Axminster Trade Series AW10BSB2 Saw Bench - Blade Tilt

[Bluekingfisher]

I'm afraid it's just another example of the sub standard kit we are expected to put up with here in the UK.

I have sent three machines back to the supplier, with no qualms 1. An 18" Jet bandsaw - because the paint was blistering in some parts. 2. a Hairline crack in a plate insert on a Jet Spindle moulder (They wouldn't send out a replacement part?????) 3. Pitted castings on Jet morticer.

I really don't care what I pay for kit, but I expect it to be pristine when it arrives, anything other than the stated spec then I want to know why.

If we send them back for defects or for inaccurate descriptions then they will soon stop sending us poor kit. If we don't expect more of the same.


I can't believe one poster was asked by Axi, How often do you make cuts 100mm deep?" my answer to that would have been, every single cut, so sort it out please.

We have the choice folks.

 

[Wizard9999]

I'm afraid it's just another example of the sub standard kit we are expected to put up with here in the UK.

I have sent three machines back to the supplier, with no qualms 1. An 18" Jet bandsaw - because the paint was blistering in some parts. 2. a Hairline crack in a plate insert on a Jet Spindle moulder (They wouldn't send out a replacement part?????) 3. Pitted castings on Jet morticer.

I really don't care what I pay for kit, but I expect it to be pristine when it arrives, anything other than the stated spec then I want to know why.

If we send them back for defects or for inaccurate descriptions then they will soon stop sending us poor kit. If we don't expect more of the same.


I can't believe one poster was asked by Axi, How often do you make cuts 100mm deep?" my answer to that would have been, every single cut, so sort it out please.

We have the choice folks.

+1 to that.

 

[Stuart]

I think that every person who has a tool or machine supplied that requires the new owner "fettle" adjust, take it apart to insert shims etc. has every right to ring up the supplier and ask for it to be collected and have a new item supplied that has had a pre delivery check. If customers continually except poor service it becomes the standard service.

 

[DonJohnson]

Well, as promised, Axminster got back to me after I sent them this:

Sir,

I opened a topic on the UKWorkshop Forum regarding a problem I am having with the saw that I recently purchased from yourselves – see axminster-trade-series-aw10bsb2-saw-bench-blade-tilt-t83210.html – hoping that another user might have a simple solution.

It seems that others have experienced similar or related problems, but the responses received by correspondent Zeddedhed during a conversation with an Axminster representative were extremely disappointing, and not what the woodworking community would expect from your company.

Having not received any solutions from previous purchasers, I have therefore decided to pursue the subject directly with yourselves.

My problem is demonstrated graphically in the video shown at http://youtu.be/k-_uV3OSHIk where sideways movement of the saw blade is clearly evident as the raise/lower wheel is rotated.

With most saws, when setting the normal blade position at 90 degrees to the bench top one would raise the blade to its highest position to achieve the greatest accuracy, and expect this angle to be maintained as the raise/lower wheel is rotated. As shown in the video, however, this expectation is not achieved.

Looking at the video posted by jdeacon - http://youtu.be/h-QvE1ozzY8 – some tilting occurs just as the blade starts to be lowered, but the amount is considerably less than on mine. This would seem to indicate that the mechanism can operate without (much) tilting, and that the effect may be corrected by adjustment somewhere.

I would assume that the designers/manufacturers must be aware of this problem and could therefore supply you/me with instructions on how to adjust the mechanism to correct the fault. If this is not the case, then I may have to consider returning the saw for exchange for another which does not have this problem.

I should point out that one of the aspects of this problem that was in fact mentioned by the Axminster representative who spoke to Zeddedhed in that users do make their own Zero Clearance Inserts for use with saws. Currently it would be impossible to create a slot exactly the width of the blade kerf in a ZCI due to the blade tilt as it is raised. Also, if a ZCI could be created with the correct width, the sideways pressure on the blade as it tilts when moved up and down could damage the blade or ZCI, or do something even more dangerous if the saw were started with the blade pressing against the ZCI.

I have received excellent service from Axminster in the past, and trust that you will give full and proper consideration to this current query as the answers mentioned earlier would not be acceptable.

As you may see from the post from Wizard9999, I have been asked to report any results of this query back to the UKWorksop Forum as I am sure the members there will be very interested.


with this reply:

Thank you for your email regarding the AW10BSB2 and the rise and fall mechanism.

