Table Saw - Keep or buy new one?

[stephen01763]

Hi everyone,

I have been lurking for a while whilst building my workshop (see photo), and I'm now at the stage where I am building benches and sorting out kit.

I am a carpenter and have plenty of tools and kit to store which is taking up quite alot of my space and I just working out what fixed machinery can go in my workshop. I have an old Scheppach table saw (not sure of model number but I found a photo on Google which is the same model) and what I'd like to do is build a table saw "box" on castors maybe 2m x 1m approx with the saw built in to act as an outfeed table as well as an assembly bench kind of thing and maybe some kind of dual purpose chop saw station though this might be a non starter. I would imagine the saw at one end, and some kind of aftermarket fence to allow wider cuts than the saw does at present. The saw I have is quite a beast and is quite powerful. Its quite big however.

Should I ditch it and buy a more modern smaller saw to build in or keep what I have?

 

[Hot stuff]

I did a similar thing with a second hand Ryobi about 5 years ago, built it into a doubled up 8 x 4 of 25mm ply. Fitted a Freud blade, made a decent fence and got perfectly reasonable results for what I was doing.
As long as your motor runs true I don't see any problem with what you're proposing, the only reason I upgraded was because I got the chance of a decent cabinet saw for much cheapness. To be honest, I was unsure whether to keep it or not as I didn't feel I'd gained much with the new one but I've decided to hang on to it for now and see how it goes.
A decent blade is a revelation though, the only down side is that you'll probably get a bit precious with it as a 305mm one is a bit of an outlay.

 

[stephen01763]

Thank you, thats comforting.

It may have been covered before but I cant find an answer searching - what do I need to search for on google for an aftermarket fence (ie one that you build into your wooden cabinet)?

 

[Lonsdale73]

Thank you, thats comforting.

It may have been covered before but I cant find an answer searching - what do I need to search for on google for an aftermarket fence (ie one that you build into your wooden cabinet)?

Incra LS Positioner perhaps?

 

[stephen01763]

I’ll check it out many thanks!

 

[MikeJhn]

Lonsdale you are as wag. :lol:

Mike :ho2

 

[Hot stuff]

Difficult to get a cheap after market fence but you tube has loads of home made versions, some more red neck than others. Have a good Google before you make your cabinet so you can make everything work together, whether it's Incra or angle iron.

 

[MikeJhn]

Have a look at this: http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/ho ... table-saw/ also do a search on Google for "Building a bessemer type fence for a table saw" you will be amazed how many option you will get, here: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Build ... e&ie=UTF-8 on the images option click on the one you like the look of and a bigger picture will open with the option on the right to "Visit" click on that and it should take you to the page either with it for sale or plans to build it.

Hope that helps.
Mike :ho2

 

[heimlaga]

As a carpenter you need a lightweight yet powerful site saw so I think you should keep it for that purpose. I have an eqivalent saw made by Electra Beckum and would not want to be without it on site.

For fine joinery and cabinetmakling you will need a totally different sort of saw in the long term. One with cast iron table and a much more solid frame. A saw that's rigid enough for accurate cuts.

My solution to this is having two table saws....... and building more sheds....

 

[stephen01763]

hahah this workshop has so far cost thousands! I dont have the money to build any more!!

Thats why I was in the short term thinking of using my Scheppach to keep me going till a cabinet saw comes up.

Thanks for the fence advice Mike I have checked these out they look great

 

[TFrench]

Axminster do an aftermarket fence for about £100. I fitted one to my kity saw and am very happy with it.

 

[user22161]

I have an old Scheppach table saw (not sure of model number but I found a photo on Google which is the same model

Looks like a TKU, same as my last saw.

 

[MikeJhn]

Two alternative Axminster fence's on this thread: axminster-rip-fence-upgrade-for-record-power-bs350s-bandsaw-t104848.html don't let the title mentioning bandsaw put you off it could equally apply to a saw table.

Mike

 

[stephen01763]

Thanks very much for the advice and taking the time. I have been searching for table saw porn for a few days and I am thinking I should just buy what I need like a cast iron table one and not throw money at what I have. Buy your third saw first kind of thing! I have posted in the wanted section for a cast iron table saw!!

 

[stephen01763]

Oh and I picked up my Dewalt radial arm saw from storage yesterday to install in workshop

 

[MikeJhn]

You may be interested in this thread: axminster-ts250-2-modifications-t102284.html , these saws don't come onto the second hand market very often, proves owners like them, but are a re-badged Kity of long ago, Kity are now owned by Sheppach (spelling).

Mike

 

[stephen01763]

Just taking a look now thanks!

What do you think about pro machines like Wadkin/Sedgewick around the £800 mark (I could get a 3 phase converter)

 

[MikeJhn]

IMO and not shared by a lot of others, they are heavy lumps of old iron, usually with no safety guards, or missing parts and difficult to get bits for, 3 phase converter just another thing to go wrong, I am not a fan, but for a commercial environment may be worth the hassle, as they do seem to take a lot of abuse easily and last a long time once fettled into a usable condition, but I would much rather be working than fettling, if I wanted to fettle an old iron machine I would be a metal worker and not work with a live natural product.

I used to visit a few woodworking machine shops who all had these old iron machines, always one or the other was down for maintenance of one kind or another, but these where high production high end shops dealing in exotic timbers for very high end developments, Indian work force who seemed to be able to repair machines with sting and ceiling wax.

Mike

 

[stephen01763]

Sounds like what id like to be doing in my workshop - exotic timbers!

I think maybe something middle ground/semi pro might be better. I am looking every half hour on ebay!

If somebody is toying with selling one on here i'd appreciate a look in,.

S.

 

[MikeJhn]

Have you looked in the "For Sale" section of the Forum?

Mike