Thread: Can I get an update on the triton Jigsaw? - please!

Originally Posted by felixe

I look forward to some replies, Thanks.

hmmmmmm, seven hours and no reply on the triton forum, whats the world coming to?

Felixe, i have no experience with the triton jigsaw, ive held it and ive seen it used but i dont have the answer to your question. I bet if you had asked about the saw, router, wc2000 or other long established products you would have a reply or 20 by now.

I guess that many of us long term triton users either dont have the newer products yet or already have alternatives from other maufacturers. i guess this is a symptom of so many new triton items hitting the market place at the same time, also combined witha promise of a lot of other new tools coming in the future.

my2c worth anyway, hope someone can help you though Felixe

Hi Felixe,

I don't have the a Triton either but I've got a number of jigsaws made by respectable brands from Germany and Japan. IMHO, you can't go past the Bosch subsidary Scintilla in Switzerland which build the GST series. (Gewerbliche Stichsäge = Tradesman Jigsaw) The older GST 85 PBEs and the PEs are lovely little workhorses.

TIP: Upgrade the bed (foot) with the cast aluminium replacement. The old steel ones tend to bend after a while.

Not as expensive as the Festool and they last at least as long. They've introduced a secondary blade stabilisation vice under the guide roller which looks interesting... I've had one in the hand but I haven't had a chance to put it through its paces...

Good luck with your decision and don't forget to let us know how good the Triton is if you decide to go with it.

Damien

Originally Posted by felixe

Hi everyone,

I am interested in a jigsaw, my budget and usage place me in the DIY/home use market, I am looking for a quality product in this market segment, and I really like the look of the triton.
Triton Japan and Stuart Lees, your opinions and input would be of great value, as would any others who have this tool.
I would like to know how the performance is, and how is the dust extraction. I nearly bought one from mitre 10 the other day until the guy tried to sell me the very similar GMC, saying it is the same tool! I don't think I should believe him.
The jigsaw will be for weekend stuff - no trade work, just toolin' around.
I could have used it last week to cut out a lot of foam, but I am going to approach this purchase with some research under my belt before I commit.
I look forward to some replies,

Thanks.

Sorry Felixe- was out seeing The Da Vinci Code. (Movie is as good as the book btw, so whatever you thought of the book, you will probably think of the movie- fwiw I enjoyed it).

Ok jigsaw. I have used both very recently. The Triton is an excellent machine, and I would definitely recommend getting it. You will not be disappointed (irrespective of the price difference).

If you bought the GMC, then got to use the Triton, you would take the GMC back. (Sorry GMC, but the Triton is a significantly superior beast).

Hopefully those who know me well enough, will be able to tell you that I will call a spade a spade, irrespective of its colour.

Buy the Triton, and enjoy your purchase.

BTW - dust extraction. I do enjoy that the Triton has either a blow or suck option at the flick of a switch. Both work well. Having a laser on a jigsaw is of questionable advantage (jigsaws, like bandsaws, will track, and lasers don't compensate for this). However, having the normal light position has already been very useful. I have never had a jigsaw with a barrel handle, and I love being able to choose which version of the handle I want for a particular job. The scroll function works well. My only gripe is having to use a hex key to back off the blade support for scroll work, but this is pretty common for jigsaws.

ps. I really appreciate that you value my input on this. Thankyou.

It is nearly 10:00 pm. Waiting for a train at Okayama station, on the way home from a 2 day demonstration in Kobe.

Hmm, the Triton Jigsaw.

Will assume you know the good bits. What you are more interested in are the bad bits, and are there enough of them to turn you off the jigsaw.

As always, depends on what you want to do.

First point, it is larger than most other jigsaws available in Japan.

Due to the scrolling function, the blade is set back further from the front of the base than most other jigsaws. This can hinder visability a bit.

In my opinion, the base is very "Open". Has a lot of air space, which if you are intending to do a fair bit of work on small pieces, may cause you some difficulty.

That being said.

For cutting in straight lines, it has 3 levels of orbital/pendulum swing. This helps to keep the blade run straight and also remove swarf from the cut, giving you a faster cut than non pendulum blades.

The blow/suck choice is great, unless you really enjoy the dry whistle while you cut as you try to blow sawdust off your pencil lines.

Biggest buzz with this baby is the scrolling feature. I was very sceptical at first. Frankly thought it was a marketing wank until I started using it. If you intend to do a fair bit of curve work, this function is great. I find that you do not need to keep running around the workpiece to get the curves you are after.

Laser, great on a foggy night for playing star wars with the kids.

Led, greatly under rated. Led lighting is really useful.

What improvements would I suggest, a smaller one for my Asian mates.

Barrel grip is my preferred method. I like the lower center of gravity. I however have big hands.

As for the toss up between the Triton and a cheap and nasty, Cheep tools invaribly are expensive in the long run.

I also use a Makita and a Bosch Blue, as well as a Black and Decker.

The Makita is low on features, but high on grunt. The Bosch blade change is very easy , however my unit does not like the blade that came with it.

The Black and Decker is fine for occasional use, but not for someone who uses tools as much as I do.

No mater what make of jigsaw you buy, grab a good assortment of blades. If you can find them, give the Starret Bi-Metal blades a go. I saw them at the trade show in Germany and was blown away by their versatility and durability.....That is another story.

Where is that train.....

Night all, off to buy a can of Milo from the vending machine.

Steve

I have bought one & used it once - I am in the process of moving from garden shed to garage for workspace & it STILL isn't done yet. I used the Triton to trim a bit off the end on an ancient hardwood workbench that basically broke a mid-price jigsaw - the Triton handled it no trouble. The tool-less blade change is easy, but it had me wondering if it was going to work until I used it.

The plastic case will probably get relegated to the junk room as you have to take the blade out (and the handle off) of the saw to fit it in the case.

Good point Steve - I keep forgetting I was spoilt as a kid as my father's jigsaw (some US brand, full metal case, still going after the 40 years he's had it) had a scroll function.

Never had a jigsaw with barrel mode - definitely my favourite setup.

Funny think is, the Triton is around 700W vs the GMC's 900W, but you would never know it.

Hope you had a good trip to Oz btw Steve.

Guys,
Thanks for the reply. The way I see it, any tool around the budget I have is going to have good and bad points, all I can do is look for the best of the bunch, I was looking at GMC/B&D firestorm/Triton, well it looks like I am off to Bunnings to get the Triton.
The other good thing about the Triton is it is 700watts, which means I can hook it up directly to my shop Vac (carbatec/Inox) and run them together.
Again, thanks for the input it was greatly appreciated.

Regards

Felixe (soon to be member of triton club)

Originally Posted by felixe

Guys,
Thanks for the reply. The way I see it, any tool around the budget I have is going to have good and bad points, all I can do is look for the best of the bunch, I was looking at GMC/B&D firestorm/Triton, well it looks like I am off to Bunnings to get the Triton. . . .

So, Felixe, did you buy it and what are your impressions?

Today I had to pull out the jigsaw to cut access through some shelving, so it was the 1st time I used the scrolling mode on the jigsaw.
Wow! How good is that function, I would recommend the jigsaw solely on the versatility of this function - an excellent jigsaw!!!