Elektra Beckum/Metabo Secanta table saw

[FestitaMakool]

Hi,

Out of curiosity I wonder if anyone here has encountered this rare gem of a saw before?
It is a:
Rip saw
Mitre saw
Pull/push saw
And it turns its table 180° to quickly shift from mitre and cross cut to rip cuts.
Motor has 1800 watts, has soft start, electronic constant speed control and a cut depth of 70mm.
All controls are in front, both depth adjustment, bevel (swing and angle), very much like CS70 from Festool. Although this swings it’s table 90° both ways [cool]

I just found this, bought it straight away, it even came with a Metabo saw dust collector.
In the purchase it was even with a sliding table, which was surprisingly precise and of high quality. It rides on SS ball bearings, and it is super tight. An outfeed table came with it too which also serves as a wing with two crown stops and ruler. As did the sliding table, the nicest crown stop I have seen is attached to a fence with ruler. See photos:
(After I realised what it was, I understood got it dirt cheap.. just a few quid more than a 3 pack of Festool saw blades..)

 

[Camallison]

Yes, I have owned the Elektra Beckum version for 21 years and it has served me well on two house renovations.  In addition, I upcycle reclaimed timber including 150-year old oak from church pews saved as churches have been demolished.  Where else could I find single planks of oak 15ft long x30ins wide x1in thick.  Since it is so hard, it does blunt saw blades quickly but I have a plentiful supply of new blades.  I make furniture for ourselves and for my children and grandchildren.  When I bought the saw, it was GBP850 and certainly worth it.  I never regret buying it.

Colin

 

[FestitaMakool]

Hi, and welcome!

It is certainly rare. How do you find maintaining it? And has all the controls in front worked well?
Mine is now undergoing some slight clean up and revision of the height adjuster, which is a bit stiff. Everything else is working fine. I have yet to try it (motor runs fine though, but it haven’t seen any wood by me yet) It’s no hurry as this will be placed in my workshop to come a little later. I find the sliding cross cut table to be one of the nicest I’ve seen on a saw in this class. It should support quite heavy stock.
Do you find the accuracy good?

 

[Camallison]

I have religiously 'serviced' it regularly, the saw has continued to give good results.  Oiling and greasing was done to the instructions it came with.  I lost those instructions in a house move, but remember them point by point.  As for accuracy, the only thing I have had problems with is the scale on the blade tilt.  It has become slightly inaccurate and so now I set it with a protractor-like tool and a square for 90 degrees.  Working with it has been a dream, but now I am in my mid-70s, I find it a little too heavy to lift and so it stays upright and not folded.  To perform sawdust extraction, I have a ducted system in the workshop with a static extractor.

All in all it has served me well and will be passed to my grandson when I pass on ........ not in a while!

Colin

 

[FestitaMakool]

Thanks, your grandson is lucky. It is a very nice thing to do, especially handing it over well served.
I’ve seen nothing like it before. The fact that it breaks down quite easy and fast and yet so filled with features. And the carrying handle makes it easy to move, for it’s size. I hope he’ll appreciate it, there’s probably nothing similar to be seen in the near future.
I bought it from a carpenter who had inherited from his father, a dedicated woodworking hobbyist and instead of keeping this he had bought a small portable Metabo table saw (he stayed with Metabo..). I thought it was a bit sad, he certainly had room for it in his barn. But he would rather let it go. Lucky for me, as it will see good use.

 

[Camallison]

My grandson has already started work as a cabinet maker after completing an apprenticeship with a cabinet making firm.  There, they taught him the use of an adze, so you know just how well trained he is.  I would say that he is the professional and I am the learned enthusiast!  He has taught me a few tricks and tips so the training is both ways.  Ever since he was about 8-years old, he has spent time in the workshop with me and so had a good basis to start his apprenticeship.  Now he is 21-years old and is currently working on several lucrative commissions.  For me it has always been a hobby but to him it is his trade.

My dad was a carpenter, whereas as I trained and worked as an electronics engineer.

Colin

 

[Camallison]

Should you need any spare parts, some are available in the UK fromhttps://www.mtmc.co.uk/Metabo-SECANTA-/-0102207009-12-/-EU-230V-Spare-Parts__p-103955.aspx

I have already sourced a couple of small parts from them for mine.

Colin

 

[FestitaMakool]

Thanks for the link!
I wanted one of these, but haven’t found one, until now that is. The guy I bought it from had checked spare parts availability, and there was parts available. Good to know.

I may be a bit nuts or nerdy, but I like exploded views - watched too many maybe [blink]

 

[newpark7]

Hello

Yes I have one - Bought it new in 1988 I also have the sliding table but am envious of your outfeed table

I have done two house renovations & it is now sitting in the lounge of my new self build house with lots of work ahead of it.

