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Bosch GCM8SJL. Been using it for a couple of years - excellent little saw!

I’d go Italian. The new Centauro Smart 500 has good specs and is an attractive price. Bonus is that Scott & Sargeant have it in stock if you're ready to make a purchase. Alternatively the SCM Minimax S45N or, for more money, the Formula S440P. Edit: There is also the Centauro Smart 400 but...

Hi Jack I'd thoroughly recommend the guide to extraction sticky thread by Siggy if you haven't already read it. A wealth of knowledge right there. James

Cool. Wasn’t aware of that.

Guess it depends what you want to spend. I have the Axminster AT330ST bench-top thicknesser. The spiral cutter head gives an excellent finish, even on dense and figured woods. No snipe when properly calibrated. Still loud as they all are but a great little machine.

And a bandsaw. He has videos and blog posts about bandsaw selection, set up and use.

Sorry Noho, please don't interpret my comment (actually directed to Hornbeam not you) as a suggestion not to ask for advice. I just think that that all the higher end track saws including not only the Festool and Mafell but also the Bosch, Makita, Metabo, etc. are all pro tools and will do the...

I and many don't. If you are primarily a hand tool woodworker or have a tablesaw (not a tracksaw) and need a dedicated bench for hand tool work then sure, a traditional bench is a sensible option. An MFT style bench might still be a worthwhile addition to complement your set up for use in...

It clearly is multi-function as many has gone to great pains to explain. I think you are being willfully obtuse. The fact it doesn't appeal to you is neither here nor there. Clearly it works for many people for the reasons outlined at length in this thread. You can use it with a tracksaw to...

I recently bought my first PT and bandsaw. Both from Holzprofi (France). Far Eastern manufactured (Taiwan) but the quality seems very good to me. Solid machines and well calibrated straight off the crate. Together they have been pretty transformational for my workflow. Resawing ("planks from...

I think I already mentioned upthread that I use the Bosch GKT55 all the time for ripping and crosscutting dense tropical hardwoods (I live in the tropics so these woods are all that is locally available - I'm not complaining!). The GKT55 does not have a riving knife but I have only once had any...

Torsion box beams on heavy-duty sawhorse style bases. Here's the article by Josh Finn in Fine Woodworking with plans included. I built the two sawhorse bases in a few hours, easy and very sturdy. I didn't build the beams because I wanted larger torsion boxes with an MFT style top instead. But...

I guess though I have no intentions of becoming a carpenter/joiner. And if I did then I'd sell my little saw and invest in a bigger one. No need to splash the cash on a big saw just in case imo. The OP will have a better idea of what his particular needs are.

I think this advice has to be put in context. It really depends on the type of work you do. You only need a big 12" saw if you regularly cut deep timbers. The GCM8SJL can cut 300+mm wide boards with a depth of cut of 70mm at 0deg (less when cutting bevels). For a carpenter/joiner then sure, a...

Dust collection on mitre saws in general is notoriously poor. I use mine connected to a Numatic NVD750. It collects most but not all the dust. If you want to improve extraction some people build (or buy) extractor hoods that enclose the saw. Not worth the effort for me but it depends on your...

Both of them came with the spiral/helical block installed. Axminster have discontinued the AT330ST now but the cutterhead was the same design as in their trade range PTs (e.g. this). My new machine is a Holzprofi DR310 PT. You can see how the blades are arranged in helices around the...

I’ve had two. First on the Axminster AT330ST lunchbox thicknesses. Now on a 12in combined PT. The one on the Axminster model was a spiral cutterblock, whereas the one I use now is a true helical design. Both give an excellent finish on dense tropical hardwoods. And in two years of use I never...

Seconded. I've been using this saw for a couple of years and have found it to be very accurate and reliable. With a good freud blade fitted you can get cuts of a quality for furniture etc.

Totally agree with this. Books are invaluable and can help assess/verify the credability of other sources. Also paying for DVDs or downloadable tutorials from credible sources - like e.g. the wood machining series by @Peter Sefton (of this parish) - is also worthwhile if taking training courses...

Actually I'm talking about the NOT blaming someone else culture we need to instill. Disclaimers on everything: woodworking is dangerous. And explicitly educational content needs to be geared towards providing good guidance on safe working practices (how to regulate Youtube content is the thorny...