portable table saw

[reevesy]

I'm new to the forum so hello to everyone out there.
I am looking at buying a portable 10" table saw and would appreciate any advice/comments.I am restricted for space as my shed is small and will need to set the saw up outdoors when I use it,I will also use it for work from time to time.

The list so far includes:Metabo/Electra Beckum ,Porter cable,Dewalt,Bosch.I have read a little about these saws but have not seen any comparisons. If anyone has bought or is familiar with these, or any other portable saws it would be great to hear your comments.
Thanks.

[Glenmore]

Hi there revesy I just bought a Ryobi folding 10" contractors saw and I love it I have the same problem not enough room in my shop. I bought this unit and everything has a special place for it. Like the fence has a place for it and miter has its own holder under the table. I sawed with it takes a 4x4 sheet of plywood without worring about tipping it over. And when you are done using it fold the legs and stick in the corner doesn't take much room I'm very pleased with it. A little advise though if you pick one up just remember they put a peice of styrofoam in between the motor and the table. I was wondering why the blade wouldn't raise there was the answer. Hope this helpful.

[PEN]

Hi,

I have just spent a lot of time investigating a suitable portable table saw for my workshop.
I finally opted for the Bosch GTS10 over the Dewalt not because of the price but because of the general overall finish, quality and the saw guard- a big factor!!!

I have now made a mobile storage box underneath to the same height as my larger mobile work bench and am now as happy as.

For versatility and quality I think extremely good value. Panther Power Tools at Mitchinbury carry a cheaper version made at the same place in Taiwan-Rexton or something like that and there is no comparison in the quality.


To each his own and Bosch seems to have got this right.
Paul
PEN
:) :) :)

[reevesy]

Thanks Glenmore and Pen. Iwill check out all the portable table saws at the 'working with wood' show in Sydney in june.
Cheers
Reevesy.

[Carpenter]

A mate bought the Bosch & it **** itself in the first hour. Bosch repaired it & the same thing again, the contact brush on one side chewed out in 1hr. They've since given him a new one & it seems ok now.I too am pondering this purchase Reevesy, & being a tradesman using power tools for a living I'll tell you what I know about power tools. Forget about brand loyalty, each tool must be judged on its merits, & some brands do particular tools better than others. When it comes to portable table saws, there is a fairly sorry choice available. They are all made in china (what isn't?) when you look closely it shows. In the trade you dont see much Bosch stuff, & my mates experience proved why. The Dewalt is OK & the rack & pinion fence is a good idea but it is prone to problems. The Makita & Porter Cable are basic. no frills here. The Electra Beckum looks in need of a modern redesign & weight loss diet. They could all do with more power. If your not asking too much from your saw, I'd go the Makita or the Dewalt, just remember that Dewalt Australia are shocking to deal with if anything goes wrong(thats from the mouth of my tool repairer). Personally I wouldn't buy any of them. I've been looking at the Festool CS70 Presicio, (but its a lot more dosh). Why? Nothing me more than having an onsite tool failure, & Festool is the only tool manufacturer that has not let me down. In the face of cheap inferior Chinese imports fuelling a societal addiction to low cost landfill, Festool have steadfastly maintained excellence of design & quality in the power tool department. The basic Precisio CS 70 is about $2200 (double the others) but take a look at it! 2200 watt dust sealed motor with overload protection & air intake filter, lightweight (35kg) fold down legs for easy portability. Over & under dust extraction (think about that if your going to cut MDF, the new asbestos). Its also a pull saw, so you can do huge crosscuts. Precision fence & mitre gauge. Easy blade change, optional table extension, outfeed table, sliding table attachment. Its in a class of its own, & if your not on a tight budget, its the only way to go.

[Island Nomad]

I've got an Elu TGS 172 (blue model), 25 years old and still going strong, its had 5 apprentices hammer it over the years and you still can't stop it. I replaced the guard about 2 months ago and a new switch a few years back but thats all I've had to do, still has the same induction motor. I think Elu was taken over by Black & Decker, then they became Dewalt.

