Buying a tablesaw in UK - advice please.

[Paul]

Hello,

I'd like to purchase a tablesaw in the UK. My budget is up to GBP1000, but I'd be happy to spend 600 if the machine were a sensible buy.

What would you recommend please? I'll be using it for general purpose diy/woodwork, so cutting anything from sheets of MDF to general timber.

I'd like one with a sliding carriage, and I think it makes sense to go for an aluminum top since it'll be in a unheated garage, and it'll be less prone to surface rust.

Any suggestions, please.

Many thanks

Paul

P.S. Please post reply here - my email account does now work at the moment.

[Bernard Randall]

Depending on where you live in the UK, look at the local machine tool auctions, I was in the NE before I left and TSs came up regularly. IMHO the best saw you can get is a 12" Wadkin sliding table, I bought 2, one when I had a shop in the UK the second after I came to the US and saw what they had available over here. Ended up after purchase and shipping to be less than a

10" fixed Delta. Don't be put off by the iron table just throw an old duvet over it when not in use.

Bernard R

[Andy Dingley]

S/H Wadkin or Sedgwick. Sliding tables are hard to find and they take up a lot of workshop space, but they are around if you look.

Don't be afraid of 3 phase - just budget for a motor swap (£100, with new parts - much less if you find another S/H motor)

[Graham Walters]

The Jet JTS-250S at around £1100 is not a bad saw, as my brother-in-law keeps telling me...

Although I don't have one myself, I've used my b-i-l's on quite a few occasions.

If I was in the position of looking for a new saw in your price range, I'd definitely give it a second look.

Graham

[Noel Hegan]

Although Andy's suggestion makes sense, unless you are familiar with the mechanics of an industrial grade T/S (and maybe 20 years old to)and at the price level you have in mind it may make better sense to look at the Jet along with Sheppach, Record, Fox etc. The Fox appears good value at present with cast iron table and sliding carriage, circa £750. Try

where you'll find plenty of UK T/S owners.

Rgds

Noel

noel dot hegan at virgin dot net

[Andy Dingley]

years old

Ooh, modern stuff ! Mine's the same age as I am.

If you don't already know it, just learn it. It isn't rocket science.

[Noel Hegan]

20 years old

Granted, but learning takes alot of time up. So your T/S is 21 years old. How's the arbour? Get it sorted yet? Rgds

Noel, who didn't make the 10 yr usenet list.

noel dot hegan at virgin dot net

[Mike James]

As a matter of interest how much does the far end of the fence move with light finger pressure when the fence is locked down ?

The reason I ask is that I had an up-close look at a Scheppach TS2500 the other day (similar size & price to the Jet, but Aluminium table & more powerful motor) & was distinctly unimpressed to find that the fence could be moved a good 1/8 inch at the far end with only light to medium pressure from one finger - I've not seen a big table saw up-close before - can anyone comment on whether this sort of movement is to be expected ?

[Edwin Pawlowski]

It should not move at all under light pressure, not 1/8" under the heaviest of pressure. Ed

[J T]

Mon, Apr 19, 2004, 9:27am (EDT-3) paul [e-mail] (Paul) I'd like one with a sliding carriage

But, if you don't get one, saw sleds are not hard to make, inexpensive, and work great.

JOAT The Good are Innocent so they invented Justice. The Evil are Guilty so they invented Mercy.

- Unknown

[Charlie Self]

Hard to tell. Next to none in the installations I've seen, but I can ride up to a local store and find some that will just about flip off the table with a finger's tap. Never, ever take the assembled show version as an example of a properly set up table saw...or any other tool.

Too many of these tools are put together by people who don't know tools and don't want to learn and who are looking forward to their next break or going home.

If it was in a shop, I'd say there might be a problem with set-up. But, then, maybe not: I don't know anything about the Scheppach saws.

Charlie Self "Ambidextrous, adj.: Able to pick with equal skill a right-hand pocket or a left." Ambrose Bierce

[Paul]

Thanks everyone for your helpful comments.

I'm now thinking seriously about the Scheppach TS2000 with sliding carriage and extension tables. Or perhaps the Scheppach TS2500 and get the carriage later.

Has anybody got any comments on these 2 saws please?

[Bernard Randall]

(and maybe 20 years old

My Wadkin is about 40 years old, changed out the bearings and replaced the fence with a Bies. The build quality is fantantic, all surfaces have built in level adjustment, no signs of wear on the sliding table jounals and even then the're replacable, just nothing on the market that comes anywhere close. With reasonable care it'll still be running in another 140 years.

Bernard R

[Andy Dingley]

40, actually.

Not much wobble, stopped worrying about it. If I ever find out what size the bearings are without having to strip it first, I'll probably get hold of a spare set and swap them when I have time.

Smoked the starter last time I used it, so it's due for its long-awaited bigger motor upgrade (and probably an emergency kick switch) when I get some more workshop time. I've been blacksmithing more than carpenting of late - it's warmer in the winter.

I've got some wear on the sector that raises the blade, which is much more noticeable (not surprisingly) around the zero height range than it is at the top.

How's your fence ? Given the pretty solid nature of the original fence, would you regard this as a worthwhile upgrade ?

BTW - If anyone near NE England wants a Wadkin, then take a look here:

[Charlie Self]

Andy Dingley posts:

This place may be Almost Heaven, but it is also one helluva jaunt from NE England.

Charlie Self "Ambidextrous, adj.: Able to pick with equal skill a right-hand pocket or a left." Ambrose Bierce

[Bernard Randall]

ebay is starting to drive prices crazy in the UK same as they are here. When I left the UK in '99 my sliding table Wadkin fetched UKPound 650, about $1000, at local autction in the NE.

BTY the one on ebay now is not the sliding version model.

Charlie, shipping may not be as much as you think. After I got here and had a good look round, next time I went back to UK I bought another Wadkin and a fully tooled Southbend 10" toolmakers lathe. A friend boxed them for me and delivered them to the shippers, shipping from UK to Austin, TX was about $750. For future thought it's worth while doing some checks, sea freight is based on volume, not weight.

Bernard R