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If you're interested in woodwork and in building things, then over the next few minutes you will see a truly remarkable machine.
The new series Triton Mark III Work Centre.
It's a machine that I began developing back in 1975 because, like most handymen, I couldn't cut straight with my power saw.
And what's more, I didn't feel very safe or comfortable in using it hand-held.
We have made countless design changes over the years, until today we have the new series Mark III,
a machine which we believe is the best in its class anywhere in the world.
The beauty of the Triton is that you can use your own circular saw, your own router or jigsaw,
and you can use the power tools right way up or upside down.
So in one compact portable unit you get an extremely accurate cross-cut saw, a rip saw bench with a generous table size,
an overhead router, that's great for shelving your cupboards, and a shaper or jigsaw table.
And they're just the main functions.
So if you already have the power tools or are thinking of buying them, then have a look at how you can make them really perform.
The Triton is designed to take all popular makes, models and sizes.
Fitting the tools is easy.
Once fitted, the special two-part clamping brackets allow you to remove the power tools in about 30 seconds if you need to use them hand-held.
When you refit the tool to the Triton, it goes back into exactly the same spot.
When you're cutting long beams for framing, it's much better to lay the beams down flat and move the tool over the top.
And it's great when you're cross-cutting awkward lengths of particle board, say for a bookshelf or wall unit.
It's very comfortable and easy, and you get phenomenal accuracy.
Better, in fact, than most radio-alarm saws.
You can cut several pieces together, legs of a table for instance.
You line up the dress stands and cut all four pieces together.
You don't have to measure and mark each piece and then try to cut exactly to align each time.
With a Triton, you know they'll all be exactly the same length and dead square both ways, provided your saw and blade are in good condition.
Use the adjuster on your saw to lift the blade and you can rebate.
You can cut several rebates together.
It saves a lot of time and effort and ensures that all of your rebates are identical.
With a Triton, you can make neat and strong rebate joints in a matter of minutes, so the furniture you build will last and last.
It sure beats using a hammer and chisel.
You can virtually double the depth of cut of your saw.
Here, a seven and a quarter inch saw is cutting through a four by four post.
Because the Triton is so accurate, you can barely see where the two cuts meet.
You can even bend a solid piece of wood.
You kerf it by making several evenly spaced cuts almost all the way through.
If you choose a wood carefully, you can get spectacular results.
You can use it for decoration or you can reinforce it and use it structurally.
The instruction book shows you how to do it.
Your friends will have trouble believing that you've built it yourself.
You may not be quite ready for kerfing, but you do have to cut mitres.
Look how easy it is with a Triton, especially if you're cutting long pieces like for a door or a window frame.
And look at the superb result.
A mitre saw is great, but if you're building a bookshelf or lining a room, what you really need is a bevel saw.
With the Triton, you've got that too.
Use the saw's adjuster to angle the blade and you can cut accurately to 45 degrees.
You can bevel cut up to 24 inches wide.
So it's great for shelving cabinets or hi-fi speaker boxes.
If you're building a frame, you cut the bevels two or even four at a time to ensure that they're exactly the same length.
Cut one end, turn the pieces around and line up the ends you've just cut.
Then make your second cut and the two pieces will be exactly the same length.
Trying to do that with a hand-held saw is virtually impossible.
By angling the wood and angling the blade, you can make bevel mitres or compound cuts.
That's great if you're building a pitched roof or perhaps a boat.
No matter how good it is, a cross-cut or radial arm saw can't do everything.
For certain jobs, you need a rip saw bench.
In less than a minute, you can flip the saw upside down and put the table on top.
And there you have it, a rip saw bench with a large and strong tabletop.
Once you've locked it in position, you can fit the adjustable safety guard.
It's one of five safety features built into every triton.
The fence is locked in place at both ends so it can't move during a cut.
And there are two calibration scales so you can set the fence exactly parallel to the blade.
The trigger of the saw is locked on with the strap provided, and you're ready to go.
The long straight fence gives you plenty of lead in,
so it's easy to rip down long beams without burning or damaging the edge.
The stainless steel splitter prevents the wood jamming on the blade during a cut, another safety feature.
And talking about safety, use a push stick when you're working in close to the blade.
When you're finished, no need to fumble for the switch.
Simply bump the power off with your knee.
And it's a perfect job every time.
Ripping wide sheets is a breeze because you can set the fence a generous 455mm or 18 inches from the blade.
With the optional extension table, you can set the fence a massive 1225mm or 4 feet from the blade.
As a result, you can rip an 8x4 sheet in half accurately and safely.
If you're dealing with a heavy sheet, make up a support for the offcut or have a friend help you.
When you're finished, keep both hands on your work and switch off with your knee.
The extension table can also be used free standing in the cross cut mode.
Simply lower the top and you can support long pieces for sawing or routing.
You can use your saw as a planer by passing the wood between the blade and the fence.
Look how beautifully a tungsten tip blade dresses some old rough sawn material.
Each piece dressed this way will come out straight and square and exactly the same size.
Try doing that with a hand held planer.
The miter gauge has a special second face which is exactly 90 degrees to the main face.
Use the main face for cross cutting pieces up to 12 inches wide.
And look how useful that second face becomes when you're cutting moulding, say for a picture frame.
You cut one end of each piece against the main face and then you use the second face to cut the reverse angle miter.
