Thread: Your Triton Ideas please

Hi Woody,

Seeing as you asked here are my thoughts.

1) Redesign the mitre gauge/protrator so it is accurate for ALL users. There must be a quality control/design issue given the amount of trouble users have had.

2) Redesign the WC top to incorporate mitre grooves like all other table saws

3) Redesign the router table plastic inserts (the black round things next to the cutter)

4) Work on quality control

5) A triton Jigsaw with the same quality as the router.

6) A soundproofing box that incorporates the dust bag and that empties easily.

There seems to be a lot of people moving away from Triton lately (search forum) so I would push for fixing what people complain about before more gizmos are designed. Given the number of problems that people seem to have with GMC gear I cant see this being a priority with the new owner.

Dont get me wrong, I have owned all the triton gear (exept the metal saw which seems to be an answer to a non asked question) and love the versatility but these little things make it much less enjoyable than it could be.

cheers

dazzler

Thanks Dazzler for your fast response, I will pass these on to Head Office. My wish list includes a 12volt drill along similar lines to that of the 18 volt version, I'd buy one for use at my full time job - the 18volt drill is too heavy for cabinetmaking. Also I'd like to see a 240volt drill but something that isn't too big rather something that is powerful but small and easy to use. One other thing I'd love to see would be a small 1/4 inch router for hand held use perhaps something that is similar in design to a trimmer. A jigsaw is a good idea, as well for some of the accessories we already have I think an angle grinder would be good, planer and even a vacuum cleaner. The reason I have listed some of these is for not only our market but the American market as well. I was told recently that GMC isn't sold in the States as GMC there is a car manufacturer, this is GMC's way of breaking into that market. The possibilities are endless.

Woody
Triton Demonstrator
Mature Age Apprentice Cabinetmaker
Woodworker

How about some devise that can turn all that sawdust into a capaccino?

Failing that, something to turn lead into gold........hang on, thats what GMG do!!!

Al

The biggest shortcoming of the table is not being able to lay the blade over for bevel cuts. Isn't it possible to make a larger slot in the table and supply several "zero" clearance inserts that would cover the angles from 90º - 45º?

The largest source of runout on the sliding table (IMO) is where the inboard runner lifts off the pipe and allows the slide to rack. This happens to me when ripping warped sheet material which can lift the slide up as it tracks across the table. I've taken to using a sandbag on the sheet to help, but a set of nylon stirrups that screw to the bottom of the inboard slides completely enclosing the pipes would help.

Cheers
Michael

clearly the best thing to do would be to make the sturdee dust bucket mod! That's the best invention so far! You might want to discuss this with Peter first...

the biggest improvement to the WC would be to have mitre slots that go right through - not stop at the fence arms.

The next best thing would be to be able to tilt the blade when ripping. I personally never crosssut on the triton as I ahve a SCMS and a crosscut sled.

the 12 or (preferably) 14v drill would be great, but keep the other features of the 18v drill (hammer function is not needed though). If you want the hammer function, get the 18v.

I also like the cappuccino machine that Al suggested. Instead of choc on top, have a dusting of redgum!

Trav

My appologies Woodworker101,

I put my suggestion on a new thread, please see: "Triton Versus Table Saws"

I think Grahams suggestions of updating the Triton to keep up with current needs are very valid. Triton is losing lots and lots of customers due to limitations of the current setup. Most of us are moving to table saws or contractors saw which although are not a s portable or Aussie made at least they offer accuracy.

Not many of us need the crosscutting function, a $99 GMC saw does that function well enough for most things. The attempt to try to get the workcentre to do everything diminishes its usefullness by making it fiddly to setup difficult to maintain accuracy.

If one did away with that function the saw could be fixed to the WC in a much more stable way with real fasteners or better still a belt drive arrangement could be made to minimise noise (dont forget these things are most often used in backyards)!

What also needs to be done is upgrading of the mitre slots with real mitre slots that are able to take standard guides, ie Incra, etc. This would almost make creating jigs MUCH easier.

