Thread: Advantages to upgrading

If you're happy with your MK3 and it works well for you, hold onto your money and wait (as I've been told) 6 to 12 months to see what the Workcentre will be.

Woody

Rick
I have much the same dilemna my MK3 must be about the same age as yours. I have fitted it with a few options;
Saw height adjust kit - great
Saw stabiliser - works well but could do with a screw adjustment rather than the clamp as it is tricky to reset to square. It also partially impedes the fence slides
Planer Kit - the installation and adjustment of the planer still remains a bit of a mystery to me however I've made a few interpretive adjustments. I've removed the planer rear sole plate and do all my planing as thicknessing using the saw fence and running the stock between the cutter and the fence. It can be a bit fiddly but does bive very accurate results. For long pieces I clamp a long straight edged piece of ply to the table. The front (adjustable) sole plate works as a very handy clamp to keep the stock against the fence (and the fingers on the hand as an added bonus)
Router attachment - Works OK but I have since built my own design fully adjustable jig for the router so it has been largely supplanted

My main problem with the MK3 is that it is not flat across the table and so there can be a problem in making really square cuts. I've considered making an additional top out of ply to place over the existing but that would reduce the saw cut depth which even with a 225mm blade is a bit limited by the height adjuster kit.
I have talked to Triton and they have MK3 replacement tops for around $90.00 and this may be an alternative.
Alternatively I can bight the bullet and get the latest table but I'm not sure whether my kits will be adaptable.
If you have any thoughts I'd be interested
cheers
harcx

IMHO the main improvements in the WC2000 are in the fence and it's portability, the rest are minor. There's also more plastic involved.

If you don't need the portabilty and are satisfied with the quality of cuts your MK3 makes then there's no real advantage in changing. Worse, most of the MK3 accessories won't carry over w/out some serious mods.

I'm inclined to agree with Woody; wait and see what the next model offers. I'm sure there'll be a sudden rise in good 2nd-hand WC2K's on the market about the same time too... and that'd be the time I'd make my decision, if I was in your position.

I must admit I siezed the opportunity when a cheap Series 2000 came along to upgrade, simply because I reckon the fence adjustment system is sooo much better, especially if you are working around 200 - 300 mm where you have to flip the table top with the MK3.

Very pleased simply because of this alone.

I sold the old MK3 for about $150 in about a day, so the upgrade really only cost about 80 bucks to me at the time

The riving knife comes out easier too.

Other than that, I cannot think of any other major difference.