Help me decide on a power saw

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Murpheeee

Diamond Member
Apr 30, 2000
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I need to get a power saw for some lite use DIY type stuff.....and because I can't cut straight using a hand one ;)

I was looking at a used 12" band saw, but then I saw a regular table saw and thought that may be more useful.....then there's also a mitre saw :confused:

Immediate uses are to cut T&G boards for ceiling and cut and mitre facings for door frames


What are benefits of each?
Which would be most useful for wide range of stuff?

Here are my stipulations.....

Price in $100 -150 range
Preferably freestanding or on stand
 
olds

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,121
778
126
Originally posted by: Murpheeee
I need to get a power saw for some lite use DIY type stuff.....and because I can't cut straight using a hand one ;)

I was looking at a used 12" band saw, but then I saw a regular table saw and thought that may be more useful.....then there's also a mitre saw :confused:

Immediate uses are to cut T&G boards for ceiling and cut and mitre facings for door frames


What are benefits of each?
Which would be most useful for wide range of stuff?

Here are my stipulations.....

Price in $100 -150 range
Preferably freestanding or on stand
Click to expand...
Mitre saw, depending om how wide the T&G is.

 
J

jemcam

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2001
3,676
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You sure as hell are going to get crap if you buy a tablesaw or bandsaw in that price range. Your best bet is to buy a miter saw, preferably a compound miter saw. They're awesome for making quick crosscuts. As a matter of fact, they are specifically made for what you are needing.

Bandsaws are made to cut curves and for re-sawing. They can cut straight lines, but only with an experienced operator.

Table saws can make crosscuts or rip cuts, but to get a decent one you'll have to spend >$400 IMHO.

 
J

jemcam

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2001
3,676
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0
Originally posted by: Murpheeee
can you adjust the blade on mitre saws to cut at different angles?
Click to expand...

Yes, a miter saw can make horizontal adjustments only, but a compound miter saw can make them horizontally or vertically.

For instance, if you wanted to just do a 45 degree miter for a picture frame, you can move the blade to 45, lock the blade, and you're ready. If you are doing crown mouldings, you can move the blade 45 degrees, then tilt it 45 degrees as well.

 
MaxDepth

MaxDepth

Diamond Member
Jun 12, 2001
8,757
43
91
This is a good deal on a dependable table saw.

table saw from sears

As you can see, $500 - $600 for a good new table saw. And these are the ones that don't have the heavy stationary stand.

My advice is to check out the for sale section of the Saturday and Sunday local paper.
 
J

jemcam

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2001
3,676
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I had that exact same Sears tablesaw, it was a POS. I had it a year, and got so frustrated with it, I sold it and bought a new Jet tablesaw. Granted, I paid twice for the Jet than I did for the Craftsman, but even Craftsman's top of the line saw is a POS compared to Delta, Powermatic, and Jet.
 
S

Sundog

Lifer
Nov 20, 2000
12,342
1
0
Originally posted by: jemcam
Originally posted by: Murpheeee
can you adjust the blade on mitre saws to cut at different angles?
Click to expand...

Yes, a miter saw can make horizontal adjustments only, but a compound miter saw can make them horizontally or vertically.

For instance, if you wanted to just do a 45 degree miter for a picture frame, you can move the blade to 45, lock the blade, and you're ready. If you are doing crown mouldings, you can move the blade 45 degrees, then tilt it 45 degrees as well.
Click to expand...


That is if you are putting crown moulding up the fast way, which is not necessarily the best way.
 
olds

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,121
778
126
I have a Delta Contractors table saw, Craftsman 10" compound Mitre w/ laser (should have got the 12" but it's kind of big) and a 10" Craftsman radial arm saw. The Craftsman line has worked well for me as a homeowner but I'd get something better if I was a contractor. I haven't used the Craftsman table saws.
 
J

jemcam

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2001
3,676
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0
You can buy tile cutters for less than $50 that work quite well. They score a straight line, and then you snap them in half with a bar on top of the cutter. I bought one in 1990 and have used to cut a hell of a lot of tile and just used it a year ago.
 
MaxDepth

MaxDepth

Diamond Member
Jun 12, 2001
8,757
43
91
Originally posted by: Sundog
Originally posted by: jemcam
Originally posted by: Murpheeee
can you adjust the blade on mitre saws to cut at different angles?
Click to expand...

Yes, a miter saw can make horizontal adjustments only, but a compound miter saw can make them horizontally or vertically.

