Assembly of WC2000

[Graham99]

Hi everybody,

Picked up the WC2000 from bunnies this week with the wheels and the height winder kit. Glad I got the height winder it was a good addition.

I have a few questions regarding the assembly though. I've already built the machine and passed timber through it and it works so I am happy with the outcome. However I found during the construction phase that there were a few things that put up a fight.

The first thing is the bearing guides. These were very hard to mount, I had to pull the top with sash clamps to get the bolts into the holes, even with the bottom support rail bolts loosened off a few turns. Went together eventually.

Then after building the saw plate went to put it in the guides and the bearings would not drop in for love or money. There was a hideous burr in every entry for the bearings. Problem sorted with needle file. WD40 was needed to improve the sliding action. I dont have much faith in the bracket that holds the saw in place in the table saw mode.

There was nothing to hold the saw guard back when the saw was mounted. I am using the GMC Platinum 235mm saw so had to come up with an alternative.

The riving knife has a big warp in it. Initially it used to bind timber between it and the fence, even though the blade was straight. Straightened it in the end though.

The mitre fence is very tight in the grooves, had to use WD to get it moving, is still a bit tight.

I fitted the saw stabilising bracket, did it my own way as the triton way resulted in a bolt getting sheared, even though I barely touched it. And why is the stabilising bracket imperial and the saw itself metric.

I want to get the Router Table and stand one day, am I in for a similar experience?

Regards
Graham

Is this indicative of a typical Triton WC2000 assembly. The machine is fundamentally sound but is a bit of a hassle to put together.

[Gumby]

I've never heard of problems like that before. Did you assemble the table loose first? You only tighten bolts after it's all together.

[Graham99]

Yup!

The only thing that was tightened to full strength was the legs for the table. The lower rails and the bearing rails were a turn loose when these components were being assembled.

The top table dropped onto the machine with no hassles. Not even going to bother setting up for crosscut mode, the table supports are so tight in the tracks I have only got one into the 235mm position.

I am an engineer by trade so this sort assembly is not new to me.

Regards
Graham

[hilton]

Yup!
I am an engineer by trade so this sort assembly is not new to me.


I don't wish to sound rude here but perhaps this is the problem? Did you approach the build from a "I know where that should go" stance and everything went south from there? Just a thought. If not then I would take it back as you don't know what possible damage has been done and what other issues may arise when fitting other accessories like biscuit joiner, router table etc.

You don't need the rifing knife so remove that from the saw until you use it freehand. Oh and yes you are correct about the saw guard, there is no plan to hold this back :-( Either take it off or remove the spring and use a cable tie.

Hope this helps.

[Stuart]

One of my biggest reasons for becoming such an avid supporter of Triton was because I'm an engineer - the design and manufacture was very impressive - it all worked as expected, as designed, it had good assembly instructions, and everything went together in a positive way. I did shear one bolt, but that was me being overzealous.

I've assembled 2 complete sets of all of Triton's offerings now, one just recently, and both sets went together without issue.

Given the slowdown recently (due to market conditions), your workcenter probably came from the same batch run as my latest one, so it is surprising to hear of all the problems.

As such I would say that it seems your experience is an aberration, and I wouldn't expect you to have the same issues with the router table, the extension table, or another workcentre for that matter!

[Graham99]

I don't wish to sound rude here but perhaps this is the problem? Did you approach the build from a "I know where that should go" stance and everything went south from there?

I would say quite the opposite. I watched the video first to get the tips, and then went through the instructions. As an engineer I know too well the perils of rushing in and hence took my time with the machine. When I dropped the saw table on top it latched straight away without any force, I would assume that if I had racked the machine that it would have been difficult to fit.

Sounds like I got the "Friday" machine. Just to make sure I am going to loosen all the bolts with the table fitted and then retighten them, just to make sure that I havent racked it.

At the end of the day I would still go with Triton in regards to my experiences. I put a piece of 75x50 hardwood though it to plane the edges with the blade and it cut well.