I have seen them for sale recently as a Dewalt, and they look almost the same as mine. I couldn't recommend it more highly.

[PEN]

Hi Everyone,
Isn''t what we are discussing here - personal tastes?

We all don't drive the same brand of car, live in the same design house, or have the same tastes when it comes to any number of things.

We all find our own niche in this world.

Take it from me, coming back after 15 years with Altendorf panel saws the rest is just rubbish, but we have to meet the needs that dollars, space and user requirement sets. That's just life.

We all have good and bad stories about cars we have purchased from the lemons to those we druel over- like my restored MGB. Most of you may just see it as an expensive toy but to me it is a 36 year old gem, into which a lot of effort and pain has gone into for me to enjoy it today.

I have two Shopsmith 5in1 machines from the USA- over 50 year old cast iron relics to some, but for me with tme and effort I can produce what I produced in joineries, at home in my double garage, when I move the cars out! Changed circustances require a diffferent methodology.

Same applies to useage. If you use it every day to earn a living you have a different approach to when you use it twice a month to do a small job!

My mate owns a large chain hardware shop. He is constantly suprised by the change in attitude from the tradesmen who purchase power tools from him. Ten years ago it was all about quality. To many today it is about price to minimise the cost(because they won't insure) when it gets knocked off on site etc.

That's a factor I would have never believed would become a factor for good tradesmen.

Elu, the old Makita, Hitachi, the old Skil, Altendorf, Brandt and so many others brands have been the standard in the joinery industry for years. The world has changed- Ryobi, Black & Decker and heaven forbid, GMC provide a cheap alternative in what is now an established "throw away society". - Fact of life!

Dollars and value for useage requirements are the drivers. It's no value in being the best tradesman, with the best quality gear if the market won't pay the price charged. Add to that the cost of employment of labour and the decision is easy - compete or get out. I chose the later and have no regrets for it. That chapter has gone and another has begun.

I used to say to clients when they wanted to bargain too hard on the price " I can go broke sitting in the joinery doing nothing, as easily as I can doing a job for you where there is no profit above actual costs." That famed expression "that I don't work for nothing!" You can read the histories of those who have tried this philosophy every day in the SMH-Business Closures section.

Again, we all respect each others views ,but in the end run, we all make our own decision on our own perception of the drivers behind our decision.

Philosophy lesson at an end!!!!!!!!

Paul
PEN

[Carpenter]

Hi Paul, I hear what your saying, & the point you raise about tradesman buying cheap tools for fear of theft is a pertinent one. I also agree that the world needs different quality tools for different people. The weekend warrior may only use his tools 2 - 3 times a year, so his GMC collection is going to last him well. My point is that from a tradesmans perspective, its becoming increasingly difficult to select well made reliable tools. The all powerfull price driven marketing drive means that reliability & build quality is suffering, & what we are going to be left with is glorified landfill. People that produce quality items are losing business & the viability of their operation becomes shaky. Whats the point? Bigger landfills, bigger trade defecit, more of the planets resources wasted & a population that is unable to value quality. Its a slippery slope.

[PEN]

Carpenter,
I am glad to here the committment to quality is a least shared by others.

I currently employ 240 apprentices and the biggest task I face on a day-to-day basis is maintaining the quality of training, supervision, OHS and last but not least attitude. I am known to have an iron fist, but it pays off in the quality outcome we achieve. Something throughout industry we are respected for.
We supply our boys on commencement with a tool box valued at over $1100.00 and there is nothing in that tool box that is not of PREMIUM quality.

For us it pays off in a 93% completion rate at the end of 4th Year.

Others say weare absolutely crazy, ut we take a great deal of pride in our outcomes and so do the boys and girl!

Regards
Paul
PEN :) :)

[Gaza]

It is more about buying a the right tool for a job, if you are running a business, thats the way i look at, all of my tradesmen on site supply 95% of their own gear this is all brand name, good stuff, no GMC's etc allowed on my job's.

In the factory all the big gear is brand name top shelf stuff, not new but kept in top nick and maintained with sharp baldes/knives used all the time.

