Needs Pictures Needs Pictures:  0
Picture(s) thanks Picture(s) thanks:  0
Results 1 to 12 of 12
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    100

    Default Which basic cabinet table saw?

    First things first, im predominantly a metal guy rather than a wood guy. But i do dabble in some basic wood work and been thinking it might be good to do again soon.

    In the next little while we are going to move house and therefore I am going to have to setup a new garage layout, and thinking it would be good to 'integrate' a cabinet table saw into the mix, to replace my cheap contractor saw. Looking at a basic one at the bottom end of the market, about $2k budget (more than that and im cutting into hoist budget). After something with a full cast iron table, and a good fence system (the cheap fence system the Ryobi has is one of my biggest sources of frustration). Also looking for something that has table width of around 1000mm or at least easily able to have a wing removed to narrow it down to 900-1000mm. It will sit at the end of a 2100x900/1000mm workbench that can double as an outfeed table. Of course that also means that the fence guide rail needs to be removable too. Dado capability is preferred, but not essential.

    So far i have looked at the usual three suspects around here: Timbecon, Carbatec and H&F

    H&F Have their ST254 saw W486 - ST-254 Table Saw | Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse
    Carbatec have their equivalent: Carbatec 10" Cabinet Saw | Carbatec
    But also have their Professional; Carbatec Professional 250mm Cabinet Saw with 30" T-Glide Fence Kit | Carbatec which on sale i could stretch to
    Timbecon have the Sherwood hybrid 12": https://www.timbecon.com.au/sherwood...inet-table-saw
    But also their Standard 10" which is $1k more: https://www.timbecon.com.au/10in-standard-cabinet-saw

    Who else should I be looking at, and what else should I be considering?

    Edit: Ooops, posted in General rather than Table Saws.

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    193

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Bris
    Posts
    840

    Default

    #3 and #5 looks to me to be identical and re-badged versions of each other. These two have steel rails whereas the others use aluminium. My Laguna Fusion had aluminium rails and it flexed more than I wanted. It still produced accurate cuts, but I'd definitely opt for steel rails given a choice. If you're considering #5, why wouldn't you go with their 10" heavy duty CS 2400W ? I can't fathom why the heavy duty version is actually cheaper than their standard 10" CS and it's in stock ($2249 vs $2799). It doesn't make sense to me. Also, be aware that this saw, as with some of the saws on your list, will require a 15A circuit.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Perth, Australia
    Posts
    1,813

    Default

    I recently was looking at upgrading and wound up with the Harvey HW110LGE-30. Price has just gone up since I bought mine but they are still a substantial saw for the current price.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Melbourne, Vic, Australia
    Posts
    1,255

    Default

    I also have the Harvey 110lge-30 and have always thought it's hands down the best value for money table saw. It seems to have gone up in price quite a bit lately but would still be a great option. There was a time not that long ago that BBTA was selling it for approx. $2200- but now is $2899-. Through the official distributor, Major Woodworking, it was about $2590- (what I paid about 5 years ago) but I noticed yesterday the pricr has increased to $3250- so maybe outside your budget. It is a very solid, powerful and high quality saw IMO.

    I imagine higher prices will filter through for many dealers soon, as the exchange rate gets priced in on new stock.

    Cheers, Dom

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Location
    Kendenup, WA.
    Age
    60
    Posts
    250

    Default

    I'm looking seriously at the #3 Carbatec one atm. For two grand on sale atm it looks like an attractive package, with a Biesemeyer style fence, quick detach blade guard and low profile riving knife all nice convenience features that are absent on my current table saw. I think I'm going to pull the trigger on one after the Easter break.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    Hervey Bay
    Age
    46
    Posts
    229

    Default

    Seeing as how you're in Melbourne you may have better luck in tracking down a quality secondhand unit than those of us living regionally.
    I owned the Carbatec 250mm pro model until recently, after a lot of tuning/fiddling it was reasonably accurate and with the correct blade for job it certainly had enough power. However after a couple of scares I decided to sell it and ultimately bought a slider after strongly considering a Sawstop.
    You mention needing the width to be under 1m, I'm thinking any of the saws listed will probably need surgery to the fence rails to make that size ( the 3 cast sections of the carbatec top were probably close to that ).

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Hobart
    Posts
    5,107

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by barramonday View Post
    Seeing as how you're in Melbourne you may have better luck in tracking down a quality secondhand unit than those of us living regionally.....
    Good advice, especially if you have 3-phase power.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Location
    Kendenup, WA.
    Age
    60
    Posts
    250

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by barramonday View Post
    Seeing as how you're in Melbourne you may have better luck in tracking down a quality secondhand unit than those of us living regionally.
    I owned the Carbatec 250mm pro model until recently, after a lot of tuning/fiddling it was reasonably accurate and with the correct blade for job it certainly had enough power. However after a couple of scares I decided to sell it and ultimately bought a slider after strongly considering a Sawstop.
    You mention needing the width to be under 1m, I'm thinking any of the saws listed will probably need surgery to the fence rails to make that size ( the 3 cast sections of the carbatec top were probably close to that ).

