First half decent table saw wanted

[technium]

Hi

I am just getting my workshop built and would like to get a half decent table saw. I currently have one of those Pro Power B&Q cheapie bench top table saws but I want something abit more accurate etc.

I was speaking to a mate who told me to stay away from Axminster as in his words "They are just cheap B&Q ones rebadged" how true that is I dont know and ive been reading lots on here and alot of you seem to recommend Axminster as a brand.

I have been looking at Kity, any good? any other brands? I think budget wise im probably looking at upto £600 second hand but may be willing to stretch that if theres anything you suggest. Im just getting into DIY, wood working etc. The workshop will be 17.5' x 9' if that makes any difference.

thanks for looking.

Colin

 

[MattRoberts]

Not true really. Axminster have pretty good quality stuff, and are mid range. Kity are good, probably a step above axminster

 

[transatlantic]

I'd ignore your friend.

I think I'd go with Axminster as their customer service is supposed to be good. You have to keep in mind though that unfortunately, £600 is still on the low end for a desent *new* table saw.

The only other brand I can think of that does tablesaws in the £600 range is Charnwood, but I don't know how good they are.

There is also SIP? .. again - not sure about quality

Edit : There is also the Bosch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hglCxFQ_Umg

 

[paulm]

What kind of work do you envisage using the saw for, aside from cutting bits of wood of course ?!

They can, depending on model, take up a fair bit of floor space in a smaller workshop.

I always found my bandsaw got a lot more use than the tablesaw and that I only really bothered with the tablesaw for cutting mdf panels to repeat sizes.

 

[marcros]

there are a few considerations here. I am about to leave my pc, so it will have to be the starting point for forum searches for you!

1. What are you planning to cut? If it is mainly sheet material, a track saw is worth a look. whatever it is, i would have a look at the festool mft. dont have a heart attack at the prices- there are other options, but look at the concept.
2. Do you need the side extensions- without them, many of the saws have a very limited capacity.
3. Your workshop is not huge. Many of us have similar restrictions, but a table saw can swallow space. to cut a 6ft long board, you need at least 12ft of room, plus some working room.
4. I like Kity as a brand. I think that something like a startrite TA145 would be worth a look too. I bought one for my father, and I have a kity 618 myself. I would happily have either, but there is no denying the space that they take up. I keep toying with the idea of selling the table saw and using a combination of the bandsaw and a track saw.
5. I like the ts200 and ts250 (and upwards) from axminster. I think that they do a budget saw with a pressed top that I wouldnt go for.

mark

 

[sunnybob]

If you buy new, then you will have to accept you will need to spend time making the saw work properly. Thats the problem nowadays. There are very few machines that work properly out of the box.
Axminster service is very good, their products are as good as anyone elses.

 

[RobinBHM]

If you want a table saw second hand £600 will buy you some options. Look for multico, startrite, wadkin ags, kity, possibly scheppach.

Do consider the alternative option of a track saw. your workshop is quite narrow for a sliding table saw, they eat up room. Have a play with a scale plan of your workshop and lay on some cardboard cut outs with a table saw on to see if it will work in the space.

If you want to do lots of ripping in solid wood, then a small dimension saw like the 10" wadkin ags or kity would work well.

Dont forget you need to look for single phase

 

[technium]

Thanks all for your input so far.

£600 was for a second hand machine as I think I would get more for my money going down the second hand route.

Too be honest im not sure what im going to be using it for, I just assumed that a table saw was a must have item but looking at a track saw they could be good but I would have to look into it in more detail. I was thinking like when they use the table saw to cut tennon joints and cutting the smaller pieces of wood rather than ripping great big sheets of mdf on it.

To give you an idea of what im upto. I want to get into a hobby of some sort, ive often tried to make things and had issues with cuts not square or lengths not correct, I know this is partly me but also the gear I had to work with wasnt great. I will start by making my work benches from plans ive found online and then Im hoping to get more plans and start building, the wife wants me to try one of those Adirondack Chairs so who knows. Obviously I know I have a lot to learn but as im getting old I want something I can get my teeth into.

I like the idea of a scale plan of the workshop to see how much room I have.

Thanks again and sorry for sounding like a real Noob.

 

[marcros]

Don't worry about sounding like a noob.

A few years back. A table saw would have been essential. Now there are options like the track saw. It won't be suitable for everybody but if you can make the concept work- moving the tool to the wood, you will have a space advantage over moving the wood to the tool.

A router and a band saw will help you noend too- for your 600 you can get the track saw, the mft top, some parf dogs, a router and 2nd hand band saw. Look for parf dogs on YouTube and you will see exactly what you can do with them.

 

[technium]

thanks marcros I will have a look, never heard of mft top before and parf dogs, arent they just bench dogs? better check that out.....

Ive been reading a few reviews on the track saws and they look pretty good but how is the guide not slipping, id be worried it wont stay on the line and then ruin my cut.

