On Thu, 3 Jul 2003 09:52:51 -0400, "Chris Harris"
wrote:

Axminster compound mitre saw 300mm - Axminster part MS12C

Definitely get a 12" not a 10" though.

Never really seen the point in these. They're not big enough to do
most workshop jobs. Until the day you're building a new roof / doing
internal studwork, then you buy two of them just to keep your chippies
working faster. For general use though, the cut width isn't enough.
Personally I'd go for a really good handheld circular saw, like a
Hitachi C7U / C9U

Now a _sliding_ chopsaw, now you're talking. 500 notes though, until I
get my hands on the Axminster one and see if their 150 quid one-bar
design is any good.

The cheapie page on the web also lists this:
DELTA 36255 240v COMPOUND MITRE SAW 12" £144.63


Axminster saw bench - Aminster part BTS10P

I had two years out of this before I replaced it with a big cast iron
Wadkin. Excellent bit of kit.

I'd probably sell it, except that it's cheaper now than when I bought
it, and it's worth hanging onto for on-site work.

Worst part is the fence (which is why I finally swapped it) It's not
rigid enough unless you use the far-end clamp. This is slow, and you
have to check the alignment carefully.

Great guarding, and it comes off easily for rebating. Incredibly
powerful for a plastic bucket with a piece of windowframe on top. I
ran lots of 3" rips through oak and it didn't even burn them.

The noise is incredible. Sounds like it blew a gasket whenever you
turn it on.

Damn cheap, as they seem to be offering bargain deals on it (check the
cheapie list) Make sure you get the stand and the extension tables.

B&Q are selling a £200 version of this with the same table, but what
appears to be a better fence.


Perform planer thicknesser - Aminster part CCNPT

So long as you get the job done before it falls apart, then you're OK.
Tinny as hell though - as bad as Kity or DeWalt.

Personally I'd say to put the same money into their CT330 thicknesser
and use that instead. You can do almost everything except edge
jointing with a good thicknesser, and this is a seriously good
machine. In the future you can get a dedicated jointer, for a total
cost about the same as a decent 10" combination machine.

Don't get the (clearance bargain priced) CT344 though, as it isn't a
patch on it. Short tables, no head lock, and snipey as hell.

The CT machines also take double-edged disposable cutters, which are a
piece of cake to replace. A sharpenable cutter (like the CCNPT) also
means an adjustable cutter, which is a PITA to adjust correctly.

I'm also going to upgrade my current fixed speed Bosch router to a 1/2"
Axminster model AW127R

Get a Freud instead. The Axminster white range portable tools are
failing to impress me at all, and this router certainly doesn't. Not
bad as a first router, but I wouldn't rate it as an "upgrade" router.