Dear all, and especially Eric in Cowtown-
The responses I got 2 weeks ago about my search for the right jobsite saw really helped to find what I knew must be out there somewhere, but hadn’t been able to locate. The new DeWalt flip-over saw arrived and is in use already. We love it. Takes exactly 10 seconds to convert back and forth between the TS mode and Compound Miter. The fence needed tweaking to get it parallel to the blade, but aside from that it was perfect as shipped. Thank you all. Have a look:
DR
Replies
Wow! Weird, even. Didn't know they made such a thing. Pretty small surface for the table saw part, eh? My step-son's house is quite "spatially challenged" so it might be an option for him saw-wise, but I'm leery of that small table saw surface. What can you say about that?
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
The relatively small table is part of having a very portable unit. I can't say we've had any difficulty, but clearly one needs an additional support point for any long pieces, whether ripping or crosscutting. The saw is perfect for us for jobsite work, which is basically a certain amount of miter cutting and the occasional rip of trim, baseboards, cornices, etc. It's not for cutting sheet goods, and I wouldn't suggest to anyone, even the spatially challenged, to use it as their shop machine.
You're right, it's not available in the US. I can't imagine why they don't want to sell it, but hey... What do you think would happen if someone just went ahead and ordered it from England like I did?
DR
Hey FG,
When this subject was discussed last week I did a little surfing and FINALLY found the Dewalt UK site, as aposed to the Dewalt USA site. It does take a bit of clicking but if you can find it you will be amazed. The Brits have an increadible selection of tools form Dewalt that isn't offered here. I saw large RAS that compete with the larger Delta, three different band saws (nice euro style welded frame jobs), and all sorts of other nifty tools. I wish I knew why we aren't privilidged to get that selection.
Mike
Just for curiosity's sake, how about posting that link?Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral. Frank Lloyd Wright
This isn't the home page, but the tool catagory list. At first it looks like the Usa version but click on MACHINERY and you will see a big difference.
They even have a portable 12" combo planer/joiner. They call it a thicknesser/ planer. You really have to look in every sub category to get an idea of all the different tools they seel over there.
http://www.dewalt.co.uk/products.asp?mktid=2&lid=1&sid=1
Mike
Edited 5/26/2006 7:57 pm ET by mudman
I went to the link.....wow. Looks like the B&D people are really shortchanging us on this side of the pond. Thanks for supplying the link!Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral. Frank Lloyd Wright
Yea, I wonder why. They must have a reason. Perhaps they have demoed these things to contractors and got negative feed back.
MikePardon my spelling,
Mike
"I wonder why. They must have a reason."
Hi Mike,
Do you think it could have anything to do with the highly litigious climate in the USA? With vulture-like attorneys perched on every fence post, and lawyers as politicians nationwide, it doesn't surprise me at all that companies would be reluctant to sell innovative products here.
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
From what I understand Europe is just as bad, and I know that the governmant is a LOT strickter about tool and machinery safety. All saws have riving knives and dados are not allowed on table saws. So I dont know if the fear of litigation is it. I suspect it is the reluctance of ww'ers to try any thing new.
MikePardon my spelling,
Mike
Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.
DeWalt band saws??? Humph.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Whoa, I'm seeing it's not available in the USA??
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Makita's flip saw is'nt sold in the US either.
Since the house is on fire let us warm ourselves. ~Italian Proverb
Hey, thanks for posting that.
And why would this NOT be available in the USA or Canada? particularly since the concept has been sold by Yankees amongst other- in Europe for the last 10 years or so-(when I first saw them).
And why would not some of the leading edge WWing rags even have an advert for it? Even the editors have to know about this device, unless they just been asleep or worse. After all, it is being made by a major US advertiser.
As we suffer here in N. America from lack of availability, I'm glad you scoped out that item, and I'm glad you liked it. Keep us posted eh?
Way I fugure it is that the N Am co's are gonna wait until we all got gizmotic table saws, as well as gizmotic chop saws, and then they're gonna tell us that they're all obsolete, and tell us about this "new" configuration.
Glad for you. Wish I could get one.
Eric in Cowtown
(which is in Alberta, Canada- the Province of the Flames and Oilers (hockey teams!)
When people around here were rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina I saw that Ridgid 3650 tablesaw as much as anything else. When there were large projects where contractors moved in for days or weeks - i am thinking of a roof that had to be re-raftered on a large church and a large house that was split in half by a falling tree - in both cases I saw that Ridgid 3650 tablesaw on site. I saw it other places around town as well, along with Delta and Craftsman contractor saws.
These are not supposed to be jobsite saws but for major rebuilding, they're what contractors want. One of my theories is that designs that we think of as being driven by a relatively small, elitest woodworking community is actually driven by the humongous, red-hot construction industry in the USA.
The portable jobsite saw pictured seems like a compromise as both a table saw and a miter saw. If I were installing a houseful of crown molding, I would certainly pick a traditional SCMS over it (easier to lock in angles and have them stay put, a more solid foundation and beefy structural frame leading to less blade runout and more accurate cuts, larger capacity, and an easier design to provide outfeed support for longer pieces).
You said >Way I fugure it is that the N Am co's are gonna wait until we all got gizmotic table saws, as well as gizmotic chop saws, and then they're gonna tell us that they're all obsolete, and tell us about this "new" configuration.<
Nah, I don't see it that way at all. I think North American companies are fighting tooth and nail for market share and trying to give the construction industry what it wants. I thuink the gizmocity would be marketed overseas where smaller production runs would mean higher profit markups and the high cost of tools in general would create more market niche areas. I'll bet the flip saw cost a fair penny.
My $.02 worth.
Ed,
I think the point being made is the seemingly inexplicable decisions on the part of companies to make certain items available and others not. The saw I posted fits the bill for me exactly - a portable saw that can do any light trim I need, usually for 2-3 hours of cabinet installation. If I were setting up to do construction or serious remodeling it would be a different story. The question at this point is not the saw, but why do companies like DeWalt and Makita make whole lines of tools aimed only at specific geographies and not others?
DR
The question at this point is not the saw, but why do companies like DeWalt and Makita make whole lines of tools aimed only at specific geographies and not others?
Sounds like a classic example of people in Armani suits and patent leather shoes making decisions for people in workboots, flannel shirts and jeans.Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral. Frank Lloyd Wright
Good question. I don't know but I already stated my theory.
Glad yours works well for you - that's all that counts. Good luck, Ed
I got mine about 8 years ago!! The blade cover can be locked up as seen in the picture.
Edited 6/4/2006 11:34 am ET by USAnigel
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