luketheduke
New Member
www.lignumcarpentry.co.uk
Posts: 36
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Post by luketheduke on Jan 21, 2014 13:51:46 GMT -5
I'm in the market for a portable table saw, mines finally packed up so obviously I want the Erika 85 but there's no way way I'll be able to afford it at the momwent , so I'm stuck between the Bosch metabo and dewalt saws, these are the only ones I'm aware of any way, I really want something that is nice and accuraye . any one got any experiences they wouldn't mind sharing?
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Post by wrightwoodwork on Jan 21, 2014 15:38:07 GMT -5
I've used the old type dewalt flip saws in the past trips all the time and the fence is not good. The dedicated table saws might be a bit better. Have used Electra beckum site saws in the past there ok as long as your transformer continous rating matches the saw max watts if you have to use 110. If I'm doing a lot of ripping and have the hoover attached the transformer will trip to avoid it I use 2 transformers. The bosch saw looks quite good but haven't used
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Post by James on Jan 21, 2014 15:56:18 GMT -5
Dewalt dw745, great little saw, fence is dead on.
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luketheduke
New Member
www.lignumcarpentry.co.uk
Posts: 36
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Post by luketheduke on Jan 21, 2014 16:42:42 GMT -5
Oddly enough that's what just broke on me, I had a metabo site saw which I believe is the same as the elektra beckum yeah I have found it sucks a lot of power but I've used it on 240v so it was to big of a deal, I liked the saw actually and it performed well especially on site it was the lift mechanism that went on mine (terrible design in the first place) but it was more then the saw cost to repair it, plus I needed something more accurate and light wieght anyways, the Bosch does look nice but I'm the same not had chance to have a go on one yet.
I keep hearing good things about those, can you get a sliding attachment like you can on the makita saws?
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Post by woodie on Jan 22, 2014 16:17:31 GMT -5
I've been satisfied with my Bosch 4000. I opted for their gravity rise base. The base is nearly as heavy as the saw (slight exaggeration) but it makes the saw very easy to transport and store. The newer 4100 looks to be a nice upgrade. The digital fence option would be fun to play with too.
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Post by jalvis on Jan 22, 2014 16:29:30 GMT -5
I have the 4000 as well and think its great. Really heavy so get something to move it around which I haven't. Mine came with the digital fence attachment. I sold it within the first week not because it was bad. It didn't really aid me in how I work.
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Post by Tom Gensmer on Jan 22, 2014 16:55:02 GMT -5
Right now I'm tooling around with the Bosch GTS1031 table saw. This is their smaller table saw, still a 10" blade but a reduced (18"?) rip capacity. I cut the legs down on the folding stand so that the table height matches the height of my MFT/3 tables, allow me to use them for out feed support.
The GTS1031 is decent for job site work, particularly ripping down 2x furring strips, etc….. Cut quality is "ok" for ripping face frames, etc, you just need to make sure you have a SHARP, good quality blade. The folding stand is the only folding stand that truly folds FLAT, makes it very compact and easy to store in the van. I can carry the saw in one hand and the folding stand in the other. There are several throat plates available, including a zero-clearance and a dado plate.
Gripes I have include lack of a soft-starting motor, the fence is decent but can be a bit tricky to adjust to the 1/32" (no micro adjust)….
Basically, everything that makes the GTS1031 so compact and light also kind of works against it. It's a GREAT little saw, so long as you have appropriate expectations of how it will perform certain tasks.
Longer term, I'd like to pair it with an Erika 70, reserving the Bosch to outdoor and rough carpentry tasks, and use the Erika 70 for more precision work and cabinetry.
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luketheduke
New Member
www.lignumcarpentry.co.uk
Posts: 36
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Post by luketheduke on Jan 22, 2014 17:19:10 GMT -5
I think I will have to take a look at the Bosch then, I already have the gravity stand that came with my Bosch glide saw (which is now gone) so that could make a good partner ship. I would love the to exactly true same as you tomg have the Erika for precision work.. I need to win the lottery.
