Thread: Blade Height Winder Review

Well said and well timed Noel.

I agree with everything Noel has written.

I'm embarassed to admit that I did strip the top of the winder handle insertion hole (on my second drill hole, discussed later). Luckily, the winder handle still fits in to the winder handle hole and works properly.

A few additions: I'll begin by reminding everyone to start with a clear work area and to take your time.

The instructions could certainly be improved. I had no idea what the bearrings were. A simple photo with a line to a caption would have been very informative. Or maybe even a before photo and after photo to compare. "These bearring to be removed and used here" and "Remove this lock". And certainly remove the table top before drilling hole(s).

Once installed and testing:

I found that as I adjusted the blade height my winder handle would shift angles. Thereby getting trapped in the newly drilled 8mm hole (extended by 2mm to measure 10mm). Which would never allow the blade to reach its full height or depth. Don't try this until we get official word from Triton but, I found that drilling another 8mm hole right next to the first one (further out) that the winder handle would NO LONGER get trapped.

Also, after refitting the dust bag I attempted to place a small hole in the top cover of the dust bag. This did allowed me access to the winder handle hole starting position. However, after winding the blade to the maximum (either up or down depending on your starting position) the winder insertion hole would no longer be aligned with the dust bag hole. It seems that the lower you wind the height that the further the height winder handle hole would rotate in and downward. Again don't try this until we hear from Triton but I ended up with a 30mm x 10 mm rectangular hole in the dust bag. Which would allow for the shifting position of the winder handle insertion hole.

I've got the Triton Saw and found that the cord would cause the air intake sleeve to slide off and close. Thereby chocking the saw of external fresh air. Don't do this until we hear from Triton but I found that runnig the cord thru the velcroed access slot nearest the front of the workcenter (closer to the electrical outlet plug) solved this problem.

I've also found that the new chassis hook doesn't fit very well and needs a better locking mechanism as my saw gets moved around alot. With and without the table top in place. (Don't forget to remove the origional lock before fitting the height winder.) Mine is shifting about 5mm. And be sure to check the hook position because I'm able to lock down my table top without fitting the chassis hook properly. Which leaves your saw able to slide. Watch out!


In cross cut mode (where the saw blade is facing down) we have to use an out of place thumb wheel which really should have been fitted with the save hex hole to fit the winder handle. Pessimistically, I wonder if Triton have left themselves with a path to charge for upgrading the height winder?

I wonder if Triton have a testing group?
And I mean a real testing group made up of clients and not salesmen.

Finally:
I never did like reaching into the dust bag to raise and lower my saw blade. I'd have sawdust all over my hands half my arms and usually knocked the lower bag off and would have to re-velcro. (by the way, I don't really like the velcro here. I beleive a draw string could have been better.) I'd just end up forgetting to velcro close the dustbag access slots and usually ended up with sawdust everywhere. Negating the purchase and use of the dustbag in the first place.

At the end of each session I like to put my toys away. But could never put the transparent cover away without lowering the saw blade.

Safety would call for lowering the blade when not in use to prevent accidental bumping or sliding something accross the blade. Like a hand or arm. So I always have to lower the blade by hand. (yuc!)

Now by completely lowering my saw blade using the winder I don't have to worry about dust covered hands or the extra clean-up. And I can return to a nice clean flat table top. Just acking to be used.

I love the smooth accuracy. No more fumbling about in the dark searching the for height lock on the saw itself. Fantastic!

I'm convenced its the little things in life that make the bigger things more injoyable.

Its my opinion that all these little gadgets, Chasis, stabalizer, retractable wheels, and now the height winder, should be included in the origional workcentre package.

The price of the height winder is more than acceptable to me and I recommend the Height Winder highly.

Now I look foward to projects with require varing heights.

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Thanks,
Barry G. Sumpter



[This message has been edited by barrysumpter (edited 30 April 2000).]

Will the height winder accomadate the saw stabilising bracket?
Barry's experience would indicate that extensive modifications are required to get the height winder fitted properly. Did others have similar experiences?
Although I like my Triton I am frustrated that we continually have to buy more accessories and do modifications to make it do basic things. Perhaps it could be better designed and built from the start. I am reluctant to spend a further $100 on new chassis and height winder as the total cost of the unit is already approaching (or beyond)what you would pay for a decent contractors saw. The cost of the Triton + saw is now such that all of the accesories should be included. It is not a viable proposition if you have to spend over $100 to get set up.

Correction to last post:
It is not a viable proposition if you have to spend over $1000 to get set up.

