Thread: First table saw

Matt86 have look at the thread couple pegs down https://www.woodworkforums.com/f153/m...gnment-164794/ and there you may find more info and owners of this saw that could help you....

cheers

Matt, my advice would be to stay away from the big brand toys (Makita, Dewalt, Bosch etc)

Have a look at a contractors saw from CarbaTech, Jet, Hafco etc. They are about the same money but a hell of a lot more saw.

If you think you I'll be still using it in 10 years time then move straight to a cabinet saw. You will never regret it

+1 on the contractor/cabinet saw. Portable saws are great if you need to move them between job sites but they are generally not so good when it comes to accuracy and flexibility. I would be looking at used contractor/cabinet saws for around the same money as a new portable saw. Most people regret buying a portable saw sooner or later as their skills improve and they become more adventurous in woodworking.

There are plenty of threads on here that will reinforce the issues people have with portable saw benches. I was in the same position recently in that a small portable saw was more appropriate in my small workshop but I decided to buy a used cabinet saw on wheels for not much more than a new decent portable and haven't looked back since.

Steve

I agree with the comments above. The smaller portable type saws usually do not have very good fences on them and are often hard to set square to the blade. If you have the room for a contractors saw or cabinet saw, go for that. You get a much larger surface to work on, and if you are cutting longer lengths, that is a great advantage. If you spend the time and set them up accurately, they stay that way. Secondhand saws often come up for sale on the Forum. This gives you the chance to get a better machine with the same funds you had available to buy a new one.

why the contractor saw? of all the people that I know, they all moved onto table saw from contractor saw, but not the other way round... (unless they need to move the saw from site to site regularly, if its kept stationary, get a table/cabinet saw)


my first saw was a 10inch carbatec 3hp cabinet saw, and I only got rid of it because I moved up to a full size panel saw.

I am halfway through a certificate 2, at TAFE ,in woodwork and construction. After I finish I will no longer have access to all those wonderful machines. I am trying to work out what to spend my few dollars on, to do reno on my house and make stuff.

I have seen some Triton systems for sale occasionally. What experiences, thoughts can people give me for the Triton 2000?

I would prefer my very own panel saw, though.

I started off with a Mk3 Triton and Makita 9 1/4" saw. It served me well while doing general woodworking and renovation type tasks. I sold it off and brought a table saw a few years ago and would never go back.
The TS is quiet, accurate, and no need to mess about setting the fence parallel with the blade. The blade is able to be tilted to 45 deg, which could not be done on the Triton is tablesaw mode.
If you can afford a tablesaw, go for it.