Hi all, I just joined woodspark and hope this is the appropriate place to post this kind of thing. I am an avid wood worker and am fortunate enough to just have moved into a house which has space for a proper workshop. I am busy stocking up on machines and I unfortunately think in my excitement may have made some mistakes in choosing what to spend my precious money on. I went out and bought a Bosch GCM12SD mitre saw, thinking with it I could get by with my Ryobi table saw. The Bosch machine is great but I am wondering if I should have spent the money on upgrading the Ryobi table saw to something more accurate.
I have been looking around for a second hand cabinet/table saw and wanted to see what you guys can recommend.
Table saw advice
Tue, 01/04/2011 - 23:00 | by mlpotgieter
Hi ML! First welcome to
Hi ML! First welcome to TalkingSawdust, nice to have you here! We are still a very small community so please spread the word...
Forgive my slow response man. I'm so busy making sawdust that I don't always get to the computer!
I don't think you did bad buying the Bosch. An inaccurate mitre saw(like some of the Ryobi's I've seen) is an absolute pain in the ass! Especially once you get past chopping construction timber and start getting into fine work. Don't feel bad!
Secondhand table saws are pretty hard to come by, especially in my area. I think it will depend on what you can find and how much precious money you have left! If you can find an old Wadkins, you have a rock solid "Rolls Royce"(Just my opinion; but I am old school ;^)). Even if it is not in working condition and you have to rebuild it, worth it through and through.
Electra Beckum(Metabo) makes a decent machine. I actually have one for sale but I am in the Mosselbay area, don't know where you are?
I've seen used Martlett's on the market. They are OK as a hobby machine, although their fences are pretty crap. Still better than a table top Ryobi!
Let me know what you can find and I'll get some opinions to you. If the blog response is not quick enough, Email me: info@woodspark.co.za.
Good luck in your search!
Thanks for the advice. I
Thanks for the advice. I eventually found a guy selling a couple of machines and I bought a Austro BS250 table saw. He also had a Electra Beckum dust extractor so I picked them up together.
The saw is in need of some attention but I phoned Austro in Gordons bay and I can still get spares. Although the Austro is a chinese import like the Martlett, it seems as though the fence is a bit better as it locks in the front and the back. It is also a heavy machine, must be about 200KG.
Anyway after a cleanup and tuneup it should serve me well. Turning the dials to tilt and raise/lower the saw blade is a world of difference compared to the Ryobi. Cant wait to make some saw dust on it!!
Hey, congrats on your new
Hey, congrats on your new toy! Those Austro's are not bad. Let us know when you have made sawdust on it. Apart from the mechanisms, the extra horses in the motor will also impress you. I think you will like! Still don't know where you are....Cape Town?