Well said George.
I already had a cheap POS 7 1/4" Black and Decker saw. I chose the Triton 2000 WorkCentre because it was Australian and half the price of the cheapest contractors saw. And I could fit my B&D to it. Which meant I could treat it as a disposable item. Use it for a while and if it turned out that I wan't going to continue woodworking as a hobby I could just give it away or maybe sell it. I did't know at the time that the Triton manufacturing plant was here in Melbourne and had such an excellent support service and that Triton gear resells so well. The accuracy of the B&D arbor float was driving me nuts (even with the stabelizin bracket. It took me literally hours and another hour of Triton saleman to set it up properly) and the lack of accuracy was stiffeling beyond the point of not wanting to use it any more. That's when I decided to wait until I could afford the Triton 9 1/4" Precision Power saw. The idea being that I already had the Triton gear which was specifically designed for the Triton saw (or maybe visa-versa). I've had it quite awhile and love testing the accuracy while readjusting ever so slightly because thats all its ever needed and its so easy. Especially now with the height winder I'm in heaven. Well enough of the gigglies.
If I add up all the money I've spent on Triton equipment inlcuding the router table and top and the dust collector and bin and the wheels, and the drill bits and the saw blades, I wonder what quality of contractor saw I could get. A new one. One made in Australia with excellent Australian support. With videos and project books. Demos on almost a weekly basis. And a Triton User group in almost every major city?
I'd like to see it. Truely. And would I still be saving up for the big purchase?

I'm very interested in reading anyones response to this topic.

Thanks,
Barry G. Sumpter

Hey, Hey, Hey,
Yeah! Now that I've reread Georges comments maybe Triton or Bunnings or HardwareHouse should have package specials. Like: Buy the Triton 2000 WorkCentre / 9 1/4" Precision Power Saw and get all theses extras free: (don't need stabalizing bracket with Triton Power Saw and Sliding chassis comes with the latest WorkCentre) The height winder, wheels, drillbits, routerbits, and if you buy the router table top we'll throw in glue and if you but the biscuit joiner we'll thow in some buiscuits and if you buy the planer attachment we'll throw in a thank you (cuz I don't know what would be a cool give away with the planer attachment besides a planer maybe the wood finishing oil). What about the sliding extension table or maybe the extension table or the bevel rippping guide or maybe the dust collector and workcentre dust bag or maybe a 96 tooth saw blade or a multi stand or a super jaws or project books and training video or random orbital sander or the brushcutter.

.... Whew! .....

Maybe I'll just settle for the triton times newsletter or a cap.

This response started out well meaning and I appologize for it deteriorating into a list of Triton products.

I'm confused - I'll go now......

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Thanks,
Barry G. Sumpter

P.S. Now that I think about it, honestly, would these giveaways cheapen the quality. And if it ever did happen would it be a sign of Triton desperately trying to sell products because of sliding sales? hmmmm....

[This message has been edited by barrysumpter (edited 12 May 2000).]

[This message has been edited by barrysumpter (edited 12 May 2000).]

George, The short answer is yes, the Blade Height Winder will easily accommodate the saw stabilizing bracket.
I use an Hitachi C9 saw in my Triton and even though the C9 is a great saw I still use the stabilizing bracket. I figure that it can only improve the quality of the cut by keeping everything rigid.
I keep reading about the Triton being difficult to set up, not as accurate as it should be etc. I find that if you simply take your time, read the instructions carefully and be prepared to invest an afternoon in setup you will be rewarded with a great tool. As to the cost approaching a 'decent contractors saw' this may well be so, I really have no idea. The attraction of the Triton is that it has become a system rather than a stand alone tool. If all you want to do is rip or crosscut small boards then the Triton in its basic form is perfectly satisfactory. On the other hand if you find a need to use a router on it then this can be added at moderate cost by purchasing the router table top. Need to use both? Then a stand can be purchased for the router table. Perhaps you now need to use your jigsaw on the router table. If you don't want to spend the extra nmoney you can simply adjust the clamps holding the router to the chassis and replace the router with the jigsaw. Don't want to do this? Then purchase an extra chassis, dedicated to the jigsaw.

Want to cut large sheets? Buy the sliding extension table. My point is that you can buy as little or as much as you want. If you cannot aford to buy it all at the one time, buy the basic unit and add to it over time as the need arises.

I have lots of Triton accessories (I am a self confessed Triton junkie) They were obtained over time through saving up, sometimes with the use of a gift certificate from family members. Remember, there is no law stating that you have to have every accessory. I am pleased that Triton seem to have a policy that dictates that new accessories can to a large degree be fitted to older units. I used a Mark 3 for years. This now lives at my brother's place because I now have an earlier 2000 series. I chose to keep it updated and more functional by adding the new chassis and blade height winder. I haven't bought the planer attachment. Not because I do not have an electric planer, which I do, but because I have a router which I can use to trim edges if necessary.
What you need to think about is whether a 'decent contractors saw' will allow this diversity of uses. The Triton may not do some things that a 'decent contractors saw' will do but for me the Triton is ideal. I find the Triton tools to be well designed and manufactured, probably at reasonable cost given that they are made in Australia.The only problem I have had with their accessories is that on two occasions either a part was missing or was the wrong one. Both times the problem was remedied without question. Indeed, when I purchased the upgrade to the router table the two piece plastic guard had two pieces the same rather two different pieces that are designed to fit together. I rang Triton to complain and as it happened the man I spoke to lived only a few kilometres away so he volunteered to drop it off to me on his way home. I had my replacement part that day. To me, that is great service, all part of the reasonthat I am a Triton fan.