1
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    Default Any of the portable table saws good enough for box making?

    I put up a post regarding a suitable table saw in the Table Saw forum. I've had a few replies but am just wondering if anybody here has/is using a portable table saw such as Bunnings sell to produce their boxes. The main reason that I need the table saw is for box making. My preferred boxes would be mitred edge boxes but also boxes with box joints. I have made these by hand but it is slow and I would like to speed up the process somewhat. The portable table saws that I've seen range anywhere from $200 for Ozito to Dewalt at approx $850. I am leaning toward the Dewalt as it has a rigid fence.

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  3. #2
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    Sep 2011
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    Default

    Hi Tiger,

    All I can say is,....I luvvvvvvvvv my DeWalt, best decision ever to buy it.

    DeWalt Table Saw DW744XP-XE


    Paul

  4. #3
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    Default

    Hi Paul,

    What is it in particular that you love about the DeWalt and do you make mitre edge boxes with it?

  5. #4
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    Sep 2011
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    Default

    Hi Tiger,

    I graduated from my old Triton WorkCentre which served me well. Made all the timber furniture for this house with it, so it was pretty good at the time. But when I got into boxmaking about 4 or 5 years ago it just wasn't precise enough. I don't use it to cut mitre joints, I use my Makita compound mitre saw for that. But I don't really make that many boxes with mitre joints in them. I would imagine my DeWalt would do them ok. As the blade tilts down to 45 degrees.

    With the DeWalt you can make all kinds of various sleds and jigs etc. I've made a jig where I can cut finger joints down to 2.5mm, the thickness of my blade. I use a DeWalt 80 tooth blade for most of my work. However if I want to rip I put the original 25 tooth all purpose ripping blade back into it. I can rip up to about 150mm, as the blade rises up about 77mm.

    The fence is excellent, very accurate and easy to adjust.

    Just a very good saw, without spending a fortune.

    Paul

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Location
    Western Australia
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    168

    Default

    I reckon a tablesaw with a cross-cut sled is going to provide much more accurate cuts than a compound mitre saw.
    And you can easily make multiple cross-cut sleds - one for mitre cuts, one for straight cuts, one for splines, etc.

  7. #6
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    Aug 2008
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    Melbourne
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by mpot View Post
    I reckon a tablesaw with a cross-cut sled is going to provide much more accurate cuts than a compound mitre saw.
    Who mentioned a mitre saw?

  8. #7
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    Jun 2017
    Location
    Western Australia
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by elanjacobs View Post
    Who mentioned a mitre saw?
    No-one Just throwing in my 2c

    On a more relevant note, I think a cross-cut sled is likely to provide more accurate cuts for box-related work than a fence on a portable table saw.

  9. #8
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    Apr 2017
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    Dandenong Ranges
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    Default

    Actually Pauls321 mentioned that he does his mitres with a mitre saw. (Sorry but I'm a pain)

  10. #9
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    Apr 2017
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    Dandenong Ranges
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    Default

    Just realised I can be more useful.

    I have the Ozito table saw - the one about $200 with two miter slots and stand. I have successfully made mitred boxes with it. It is not good but a new fence and sleds made it useable. I had to take a little bit at a time and slide the piece (crosscut already) a little further and repeat until I got to mitre the full thickness. It does do it but if you can afford better then buy it. The old radial arm saw I cleaned up is so much better and I haven't really used the Ozito since.

  11. #10
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    Default

    Just as a side issue, as I said I don't really do many mitre boxes much now. But I did make a jig up for my DeWalt table saw some time ago. It allowed me to make the mitres on the 4 sides of the box. (8 ends). I then did a mitre cut on the inside of the tops of each 4 sides, (still with me). Then on the lid I made a mitre cut on the 4 sides which allowed me to drop the lid into the box. End result is you cant see any joints in the lid at all. Everything is flush.

    I made a couple of those but haven't since, a bit of mucking about, but a nice look.

    Paul

  12. #11
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    Apr 2013
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    Default

    I believe that with a bit of rejigging and making a sled that's accurate to the blade then a cheap table saw can work. But back to question of what came first the chicken or the egg, how do I make an replacement top and an accurate sled with an inaccurate saw. I guess you'd have to find someone with an accurate saw to help build it. $600 goes a long way in materials to make a saw accurate.

    With the help of my workshop I am going to convert an old $79 GMC table saw with a 210mm blade and a wonky flexible top to a sturdy accurate saw with a mitre sled and cross cut sled. I am space limited so it's a good option as I have the saw and just need some sturdy ply to attach.

  13. #12
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    Nov 2004
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    Eastern Suburbs Melbourne
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mnb View Post
    Just realised I can be more useful.

