In a dilemma over a tble saw

[Andybos0]

Hi folks

I have being trying to find table saw for my small workshop since Christmas and just cannot make up my mind as to which one to buy, I cannot have anything to big and like wise I don't want some thing that is cheap and flimsy, but I only have a budget of around £400, please bear in mind I don't do any thing with hard wood and I am just starting out so all my projects are in soft wood with maximum size to cut of 2 inch, so help would be appreciated in steering me in the right direction for a reasonable saw that will take a 254 or 315 blade for around £400, I cannot seem to find anything on ebay that suits, welll I have seen a Charnwood 650 but its way outta my price range at present, and any that do fit the bill are usually in chuffin devon or cornwall LOL

Regards

Andy

 

[rdesign]

track saw ? festool would work . what do you want to do with it ?

 

[cammy9r]

Hi, the axminster ts250m fits that price and looks like a good saw that can be expanded in time. Induction motor makes it a lot quieter than brush motors. Not in stock at the moment. I have a makita ml100 which has been rather good so far but not amazing. It has a sliding table that's not that great for cross cutting sheet material but very good with smaller stock. The side table extends out to give a 620mm rip capacity.....the down side is it is loud and starts with i can only describe as a bang, soft start would have been nice. The rip fence is a tad flimsy but they all seem to be at this price range. I have upgraded to a record power ts250rs now but still use the makita ,portability is handy.

 

[Andybos0]

thanks guys

Took the plunge and bought a Makita MLT100 this afternoon

 

[cammy9r]

Thats good. I dont think you will be disappointed. Just dont be startled when you switch it on. I made a zero clearance insert out of aluminium, the supplied one is flimsy.

 

[Togalosh]

I have had a 2704 for 6yrs or so & it's coped handsomely with everything I've tried to cut on it including thick oak. The dust extraction could be better though.

 

[Selsdon_PJS]

Good luck with the Makita - the reviews on Amazon are horrendous!

 

[cammy9r]

The reviews are either end of the scale. Half love it, half hate it. Quality control or user malfunction?
Dont throw it about in a van and treat it with care and learn how to use a table saw properly and it will serve well.
First thing i should have made is a good crosscut sled but i tended to do more ripping with the saw.
It really has to be securely mounted and weighed down if you intend to run a full sheet of 18mm mdf through it. Im sure the sheet is heavier than the saw.

 

[Andybos0]

Hi Chaps

I have set it up in a purpose built table so that I can still use the extensions if needed but I will eventually fit a larger out feed to it.

Tried it out today and up to now it is far better than my last saw, so hopefully I will have this as long as I had my other one lol.

Last saw was a Ferm FZT 250 bought in 2000 for 50 quid and it died at Christmas so cannot complain lol