Makita MLT100 tablesaw

[rob.t]

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:

[isetech]

i am considering gettin one of these table saws...from makita...can you post pics of the mods you have done?

how well does the sliding table work?

i want to make boxes 350x 350 square, using 12 mm plywood.

the cuts will be from a full sheet 2400 mm x 1200 mm.

thye must be accurate.

[BeanerSA]

i am considering gettin one of these table saws...from makita...can you post pics of the mods you have done?

how well does the sliding table work?

i want to make boxes 350x 350 square, using 12 mm plywood.

the cuts will be from a full sheet 2400 mm x 1200 mm.

thye must be accurate.

There is more information and some photos of his mods in the following thread
http://www.woodworkforums.com/f153/makita-tablesaws-120114/

[rob.t]

i am considering gettin one of these table saws...from makita...can you post pics of the mods you have done?

how well does the sliding table work?

i want to make boxes 350x 350 square, using 12 mm plywood.

the cuts will be from a full sheet 2400 mm x 1200 mm.

thye must be accurate.
There are pics posted in this thread isetech hope they are of assistance for you . be warned tho these saws do have a diccy power switch ive herd of a few of them now including my own to be faulty . cheers

[isetech]

thanks i will take a look.

I am not sure if i should get a dewalt radial arm saw or a table saw.

I have a makita sliding mitre saw 255 mm, but cannot cut the panels to fit the doors because the mitre saw only cuts just over 300 mm and the contractors saw i am using at the moment cut wat out

[rob.t]

thanks i will take a look.

I am not sure if i should get a dewalt radial arm saw or a table saw.

I have a makita sliding mitre saw 255 mm, but cannot cut the panels to fit the doors because the mitre saw only cuts just over 300 mm and the contractors saw i am using at the moment cut wat out

Mmm yeah i got both the dewalt and table saw your best of if you can spend some time on your contractor saw sorting out why its a cow to cut with the dewalt is good for cross cutting but a bit of a mother when it comes to ripping hope this helps :2tsup:

[isetech]

thanks

i have decided not to get a new saw just yet...i have decided to make a guide with 2 straight edges and mount it on my work bench.

I will make it about 1.1 metres wide then slide the wood onto the table and slide the saw acros between the staight edges...i might even put bearing onto it i will see how well it works first.

i have found by polishing all my surfaces with cobra floor polish th\e wood slides a lot easier....so i might not need bearings.

just noticed today that my makita mitre saw didnt come set correctly from the factory...i will need to reset it...it hasnt been an issue until now because all the cutting i have are just small planks but now that i am trying to cut big squares that .5 mm out becomes a problem when trying to assemble...the boxes...and even a bigger problem if you flip the wood over and try cut the rest off...if the cut is 450 i can only cut 325...so someone told me to put a stopper then flip the wood and cut the balance...with the saw out .5 it looks bad.

[rob.t]

thanks

i have decided not to get a new saw just yet...i have decided to make a guide with 2 straight edges and mount it on my work bench.

I will make it about 1.1 metres wide then slide the wood onto the table and slide the saw acros between the staight edges...i might even put bearing onto it i will see how well it works first.

i have found by polishing all my surfaces with cobra floor polish the wood slides a lot easier....so i might not need bearings.

just noticed today that my makita mitre saw didnt come set correctly from the factory...i will need to reset it...it hasnt been an issue until now because all the cutting i have are just small planks but now that i am trying to cut big squares that .5 mm out becomes a problem when trying to assemble...the boxes...and even a bigger problem if you flip the wood over and try cut the rest off...if the cut is 450 i can only cut 325...so someone told me to put a stopper then flip the wood and cut the balance...with the saw out .5 it looks bad.
Sometimes you just have to go and spend the money on the tools that are required otherwise it no longer is fun and becomes a total pain in the glutes:no:

[isetech]

i agree with you 100%...i have spent a fair amount on all my equipment for my electrical bussiness...which includes a full set of fluke testers...fluke 435...Ti20...76...87...189...289...1653...etc...i also have a full set of hilti equipment...from the TE 2...TE14...17...7A battery drill...TE55...a full set of Hilti dustless chasing equipment...big grinder small grinders...vacums you name it...impact drills for assembling....lazer levels...metal detectors...full set of temperature probes....ladders from 4 ft to 14 ft the list just goes on and on....all to make my life easy when i go to work everyday....

woodworking is just my hobby like bass fishing...will post pics of my little workshop which i am busy revamping to fit some woodwork tools....so i can tinker on the weekend when i am not on the water fishing ....i have already broken the bank with the few items i have purchased...i have considered selling some of my bass fishing tackle so i can get a decent table saw....and throw the concrete floor and put the roof up for my outside workshop which will become part of the main workshop.

so far i have managed to get a few things which include a makita 3091 biscuit jointer...M440 vacum...and i got the dustless chasing machine at the same time...2414 cutoff saw...LS1013L mitre saw...BHP454ZK LXT drill for big holes...nice strong machine....BTW 251 ZK impact wrench for those long screws...2012NB planer/thicknesser...RP 1110C router for the small jobs and a 1650watt router to mount under the table a cheap contractors table saw...and router table....this should keep me started until i can get some money together for a proper table saw.

[isetech]

i must say i am not impressed with the makita mitre saw...on 3 occassions i had the wood kickback and it has bent the back plate that i now have to replace it.

While checking the slide shafts because they where sticking....i found that the clamp which stops it from sliding is just a piece of steel which tightens on the nice shiny shaft...surely they could have put some type of protective coating between the shaft and steel plate.

[rob.t]

im afraid makita isnt what it used to be :(its almost now as tho somehow makita must have teamed up with gmc in china certainly is nothing compared to what it used to be i wont be buying anymore makita products that are made in china

[isetech]

i just wish hilti made wood working tools...at least they have alifetime warranty on thier product and i find hilti machines i buy for my bussiness...last forever...i had to send in my TE14 after 16 years for a complete overal...it cost me 25 % the value of the replacement...the only problem with hilti is the staff here in SA...to get a rep to come and see you when you want to buy product is like trying to squeeze water out a stone.

[Rcam]

i just wish hilti made wood working tools...at least they have alifetime warranty on thier product and i find hilti machines i buy for my bussiness...last forever...i had to send in my TE14 after 16 years for a complete overal...it cost me 25 % the value of the replacement...the only problem with hilti is the staff here in SA...to get a rep to come and see you when you want to buy product is like trying to squeeze water out a stone.

I do believe Hilti are moving into making more wood working tools, nothing major but they do circular saws now.
Based in Sydney and I must say the reps are pretty good.