Mark

 

[FestitaMakool]

Hi, welcome!
Nice to hear from you who have this saw. Yes, the outfeed table is very nice - it can also be used as an infeed and wing as Festool’s UG wings for Kapex. It is almost identical to the UG wings.
- There’s actually a small chance of ordering it - I was told there are parts readily available.

Do you have any maintenance or other technical tips for the saw? Mine too is just sitting inside waiting to be dismantled, a slight overhaul - to be ready for spring/summer work.

 

[FestitaMakool]

I have now dug into the deeper secrets of the saw.
It is very well made, but it needs TLC (Most tools do..). Lubrication with oil as described.
However, it is not clearly described where to oil. I’ve noticed key point when dismantling and later mounting again. New parts ordered are: 3 new linear ball bearings for the steel rods that the pull action rides on. The steel rods are no more available (I want to replace mine, as they had rust - now checking steel shops for cutting some new ones, maybe in stainless (See photos, after sanding and polishing). 4 new feet, one adjustable, for the fold out legs. And the rubber feet that is on the saw’s base (8 pcs)
- To my big surprise, Metabo is sending me these parts free of charge. I had a long chat with a rep. who was very kind and understanding, and eager to get my rare saw up and running. We made a gentleman’s agreement of me considering buying a Metabo tool when I was in the market for something they had on offer [big grin]. I promised to look into their band saw.

The rods, now wet sanded, polished and washed with oil:
[attachimg=1]

These wheels rides on beefy ball bearings; consider to check for binding: The distance of the wheels offset to the frame is shimmed with at least two washers, and on some 1 or 2 shims as well. The wheel shouldn’t bind too much on the edge of the turning table. I removed shims on 2-3 of the wheels.
[attachimg=2]

The bevel rides on these “half moon” shaped V-grooves, be sure to oil regularly:
[attachimg=3]

The pinion (height adjustment) gear presses against this U-groove to drive the worm gear to lift the motor. This is the least impressive part, I’m considering adding a ball bearing for the shaft. Although regular oiling with good engine oil should do:
[attachimg=4]

And, what I thought was making the height adjustment sticky, was absolutely not at all.
The shaft inside the plastic tube rides on beefy ball bearings:
[attachimg=5]

And, I’m trying out a new task for a Canadian product  [wink]:
[attachimg=6]

 

[FestitaMakool]

Wow! This is really time consuming.. making a new (and much better than the flimsy original) (“zero clearance) insert for this saw, but fun also  [big grin] Long thin (has to be for clearance of the pull function) and room for bevel cut.

First, hunt down some variants of these clips - to find some that’s not too deep and fits 6x6mm square holes.
[attachimg=1]

Then using the EHL 65 in its SE EHL bracket (nice accessory!) to plane each side down a bare millimetre to get it flush with table top - used 6mm plywood - next will be in 4mm and then glue on a mid section for strength [embarassed]
[attachimg=2]

Finally I had to make room for the clips on the flip side, used a router bit in the drill press, - worked remarkably well if fact. And now it is just waiting for the glue to dry after making an end section behind the blade guard. Should be just fun tomorrow, maybe  [huh] Expect the un-expected  [big grin]
[attachimg=3]

 

[FestitaMakool]

Small update  [smile]

Insert was completed a few days ago, not the easiest saw doing this.
But what a saw to use! [big grin] I had to make som quick cuts for a makeshift support for my front door that I’d normally had done on the miter saw. I did use the pull saw function and side table, so slick and easy with flag stops to make very accurate cuts.
[attachimg=1]

And more joy today, the new linear ball bearings arrived, along with some other parts.
Among them a new motor for my beloved old Metabo Powermaxx installers drill.
The motor is getting the same run in treatment as my brushed RC motors:
It’s almost making the same noise as a small aquarium, water flow and bubbles  [big grin] Had the gearbox mostly apart, but couldn’t find any real wear other than darker grease. Odd, as is made scraping noises. Well, I’m gonna solder on the new motor in a minute and assemble the drill again to give it a test run.

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

 

[lwoirhaye]

I have one.  It's a really cool saw.  I cannibalized a miter saw stand and fence to make a right hand cutoff table.

 

[FestitaMakool]

It is indeed! Cool that you have made an outcut table - I’ve been thinking something similar as the sides are easier to adapt to something self made than many other saws.

 

[razorsfishing]

Just been reading this post.I have a Electa Beckham Seconda.If anyone is interested its £300 .Now 74 to heavy for me.Was my fathers and i inherited it ,lovely table saw.Please message me for more info.Chris.