Taurus vs Gryphon

Billie Myers · Post by **Billie Myers** » Mon Mar 24, 2003 3:34 pm

I am looking at a Taurus II.2 ring saw and I hope someone can give me some advice. I know this is a popular saw, but has anyone used a Gryphon omni 1 wire saw? I am wondering which one will be the best to buy. Any opinions? I am still new to this and don't know what maintenance will be involved with the Taurus or the Gryphon. Thanks for your help!
Billie

Ross · Post by **Ross** » Mon Mar 24, 2003 3:45 pm

I bought the Gryphon hoping to get the results I wanted at a bit less money. I ended up ordering the Taurus (love it!) and selling my Gryphon on EBAY. The Taurus costs more for parts etc, but it is a dream to use, especially compared to the Gryphon.

Ross

Tess Farley · Post by **Tess Farley** » Mon Mar 24, 2003 9:28 pm

My first experience with a Gryphon Omni was terrible, so I returned it and got a Taurus, which is what I use on impossible cuts.

Cynthia · Post by **Cynthia** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 1:54 am

Check out this thread from the archives.

http://www.warmglass.com/cgi-bin/wgarch ... read=33774

I think it's a bit like Spectrum or Bullseye, Kiln wash or ThinFire, fiber or brick, evenheat or Jen-Ken...tomayto, tomawto, eether, either...It seems to boil down to individual preference.

Happy reading

Diane · Post by **Diane** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 6:05 am

I bought what I THOUGHT was my dream saw when I got a gryphon and it turned out to be more like a NIGHTMARE.

It chews through bottom guides faster then you can say, "I shoulda bought a Taurus".
I'd rather work with designs that don't require a saw at all then bother with it.
Good Luck, Diane

Tess Farley · Post by **Tess Farley** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 9:23 pm

The blade on my Gryphon Omni got so hot in the first 20 minutes of use that it became fused on those cheapo plastic bottom guides! So after only 20 minutes of use, my new Omni became inoperable. Nightmare is a good word for it Diane.

Judy Schnabel · Post by **Judy Schnabel** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 11:02 pm

Billie,

I love my Taurus. My husband probably doesn't like it at all. Every time something goes wrong he has to fix it. You soon learn little sounds that alert you that something isn't quite right. Keeping your ears tuned will save you lots of broken blades.

I've had mine about a year now and have broken the "running boards" twice. I'm not sure if that's the proper term, but that's what came to my mind.

I really do love the saw though. You can do fantastic things with it.

Judy

bex · Post by **bex** » Fri Mar 28, 2003 3:24 pm

got a taurus and to be frank i never use it.. little things popping and snapping, blades breaking, grommets er, gunging, ...

also blades so expensive to replace in uk, have problems getting hold of em, so now i just dont use it

and having paid Â£500 quid for the damn thing, was a bit of an expensive doorstop heheheheh

still, keeps a nice through breeze coming in workshop :O)
bex

Linda Matteson · Post by **Linda Matteson** » Sat Mar 29, 2003 8:16 pm

I have two taurus saws and love them. When one needs overhauling such as blade, or grommets need changing I go to the second saw and keep on going. Then as my time becomes available I overhaul the first saw. The people at Gemini Saw are very accommodating and turn around time on a saw that needs factory work is very good and not too costly. I've been using my taurus saws since l999.

Linda

HourGlassWorks

Tracy · Post by **Tracy** » Sat Mar 29, 2003 8:40 pm

I have a gryphon and would not recomend it. Granted, I have never tried any other kind so I have nothing to compare. I find the blade is tricky to keep on and always wants to come off when cutting. (Good eye protection is a must!)

-Tracy

LindaJo · Post by **LindaJo** » Sat Mar 29, 2003 11:14 pm

I have had a Taurus for 4 years. I don't use it a lot, but I love it. I guess a lot is personal preference. I only use my saw for dificult cuts when doing stained glass. Never had a problem. Good luck on your choice, I suppose you will find pro and con for any product. Eljay

WarmGlass.com