The tilt you are experiencing is due to design and construction of the saw bench. The rise and fall mechanism is connected to the side of the motor housing which causes it to pivot slightly when activated. This design has been chosen as it is a much less expensive production than a double trunnion mount. This is not a fault with the saw, but one of the fabrication choices that we have decided to make to keep the production costs down and therefore the retail price.

The saw has been on the market with us for around 8 years now and has always used this rise and fall mechanism. As you say in your opening forum comment, it is something that you and others on the forum have been aware of. We are happy with the sales and overall comments that suggest this is an extremely popular saw and excellent value for the money. We do offer a range of Industrial spec machines which will all use the double trunnion mount but the price of course rises with the increased fabrication costs.

As it is the actual design of the saw, there is no adjustment that you can carry out to remove this. However operating the saw so you set your final height by rising the blade up to the height, rather than lowering it, should mitigate the backlash and movement you're experiencing.

Kind regards,

Simon Ayers
Specialist After Sales

So, it would appear that it is not a fault, but a 'design feature'.

As I found, and as suggested in the penultimate sentence from Simon Ayers, I shall have to remember to always go down past and then raise the blade from below its intended height rather than just lower it. Not a big deal, but I think its rather unfair that jdeacon got a less drunken saw than mine ! :lol:

 

[jdeacon]

I guess the key tests before one decided to dig one's heels in and send the saw back are steadiness and rightness. If you stick to raising the blade and test things at, say, 5 mm intervals from a few mm up to maximum height (less a smidgeon) and find that there is no lateral movement of the blade once it is locked off at height - it's not going to make a wavy cut - and that the blade stays at the same angle - you've set it a zero degrees and it stays at zero degrees - you have a useable machine.

On the other hand I suspect that if I were in your position, I be sufficiently p***ed off that I'd send it back anyway. It might be a great price but at several hundred pounds perhaps one would expect a little less slop.

 

[Wizard9999]

On the other hand I suspect that if I were in your position, I be sufficiently p***ed off that I'd send it back anyway. It might be a great price but at several hundred pounds perhaps one would expect a little less slop.

+1 it is the attitude coming through in the reply that would really hack me off!

Axminster are running a planer / thicknesser event at their Basingstoke branch on Saturday that I plan to attend, as I am in the market for one. I will be printing the post quoting their reply and asking them what design flaws regarding the operation of their trade rated planer thicknessers they are aware of (similar to that which they are happy to admit to with their table saws).

Terry.

 

[Wizard9999]

Axminster are running a planer / thicknesser event at their Basingstoke branch on Saturday that I plan to attend, as I am in the market for one. I will be printing the post quoting their reply and asking them what design flaws regarding the operation of their trade rated planer thicknessers they are aware of (similar to that which they are happy to admit to with their table saws).

Well, given that nobody at the (so called P/T event*) at Axminster yesterday seemed to know very much about the equipment they sell, no sensible response. Manager was nice enough and said it wasn't a silly question, but couldn't provide any sort of detail about the machine's construction.

Terry.

* to avoid diverting this thread I won't go in o detail as to why I was so disappointing.

 

[IBmatty]

Interesting thread for me this, the reason being that I recently purchased one of these saws second hand. I believe that it's one of the first batches that Axi had. Not had much use as it was abandoned when a chap sadly passed away and has sat in a garage for 4 years since. I've refurbished the tables, changed the belt and replaced the missing blade-guard and riving knife (original was chopped so grooving is possible - i'm keeping it a that will be useful). I can only say that Axi have been brilliant in helping me get it all sorted. Parts arrived with me in France 3 days after speaking and ordering and it was them that suggested changing the belt and making sure the tension was right.

Not sure that adds much to the thread but there must be at least one chap at Axi who knows the machine and is helpful - he spent a lot of time on the phone talking me through getting it set up and running well especially considering I bought this second hand and the parts I bought came to about £20 including postage.

After reading this thread I went out to the workshop last night and took a good look when raising and lowering the blade. I can hardly see any movement at all on mine.
However, if I wind it all he way up before lowering it to where I want it does go out by 0.1 - 0.3 degree from square to the table, when tested with the little digital bevel box I got with it and my set square. I need to move the tilt wheel slightly to compensate. If I don't wind it all the way up first and get the height set on the up-wind, it stays at 90 (or whichever angle it's set to).

If mine works like that, then yours should be able to?