    I have the Ozito table saw - the one about $200 with two miter slots and stand. I have successfully made mitred boxes with it. It is not good but a new fence and sleds made it useable. I had to take a little bit at a time and slide the piece (crosscut already) a little further and repeat until I got to mitre the full thickness. It does do it but if you can afford better then buy it. The old radial arm saw I cleaned up is so much better and I haven't really used the Ozito since.
    I'm impressed that you can do anything with the Ozito saw let alone mitred boxes. My experience with mitred boxes is you only need to be a smidgeon out on either length or angle and the box was a failure. I guess if you can make that saw usable and that one is the bottom of the range then a better saw should be able to do what I need.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Melbourne
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    Default

    I'd be interested to see the responses in this thread, as I plan on buying my first ever table saw this weekend (likely from Bunnings).

    As I'm a beginner, I'd love the DeWalt, but can't justify $840 for it at present. I'm thinking about the Ryobi one Bunnings has, which seems to be middle tier compared to the $210 option from Ozito.

  15. #14
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    Jul 2017
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    Sydney
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mark_K View Post
    I'd be interested to see the responses in this thread, as I plan on buying my first ever table saw this weekend (likely from Bunnings).

    As I'm a beginner, I'd love the DeWalt, but can't justify $840 for it at present. I'm thinking about the Ryobi one Bunnings has, which seems to be middle tier compared to the $210 option from Ozito.
    I'm in the same boat as you (a beginner wanting a table saw) but i won't buy the Ozito or the Ryobi. I'm saving for the dewalt.

    I bought the Ozito Sliding Compound Mitre Saw and have a ryobi circular saw (needed them when i first moved house and couldn't wait) and i regret both.

    The Ozito is a right PITA to get square. I spent 20 minutes lining everything up and checking it was square on the weekend, as soon as you turn it on, it shifts.

    The Ryobi circular saw i've used about 5 times, and now the level to change the blade depth is jammed.

    If you need something quick to get a job done, fair enough. If you plan on using it for anything substantial, I'd wait (i'm very impatient but i've had to sit on my hands with this one). A lot of people say to buy 2nd hand. The only things i can find in my searches though are 2nd hand Ozito and Ryobi's though....

    If you do buy the Ozito, let me know how you get on with it though, i'd be interested to hear a fellow beginners thoughts on it.

  16. #15
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    Sep 2016
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    Melbourne
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Dibbers View Post
    I'm in the same boat as you (a beginner wanting a table saw) but i won't buy the Ozito or the Ryobi. I'm saving for the dewalt.

    I bought the Ozito Sliding Compound Mitre Saw and have a ryobi circular saw (needed them when i first moved house and couldn't wait) and i regret both.

    The Ozito is a right PITA to get square. I spent 20 minutes lining everything up and checking it was square on the weekend, as soon as you turn it on, it shifts.

    The Ryobi circular saw i've used about 5 times, and now the level to change the blade depth is jammed.

    If you need something quick to get a job done, fair enough. If you plan on using it for anything substantial, I'd wait (i'm very impatient but i've had to sit on my hands with this one). A lot of people say to buy 2nd hand. The only things i can find in my searches though are 2nd hand Ozito and Ryobi's though....

    If you do buy the Ozito, let me know how you get on with it though, i'd be interested to hear a fellow beginners thoughts on it.
    Hey mate

    Yeah, I’ve read some terrible reviews online about the Ozito models from Bunnings, so much so that I won’t be getting one of those.

    Bunnings’ selection is big, but at least I can go in store and view those. Ideally, I’d get a Bosch model, but the only one I can find is from Sydney Tools. It’s Bosch so I’m sure it’s fine, but still.

    I already own Ozito and Ryobi products, and I’ve had no issues at all. That said, none of those tools are used for precision work, which is the point of a table saw.

    The reason I’m looking at the Ryobi is the price point. $489 from Bunnings is pretty much in the middle between the DeWalt ($840) and the Ozito ($210). From what I saw when I was checking it out the other day, whilst the fence will need to be checked on each occasion to make sure it’s square, the fence does seem to lock in really. The mitre tracks have so much play, but I will be making a sled irrespective of what table saw I get, so that should be a fine work around.

    My only concern is that the blade is square to the table. The one Bunnings had on display could never get to 90 degrees – probably has been stuffed around with too much. That’s my biggest concern, along with the fence, but at this price point, it will be an issue regardless of brand, and I don’t have the money or space for a cabinet saw. I need it to be portable.

    I will probably get the Ryobi one Bunnings has on offer, but I would much prefer the Bosch or DeWalt. I just have to work out in my own mind if the extra $250-300 is worth it, or if I just run with the Ryobi and get my beginners licence on it.

    I’ll let you know how I progress, but would be interested to hear if anyone has used some of these models from Bunnings.

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