[Alwaysintheknow]

Hope everyone's having a great day. I have a small Chinese 3040 which has served me well once I worked out all the crap wiring. I would like a larger machine to do plywood for cabinets and signs. Craigslist search yielded a 4 x 8 "Black toe" with very little use. Two years old. Bed is not flat, but that can be fixed. Electronics look good, Geckos, upgraded cabling, etc.... This thing is chain and sprocket!!! It just seems mickey mouse. I looked at some of the projects that they have made and they looked decent enough. Not knowing enough about a DYI machine, would anyone pay $800 for this set up? They were asking substantially more ($1,600) and he shot me that number.

I like the size but am unsure about the chain and sprocket set up. The price certainly seems reasonable if it will run accurately and reliably. Any thoughts? Should I pass on this one and save for something more than MDF and a bike chain?

Any and all feed back would be appreciated.

Happy saw dust!

[ger21]

You get what you pay for.

If you're looking for a slow, flexible machine, then that's what you'll get.

[Trotline]

The Blacktoe is a bottom of the market, entry-level design. Although roller chain drive gets a lot of undeserved flack from people who don't bother learning to set it up correctly, the machine's structure is lightweight and flexible, as Gerry said. Also, everything rides on the bed of that design, so if the bed isn't flat, that's a possible BIG problem. I'd pass on it, personally.

Luke