[geeks] Table Saw Suggestions

[Tim H.]

Well, until you got to sheets of stuff, a radial arm saw sounded good, but they are extremely clumsy/impossible to use for sheets, and besides, at the bottom end they are probably less accurate than the cheap table saw.  Unfortunately an accurate solid fence system alone costs more than you are hoping to spend on the whole saw.  My dad got a Crapsman "better" grade 10" tablesaw, and even at that level the fence sucks.  The saw is solid, blade doesn't  wobble, but you have to measure both ends of the fence and hope it doesn't tweak when you tighten the clamp for every adjustment.  for the little stuff maybe you could look at a model saw, no idea what prices are like, but accuracy should be there, but then you couldn't do 3/4 particle board or 2x4s.

Tim

On Mon, 13 May 2002 15:44:35 -0400
"Michael Dombrowski" <legodude at hammycorp.com> wrote:

> On 13 May 2002 at 10:20, geeks-request at sunhelp.org wrote:
> 
> > Maybe a tablesaw isn't right for you. The primary purpose of a
> > tablesaw is for long distance ripping. Also, small work often results
> > in a flesh sacrifice to the blade. Look into table scroll saws (blade
> > reciprocates but they are cheap) and bandsaws (blade travels in a big
> > loop and cuts clean and fast).
> 
> Well, let me outline what I need to do a bit more and explain why I 
> thought a table saw would be best. For the current project, I am 
> making a small box with all simple cuts - 45 and 90 degrees. The size 
> is roughly 7"x9" using 1/4" and 1/2" hardwood. So for something like 
> this, accuracy is my main goal. I also do larger scale stuff with 
> 1/4"-3/4" plywood and particleboard and 2x4s where long cuts and 
> quick 2x4 cuts would be nice. A table saw was my first thought 
> because it can do the large cuts as well as the smaller cuts I need. 
> A scroll saw lacks the guide I'd need to do proper long cuts, I can't 
> make a straight cut by hand if my life depended on it. A band saw  
> might work but from what I've read they're much more suited to 
> curving cuts, not the straight cuts I need right now. I'm most 
> certain not dead-set on a table saw but it seems like the best tools 
> for my uses.  The problem with table saws in my price range seems to 
> be that they simply lack the proper fences and guides for truly 
> accurate work and with the small scale I'm working with, I think that 
> blade wobble could be a problem. It seems that I'll just have to make 
> sure the local Home Depot has a good return policy and buy one and 
> test it out. That cheap Delta looks nices and If anyone has any 
> better suggestions I'm open to them, thanks to those who have already 
> offered advice.
> 
> Thanks
> Mike
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