Thread: Triton V's Table saw

Shannon,

having owned a triton MK3 for some 14years approx and making many projects with it. Even earning part time money from it making all sorts of furniture and large projects including kitchens. I have plenty of praise for the Triton. My equipment list back then consisted of MK3 triton and extension table and the then Triton router table and a few hand tools. I have recently been on a spending spree and bought many more pieces of equipment ( enough to start a cabinet shop ). My first new piece after some thought of buying a table saw was a series 2000 Triton with the dust extractor and winding mechanism along with Triton saw. Soon after I relented and bought a table saw (KS12-K) and now I wish I hadn't bought the second triton. There is no comparison between the two. I am not bagging the Triton here (I still believe it serves a very good purpose to a segement of the woodworkers out there) it is that until you use a table saw that you realise the limits of the Triton. Don't forget that you don't need to have all the bells and whistles on these devices. A sliding table is great but why wouldn't a home made extension table similar to the original Triton one not surfice for the large sheets. It sure would be cheaper.
My advice for you would be if space is a problem then go for the Triton but if you have the space go for a table saw. Keep in mind that a new Triton with the Triton saw and winding mechanisim will cost you as much as a good bottom end table saw like mine. The Triton is noisy and has a small depth of cut but it is light and movable around your garage/workshop.
Hope that you keep on woodworking regardsless of the equipment you have.
Regards Vasco

What came first the egg or the chicken?? It is difficult if not impossible to give a correct answer. eg what is better, Ford or Holden, station wagon or ute.
The triton is designed as a jig to enhance the performance of a hand held saw, which it does very well. Also the versatillity of the workcenter means you can attach router tables and overhead router plates to it etc. Hard to do that with a table saw.

Sure the table saw does what it is designed for in a superb manner. no two ways.

The real answer lies in the questions
What use are you going to put the machine to?
Will you need a hand held saw as well as a table saw?
How much room do you have???
Will you need to move the saw around?? Probably to take it to a mates place or remote work site??

Truly it is an age old question that only you can answer

Hi Shannon

I have pondered the exact same question. (search "drago" in members and one post about it should come up. I have just about everything triton makes as I kept adding more as my ability increased.

The triton is great particularly with its ability to be portable and easily transported onsite as well as in the garage. However if I had my time over I would have invested in a dedicated table saw as most of my time is spent in the workshop and it would have suited my situation better.

For its intended use the triton is great.

Except for that bloooooooody protractor!

cheers

drago

I have a Triton 2000 with just about everything. And the new Router table (and an old one too).

I keep looking at the table saws around & to do much the same jobs as I can do with a Triton I keep coming up with a top end table saw/panel saw costing several thousand, as well as building a new shed ) I'm sticking with the Triton.

I noticed that Bunnings have advertised a T2000'V' with the height winder included, for the same price(?) as the plain old T2000.

Of course I could hope for a Triton 2005 table top - imaginary product specs - a bigger table top with channels that take 'standard' tabel saw accessories like Incra mitre guages, tenoning jigs and the like, saw attached directly to table top so you can bevel rip on the table top etc - strangely the compact contractors saw table has most of these features, its just too small.

Shannon,
I faced your same question/dilema just over a year ago. I had a Triton 2000 workcentre and couldn't make up my mind as whether to get an extension table for it or to upgrade. This was until I needed to cut a sheet (1" thick) and ended up pushing the Triton around the garage.
I thought then if I can get a good price for my setup then I'd upgrade, which I did.
The pluses for me have been:
* Ease of use - measuring cuts, stability, accuracy, blade movement etc
* Depth of cut (95mm)
* Bevel cutting
* Less sound
* Better dust extraction
* Guides that are friendlier to make jigs for
* Have put a router table on the end of it, thus giving me use of it's fence
* etc

The minuses have been:
* Take up more room
* Had to buy a dust extractor

I am glad I did upgrade, but I enjoyed the Triton all the same. With hindsight on my side, I'd do it again tomorrow in a flash, but there are many reasons as to why it is worth sticking to a Triton setup all the same.
Cheers, Steve

Hiya Shannon,

I've worked in a few woodworking shops in my life, one tooled up with super, money no object scribing panel saws, spindle moulders and 4 edge planers. All were a joy to use, needed loads of space, 3 phase power and serious dust extraction. The dust extraction units themselves were much larger than my double garage/workshop.

I have also made furniture and kitchens with just a small circular saw, a power planer, a router (with a good selection of cutters) a B&D workmate style bench and a homemade router table. Also the usual hand tools of course. I also had to contend with working outside.

So I have worked at both ends of the scale. The latter was a complete pain in the ass as you can imagine, so before I started on a major kitchen project, I just couldn't face doing this all again.

Since I do not have the money or the space for even low end workshop machines, which I have also used, the Triton WC and accessories seemed to fit all I wanted to do.

There is no way that I will delude myself or others by saying that Triton gear will compete with even the cheapest multi-function workshop machinery, which will set you back a good few grand. It is just in a different league. Like comparing a Kia Pride with a BMW 5 Series Both get you from A to B but.......! The latter is five times the price though.

The point is though, on a budget and/or limited space, it at least makes wood working a LOT more tolerable than doing it with nothing at all.

If I could afford it, I would certainly trade my Triton in for a decent combination machine from say, KITY.
The cheapest one is 3-5 times the price of the corresponding Triton gear, but it would pay for itself if it has a lot of work to do.

The triton has its place though, and it is not serious furniture output. Since I fall into the 'as long as it does a better job than a chainsaw or an axe' school of standard, I am happy with it.
Only kidding, it is easy to get good results,and as you will see in these posts, some people have produced some stunning work.
If you go Triton, just be prepared to accept compromise and maybe have to put up with some questionable quality problems as I have.

Cheers,
Raymond.

hi Smiffy,

fantastic reply to this discussion thread and I think right on the money

cheers

drago

G'day Smiffy,

I just replied to the same post in general WW, but forgot to say thanks also for your input, your post hit the nail on the head. Others have also said the same thing, and I thank them as well. It seems that if we had the $$$ a TS is great, but if not the Triton is good at what it is intended for. So I shall be sticking to the orange for a little longer.

Might now investigate how to accessorise a Mk 3 with a height winder and stabliser for the saw. I'm sure I have seen the posts in the past.

Cheers all, and might see some of U at the WWW sydney show - those whose faces I have seen on the BB anyway.