I was going to remove the riving knife as I will need it off for tenoning work etc. The blade was straight when I rechecked it, only the riving knife was out of alignment. I'll see how things progress as I use the mchine in anger.

Regards
Graham

[Gumby]

Just to make sure I am going to loosen all the bolts with the table fitted and then retighten them, just to make sure that I havent racked it.

That's how you should have assembled it in the first place.

[Graham99]

That's how I DID assemble it in the first place. I am doing it again to double check. Please accept that I followed instructions explicitly. I like to take my time and ensure that things are right.

I filed burrs out of the bearing guide entry that could cut a finger. How would a bolt create this? The whole thread seems to state that I am incompetent. I am not putting crap on the thing, just airing my experiences as people may have had valued input.

Regards
Graham

[hilton]

Chill Graham

I think you've made your competence known now. I still suggest you take it back. Must be a 'Friday' as you suggested.

The fact that you had to use clamps is scary. The other stuff like tightness is understandable but not the former issue.

[Stuart]

Not the whole thread. Mine didn't infer that.

[Gumby]

Nor did mine but take the advice as you will.

If you assembled it loose, then there's no reason to loosen it again. It won't change.

[Graham99]

Ok no problems guys.:D From where I was sitting it seemed as though the blame was being placed on poor assembly. All the advice offered has been valid and I do believe in going back and making sure that everything is right, if I have made a mistake I will fess up here so that others can not make the same mistake. A lot of things worked really well.

I will be going for the Router Table too, it seems a logical choice and I can then get the other goodies like the biscuit jointer etc. I was smart enough to buy the dust bucket though.

Now to the box forum. SWMBO had a heirloom jewellry box that was smashed and I want to replace it with something nice. I'm lucky, my SWMBO supports my hobbies and wants to be involved with them.

Regards
Graham

[Gumby]

That's the difficulty with the written word sometimes. it's hard to convey the emotion behind the comments. :D Anyway, you won't have problems with the router table.

Make sure you convert your dust bucket into a cyclone using the cyclone modification. It's the bees knees ! :D

[Graham99]

Hi there,

Had a look at the bolts, loosened them all then retightened them. Table dropped straight on, had to realign the saw as it was out 1mm on the lead in after the process. Looks ok now though. Aligning the saw can take a while and looking at the clamps it could move if you got too carried away. I think some button head cap screws through the chassis would help, maybe a new mod.

Regards
Graham

[Just George]

Like Stuart, I too have put together a few Workcentres over the last 5 years, none of which I have ever had these sorts of problems with. Find yourself your local demonstrator and get his/her help. If you can't find one find another Triton owner and get their help. I'd offer but I'm too far away...

[bpj1968]

I don't recall any great dramas assembling mine. The only filing I needed to do was the 45 degree side of the rip fence. The ends of of the small supports near the blade were bent down a little too much and left some nasty scratches across the work surface.


The mitre fence is very tight in the grooves, had to use WD to get it moving, is still a bit tight.
Make sure the "lock" lever is all the way to unlock, not just lined up with the picture. I found that a bit deceptive. either full clockwise or anticlockwise for lock/unlock.



There was nothing to hold the saw guard back when the saw was mounted. I am using the GMC Platinum 235mm saw so had to come up with an alternative.


As for holding the saw guard back it's a PITA. Removing the guard or spring is okay until you want to take the saw out and use it elsewhere. I have the same saw and am thinking of drilling two holes, taping a thread and and inserting a small bolt.



I don't have much faith in the bracket that holds the saw in place in the table saw mode.

I assume that you mean the small clip under the table that stops the saw chassis moving back and forth. This is more than ample. As a tip when locked in place carefully lift the top and put a texta mark on rail and chassis so that it is easier to line up next time.

[woody62]

Hi everybody,

Picked up the WC2000 from bunnies this week with the wheels and the height winder kit. Glad I got the height winder it was a good addition.

