Well yes i thru caution to the wind as i went shopping for a new portable tablesaw.(My dearly loved wife calls it another bi-polar moment )there i was sitting for many many hrs researching the hitachi dewalt elu bosch and so on then i came across the makita range the 2704 and the MLT100 . The time came for me to go out into the real world and physically check out the machines get a feel for them and let the machine talk to me or so i thought . first machine i looked at was the makita mlt100 i played with all its gadgets tested its sliding table mmm that was pretty good no play in it felt for play in the arbour none to be found then tested the winding mechanisms all felt quite smooth . very impressed with the 91mm of blade height The table extension to the right slid in and out smoothly as does the rear support fence.
The blade table insert is large enough to get your fingers and tools into to change blades riving knife ect the cover plate made of cheap plastic flexes very easily . The fence is a nightmare its got more flex and movement in it than a rubber snake . after playing with a couple of the other machines mainly the hitachi and dewalt somehow and still dont know why i walked out of the shop with the salesman in tow pushing a large box on a trolly with makita MLT100 written on it i got home a little lighter in the pocket and dragged this monsterous box into my shed. I unpacked its contents and set it all up on a make shift table . Wasnt a lot to do with setting up i might add . i fired up the machine and cut a piece of scrap 12mm pine I cut either side of the blade and watched as the plastic blade plate flexed dangerously in my opinion as the wood twisted and jambed into the blade . Needless to say my first job was to replace the plate . i made mine out of 3mm aluminium .The fence is very hard to control ways to much flex in it as i made a cabinet with wheels on it for the saw. After i would say no more than 15min of work the machine stopped electrical switch failure is the diagnosis from the repairman . Warranty promptly honoured by makita wich is a huge plus i had the saw back within 8 days whilst the saw was away being repaired i went to work on fixing the fence with a lot of study of flexing ect because the material used to construct it is ways to light about 1mm in the T slot i strenghted mine right up with 5mm x75mmx75mm aluminium angle and a couple of bolts that took all the movement and flex out of it . now for the big test i ripped down 17 pieces 2.1 m x 20mm jarrah. unbelievable to me was the fact i laminated the pieces together without having to run them thru my jointer for a 100% perfect join. I then put the saw under full load by ripping down a piece of jarrah 88mm thick amazing no table bounce no motor stalling nothing straight thru only blade burn apparent was caused from me stopping to get a good grip i also pushed the timber hard into the new remodelled fence to see what would happen nothing happened sept for a perfectly cut piece of jarrah .
All in all for around $500.00 and a few modifications could have done heaps worse for my buck
:2tsup:
