Site Saws?

[Jelly]

I popped into Machine Mart today, always a fatal error... and I noticed a number of different small, portable tablesaws, some refered to as site saws, others (from their own "clarke" line) simply as tablesaws.

How suitable/useful are these for the space-poor woodworker who is predominently producing furniture (I hesitate to say fine furniture), up until now working entirely by hand.

I should add that I'm reticent to go for any small and cheap machine tools as i'm used to working with "proper"* machines at work with oodles of power, quiet motors and stable cast bases; can anyone comment on how much i'm going to notice/regret it?

*A mix of older Wadkin's and Robinson's, Stromab RAS's, Stenner Resaws and Weinig/Waco Four-Siders all expensive, large, three phase, and excellent to work with...

 

[Phil Pascoe]

The cheap stuff'll drive you ####### nuts!

 

[Elapid]

I would say a combination of sliding mitre saw and a plunge saw with track is better or if you can't stretch to a plunge saw then a circular saw and jig works just as well.

 

[Jelly]

Ach, Mitre Saws! in spite of their ubiquity, i'm really not a fan... However, the plunge saw seems to suit my needs well, perhaps better than a small tablesaw would infact, as it does away with the need to build and store a large, collapsible auxiliary table...

Better do some more research.

 

[merlin]

I used an Elu ETS 3151 in the workshop for a few years until I could warrant spending the money on a Wadkin.

The Elu has a side extension and a sliding table on it, the depth of cut is 100mm that is useful. (also has an induction motor on it so is quite quiet)

It is not the most accurate saw in the world but good enough for what I needed - it now lives in the van and helps out on site.

I think there is one on ebay at the moment so may be worth looking.

Merlin

 

[No skills]

I have a metabo site saw (12" blade, dont know the model number), its very quiet compared to other lower end saws (induction motor?), but it has a thin galvanised steel table and no mitre slot Its currently surviving under my leaking garage roof (yes its getting wet here and there despite best efforts). I got for the same price as some of the real POS saws out there so I was pretty happy with it. It isnt a precision tool but certainly takes out all the effort from ripping timber.

 

[Ollie78]

My mate has an old DeWalt flip over saw. Comes with removable legs and can be used as mitre saw or flipped over into table saw. Its brilliant, very powerful and robust. Probably 20 years old and still going strong. The term portable is a bit relative though. This thing is just about lift-able by one man, and I wouldn`t want to carry it more than about 100 metres.
Not sure its quite up to modern `safety` standards but it never lets us down.

Sometimes they turn up on ebay.
I certainly would not recommend buying anything machine marty .

Ollie

 

[fluffflinger]

As an alternative what about a bandsaw, small footprint, safe ripping etc. Coupled with a track saw of some kind + a mitre saw and you have a potent combination without having to spend the necessary to get a decent stable table saw.

Just a thought.

 

[Jelly]

Space is a massive issue, I no longer have a permanent workshop so any powertool needs to be able to be stored in my house-proper, to avoid rusting, as the shed is not wholly dry. This is why a site saw appeals.

Realistically, I'd only really want to use the saw for ripping long lengths, to approximate dimensions as being able to buy sawn timber in quarter cube or half cube minipacks and carry out secondary convertion myself would be a big cost saving...