Thread: Table saw comparison

Originally Posted by bfx

Fred,

Frustrating isn't it. I had a similar experience to you, except for the visit to Carbatec.

Hafco didn't even have a 10" saw in the showroom. I said I wanted to see the ST-250 with the sliding table so they asked me to wait 10 minutes then took me out to the back to show me the pieces, mostly still in the box.

Bill, yesterday they had TWO ST-250 setup (well sort of) bits missing, fences didn't work properly, you know the score.
No SB10H (2325B) on the floor, but they had dropped the price to $929, so at least that was something.
What really p......d me off was that I had called the day before, said I was coming from Bendigo and was told , yes 1 one the floor one in stock.

Originally Posted by bfx

I went to Woodworkers Warehouse - again had to look at a SuperSaw in a box. At least the sales guy seemed to understand where the pointy end is and what it did.

No Supersaw, in boxes or otherwise, just 2 contractor models that didn't impress.
Lignum has since kindly invited me to have a look at his Supersaw, but why should he have to do WW's sales job?

Originally Posted by bfx

I went to Carbatec and found most of the saws in the catalogue on display and intact. As you know I left with a TS-10L 1PH. (I was back there last Wednesday and the guy that sold me the saw told me he grabbed one for himself.) The saw is set up and running beautifully. It now has a Triton Maxi Extension Table hanging off it and I am cutting panels with ease and accuracy. (Drop in for a look whenever you like.)

Will do, have been somewhat pre-occupied off late. Also, I'll probable get even more p....d off when I see what I missed out on.. There was one saw there that had possibilities and that was 12" KS12-K (the one that Derek Cohen posted about). That seemed to have a very good fence, and also finished very well. It tilts to the right (not my preference) but there is almost as much room to the left as there is to the right. At $995, it is not off the list yet.

Originally Posted by bfx

I was in Mildura last Friday and dropped into MIK International and saw the Ledacraft version of the MJ-2325 set up and very sweet (not sure if it was the A or AB model but it had a useful looking sliding table).

Yes, that is quite nice, saw that at Leda when I was in Adelaide a few weeks ago. Now there is a professionally setup showroom with very professional and knowledgeable staff. Must be small town syndrome, they have to work harder on each customer, there aren't another 2 million to work on if the current one walks out.

Originally Posted by bfx

It doesn't make sense that we have to work so hard to see these machines - especially since I have now more than doubled my table saw outlay at Carbatec on the dusty, precision mitre, edge bander etc etc.

And there in lies the rub, despite all our grumbles we keep coming back for more

Originally Posted by bfx

ps I also went to WMS before Hafco and they have the smallest showroom jam packed with gear and a sales guy that seems to understand the product. They had the Carbatec MJ2325B on show, as rsser said - for $100 more than the Carbatec price.

Yes, I think that is where rsser got his from, quite a good looking saw, although he was grumbling about the lack of flatness of the side panels.

Might try and pop over to your side of the highway in the weekend if you are going to be there.

Fred

Always here on weekends Fred. Cellar door is open so I can't stray too far.

If you're dropping in, look first in the woodshop next to the carpark (I should be cutting sheets for the new kitchen). If I'm not in there, wander up to the winery.

Bill

Just looked for some details on the C/tec website and found to my surprise there is a new saw listed, a Perform 250, resplendent in yellow and black livery. The picture included is called MJ2325D, sort of gives the game away where it comes from.
Has a fancier looking sliding table and a rear extension table, otherwise is similar to/same as Leda MJ2325A ($1298) and Hafco ST-250 ($1250), as well as Timbecon TS250 ($1749).
C/tec "special pricing till 31/07/07" is $1549.

Just search for this saw thru all the C/tec sites and it looks like it's only avaliable from the WA store

Originally Posted by djstimber

Just search for this saw thru all the C/tec sites and it looks like it's only avaliable from the WA store

Oops, that's a trap, looked up WA yesterday and obviously it remembered!

Maybe they have it to compete with Timbecon's TS250?

Thanks for pointing that out dj.

Originally Posted by Big Shed

I think that is where rsser got his from, quite a good looking saw, although he was grumbling about the lack of flatness of the side panels.
Fred

I actually got my Leda from Frank at Northern Machinery just down the road. Stan at WMS can order Leda in btw.

And Stan also reckons there's new designs coming out of China over the next few months and if a buyer isn't in a hurry it may be worth waiting. The new Ctec may be a taste.

And the journey continues!

Did something this afternoon that perhaps I should not have, went to visit BFX to look at his ridiculously cheap TS10L, which he bought for $1795 from Carbatec. I WANT ONE!!!! Compared to the saws I looked at on Thursday, well there is no comparison. As soon as you look at it, it shouts quality. Everything is solid, the table is flat and extremely well machined, the fence is superb (much better than the fence on the TSC10 I looked at). The rise and fall and tilt controls are heavy and the action is smooooooth. I think I'm in love. It look very much like the Jet JTAS10XL, but the table is bigger. Bill has also adopted Sturdee's Triton Maxi Sliding Table idea, and a good job he has done. Another thing I noticed is how quiet it is, you can have it running and stand right next to it and talk at a normal level. Did I say I like, I love it I WANT ONE!!!!

We then moved to Bill's "real" shed, where he has his winery, boy does he make a mean Shiraz. If you like Shiriz, his Butterfly Crossing 2005 is superb.

Thanks for spending some time with me and SWMBO this arvo Bill, much appreciated.

I have attached an updated spreadsheet on tablesaws, have added some contractor saws, and also some 12" ones. Some of these are still real possibilities, as is the TS10L and the Jet JTAS10XL, which I haven't seen in the flesh yet (Sorry Spartan, BFX is only about 20k down the road!)

Did consider doing the contractor saw on a trolley with the Incra TS-LS fence, but what I have seen of contractor saws I think I'll give them a miss.

There is only one problem with all this, every time I look the budget goes up

But then Spartan went from $1250 to $2700, so it looks like I'm heading that way too.

SWMBO looks at me as though I'm slightly demented (which I am), but she rather has me in the shed than in the pub!

Got my saw fired up today.....sweet.....The fence system is magnificent. Table size is 660 x 1930mm.....with the fence reading up 1370mm......

The thing was pretty much perfectly aligned straight out of the box. I have connected the dusty yet...with all my cuts the dust just ends up near the chute...

When I make my out feed table, its going to take it to about 1500 x 1930.

The mitre guage is spot on as well....just screwed an anc fence to it and perfect cross cuts....

Big shed, the info in your spread sheet for the JTAS table size is only for teh cast iron top. The extension table is 27" x 36" which takes the table space to 686x1930.

Rip left of the blade is approx 1370mm

Thanks for that Spartan, they don't give a lot of this information, even on the US Jet site.

I take it the "add-on" table is not cast iron, but some sort of mdf?

Can it be purchased without that table? If so, how much does that bring the price down?
All the Jet dealers seem to be very coy about their prices (something to hide perhaps?)

The rip size LEFT of the blade seems unrealistic, 1370mm? Surely that is the size to the RIGHT of the blade?

Thanks for taking the time to get my "facts" right.

Originally Posted by spartan

Got my saw fired up today.....sweet.....The fence system is magnificent. Table size is 660 x 1930mm.....with the fence reading up 1370mm......

The thing was pretty much perfectly aligned straight out of the box. I have connected the dusty yet...with all my cuts the dust just ends up near the chute...

When I make my out feed table, its going to take it to about 1500 x 1930.

The mitre guage is spot on as well....just screwed an anc fence to it and perfect cross cuts....

So who's a happy camper then? Sounds great

Originally Posted by spartan

Big shed, the info in your spread sheet for the JTAS table size is only for teh cast iron top. The extension table is 27" x 36" which takes the table space to 686x1930.

Rip left of the blade is approx 1370mm

Had another look at the US Jet website, they do actually give the maximum rip to the left of the blade, 12"-300mm.

Updated spreadsheet attached.

Yes, my bad, rip to the right is 1370 - that's what the fence goes up to. To the left is 300mm.

I used the mitre guage today for some 45 degree mitres very sweet and good clean cuts.

This is the end of the road, yes I have placed my order, it will be here early next week and I'll keep you all in suspense till then.

Will post pictures of the WIP as I get it in and set it up.

Have attached my final version of the spreadsheet, hopefully those travelling this road after me will find it useful, there is a new page in there for left tilting saws.