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HI! I want to buy some saws to do some projects :-)
(I already have a Skilsaw, jigsaw, hand planer, router, multitool with saw, and tile saw)
Projects are...
- door and window trim
- skirting boards 8 + inches high
- fitted cupboards and shelves with hardwood veneers and coloured melamine laminates, modern and clean looking
- fitted clothing wardrobes, same as the above
- oak flooring using pre-cut 8 inch wide engineered boards (loft style boards)
- garden deck (on the ground to no railings)
- garden shed that also is a workshop
Most hardwood veneers and melamine sheets I order at pre-cut sizes to my specifications, or I can get professionally cut
All of our victorian walls are not true (!)
My question is - what saws should I get?
a. table saw - has to be compact in storage (in the shed)
b. plunge saw? - could this be an alternative to a table saw?
c. Mitre saw?
d. All of the above?
Where should I put the bulk of the money? and which ones can I try to save on?
Any really great products out there for non-pros?
Thanks in advance,
Kathleex
It sounds like you are doing a big remodel job. With the tools you have listed, I would start with a good sliding compound miter saw, then a table saw.
R. Konarske
When I started my shop it had to be portable to a lot of sites so space and number of tools was an issue. With the list of projects you have listed I would want my "chopsaw" (compound miter) as the first choice. The why, trim,flooring, small siding and numerous other things are faster and more accurate. Unless you are wanting to stick to hand cutting trim with a good miter box and saw or on a good table saw this is your best option, Now you have to weight, quality, kind, and weight. Accuacy should be your first concern.check out the reviewa in various places. Second is do you need a sliding unit or fixed. Sliding will give you more depth of cut. so a 8" board would be no problem but they will be heavier to move around.I lived with a little 7 inch fixed for years by making sure it was trued up and flipping boards over. It was light and I could carry it one handed. I mounted a piece of plywood to the bottom of mine and then clamped it across 2 saw horses.It would have been nice to have a sliding miter but cost was out of my range at that time. My next choice would be a "guided" or" tracked" skilsaw instead of a tablesaw. There have been several of the wookworking mags that have done comparisons recently. The why, space, accuracy. You can cut sheet goods as accurately and sometimes more accurately than on a "contractor" tablesaw and you need the storage space and moveablity that even a portable contractors tablesaw will give you. Put the table saw on your list for down the line when you have a garage where you can set up at least a " hybred" level tablesaw on a more permanent bases.As to brands the tool world is changing rapidly and reviews are getting better. READ! the more you read the better choice you'll make. I'd also suggest that you fit your hand to any tool you buy pick it up move it, check ou the placement of switches. What is right for me may not be confortable for your hand. I have one trim router that is not at the top of the review list. but it fits my hand and I do better work with it. It's a pain to change bits but but it's worth it to have it an extension of my arm
Judgeing from your post I'd say you probably want a lightweight Jobsite table saw, the DeWalt and the Bosch I think are two pretty good choices but a little pricey in my opinion for plastic and aluminum. A used Contractor's table saw with a good fence can sometimes be had for less and be a better machine, but you have to know what your looking for. You can buy a new mobile base for around $50 if it doesn't have one. I would also get a Compound miter saw. Miters in my opinion are easier to line the cut up on, and are safer then with a table saw. A slideing Compound miter saw is nice, they can cut a wider board, and some have a depth of cut so you can do multiple passes to create a quick dado. But they can be expensive and I don't know what your budget is. The internet is a good place to find out what brands and models of equipment are good, spend some time and do your homework, and don't buy the first thing you see unless someone else with experience can confirm that it's a good buy.