They shouldnt however throw out the baby with the bath water. Certain functions of the Triton are excellent such as the two mitre slots, the fence works well despite requiring setting on both sides and accessories such as the maxi table are fantastic. The triton router is almost flawless.

The routertables major drawback is the top which is rarely flat and inserts which as said before are useless. The fence is fairly good but is let down by this table top. Once again a real mitre slot that is able to take a proper gauge would be useful and then you could do away with the sliding function which is the source of many problems with the top.

If Triton wants to get back into being what it was 10 years ago these things need to be implemented, otherwise you will continue to sell products to woodies who give up on them and upgrade with usually chinese products.

The excellent service and support is what has kept a lot of us from moving on from Triton, particularly the ability to obtain parts quickly and relatively cheaply.

They (triton) could do much better though and I have no doubt if these things were fixed your market share would increase significantly.

If you want further ideas then look at the modifications that Sturdee has made to his setup before moving on to a tablesaw. His minicyclone or similar idea would be cheap to make and would sell very easily, it is the best jig I have ever made forrthe triton, much more useful than the original bucket.

I hope this has been useful, it is a shame to see another Aussie company disappear due to inability to keep up with the times.

regards

Marios

Originally Posted by ozwinner

How about some devise that can turn all that sawdust into a capaccino?

Failing that, something to turn lead into gold........hang on, thats what GMG do!!!

Al

hee hee

How about a sub $1000 contractor type TS to go into competition with those you are losing customers to. The WC2000 + Triton saw is best part of $900 anyway. Thats the whole reason I bought a contractor saw...same price.

And get the router table right. I'm getting that jacked off with mine (that's only weeks old) I am already looking to upgrade....shoulda got the ledacraft job when I got the TS. The router is great though & if the same effort goes into future power tool design then they will be a winner.

Reg

Originally Posted by Trav

clearly the best thing to do would be to make the sturdee dust bucket mod! That's the best invention so far! You might want to discuss this with Peter first...

Quite happy to talk to Triton about the dustbucket mod and come to a licencing arrangement with appropriate royalties payable or sell it outright to them.


Peter.

PSSST Peter, Royalties mate.



I like the coffee machine idea, different species of wood, different coffee.

No, I'm serious.

Come on guys (and girls too),

Is this all you can come up with?

Surely there are more of you out there that hace an opinion on what could, should and would come in the future.....

Surely there are more than 9 people who have ideas on what to make, even if it isn't powered, maybe it is just a jig you have an idea for.

Woody

Tennoning table/jib for the router table. You've got the finger joint jig, I would have thought that a tennon cutter would have been out a few months after that - but nothing so far. Come to think of it, a mortiser & tennon cutter jig that drops into the hole in the table top would be a good idea instead - just have to steer round the currently avalable commercial designs, but given the number of DIY designs published that should not be too hard.

I'll second the calls for an upgrade to the WC2000 table top, but I note that the existing top is still very useful for a lot of things. My original idea was for a new top released as an 'accessory' top, called, say, an 'American' top. Make it a fair bit bigger than the current top, have it lock on top of the existing table (without top) and have the saw attach directly to the bottom of the table (like the portable saws), making it easier to use the blade tilt & 'zero' clearance system. It would have the mitre/jig tracks extending right thru, which wouldn't be so much of a problem as the top & framing would have to be deeper than the current top to remain rigid with the larger size. You coulod even make it slide into the existing fence tracks & lock if making extra holes in the WC2000 doesn't appeal.

A Yankee style fence would also be nice, either alone or in co-operation with a new top. It could bolt or clip to the existing top much like the rails for the sliding table, and can be made with slide-in measuring scales in BOTH metric & Imperial - this should get round the damaged scale problem & make one model for both US & rest-of-world markets.

How about a thicknesser with a jointer attachment on the side.It could work off the same motor as the thicknesser....this would allow edge jointing for timber joining and the ability to size the timber.............