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Post by Tom Gensmer on Jan 22, 2014 17:56:26 GMT -5
lol, yeah isn't that the truth!! Something I regularly struggle with is, do I buy one machine to do everything, or do I buy multiple machines that each do something very well?
I recently started renting a storage space to park my Sprinter overnight, that has the added benefit of allowing me to store some tools there, so I'm finally in the place where I can start thinking about buying specialty tools, versus buying one-size-fits-all tools. For instance, I do everything from rough framing to building cabinetry and furniture, so I'd hate to buy a mid-sized saw that was too bulky for quickie framing jobs, but not quite precise enough for cabinetry work.
Aside from price, the Erika fits the profile I've been begging for: Since I break down my sheet goods with a track saw, I don't need a gigantic rip capacity. Rather, I want a VERY high quality saw, capable of producing cabinet-saw quality cuts, in a size and weight that allows me to take the saw on-site.
The Erika strikes me as one of those tools where the initial price REALLY stings, but a few years down the road you don't remember the sting, but get to enjoy the quality and efficiency of the tool.
If I were to go for a one-size-fits-all saw, I'd look at the DeWalt DWE7490X, which appears to be a reboot of the popular DW744. This saw seems light enough to carry into a customer's home (I personally dislike rolling stands), nice snap stand, incredibly easy changes between riving knife and blade guard, over-the-blade dust collection…..
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luketheduke
New Member
www.lignumcarpentry.co.uk
Posts: 36
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Post by luketheduke on Jan 24, 2014 17:01:03 GMT -5
That is the trouble! You sound like your in exactly the same position as me as far as how much the work varies is concerned and I totally agree about the erika I could see that thing still doing great cuts 15-20 years down the line if there other stuff is anything to go by. I dunno maybe I'll persuade my wife to sell the car she walks to work anyway. The dewalt saws keep popping up as being great all round portable saws.
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Post by wrightwoodwork on Jan 24, 2014 18:20:40 GMT -5
The Erika are nice but you do have to pay for that niceness if I was to go out and buy another table saw tomorrow I would definitely get another Erika even with the high price tag and not worry about the high price tag. The reason being the accuracy, stability, built to be used day in day out for life. I've just got the 1m table extensions rails. Plan to make the table extension. I've still to try but I recon I could do on my own safely. track saws are nice and handy but if you are cutting up a lot of the same then table saws are more efficient to me. Set up and away I go where with tracks I have to set up every time. Maybe you have to set up an Erika shoe box fund
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luketheduke
New Member
www.lignumcarpentry.co.uk
Posts: 36
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Post by luketheduke on Jan 27, 2014 17:48:28 GMT -5
Do you have the 70? do you find that the depth of cut is restrictive at all or not? an erika shoe box fund may be the way to go.... I wonder how much i can get for a kidney
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Post by wrightwoodwork on Jan 27, 2014 18:58:06 GMT -5
Yeah I have 70 the 85 is nice but is only available in 240 so that's why I have the 70 for cuts over 72mm I just have to take the guard of and push the riving knife down and flip the work piece. Most stuff I cut up is under 50mm I have ripped up 4 x 2 into 4 x1. Evan with the 85 I would still have to flip the timber. Granted the 70 will only cut up to 144mm instead of 170mm on the 85 but is only available in 240 making it not suitable for uk site use if I need to rip bigger then I have the ksp85 so I never stuck. Evan with the 70 you will still be able to cut up to 50mm thick at 45 degrees
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Post by wrightwoodwork on Jan 27, 2014 19:06:02 GMT -5
Here a vid I did I while back of ripping over size material
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Post by jalvis on Jan 28, 2014 11:29:09 GMT -5
….the 70 will only cut up to 144mm instead of 170mm on the 85…... What do you mean? Are you referring to the Pull-Cut length? The manual says the following: Erika 70 "cutting length 344 mm" Erika 85 "cutting length 430 mm" Guess I'm confused by these numbers and what they're referring to.
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