 

[MattRoberts]

They often have anti slip coatings underneath the guide, or they can be clamped.

Given the way you describe what you want to do, I think a tablesaw is better suited to you than a tracksaw. Tracksaws are great for cutting sheets and boards, but no where near as versatile in cutting small pieces, ripping lengths or making tenon cuts etc. You also can't make jigs with the tracksaw which limits all the extra stuff you can do.

 

[paulm]

They often have anti slip coatings underneath the guide, or they can be clamped.

Given the way you describe what you want to do, I think a tablesaw is better suited to you than a tracksaw. Tracksaws are great for cutting sheets and boards, but no where near as versatile in cutting small pieces, ripping lengths or making tenon cuts etc. You also can't make jigs with the tracksaw which limits all the extra stuff you can do.

Does sound like it, I would agree that a track saw doesn't seem to fit the bill in this case.

I'm thinking now though that a mitre saw and bandsaw may be a better bet than a table saw, more functionality and suited for the tasks mentioned ?

Whether a table saw or bandsaw/mitre saw approach, anything other than basic, rough workshop joinery will require planing to finish which is something else to think about ?

 

[MikeJhn]

Just for information, Kity are now owned by Scheppach and the AxminsterTS-250-2: http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ho ... w-ax943888 is a clone of both companies low/mid price table saw, do a search on here for lots of posts concerning the Axminster 200 and 250, lots of people like them, even though they need work to set up properly, Oh and before anyone else says it, they have European metric mitre slots not American imperial ones.

Mike

 

[MattRoberts]

Does sound like it, I would agree that a track saw doesn't seem to fit the bill in this case.

I'm thinking now though that a mitre saw and bandsaw may be a better bet than a table saw, more functionality and suited for the tasks mentioned ?

Whether a table saw or bandsaw/mitre saw approach, anything other than basic, rough workshop joinery will require planing to finish which is something else to think about ?

Each tool has its uses over others. If you get the bug you'll find that you want all of those eventually, and it just comes down to what order you get them.

A mitre saw does cross cuts and angled cuts - something a tablesaw does, but it's limited in how long a board you can easily cross cut.

A bandsaw is great for cutting irregular shapes, tenons and resawing - but the tablesaw can do the last two.

I personally view the tablesaw as the backbone of my shop - it's what I use first and most often.

As for a planer, if you buy dimensional timber you don't need one.

If it helps, in terms of the order I got my tools (not that there's a correct order as it's personal to what each person wants to do), it's :

Tablesaw
Dust extractor
Router
Drill press
Mitre saw
Bandsaw
Domino
Planer thicknesser (not yet purchased!)

 

[transatlantic]

Wow Matt, that's an odd order

Tablesaw before router??? :O

 

[MattRoberts]

Well technically I got my router first - what I'm referring to there is router in a table

 

[technium]

thanks guys

I think I should let you know the tools I have, which may or may not need replacing with better kit but its a start -

Pro power pillar drill
B&Q Pro Power Bench top Table Saw
pro power circular saw (scares me to death)
wolfcraft router table with trend I think router (just given it)
Nu-Tool morticer (just given it) but no chisel bit things?
Drill powered wood lathe thing (again just given it)
Mitre saw cheap one
Sliding Mitre saw again cheapo one
Bosch router
2 x band saws (at back of shed so dont know if they work or make)
is it a scroll saw power type thin blade?
axminster sanding station thing which has sanding disk and belt sander
B&Q compressor but no tools to go with it. (left in house move)

Obviously its a start but the aim is to buy better kit if I get into it. But still think that the table saw is the thing to get / upgrade. Alot of these tools I havent used or not much as I just didnt have the space so it was never easy to get bits and pieces out when needed hence the need for my own bigger workshop that the wife cant fill with lawnmowers and old rusty BBQs.

thanks guys

 

[pcb1962]

I have been looking at Kity, any good? any other brands? I think budget wise im probably looking at upto £600 second hand

£600 will get you a nice condition Kity 619 (or 1619). They come up on eBay fairly regularly around that price, usually with a sliding table. I have one that I am very happy with.

 

[DennisCA]

Wow Matt, that's an odd order

Tablesaw before router??? :O

I have a router, a good model (Bosch GMF 1600) and I dunno, I use it a few times a month. I use my table saw or band saw almost every time I do anything in my workshop.

My order of importance would be something like this, I might bump up a P/T to 2nd place over the bandsawe ven:
Table saw
Band saw
Planer/Thicknesser
Router

 

[John15]

Hi Technium,

Only just seen your post. Not sure of your location but if it's of any interest I have an 3 year old Axminster Trade Series AW10BSB2 table saw that I'm planning to get rid of once I find time to blow the dust off etc. It's only had light use and is in good condition. PM me if you are interested.

John