I buy tools to be used on site like Festol track saw's, Fein multi masters, under cut saws,
But i do buy GMC tools like power drills to be used for mixing leveling compund, i can expect it to get stuffed and just chuck it out.

When buying tools, if i need it i buy it, if its cheap i buy it but a good brand (Hilti, Still, Kango, Makita, Dewalt, Metabo, etc) i buy tools from Auctions all the time from companys closing up for one reason or an other.

If you are a serious tradesmaen you can not expect to turn up to a job with cheap tools its like a panel beater driving a smashed up car. One or two cheapeis is ok.

At home if its a minor tool buy a cheapey but for a serious item used every time you are out in the shed buy a decent tool,

[JRuno]

I have a very small workshop, so I purchased the saw guide and folding table from eurekazone. I have been very pleased with it and it does almost everything that a tablesaw will do. The website is: www.eurekazone.com/ (http://www.eurekazone.com/)

[mattfinish]

Hi,

I have just spent a lot of time investigating a suitable portable table saw for my workshop.
I finally opted for the Bosch GTS10 over the Dewalt not because of the price but because of the general overall finish, quality and the saw guard- a big factor!!!

I have now made a mobile storage box underneath to the same height as my larger mobile work bench and am now as happy as.

For versatility and quality I think extremely good value. Panther Power Tools at Mitchinbury carry a cheaper version made at the same place in Taiwan-Rexton or something like that and there is no comparison in the quality.

To each his own and Bosch seems to have got this right.
Paul
PEN
:) :) :)

G'day Paul,

I was wondering if you could help me out, I have recently purchased a GTS 10. And after setting it up according to the bloody tiresome instruction manual they supply, I am unable to attain the 635mm cutting width they claim you can achieve? It stops at 620mm? I can remove the allen key stoppers, but that does'nt seem correct. Did you have the same problem? I can;t see a way of adjusting this out. I hope you can help, it would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers Matt.

[Balacv02]

Hi I am new to this forum. I am also looking at acquiring a bosch gts 10. Does it take a dado set? Apart from ripping, crosscuts and mitre. Thanks

[Eli]

I think it does take a dado set, but you have to leave out one of the washers and just use the nut.
*Disclaimer* I read this on GaryKatzonline.com



I'm wondering what people who got the Dewalt DW744 are using for a stand. I want one that's mobile and folds. Anybody know if Rousseau sellls their saw tables here?

[OLDPHART]

The old ELU flip saw is still available, sold by De walt,around $1100 from memory.

[NewWood]

I am also looking for a Rousseau table for an old makita 2703 ... anyone know of there's a reseller for Rousseau in Oz ?

[justinmcf]

hi reevesy, i am looking for a portable table saw myself. i have been researching for 6 months.

i used to own a makita tablesaw. no frills, nothing special, but it did work ok for 6 years. it was pretty light, which was important for me, most sites dont have lifts, lots of stairs!
it cost about $1000 at the time. i then sold it on ebay for $400.

then i watched a video on youtube about a company called sawstop. the portable version of this saw still weighs over 100 kilos, but you can get a mobile stand for it so you can wheel it onto your van or ute. if i do buy this saw, i am pretty sure it will stay in the workshop.

it is an expensive saw at around $3800. for some this is too much money. but i have already forked out $1000 for a basic, plastic makita tablesaw and i was never really impressed with it.

a lot of people have talked about this saw on this forum, some get really hot under the collar, so i better keep this short. anyway, its different strokes for different folks. i have looked at all the other brands, and for me, i can justify $3800. i understand not everybody can justify this amount.

knowledge is power, and even if this saw is not suitable to your needs at least you will now know that this type of product is available.

btw, have you looked at the carbatec and jet models, i see they have very good reviews from people on this forum.

as someone else has mentioned, the festool gear is at the top of the tool chain. they are without a doubt the rolls royce of tools. i highly recommend festool. a vast amount of time is put into research and design and their prices reflect this as well.

good luck, justin.

