Should I buy a Triton Workcentre?!

[CraigyBoy]

Hello,

Total newbie, please be gentle!

I've been looking for a bit of an all purpose table saw, but also something that provides decent guides/fences that I could use my router with. I thought I'd found the ideal device when I found the Festool multi-function table, and then I saw the price of all the bits!! I thern found the Triton workcentre and it looks great. I've bought one of the training videos to see if it will do what I want, but then I heard that the company had gone bust.

Can somebody tell me what the current situation is? I don't really want to buy something that is end of line. Is anybody making it anymore, and should I consider buying something else instead?

Advice really appreciated.

Cheers Craig

 

[devonwoody]

I had the Triton 2000 workcentre for 5 years from new.

Benefits.
Its portable.
Reliable
Works.

Against

No tilt of blade like a tablesaw.
Not really the tool for a 50mm thick, 3 metre length of 200mm wide Oak.

Otherwise I would buy secondhand if available and needed. [/img]

 

[wizer]

I had one also. I'd not recommend you buy one brand new. They are over priced. You could save your pennies and get a proper tablesaw for not much more than a new WC2000. Second hand, they're ok for starting out on. I still think that you should go for something like the little Axminster TS200 for a starter TS.

 

[Argee]

Can somebody tell me what the current situation is? I don't really want to buy something that is end of line. Is anybody making it anymore, and should I consider buying something else instead?

Latterly, the company were owned by GMC in Oz, who crashed - taking Triton with them. Prior to that, the UK Triton HQ and warehouse was closed down by Oz due to lack of turnover. Consequently, there is no UK outlet, but there are a few distributors and stockists. Toolstream (also trading as Silverline) claim to be the sole UK distributors, but that is patently not the case, as Sharpend Services (Sywell) is also taking orders and shipping Triton parts to Australia!

The power tools side of Triton is still a bit of a dog's breakfast. The larger router is now being manufactured by CMT in Italy (who have obviously been sold the rights to do so), but Carbatec now advertise themselves as the main stockists and distributors in Oz and claim to be supplied with power tools by the original manufacturers (DURQ in Taiwan). The pressed steel items, such as the Workcentre and Router Table, are being made in Oz by a contracted company, who also make pressed steel parts for other retailers.

The downside to the whole thing is that the two idiots who let GMC crash around them are STILL running the whole show in Oz. That doesn't bode very well for the future IMO.

As an ex-demonstrator and tech. advisor in the UK, I have a complete set of Triton stuff (see here). You don't say whereabouts you are in the UK, but if you're within reasonable travelling distance you're welcome to pop over and try anything out and/or make a reasonable offer.

Ray

 

[head clansman]

hi

I've had a triton since the mk3 came out in the mid eighties . I have had no trouble cutting 75mm beams and any other timber that i have thrown at it, it simple does the job .

It is for sale if your interested with extra's https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/view ... ht=#436768 it's now reduced to £220.hc

 

[George_N]

I have had a WC200 for about four years and have the Triton 235 mm saw fitted. Over that time I have added a maxi sliding table and bevel ripping guide, the former off Ebay and the latter off a member of this forum. I also built a cross-cut sled, which is more convenient to use than setting up the sliding table for small pieces. With this set up the Triton is very versatile with huge rip and cross cut capacities, if you have the space it will rip an 8' x 4' sheet down the middle. Despite being made of pressed steel I have found it to be very accurate and cuts very reproducible. Since I have had it I have built a complete kitchen and a number of other projects. Would I like a big cast iron table saw? Yes of course I would but I don't have space in my single garage workshop for one (haven't got the money for one either).

 

[jack55]

I have a work centre and I use it most of the time although to get the best out of it you need to be prepared to buy the other bits and pieces, such as the router table. Provided you plan out your work its not too much hassel changing the bits around.

 

[Benchwayze]

I bought my Triton in the eighties. I still use it, mostly for cross-cutting in overhead mode.
It does loads of jobs.

Router-table,
Saw-table (Mine copes with a tilting saw, so they must have dropped this feature from the new Tritons)
Jig-saw table.
Overhead saw, and so on.

The biggest snag is, although they are versatile and the work-centre is accurately made, they are only as good as the saw/router you put into them.

So while you save pennies on the work-centre, you could spend a lot of money on a good saw and a good router. But then, as you can always use these machines on their own, then you are getting two bites of the cherry.