I have a few questions regarding the assembly though. I've already built the machine and passed timber through it and it works so I am happy with the outcome. However I found during the construction phase that there were a few things that put up a fight.

The first thing is the bearing guides. These were very hard to mount, I had to pull the top with sash clamps to get the bolts into the holes, even with the bottom support rail bolts loosened off a few turns. Went together eventually.

Then after building the saw plate went to put it in the guides and the bearings would not drop in for love or money. There was a hideous burr in every entry for the bearings. Problem sorted with needle file. WD40 was needed to improve the sliding action. I dont have much faith in the bracket that holds the saw in place in the table saw mode.

There was nothing to hold the saw guard back when the saw was mounted. I am using the GMC Platinum 235mm saw so had to come up with an alternative.

The riving knife has a big warp in it. Initially it used to bind timber between it and the fence, even though the blade was straight. Straightened it in the end though.

The mitre fence is very tight in the grooves, had to use WD to get it moving, is still a bit tight.

I fitted the saw stabilising bracket, did it my own way as the triton way resulted in a bolt getting sheared, even though I barely touched it. And why is the stabilising bracket imperial and the saw itself metric.

I want to get the Router Table and stand one day, am I in for a similar experience?

Regards
Graham

Is this indicative of a typical Triton WC2000 assembly. The machine is fundamentally sound but is a bit of a hassle to put together.
The steel work is made exactly to specification. However once it has had the powdercoating treatment you are now out slighly in fitment. Wet and dry paper and sliding vigorously parts up and down etc a few times will normally rectify these issues.

As mentioned, you need to assemble loosely as per the IM and failing to do so will always cause grief.

This machine has been built the same way for many years with very little assembly issue other than above. You will find with these tips and some use it will all free itself up quite quickly

[toddles]

My two bob - most of this stuff is actually covered in the video accompanying your WC2K: including protractor (triton sliding mitre gauge)adjustment, filing the bearing channel openings, wiring back the saw guard etc. It's worth a couple of viewings though if you're like me you'd be rather making sawdust than watching George describing wood being fired out of the machine "...at a terrifying rate." If it makes you feel better there is not a single TS or TS add-on that doesn't need signifcant adjusting to work to a fine degree of accuracy, it's part of setting up any TS or TS product.
Good luck.
PS: I think the saw stab. bracket is imperial because it's impossible (for me at least) to find metric wing-nuts.

[thetassiebfg]

...
The mitre fence is very tight in the grooves, had to use WD to get it moving, is still a bit tight.
...

Hi Graham99

I recently bought a new table top for the wc200 and returned it because of the tight fit for the mitre fence in both slots, replacement came and same prob left it with the shop as the triton guy was coming down in the next week or two so he could look at it (for some reason i wasn't particularly happy with things)

Turns out that it was merely a case of too much paint on the infill strips, mitre fence or saw guard and you just need to slide things backward and forward till things loosen up so I gather it's a known problem but easily solved once you know that its not the actual top.

Andrew

[Graham99]

Hi there,

Just to make sure that I did not assemble it 'wrong' I went back and reread the manual as well as watched the video again. Neither stated that everything was to be assembled loose then retightened when all together. Both the manual and the video said to tighten to a point where the assembly was firm without crushing the pressed assemblies.

However, I have spent a bit of time with it, and was rewarded by being able to go out to the back yard and rip down some hardwood without the machine missing a beat, the fence was easy to set, there was no binding or cutting from the back of the blade so I would say the machine is as accurate as it's going to get. The height winder and the wheels are a valued add on to the machine. I'm running the GMC 235mm saw with a 40T blade in it, and it was quieter than I expected. Still, one day I guess I will be upgrading to a dedicated TS.

Thank you everybody for all the helpful comments. Now I want to get the Router Table so I can get to work making some Jewellry boxes for the ladies of the house.

BTW I agree Toddles, the saw stabilising bracket fixtures are imperial. Bit dumb when the rest of the machine is metric.

Regards
Graham