You don't have to reset the gauge and you don't have to cut the moulding dangerously upside down.
You can clamp a backstop to the second face so matching sides of your frame will be exactly the same length without any measuring or marking.
You can even set the gauge wrongly and the job will still come out right.
The resulting frame will always be square and the mitres will always match perfectly.
That amazing second face also allows you to cut really sharp angles, up to 80 degrees in fact.
It's great for cutting wedges or garden stakes or for building a picket fence.
When you lower the saw blade a whole new range of cuts becomes possible, like edge rebating.
You can make the rebate any size you like.
Simply lower the blade to the correct height, adjust the fence and make two cuts.
It's so easy to put a strong professional edge on anything you make with particle board, such as a table or bench top.
And what a great way to neatly cover that crumbly edge.
Ever wanted to make a solid table or bench top? Well, tongue and groove it. With a triton, it's so easy.
First you make two identical rebates on a small offcut of the wood you'll be using.
The instruction manual has some useful hints so you'll get it right every time.
Because the rebates are identical, the remaining tongue will of course be perfectly central.
Now to make the matching groove.
Move the fence out by the thickness of your saw blade and again make two cuts.
Because the cuts are an equal distance from each face, the groove must be exactly centered.
The two pieces should then fit together perfectly.
When you're satisfied with the test pieces, you can then tongue and groove your selected material
to make a very strong and attractive bench top or table top.
This bathroom bench top was made on a triton and it'll probably last a hundred years.
The mortise and tenon. Now there's another strong traditional joint used in furniture making.
The problem is that when cut by hand, tenons take about an hour each to make.
With a triton, about 30 seconds.
You use a fence as a stop so each part of the tenon will be exactly the same length.
The mitre gauge keeps the work square at the blade and the blade cuts a fixed depth each time.
The result must be a perfectly central and square tenon.
And the next one you make will be exactly the same.
And for the mortise, just hang on for 30 seconds.
That's all it takes to change the triton from a saw table into a router table.
Simply remove the top, remove the saw together with its mounting chassis and replace it with your router.
The router is clamped to an optional plate with quick release clamps.
Because we're mortising, flip the router upside down and use it as a shaper table.
The sliding plate can't move once you've locked the table in position.
Now you simply plunge the work onto the bit to make the mortises.
To eliminate measuring and marking, set up a sub fence and clamp a stop at either end.
Your mortises should take about 20 seconds each on a triton.
Notice that the mortise has round ends.
No need to chisel them square.
Round off your tenons instead.
It's much easier and faster.
And it's a perfect fit every time.
And look at some of the other benefits of a shaper table.
By setting the extension fences in position, you can make drawers.
Look how easy it is to rebate the sides for the sliding tracks.
You can make eight drawer sides in a matter of minutes.
Each rebate will be in exactly the same position so your drawers will slide perfectly.
Your router can even be used as a planer.
Adjust the rear sub fence and you can buzz off a small amount accurately.
It's great if you're working with veneered board and your saw blade has left a slightly chipped edge.
The router will leave a smooth, clean edge.
A craftsman-like finish on your kitchen cupboards.
You can beautifully dress old rough sawn material.
Double the width of your cut by making one pass and then turning the wood over.
If you have a curved edge to decorate, there's no easier or safer way.
Look how easily you can shape a Queen Anne bedhead and win some little girl's heart.
You can even work on small fiddly pieces.
A job like this would be extremely difficult and dangerous with a handheld router.
With a Triton, you get much better control and you can see what you're doing.
But what if you're building a bookshelf?
You'll be handling large pieces.
With a Triton, you can lay the awkward pieces of shelving down and effortlessly move the router over the top.
It's easy, safe and so accurate.
Here's another hint.
Notch the ends of the shelves.
Now you don't have to square up the corners with a chisel.
Bookshelves, wall units, cupboards for the kitchen or workshop, you name it, you can make it with a Triton.
There are many other functions.
Here's a quick glimpse at some of them.
Fit a metal cutting disc to your saw and use it as a drop saw for cutting steel.
Fit a masonry disc and you can cut tiles and even bricks.
You don't need a diamond saw to cut slate tiles.
A Triton will do it.
Replace the saw blade with a sanding disc and you can use it for faceplate sanding.
It takes a lot of the work out of woodwork.
Fit your jigsaw using an accessory mounting package and you can cut intricate designs in thin material.
Just think how much money you can save by making your own toys and presents.
And they'll be appreciated so much more for being handmade.
And look how portable the Triton is.
The work center and the optional folding stand will fit into the back of most cars.
You can set it up on site in a matter of seconds.
The optional wheels quickly lock into position and you can take the machine right to the job.
You can even climb steps.
You may be wondering whether you'll be able to use it properly.
Well, we'll show you how.
We include this 28 page manual which shows you everything you need to know.
It takes you step by step through the assembly and shows you dozens of cuts and joints
from the simple basic cuts for beginners right through to kerfing.
And if you've got access to a video recorder you can buy or hire our three hour cassette.
It's a great way to learn.
Well, as I said earlier, it's a pretty remarkable machine.
So talk to your retailer right now and find out how little it costs to own a Triton.
I'm sure you'll join the tens of thousands of people who've got one of these machines
and who raves about it.
And you'll discover woodworking skills you never thought you had.
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