    Without wanting to hijack the thread could you elaborate on what needed fettling on the Carbatec saw?

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    100

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by GraemeCook View Post
    Good advice, especially if you have 3-phase power.
    Yeah, no 3 phase power so then VFDs and the like needed. Hence 15A being the maximum option really.
    Quote Originally Posted by KahoyKutter View Post
    #3 and #5 looks to me to be identical and re-badged versions of each other. These two have steel rails whereas the others use aluminium. My Laguna Fusion had aluminium rails and it flexed more than I wanted. It still produced accurate cuts, but I'd definitely opt for steel rails given a choice. If you're considering #5, why wouldn't you go with their 10" heavy duty CS 2400W ? I can't fathom why the heavy duty version is actually cheaper than their standard 10" CS and it's in stock ($2249 vs $2799). It doesn't make sense to me. Also, be aware that this saw, as with some of the saws on your list, will require a 15A circuit.
    Im not sure why it is cheaper either, maybe only the in stock stuff is part of the sale?

    Quote Originally Posted by Biggus View Post
    Without wanting to hijack the thread could you elaborate on what needed fettling on the Carbatec saw?
    Its not a hijack, im interested as well.

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    Hervey Bay
    Age
    46
    Posts
    229

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Biggus View Post
    Without wanting to hijack the thread could you elaborate on what needed fettling on the Carbatec saw?
    Hi I've not owned similar level machinery before or after ( either way below or way above ) so my niggles maybe nitpicking.
    The saw as I stated performed in the end adequately.
    The castings of the two wings for the top seemed to be from different production runs , one was finished much smoother than the other and the mating edge much more accurately machined, the rougher one was a bear to get shimmed and level ish. The mitre slots were not very accurately machined , table saw tuneup instructions often show using dial indicators or squares and feeler gauges to adjust alignment with the blade however this was not really possible as due to the inaccuracy of the mitre slots.
    The supplied insert is a thin piece of stamped metal that is very uneven, it means that thinner rips are hairy and inaccurate, I ended up buying the $150 plus post proprietary insert as making one would not have been easy due to the very thin mounting ledges and so forth.
    When researching this saw ( and it's other branding around the world ) most people seem very happy with it. I needed a 10amp saw as I was renting when I bought it and this seemed to be the best I could find.

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Location
    Kendenup, WA.
    Age
    60
    Posts
    250

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by barramonday View Post
    Hi I've not owned similar level machinery before or after ( either way below or way above ) so my niggles maybe nitpicking.
    The saw as I stated performed in the end adequately.
    The castings of the two wings for the top seemed to be from different production runs , one was finished much smoother than the other and the mating edge much more accurately machined, the rougher one was a bear to get shimmed and level ish. The mitre slots were not very accurately machined , table saw tuneup instructions often show using dial indicators or squares and feeler gauges to adjust alignment with the blade however this was not really possible as due to the inaccuracy of the mitre slots.
    The supplied insert is a thin piece of stamped metal that is very uneven, it means that thinner rips are hairy and inaccurate, I ended up buying the $150 plus post proprietary insert as making one would not have been easy due to the very thin mounting ledges and so forth.
    When researching this saw ( and it's other branding around the world ) most people seem very happy with it. I needed a 10amp saw as I was renting when I bought it and this seemed to be the best I could find.

    Cheers mate. Sounds like pretty standard Chinese table saw stuff. Still looks like the best buy for the two grand or thereabouts I'm prepared to spend to upgrade from my contractor saw.

Similar Threads

  1. Basic table saw question
    By BigGayAl in forum TABLE SAWS & COMBINATIONS
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 6th March 2011, 11:53 PM
  2. basic small table saw
    By Shonfield in forum TABLE SAWS & COMBINATIONS
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 10th October 2009, 09:23 PM
  3. Basic Table
    By nickdablack in forum DESIGN & DESIGNING / GOOGLE SKETCHUP
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 10th February 2009, 06:51 AM
  4. Basic table saw question for you pros!!
    By Stryker223 in forum WOODWORK - GENERAL
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 1st July 2008, 10:04 AM
  5. Basic drill press table
    By chris_hewett in forum HOMEMADE TOOLS AND JIGS ETC.
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 11th February 2005, 09:45 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •