Thread: Table saw opinions

Originally Posted by FXST01

Can i get some opinions on this ebay auction?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Table-Saw-160...QQcmdZViewItem

Would it be suitable for a beginner to woodworking?

I wouldn't buy it. I see it as a no name chinese piece of crap that has a better than not chance that it will die or break way too soon and there'll be no recourse. You'd get it for about a quarter of the price of an equivalent makita but you stand a real good chance of of loosing that $200 plus when it dies. So if you're a gambler... go for it. The odds are probably not much different than a casino.

Dear FXST01,

That is the same unit (just different coloured paint) that Aldi were selling about two months ago as a PowerCraft for $199, complete with stand.

Even though I haven't fiddled around with one of them, I can tell by the fact that the "Bevel" wheel is on the side, that it will have a better trunion setup inside than your other main cheap option, which is the truly horrible $98 GMC being flogged by Bunnings (I have actually owned one of them, and it is fatally flawed in it's design. Wont go into the technical reason why, but do not buy it, not even for $1 . It will ruin your wood...)

Now, any Aldi stores that have still got the unit you are interested in are clearing them out for $179. Therefore, find an Aldi that has one, and buy it there instead because you will be getting a warranty (since it is new, not used), and a stand (which is worth it's weight in gold to have...)

The unit in question from Aldi wouldn't be a bad way to go because it's certainly affordable, and it is fairly portable due to lighter "brush" style motor, and aluminium top.

Good Luck,
Batpig.

I'd only see it as somewhere to start.

Have you considered a 2nd hand ORANGE 'T'
Gives you more options, and are Half reasonable;
Price....?????

I have 2 and a Half......3rd one has no legs

AND They are NOT for sale!

I just sold my Triton on Ebay for $125.00 without a saw. I think your better off getting a second hand Triton and buying a GMC 9" saw to put in it. They sell these out of the GMC seconds shop for about $50.00 (the one I know of is across the road to Ford in campbellfield)

Don't get me wrong, I hated my Triton, but it would be 500% better than the unit on EBAY, plus you can always sell it later and recover your money when you get enough together for another saw.

OK , the majority here say stay away, so i'll take that advice and bide my time in ebay and cash converters for a while. I always want to touch want i'm buying so i can feel the quality of its construction.

Back to cutting wide with a circular saw and routing the straight edge to it my masterpieces.

Thanks all for your help.

Is this one just as bad ?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....m=130177990657

I think i would go with the majority and stay away from this one although you can't expect much for the money.

Electra Beckum is a well regarded saw, so it should be a worthwhile buy

I personally feel they're a bit light, (but I am used to using heavy industrial saws)

Geez you guys are quick in responding, I was going to remove that 2nd sale as I have spotted a Ryobi BT3000 table/bench in ebay, just trying to talk the missus into it now.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....m=290185838237

More Seriouser............

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....MEWA:IT&ih=019

I have One of these, though a little older;
and 2 of its smaller Cabinet Making Brothers

FSXT01, a proper answer would require knowledge of what you intend to do with it. The majority of us do just about whatever we can with our saws, from cutting 5mm mdf to resawing thick slabs.

On the other hand, some of us just make pens, picture frames or small boxes. If you intend to be a box maker then one of these saws may work well for you. If, as most of us seem to have assumed, you are going to do a variety of tasks then you will begin to hit the limitations very early on.

It is worth your while to get a solid steel top, a strong motor, square fence and good blade. They're the basics for a flexible system and poor quality of any one is likely to affect the quality of its cutting.

Originally Posted by FXST01

Geez you guys are quick in responding,..

We live vicariously through each others tool purchases

Originally Posted by Groggy

FSXT01, a proper answer would require knowledge of what you intend to do with it. The majority of us do just about whatever we can with our saws, from cutting 5mm mdf to resawing thick slabs.

On the other hand, some of us just make pens, picture frames or small boxes. If you intend to be a box maker then one of these saws may work well for you. If, as most of us seem to have assumed, you are going to do a variety of tasks then you will begin to hit the limitations very early on.

It is worth your while to get a solid steel top, a strong motor, square fence and good blade. They're the basics for a flexible system and poor quality of any one is likely to affect the quality of its cutting.

It would just be used cutting MDF and pine with the occasional tassie oak, I make the odd piece of furniture when i need to. No slab cutting here I have enough sawdust to clean up as it is. As for making pens don't newsagents sell them nice plastic ones?

The BT3000 will probably do what you want, but I urge you to read some previous threads on the BT3000 to see what has already been said about them.

Here is a start.