 I have been looking at getting a decent table saw for my home workshop for a while now and I just can't make my mind up on witch one to get. I have been cutting wood for my own projects at my business workshop then bringing them home and well I think you can workout for yourself the inevitable problems associated with doing that. The two saws that have caught my eye so far are the record TS315 and the scheppach 4020 with sliding tables etc. I have no experience with record saws whatsoever and I wonder if they're any good because the saw in question seems way under priced for what your getting, then again it could be a gem ?. Does anybody has any experience with these saws are other similar ones ?
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.jpg) I haven't read many bad comments on Record Power equiptment. All their stuff comes with a five-year guarrentee anyway, in case something might go wrong. As for Scheppach, the general opinion seems to be that they've gone downhill a bit since they started sourcing some of their parts from the Far East... While that does apply to their bandsaws, I've got a feeling that their table saws are still manufactured or assembled in Europe... Germany, I think? I did use one of these saws a couple of years ago working for a former employer. It seemed to be well built and it gave good results but I've not really had another dimension saw to compare it with. Are there any dealers local to you that you know of, where you might be able to go and inspect the two in person?
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OPJ My dealer has the scheppach but not much else in that class. It does look a good saw but I don't like the mitre slots as they are v groove shaped. Evrything else looks good, the carrige slides well and the rip fence is very well made, but the record has better features and its cheaper its a pitty I can't see one in person yet. I was planning on driving over your side of the water anyway as there is better choice and probably cheaper. I just want to get a better idea of what I want before I go.
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Cheers John They look quite good and I am surprised by the prices. I would love to hear from someone who has used one for while. As for the SIP I know someone who has one and I agree it is a great saw but I'm not sure about sliding tables?
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 Paul. For a couple of years i used a Martin saw which had an excellent sliding table, though i have to admit to having no idea how much they are. I personally have an old wadkin, which is so solid, no sliding table or any other mod cons but i still wouldn`t part with it. Baz.
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I'll second what John just said - I haven't seen too many negative comments on the Axminster or SIP saws either. 
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 I bought the Axminster AW10BSB2 6 months ago and have absolutely no complaints. It cuts very steadily and is quite as a whisper. The dust extraction works well and there is only a small residue left under the m/c to sweep up when you've finished. The fence is true and has a micrometer adjustment but holds its position well for repeat cuts over a prolonged period. The sliding table is accurate but does need checking now and agian. The only problem I've faced is that it need three strong folks to to turn it upright during assembley, and setting up the sliding table takes some time to get it running parrale and level to the main table. Have also set it on a mobile base from Axminster and its no trouble to move it around the workshop as and when. Overall - a joy to use Paul
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The axminster does seem appealing but I'm still leaning towards the record because of its features in particular if you remove the 12" blade you can use a 10" blade with a scoring blade. Although on one site I visited they said the record was made in the far east witch would put me off. I know how ever when a manufacture claims a product has been made in Germany or England the parts could have come from anywhere but there is still a quality difference from products made in the far East I feel.
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Paul. I would imagine Sip, Axminster & Record are all made in the far east, if not assembled their, then put together from parts sourced from there.
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Baz In reality I would have to agree with you but I always tought record were made in the UK hence a five year warranty. Then again I could go with the scheppach witch is supposed to be German made but Olly said they too are sourcing parts from the far east and the quality of their tiger 2500 ( tormek ) I got a while ago was poor. Someone once told me the best thing about buying tools is looking for them, I think that is the worst part, I keep changing my mind ( naerly as much as a WOMAN ) and I get fearful of splashing out a load of dosh and getting stuck with a pudding. I know I'm not going to get Felder quality for £2000ish, but I'm sure I can get something that does'nt keep going out of square, has a decent table that slides well, easy rise and fall and a good rip fence.
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Paul i know what you mean. I`ve gone down the route of second hand Wadkin machines, i`m lucky to have a friend who is an engineer, so any bits i need he makes. The old machines are so solid & there`s plenty of metal to bolt extra bits to. I`ve recently bought a Record bandsaw, & whilst i`m happy with it (& it has had good reviews) it is so tinny compared with most machines in my workshop. As you have found with Festool, quality costs. It`s all about making & accepting compromises when you want to stick to a budget. Good luck with your choice. Baz
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 I have heard very good things from customers about xcalibur tablesaws. They are Taiwanese made versions of the Unisaw (I have no idea where the genuine unisaws are made though!!) and are available up to 14".
The UK distributors are Maximach Ltd based in Manchester and also come highly recommended. I would be extremely surprised if the big chunks of Record Power machines come from the far east since they have one of Europe's biggest foundries on their doorstep. Having said that though, products from the eastern longitudes do seem to be making substantial advances in terms of quality. Cheers, Matthew www.workshopheaven.com
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| Edited: 20/05/08 22:16 |
Baz The rep I got my felder panel and hoffman bench saw off reccomended a sedgewick or a jet but to get the same spec as the record or scheppach your talking a £1000+ more. That seems a bit too much for a home shop. I suppose the best thing is to go with cash on the hip and try them out for myself. Matthew Thanks for the link. On a diffierent note though, you know that square you sell, the super accurate one that you say is a square to check the accuracy of your squares, any chance of getting one about the size of a roofing square?
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Hi Paul, None I'm afraid, I bought a job lot of them, but I won't be able to get any more from the same place. I will keep my eye open though and let you know if anything crops up. Cheers, Matthew www.workshopheaven.com
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 Paul, I guess from your last question that you didn't have any joy in punching the square to re-align it? Mike
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| Edited: 21/05/08 09:57 |
Mike Not me, I read the thread though and I don't think I could execute it on a roofing square accurately. 
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I'm going over to England next week to get the saw, Hoping to save myself a few euros in the process but more importantly I want to find a shop with a big selection. The ferry drops me off at Holyhead so can anybody recommend a good shop in that area or at least that side of the country?
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I was invited today to test out some machines at my normal suppliers other branch. I hadn't been there for years because it is in the city centre and its a nightmare to find parking, to my surprise they have expanded the shop to include a huge range of machines, all of witch were pluged in and ready to go. I spent about 4 hours playing like a kidd in a toy shop. I ended up buying a Scheppach 4020 table saw, Scheppach 2600ci planer/thicknesser and a SIP pillar drill. He gave me a very good deal and even threw in a SIP dust extractor http://www.sip-group.com/woodworking.htm#. Having the chance to look at and use the machines in great detail was brilliant and I'm very pleased with what I got, the only thing I'm still unsure about is the dust extractor. Would this one be good enough or should I add a little bit more and get a better one ?
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