Thread: Looking to buy my 1st cabinet saw

looks like these are my options then:

https://www.timbecon.com.au/sherwood...inet-saw-2400w - not sure if i can use on single phase power - $2679

W486 - ST-254 Table Saw | Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse - $1359 (not sure if it is going to be up to it)

or the carbatec that i liked but hated the sales assistant...

anybody aware of any other alternatives?

Originally Posted by Hangfire

Hi all,

..

i am currently considering a few saws - all in the same kind of price range

Carbatec TS-C250P-30TG - $2309

Laguna - F2 - $2749

Harvey C200-30 - $2000

...

I've got a DeWalt table saw; unfortunately I don't have room for a bigger one. But what me annoys most is the left tilt of the blade. I didn't know that this actually exist before I bought it. It feels incredible unsafe and I have to put the fence to the left for many tasks, which forces me to work from the wrong side of the table. If I ever buy a new one, this is the number one issue to avoid at all cost.

I'd have a closer look at the leda: MJ-2325F 1300 SLIDING TABLE PANEL SAW - Leda Machinery

That Hare and Forbes job has a crap fence and the Sherwood needs a 15 amp plug and is almost $400 more than the Carbatec jobbie. If I were you I'd grit my teeth and/or hold my nose and head back to Carbatec to buy your original choice. Just walk in and tell them what you want and don't let that salesman run with his sales pitch. With a bit of luck he'll be off sick.

Originally Posted by Biggus

That Hare and Forbes job has a crap fence and the Sherwood needs a 15 amp plug and is almost $400 more than the Carbatec jobbie. If I were you I'd grit my teeth and/or hold my nose and head back to Carbatec to buy your original choice. Just walk in and tell them what you want and don't let that salesman run with his sales pitch. With a bit of luck he'll be off sick.

you might be right biggus - i quite liked that unit and havent seen anything negative about it online...

might do it by phone to save the hassle with the salesman.

Originally Posted by Hangfire

looks like these are my options then:
...
anybody aware of any other alternatives?

What was wrong with the Harvey branded Harvey? Gregory machinery certainly don't have any issues recommending the Harvey. When I was in Gregory machinery recently they seemed to have a few other Woodman models on the floor that weren't listed on the website. I think Leda also have a 12" Hybrid that doesn't appear to be listed on their web page, I was quoted for that locally but the freight made it uncompetitive.

i recall someone earlier sayin that the carby fence was better than the harvey - but they are basically the same machine...

apparently they are sold as axminsters in the uk

Originally Posted by Hangfire

i recall someone earlier sayin that the carby fence was better than the harvey - but they are basically the same machine...

apparently they are sold as axminsters in the uk

The Carbatec has a bit more power as well, 2.5HP Vs 2. They're also sold as a Grizzly in the US.

Originally Posted by Hangfire

either the sales guy gets a bigger whack for a sawstop sale, or their margins are bigger....

but he essentially told me that their saw was cheap chinese crap and not to buy one.

That is absolutely hilarious............... Harvey has a plaque on the wall in their chinese factory from Sawstop as a OEM partner ..... they may no longer be but they have been.... makes the sales guy look like a complete idiot really.

Love my Harvey C200-30, and i'm the one that wrote up the Carbatec one seems to be a rebadged Harvey with a different fence.

The Ambassador series and the Alpha series now seem to be quality controlled from the USA, is that good or bad, no idea.

The horsepower rating difference i have no idea as no one has posted an image of the motor plate.... but really it's more about the blade than the HP

Personally i'd take the Hi-Lo fence over the half HP rating difference.

Cheers
Phil

Originally Posted by Biggus

The Carbatec has a bit more power as well, 2.5HP Vs 2. They're also sold as a Grizzly in the US.

if the Carbatec = Grizzly then it's not a Harvey as they direct retail the Ambassador range in the US, though Grizzly may have Harvey as the OEM.

Having poured over the Carbatec/Harvey specs/photos apart from half horsepower and the fence they seem identical!

Originally Posted by Aussiephil

if the Carbatec = Grizzly then it's not a Harvey as they direct retail the Ambassador range in the US, though Grizzly may have Harvey as the OEM.

Having poured over the Carbatec/Harvey specs/photos apart from half horsepower and the fence they seem identical!

Google the Grizzly G0833P.

i swallowed my bile - rang carbatec
put my quote through
3.5k spent - but i get a decent saw, and a 2hp dust extractor with the mesh filter and some pipework/base/glue etc.

delivery early next week.

The Leda is a decent machine, good value for the money.

I alerted Carbatec to this thread and the negative light that it paints their business in about 10 days ago. Haven't heard a thing, and judging by the lack of commentary on here neither has anybody else. They obviously couldn't give a stuff.

The thing that prompted my recall was viewing their latest promo. email for Pax saws. Was tempted by the prospect of a new dovetail saw - not anymore.

I owned one of the Carbatec saws for a while and would have to agree somewhat with what the salesman said (couldn't get rid of mine quick enough).
My understanding is that these saws vary quite a bit in build quality ( much like Hare and Forbes stuff ) some very happy users on here.
Definitely budget for buying the zero clearance insert and an aftermarket mitre gauge as the supplied ones aren't good at all.