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Thread: Tablesaw Manufacturers
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30th September 2018, 08:01 AM #1Intermediate Member
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Tablesaw Manufacturers
Hi all,
Ive been doing some research into cabinet saws lately as I'm struggling to justify the cost of a Sawstop at $4399. Can anyone shed some light on why major US manufacturers dont export their products to Australia? So far I can see a number of major brands, Grizzly G0690, Delta Unisaw, General International and now to a certain extent Powermatic are difficult to source in Australia. Brand I can find are Harvey and Laguna, which look nearly identical for the premium models and still quite expensive, I think if I was to spend $3500 I'd save up for a bit longer and get a Sawstop simply for the safety feature for the extra $1000.
I've also noticed that Carbatec have an entry level cabinet saw now but am a little dubious that the quality will stack up when compared to the other brands of cabinet saw?
Which way have people gone when purchasing a professional grade saw? Ideally I'd like to spend between 2500 and 3000, but from what I'm seeing there isn't much in this price range.
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30th September 2018 08:01 AM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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30th September 2018, 08:52 AM #2
The US don’t make tablesaws they import them.
The local importers/sellers can make more by importing directly from the East.
There may be a price point that European made (Poland)? or similar works for local resellers.
I’ve recently used a Hammer at the local men’s shed and was impressed.
This saw was set up and looked after by a German master cabinetmaker so it may not be typical.
I personally have old Wadkin Bursgreen stuff but whilst cheap to buy these usually need a lot of tuning up.
H.Jimcracks for the rich and/or wealthy. (aka GKB '88)
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30th September 2018, 11:00 AM #3GOLD MEMBER
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30th September 2018, 10:19 PM #4Intermediate Member
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You're very much correct about the importing from China. It seems that no one can compete with them in their manufacturing endeavours. Surely these companies can see the value in selling their goods in other countries, even if badged under another name, to fill obvious gaps and undersupply in the market? Or am I just the odd one out thinking there is a gap in the market?
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30th September 2018, 10:48 PM #5GOLD MEMBER
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I'm not sure I understand. What gaps in the markets do you perceive? Most of these come out of the same small number of factories, and come in livery of the brand in question. Why would an unknown US brand want to try to penetrate a small market like AU when the same equipment comes from an established brand? Why would they set up distribution and repair, to try to steal someone's established market share? There would be no economics in that.
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1st October 2018, 10:14 AM #6GOLD MEMBER
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Poundy is on the money.
What don't you like about SawStop? They are extremely well made and have awesome backup. It is over engineered really, but this is to the benefit of the user. Then there's the break mechanism, to assist in saving you from that life changing event.....
Enough said....
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1st October 2018, 10:45 AM #7GOLD MEMBER
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+1 for the Sawstop. Extremely well built, solid as a rock and, speaking as someone who has used the Pro version most days over the past 2+ years, I would buy one again in a heartbeat.
Brian
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1st October 2018, 12:31 PM #8GOLD MEMBER
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I would have thought that there are cabinet saws available locally in your $2500 to $3500 range. If you have a look on https://www.machines4u.com.au/browse...Table-Saws-71/ there seems to be plenty to choose from. If you don't mind going used there's generally things like this available - https://www.machines4u.com.au/view/a...-PANEL/463803/ and you might even pick up a European saw if you keep your eye out for a while. As stated by others all these saws are made in China or Taiwan, there are no manufacturers of cabinet saws in the US as far as I'm aware. If you want to go European you have to be prepared to part with more dollars.
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1st October 2018, 08:05 PM #9Intermediate Member
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I have no problems with Sawstop at all, other than the price, which is justified by engineering and the safety features. It just seems to me that a there should be plenty of options for a high quality cabinet saw at a lower price point. What was the go to cabinet saw prior to sawstop's arrival? Powermatic?
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1st October 2018, 08:22 PM #10GOLD MEMBER
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Carbatec now have an option, I am unsure about other suppliers really. Before the SawStop was the Powermatic and JET, and before that was their TSC-10HB, a 3HP machine triple drive belt etc. The below machines have a 2.5HP motor so is not limited to use with 15amp power points.
https://www.carbatec.com.au/search?P...rch=TS-C250P-*
There is a router table top that fits these tables, a variety of extras that can be seen in their new catalogue coming out soon.
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4th October 2018, 11:09 PM #11GOLD MEMBER
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My advice is to forget buying new cheap crap thats designed for woodworkers and go buy second hand pro gear. Theres plenty out there... you just got to look.
You're in Tas, just go look at this one:
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/stow...ing/1196822793
and unless theres something wrong with it take it home. Unless you got three phase in which case the world is your oyster and you can get a whole cabinetmakers shop of gear for less $ then that in Canberra. I spent 5 minutes on gumtree... if i was seriouly looking id be checking out what thatcher and ron mack and ATS are carrying 2nd hand.
I tell ya something: theres no-one with a vintage wadkin or white or barker etc or a not quite vintage Altendorf or SCM ever wishes they had a sawstop. Just sayin...
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5th October 2018, 12:31 AM #12Taking a break
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An Altendorf or SCM is between 5 and 20 times the price of a Sawstop (even used machines are at least double) and has a full sliding table. You might as well say "there's no Ferrari owner who wishes they had a Honda". Just sayin...
The industrial stuff out of Taiwan is genuinely good; you might want to invest in a better fence, but the machines themselves are solidly built.
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5th October 2018, 01:43 AM #13New Member
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Hi from Canada. I looked at the saw stop. Nice machines but the price was too high. The General saws are no longer made in Canada. It’s General International now made somewhere in the east. I ended up with a Canadian made 70’s vintage Rockwell Unisaw for $550. After $~200 in parts and a few days to rebuild and tune up it is an excellent machine.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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19th October 2018, 08:32 PM #14GOLD MEMBER
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The reasons things cost more in Aus is all the fees, taxes, the higher wages, lack of economy of scale, high cost of doing business, etc.
My wife convinced me to spend the extra for the Sawstop because she likes l
my fingers as they are. Of course I haven't needed the brake and hopefully never will. However it is a great saw and a great fence.
Sent from my SM-G935F using TapatalkMy YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/2_KPRN6I9SE
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21st October 2018, 08:45 AM #15SENIOR MEMBER
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BTW one of the Harvey models (there could be more) is identical to one of the Grizzly's except for colour and branding. Even on another thread someone said if you want a better manual for your Harvey saw then download it from Grizzly's web site. So I don't really see a gap in the market at all. Harvey (Grizzly), Sawstop, Laguna, Sherwood, Powermatic, Jet, Scheppach, Hafco, Carbatec just to name a few and I'm sure some of these come out from the same factory
I also have a Sawstop and love it.
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