Thread: Which Circular saw

Probably the Triton is the best match for the 2000 as it's designed to be used with it.

It really depends if you want to wait until the new year before you can use your prize, but the cliche is "buy cheap buy twice".

Craig

There are heaps out there to choose from in price ranges from $80 - $800.
Being an ex chippy and now working with builders and carpenters the majority of saws I see are either Hitachi or Makita and half are nearly as old as I am.

I’d opt for a decent model that suits your use (i.e. weekend ?). Shop around at a couple of stores, bunnings, mitre 10 and not to forget pay a visit to the local hardware store also. A 235 mm will do everything a 210 mm or 185 mm will do and for here and there hand held use they generally aren’t too heavy.

Personally I’d opt to hold off until I could get into the market for a makita or hitachi – personal preference. It’d pay to look out for Makita as they seem to be on special every second month.

Also, you'll want a good blade. No use with a crap blade - it just makes the surgeons job that much harder


Oh yeah, I don't use the orange stuff - one of the old tritoneers might be able to get away from polishing their orange machines to answer that one.

[This message has been edited by Eastie (edited 19 September 2002).]

Finnster, if I was you I'd give Triton's seconds shop a call (call Triton switchboard). They take back dealer returns that often have absolutely nothing wrong with them but soiled packaging. At any rate, they rectify any problems if there are any and sell as seconds. I think you can save significantly, and the Triton circular saw is a good quality saw designed with the WC2000 in mind.

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Woodchuck Canuck
Good luck is the residue of good planning!

Thanks guys.
I have been leaning towards to the Triton simply beacuse as you mentioned its designed for the WC2000, unless of course i can get a good deal on a Makita

If you don't want to spend too much have a look around at cash converters or similar.
I know a lot of them try to rip you off blind but there are a few around who sell good stuff at good prices.

I picked up a Festo AT 55 E plunge cut saw a month back from a cashies in Perth for $220 (have a look at the festo website if you want too see what they are worth) and my Dad got a Makita router for $100 (old version of the 3612)

A little tip for shopping at cashies, if the tool looks a bit knocked around or shabby it will be a lot cheaper than a flash looking one. Have a good look in the ventilation slots of the tool and look at the commutator segments. If they do not look too worn down and the tool sounds and runs ok then its quite likely there will be little wrong with it. And finally HAGGLE like mad!!!

Darryn

Hi Finnster, you question in regards should you go for a smaller or larger saw depends on a few factors namely
#1.How much you want to spend.
#2.What work you might see yourself doing with it whether Home renovation,Hobby woodwork or in some serious dollar earning capacity,or a combination of all three.
#3 How soon before you upgrade or if you will? and what your immediate requirements are.
#4.Also are you going to mount it in like that of a Triton work bench.

Once you have answered these and a few more questions that I may not have thought of consider going for quality by asking specialist tool shops or by looking thru the forums on this and other BB's and getting a feel for what will do the trick for you.
Whatever you decide in make and model ...try to look at the larger of the saws giving you good cutting depth.
There are as has been previously mentioned good used saws around in the markets etc and you will need to have your focus clearly on buying a saw that is not necessarily someone else's problem.
Good luck.
Cheers

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Johnno

Finnster.

I'd go for the triton saw, it costs around the same as some of the other saws eg Hitachi, makita etc. It is as powerfull as some of the other saws but in reality it is cheaper with more features.
eg. if you were to purchase another brand saw at around the same cost you would find that at best you would get a 1.8mm blade with it, and nor will this blade have expansion groves. What this means is that you will be forced to purchase a decent blade (2.8mm thick) on top of your new purchase and in order to get this blade you will need to spend an aditional $70 - $80 dollars. Believe me you do not want to start out with a thin blade because if you align the wc2000 to this when you get a proper blade you will introduce and error of .5mm and you will have to realign the wc.
The triton saw comes with a proper blade it is a 40 tooth triton blade which cut quite well. Effectively the triton saw is actually costing you approx $70 less then any of the other saws.
But wait theres more, the triton saw has a few other features the other saws do not have. eg. it has a micro adjustment for raising it up and down this is very handy.
If you tried adjusting any other saw to a specific hight you would find it would not be impossible to do so but it is just that much easyer with the triton saw.
It also has a micro adjustment for the angles also.
The way the saw is made makes it less likely to get saw slump when mounted in the workcenter than any other saw and believe me I know as I have used an Hitachi and a Makita in my wc.
Hope this has been of help and I hope it came across well as it was written in a rush as I must go to bed.
regards

Gino

Thanks again to all
As im new to woodwork i will be starting out slowly and only doing some hobby stuff. My first project will be to build a decent workbench and then id like to do maybe a router stand or something like that. At this stage i really havent got a clue where to start but im sure there is plans around the net that can give me a few pointers.
I guess the saw i purchase will spend most of its life mounted to the Triton so maybe that is a good reason to look closely at the Triton saw. It seems the 235mm is by far the best choice. Now its just a matter scraping the cash up and getting hold of 1 of them .

Thanks again
PS How do i go about joining the Holmesglen triton club? I live on the Mornington Peninsula and would like to get involved.

Cheers
Tony

Just whisper quietly Barry, where are you? and this Genie in the form of Barry Sumpter will arrive and take you away, careful though, it is said that some have never returned from beyond the orange cloud of doom.

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