If you are only going to use the saw-table feature, then you ought to heed Wizer's advice.

When I can get a good, safe SCM saw, my Triton will probably be retired!

regards
John

 

[Benchwayze]

I have had a WC200 for about four years and have the Triton 235 mm saw fitted. Over that time I have added a maxi sliding table and bevel ripping guide, the former off Ebay and the latter off a member of this forum. I also built a cross-cut sled, which is more convenient to use than setting up the sliding table for small pieces. With this set up the Triton is very versatile with huge rip and cross cut capacities, if you have the space it will rip an 8' x 4' sheet down the middle. Despite being made of pressed steel I have found it to be very accurate and cuts very reproducible. Since I have had it I have built a complete kitchen and a number of other projects. Would I like a big cast iron table saw? Yes of course I would but I don't have space in my single garage workshop for one (haven't got the money for one either).

And if you do site work, the Triton is portable. I could easily fit mine in the back of my old Volvo! Invaluable especially before the days of SCM saws.

John

 

[denlev]

Hi Craigy boy

I have been a Triton Distributor since 1997. The Triton is a fabulous piece of equipment which can be expanded to give a very comprehensive workshop. I also had a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom business for twenty five years plus until last year which used the Triton tools on site every day once discovered. I have sold loads to professional woodworkers who love its versatility and accuracy. Silverline tools now own the European rights to Triton and David Ashworth is a retailer just as i am. If you need any help or advice let me know or visit the web www.tritontools.uk.com The future of Triton is as safe so do not be put off by rumours.

 

[johnnyb]

i would also concur its a great piece of kit especially on site as it has rip and crosscut and is also portable. ps i have one of the mark 3s. they are very well thought out and built.

 

[pike]

Hi Craig,

I've found mine to be fun to use, accurate and very good if you need portability.

Since moving home I've only got a 10x10 shed for now, so if you'd like to make me an offer I might be prepared to sell.

I've got the workcentre, triton saw, winder kit (for easy saw height adjustments), the dust bag, and probably other stuff I've forgotten!

Cheers,
pike

 

[CraigyBoy]

Hello,

just wanted to say thank you to everybody for their responses. On the whole it does sound like what I'm looking for. The versatility and portability is the key thing drawing me to it as I don't have space for a permanently setup saw table or the money for lots of different bits of kit!

I've accepted Ray's kind offer to go and have a look at the ex-demo kit he has, so hopefully seeing it all in the flesh will allow me to decide finally whether it's or me or not.

Cheers CB

 

[xy mosian]

Is this the sort of thing you are looking for?

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/view ... hp?t=38225

xy

 

[denlev]

Craigy boy

Good decision you wont be disappointed, second hand Tritons are like gold dust so get one while you can and Ray is an ex Triton demonstrator who knows triton inside out and a very knowledgeable gentleman. Me and my web site have been trashed by a couple of forum, shall we say people, but as a newbie to Triton its worth a visit because it has plenty of free downloads such as manuals and spare parts etc. which will be handy if buying a second hand one. So at the risk of being trashed again heres the link www.tritontools.uk.com and if you buy Rays say hello to him from me. Wish you all the best, if you need any advice re Triton feel free to e mail me as I am recognised as the triton expert in the U.K.

Dennis

 

[Tony Spear]

I am recognised as the triton expert in the U.K.

Dennis

Really? I always thought that Ray was!! :lol: :lol:

 

[big soft moose]

I am recognised as the triton expert in the U.K.

Dennis

... and modest with it :roll:

 

[denlev]

Hi Tony

Ray is a man I have great respect for and have met on several occasions at various woodworking shows over the years. Ray is an ex demonstrator and user of the Triton and probably knows as much as any one else about Triton. I am one of the original Triton Distributors taken on by George Lewin the inventor when the 2000 series came out in 1996. I spent some time with George Lewin who is quite an amazing character and an absolute perfectionist. Its a shame he sold out in 2000 to Hills industries who totally changed everything the way it was sold and marketed etc. I am just a retailer now but really believe in the product and have over 3000 customers on my data base. I have probably done more detailed demonstrations than any one and the Triton equipment was used every day in my kitchen, bedroom and bathroom business on site and in workshop. I currently send a lot of bits out to Australia at the moment because of supply problems there. Crazy!! I certainly was not putting a downer on Ray.