Thread: Help! 2 in 1 table/mitre saw

G'day jammes.

I've purchased a few Mac Master tools from K-Mart over the years and have had a few problems with them, but all I can suggest is ringing the number at the back of the manual...

Delta Ferrum Pty.Ltd Australia 03-8508 9532

But remember, it's a call centre, they take your name and number and "someone will call you back." That can mean this afternoon, tomorrow or Friday...The bloke I spoke to last week was "Peter."

Or as they have a three year warranty with a full refund or exchange policy, that's another option and the great thing about K-mart is that they'll swap it even if you don't have the receipt.

Good luck!
Graeme

Well I returned it and got another with the same problem, so I tore it down and shifted a plate that was sticking, now the lockdown pin moves properly.

My next issue is this: The motor sparks like mad when I use it. It says in the manual to expect sparks with new brushes, but it seems extreme to me. Bits of molten carbon fly off from inside the motor guard. Is this what's meant to happen until the brushes wear in? It feels as though they will be gone in about 2 minutes of constant use.

Thanks in advance.

James.

Edit: Well, I read a bit and found some power tools have spark shields to help with this, so I'm thinking it is normal; however, I can't remember noticing any sparks when using my dad's drop saw (which is a 'better' brand I think - ozito or something similar). I don't expect much from a combo saw costing $90, but I just want to be sure it's normal.

Ok, I've done more investigating and don't think this is normal.

The brushes are getting pretty large chips taken out of them, and the commutators are scratched and pitted, rather than being smooth. I was thinking about sanding the commutators with some wet/dry to see if this will help.

Anyone else know anything about this sort of thing? I really want to get these jobs done without spending too much on the saw, and am sick of taking it back to the shop. The best option for me would be getting this working well myself, but please let me know if you've tried this sort of thing and found it to be more hassle than it's worth.

Some years ago I bought an small Arlec combination belt sander from Kmart
(made in shinna) biggest heap of rubbish I ever owned, how they allow these things into the country is beyond me.Couldn't get it back quick enough to get a refund.I have never bought another power tool from Kmart.

Yeah, I am going to take it back and get something from somewhere else. It had potential but ended up being more hassle than it's worth. Now, where's a good place to buy smallish drop/mitre saws from? Bunnings?

Hey James, god i bought one of these too, took it back like you, the other still did not work!!!!

HOW DID YOU GET IT WORKING??? PLEASE IF YOU HAVE PHOTOS or can describe it, i need this for my flooring and need both the mitre cut and the drop saw functions, i dont want to spend hundreds for 2 tools!!!!!

Thanks in advance

Rene

Originally Posted by jamess

Well I returned it and got another with the same problem, so I tore it down and shifted a plate that was sticking, now the lockdown pin moves properly.

My next issue is this: The motor sparks like mad when I use it. It says in the manual to expect sparks with new brushes, but it seems extreme to me. Bits of molten carbon fly off from inside the motor guard. Is this what's meant to happen until the brushes wear in? It feels as though they will be gone in about 2 minutes of constant use.

Thanks in advance.

James.

Edit: Well, I read a bit and found some power tools have spark shields to help with this, so I'm thinking it is normal; however, I can't remember noticing any sparks when using my dad's drop saw (which is a 'better' brand I think - ozito or something similar). I don't expect much from a combo saw costing $90, but I just want to be sure it's normal.

Originally Posted by blackkluger

Hey James, god i bought one of these too, took it back like you, the other still did not work!!!!

HOW DID YOU GET IT WORKING??? PLEASE IF YOU HAVE PHOTOS or can describe it, i need this for my flooring and need both the mitre cut and the drop saw functions, i dont want to spend hundreds for 2 tools!!!!!

Thanks in advance

Rene

Well, if you look at the post just above yours, you will see that he did not get it working and was taking it back. Probably a good idea for you as well.

Depends on which bit you're trying to get working. If your motor is sparking like crazy and bits of burning carbon are flying all over you, I'm not sure how to fix that short of replacing the brushes or getting a new motor completely.

If you're referring to the lock pin being stuck, try pushing down really hard on the bench and pull it at the same time, it may come out. If not, I literally pulled the thing apart and moved a little bracket on the inside of the mitre arm to stop the pin from jamming.

I ended up with an $80 mitre saw from Bunnings that has worked fine with a good warranty to boot. Got myself a deep fryer with my store credit at k-mart - much better (:

Have you considered hiring a table saw, if you really need one? Or considered buying a mitre saw and maybe a jigsaw as well to make straight cuts? The cost of these 2 from Bunnings would be only slightly more than that k-mart saw, and much better, despite still being bottom of the range!

HTH,

James.

I was just looking at one of these in KMart tonight! Think you guys have just saved me some time and maybe some cash.

Has anyone had anyluck with other cheap budget brands of drop / slide saws?

Looking for one for a smallish decking job with a number of mitre cuts.

Originally Posted by Crag

I was just looking at one of these in KMart tonight! Think you guys have just saved me some time and maybe some cash.

Has anyone had anyluck with other cheap budget brands of drop / slide saws?

Looking for one for a smallish decking job with a number of mitre cuts.

I was at bunnings a while ago and the guy showed me this ozito 210mm mitre compound drop saw it was like $29 or something ridiculous. Now they're like $59 or something but its served me well. Don't know how accurate the mitre cuts are but if it doesn't need to be that accurate its fine. It cuts wood! i've now turned it into my metal cutting saw....