Felker Powercat

[Shaughnn]

I'm in the market to replace my venerable Felker TM-75 with a new compact 7" tile saw. My old saw's table slides are worn out and my stops have so much play in them I have to shim them with Gorilla tape. So, every once in a while I browse the interwebs when I'm bored and try to find a design that I think will fit my needs.
This morning I came across this little beauty and fell in love, all over again. Can someone please slap my face and tell me that this is not ever going to happen, please? And if this design still exists, perhaps Husqvarna would consider selling it to someone who will produce the saw? Pretty please!!!
http://www.bluemapdesign.com/projects/powerkat.shtml
Shaughnn

[dhagin]

Nice find Shaughnn. What's it (allegedly) weigh i wonder.....

[Shaughnn]

Well, it looks like it was "going to be" a next generation TM-75, so I'd imagine it's in the 35# range also.
Shaughnn

[dhagin]

There's really not much to those little things, someone should jump on it. Seems like a sure bet to me, but what do i know.

[Higher Standard Tile]

There is definitely a market for a well made small saw for professionals to use on small jobs.

It just seems most small saws are diy quality.

[Shaughnn]

Hell, I'd be happy with a small-footprint direct-drive 10" saw, built in the theme of the TM-75. It would allow a bit better cutting creativity and still fit on a kitchen island, or even on an apartment deck.
Shaughnn

[Hank B.]

Whats wrong with these? That powercat looks like a qep model I've seen.

[T_Hulse]

Hank the rails & wheels on that one are different left-to-right, and they develop slop that skews your cuts as the saw ages; unlike the Felker rail design that is balanced and stays perfectly straight as they age. Plus the felker motors are more powerful and quieter (that little 370 could put an ear out).
Shawn I'd love to have those rails & motor on a little saw, but don't you want angle-cutting ability on your wee saw? Also that same plastic fence & guide they used on another model... kinda junky, not pro quality.

[Shaughnn]

Tom, I don't want it for an everyday saw. I just want something small and self-contained that I can bring into a client's kitchen and use while they're watching TV in the next room. I've considered the 7" Rigid that's available now but I can't see that integrated stand and exterior water reservoir make it any different than their 10" saw.
Shaughnn

[bbcamp]

and use while they're watching TV in the next room.

Does it come with noise canceling head phones? All saws are loud when you are cutting.

[Shaughnn]

Bob, I just wrapped up a kitchen, using my TM-75. The client has an 11-month old, who took his nap in the next room and wasn't bothered by the noise, in the slightest. The direct-drive motor on my saw is super quiet, compared to any of the grinder-drive saws I've ever seen. When cutting it's loud, but still not too bad.
Shaughnn

[bbcamp]

I have a TM-75, and I think it's loud when it's cutting. Nice quiet hum when it's running but not cutting.

Kids, they'll sleep any where, any time. (So sayeth the one guy in this conversation with no kids. )

[tilemanct]

Had one of those MK's. The loudest damn saw ever made. I wish DeWalt would come out with a mini-me version of their 10" saw. I agree that a pro quality small saw is needed and lacking in the industry.

[Hank B.]

Shaugnn, all those rigid saws have so much slop in the cart setup that the cuts are about as accurate and repeatable as a ryobi, That being the case, you'd probably be returning it after using for less time than it took to put together. Thats what i did. And its about as loud as a portable table saw, which IMO, is pretty loud. But I've only ever owned felkers and targets, other than when I tried the rigid.

[Shaughnn]

Thanks Hank, That's another reason that I haven't considered getting one too seriously. I have never been able to play around with one to see how it feels, let alone how it cuts. I like the concept, but the execution is the key.
Shaughnn