[Kevin111]

The old ELU flip saw is still available, sold by De walt,around $1100 from memory.
G'day. I have one of these old ELU flip saws. Was starting to search to source a new belt for it and came across this thread so I joined up. I see it's and old thread but maybe some of you will notice this post.

The saw came my way in well-used condition as a birthday present. It's had a couple of problems due to age but has otherwise served me well for several years despite much abuse from regular cutting of often oversized and dirty firewood.
Anyway I'm off to hopefully find a drive belt. If anyone can save me some time by pointing me in the right direction it would be much appreciated. I haven't tried to source a toothed belt before except for an engine timing belt so I only have a vague idea of where to start. I'm guessing that Elu belts are no longer available but that this toothed belt will have been made to some recognised international standard and no harder to find than a V belt.

[Bohdan]

ELU (also sold as Dewalt) saw spare parts are readily available in England so a search on the web should prove fruitful.

[Kevin111]

Thanks Bohdan

I did as you suggested and found a UK site but they wanted an arm and a leg for the belt not including freight. I then went through several Australian suppliers that didn't have the right belt but eventually found one that did but at a high price and and finally one that had it at a reasonable price. Unfortunately neither Australian supplier had one in stock locally so I'm up for freight but at $24 for the belt and $17 freight from the cheapest supplier I'm not too unhappy. Both offered air bag freight so I'm going to ask if there's a cheaper way of sending it.

[Bohdan]

kevin111 - Would you please list the suppliers that you found so that other ELU owners (me included) can have access to them.

[Kevin111]

Sure thing Bohdan

I'm waiting for another couple of quotes (hoping to find local stock and save on freight), then I'll post all I've found. There is another thread specifically on Elu belts so I might post it there instead. Not sure if you can link directly to other threads in here so this is the web link,

http://www.woodworkforums.com/f153/elu-172-tgs-belt-164467

I'll mention now that the required belt is a 240XL100 (Code for 24" long, XL tooth profile/pitch, 1" wide). One thing I found was that 240XL100 belts were hard to find on a web search. I was thinking of running a pair of 3/8" wide belts and hoping they'd be strong enough if I got desperate.

Will post the list of suppliers tomorrow hopefully

[Uncle Al]

I'll mention now that the required belt is a 240XL100 (Code for 24" long, XL tooth profile/pitch, 1" wide). One thing I found was that 240XL100 belts were hard to find on a web search. I was thinking of running a pair of 3/8" wide belts and hoping they'd be strong enough if I got desperate.


Have a look at PIES Australia (http://www.piesau.com.au/) They are a Melbourne based power transmission belt specialist with an enormous range of products. I had a quick look at their site, but it might be worth giving them a call as I couldn't see 1" wide belts in the list. This shouldn't be a problem, as the belts are moulded in long sleeves and cut to standard widths of 1/4", 3/8" etc. A 1" belt would need to be slit from a sleeve for you, this is a standard operation for them.
Another company worth trying are Powergrip Industries - Timing Belts (http://www.powergrip.com.au/PG_Transmission_Timing.htm) . Their web site isn't the easiest to navigate, again a quick phone call should sort things out.
Have you already made enquiries at bearing suppliers locally? They usually stock common belts, and can get specials in for you without much trouble.
Hope you get you machine up and running shortly.

Alan...

[Kevin111]

Thanks Alan

Yes I started online searching bearing suppliers but only found three probables and a couple of dead ends. Enquiries resulted in three responses, one "don't stock that belt", one offered but seriously overpriced and one reasonable price but with a $16.50 freight charge. I then searched power transmissions and did much better. I now have a belt ordered at $24.20 ex-Melbourne and zero freight charge.

I'll post the suppliers I found and their prices on the Elu 172 TGS BELT thread, and add your two as well. I did find PIES but didn't send them an enquiry. Can't recall why, but maybe the others sounded more likely to have this belt.

[Kevin111]

Belt suppliers and prices are now posted on the "Elu 172 TGS BELT" thread (see link in an earlier post), with a couple of extra suppliers I didn't contact, including Alan's Melbourne suggestions.

[elanjacobs]

Rydell is another place in Melbourne for obscure belts. They can also custom make if it's not available.