Kity 419/Scheppach Precisa 2 same thing?

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pike

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I'm looking for a reasonably portable small workshop tablesaw. I've seen the Kity 419 mentioned a lot and I like sound of it especially as I'm very pleased with my kity 439.

The thing is I don't fancy second hand and I've heard they aren't as well built now?

Now I've found the Scheppach Precisa 2 which is claimed to replace the Kity 419. Does anyone know if it's a good version or just a cheap modern copy?

Cheers!
Carl.
 
I believe it is the replacement. Not sure whether it is the same quality, or indeed good/bad/indifferent.

I found the 419 to be a good saw, although they were quite pricey new. Worth seeing if the xcaliber range from wood ford do anything similar- they used to do a contractor model. The ts200 is a kity clone that may be worth looking at too.
 
NB: the comments below relate to an old version of the Kity 419 and an old version of the TS200. Axminster recently refreshed the TS200 design, and Kity's brand has changed too. I have no direct knowledge of the most current versions of either model. Please check the details for yourself on the saw you choose to buy: don't take my word for it!

The Kity's design makes a zero-clearance insert almost impossible to make, although you can get round this with a sled or ZCI on one side only. It's easier on the Axminster, because of the different throat shape, although not ideal there either.

If you want a cast iron top, consider an Axminster TS-200 over the Kity. Having a cast iron/steel top makes magnetically clamped tools and guards practical, which is probably a good thing. Normally the crown guard mounts on the riving knife, which is (a) inconvenient and (b) probably not very strong, but altering this on the Kity I think would be hard. On the TS200 you can mag-mount guards, jigs and featherboards, etc., if you wish, and there are some good designs for mag-mount guards out there. But the Kity top won't rust ;-)

The other big difference is that the TS200 has separate handwheels for rise/fall and arbour tilt. The Kity has a single one that's dual purpose. Some people have had to replace the handwheel (around £40 I believe) because it's a plastic-on-steel, gear + rack arrangement for the tilt, which wears if not looked after. I've removed the spring on mine (you'll understand if you buy one), which may stave off damage a bit, as it's harder to graunch the gears.

Both saws have 3x M8 bolts for the motor mounting. There's very little clearance to spanner one of these, necessary when adjusting the belt and/or cleaning. I've replaced mine with dome-headed Allen bolts, which helps.

On the ones I have, the tilt pivot adjustments (trunnion mountings) are a better design on the Axminster, allowing for far easier adjustment of the blade alignment. My Kity is an old one though, and, since the problem is absolutely maddeningly stupid and the fix both cheap and blindingly obvious, I'd hope Kity have sorted it on later versions. In short, make up a fairly thick, oblong steel plate with an M6 tapped hole at each end (30mm spacing, I think but measure it yourself!), file the small lugs off the aluminium 'pillow blocks' and use the plate instead of the nuts and anti-shake washers. Adjustment becomes very simple: one Allen key from above the deck is all that's really necessary. The original system was designed by an utter moron.

The TS200 has this sensible arrangement already, and slightly more range of movement, should that be necessary. As I said though, my Kity was made a long time ago, and I should hope they've changed it long since.

The accessories are identical for the two machines (depending on age). Not all the internals are identical (obviously given the mechanics), but there are many common parts.

Personally, I'd take a good look at the Axminster before deciding on either. Both are built down to a price, incidentally, so don't expect marvels for twopence, but they're very functional within the price range.

Beyond the comments above on the differences, it largely comes down to your preferred colour scheme :)

E.
(yes, I presently own both.)
 
Thanks for the detailed info Eric!

My latest plan is to get a fairly decent bandsaw and hopefully add an accurate SCMS eventually. Then even further down the road in a year or so, a tracksaw.

Would a tablesaw around the 600 700 price range e.g. an AW10BSB2 be overkill if my ultimate aim is to only use it for ripping to final width?

I've even thought about a Dewalt 745 but the noisy motor puts me off.

My new workshop is probably going to be 2.5m wide so I don't have a lot of space.
 
I had a 419, which i sold and bought a decent big bandsaw. I had the intention of getting a tracksaw and already had a radial arm saw. I soon realised how useful the tablesaw was, and have just bought another. A £600 saw will easily do what you want it to, and if you have the money then i dont think that you will regret it. If you dont have the money then it wouldnt be worth bankrupting yourself for it. Ultimately good quality is rewarded many times over.

2.5m is tight, but perfectly usable. I have about 10 feet and wish I had a bit more. With careful planning though you shouldnt have too many issues. I have moved my bench around a couple of times- it is a bit like chess, where the centre of the space is critical, and in my case, the centre of the long sides. There was a planning tool somewhere thatr allowed you to position machinery in your workshop. Personally, I look at where i might need to handle the longest lengths- ripping on the bandsaw, planining and cross cutting on the RAS, and work around that. Unfortunately i have everything needing about 25% of the floor space, so castors are used a fair bit!

sorry, slight deviation from your post.
 
Thanks marcros. I'm happy to wait until I can afford something I won't need to replace in a hurry. I have a triton workcentre so I can manage fine for now. What did you buy instead of the 419?

Regarding the workspace, yeah my original plan when I moved to my house was to build a 20x10 shed. It didn't happen and we've had a few too many visits from the tealeaves to our existing sheds, so I'm going to have to use a garage (new build getting quotes now). What I do have is length (7m), so my plan is to leave say 2.5mx2.5m open near the door as a glue up area etc. I can keep all my timber and non essentials elsewhere which should help. Will have a look for that planning tool today cheers. Failing that I'll just use sketchup.
 
Another kity actually. I went for the 618, without the sliding carriage (due to space, and having the RAS). The 619 was a bit better, but I plan to replace the fence and modify it a bit anyway, so it will be a good starting point.

post637455.html?hilit=workshop%20planning%20saw%20planer#p637455 I think was the one i had in mind. Probably more use if everything is to be fixed in position, but maybe handy.
 
I do like my kity 439. Can't remember where I got it though and if it's original French.

I'm in two minds about crosscutting on a new tablesaw or getting a good SCMS instead.

As you say, those workshop design tools are probably more relevant when you aren't planning on wheeling tools into the middle as and when. Still handy to get a feel for the space though, thanks.
 
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