For instance, if you wanted to just do a 45 degree miter for a picture frame, you can move the blade to 45, lock the blade, and you're ready. If you are doing crown mouldings, you can move the blade 45 degrees, then tilt it 45 degrees as well.
Click to expand...


That is if you are putting crown moulding up the fast way, which is not necessarily the best way.
Click to expand...

Right-o. I would suggest some scrap moulding and a coping saw. And lots of practice. ;)

As for tiles, nope. You need a specialized tool. Or a very hard bladed knife and a tile nipper.
Link to tile stuff

Link to a coping saw
 
M

Murpheeee

Diamond Member
Apr 30, 2000
3,326
0
76
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I have a Delta Contractors table saw, Craftsman 10" compound Mitre w/ laser (should have got the 12" but it's kind of big) and a 10" Craftsman radial arm saw. The Craftsman line has worked well for me as a homeowner but I'd get something better if I was a contractor. I haven't used the Craftsman table saws.
Click to expand...

yeah. this thing will only be used occasionally for home projects......hence I don't want to make a big investment on a really good one
 
J

jemcam

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2001
3,676
0
0
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I have a Delta Contractors table saw, Craftsman 10" compound Mitre w/ laser (should have got the 12" but it's kind of big) and a 10" Craftsman radial arm saw. The Craftsman line has worked well for me as a homeowner but I'd get something better if I was a contractor. I haven't used the Craftsman table saws.
Click to expand...

As far as non-portable tools, I've got:
10' Jet tablesaw
12.5" Dewalt Planer
Jet Mortiser
Delta drill press
Grizzly jointer
Ryobi 16-32" thickness sander
Delta 12" disc sander
Jet 14" Bandsaw with extension block and Carter guides

And a slew of handheld stuff from sanders, drills, biscuit joiner, etc.

My other hobby is making Craftsman furniture. I can post pics if anyone is interested in seeing some of my work.
 
olds

olds

Elite Member
Mar 3, 2000
50,121
778
126
Originally posted by: jemcam
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I have a Delta Contractors table saw, Craftsman 10" compound Mitre w/ laser (should have got the 12" but it's kind of big) and a 10" Craftsman radial arm saw. The Craftsman line has worked well for me as a homeowner but I'd get something better if I was a contractor. I haven't used the Craftsman table saws.
Click to expand...

As far as non-portable tools, I've got:
10' Jet tablesaw
12.5" Dewalt Planer
Jet Mortiser
Delta drill press
Grizzly jointer
Ryobi 16-32" thickness sander
Delta 12" disc sander
Jet 14" Bandsaw with extension block and Carter guides

And a slew of handheld stuff from sanders, drills, biscuit joiner, etc.

My other hobby is making Craftsman furniture. I can post pics if anyone is interested in seeing some of my work.
Click to expand...

You sound like me. We can fit one car in our three cr garage and I just built a shed for more storage.

 
J

jemcam

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2001
3,676
0
0
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Originally posted by: jemcam
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I have a Delta Contractors table saw, Craftsman 10" compound Mitre w/ laser (should have got the 12" but it's kind of big) and a 10" Craftsman radial arm saw. The Craftsman line has worked well for me as a homeowner but I'd get something better if I was a contractor. I haven't used the Craftsman table saws.
Click to expand...

As far as non-portable tools, I've got:
10' Jet tablesaw
12.5" Dewalt Planer
Jet Mortiser
Delta drill press
Grizzly jointer
Ryobi 16-32" thickness sander
Delta 12" disc sander
Jet 14" Bandsaw with extension block and Carter guides

And a slew of handheld stuff from sanders, drills, biscuit joiner, etc.

My other hobby is making Craftsman furniture. I can post pics if anyone is interested in seeing some of my work.
Click to expand...

You sound like me. We can fit one car in our three cr garage and I just built a shed for more storage.
Click to expand...


Luckily for me my basement is an excellent workshop. Otherwise I'm sure my tool collection would not have grown so much.

My best investment was a 1100 cfm Jet dust collection system and air purifier.
 
MaxDepth

MaxDepth

Diamond Member
Jun 12, 2001
8,757
43
91
Originally posted by: jemcam

As far as non-portable tools, I've got:
10' Jet tablesaw
12.5" Dewalt Planer
Jet Mortiser
Delta drill press
Grizzly jointer
Ryobi 16-32" thickness sander
Delta 12" disc sander
Jet 14" Bandsaw with extension block and Carter guides

And a slew of handheld stuff from sanders, drills, biscuit joiner, etc.

My other hobby is making Craftsman furniture. I can post pics if anyone is interested in seeing some of my work.
Click to expand...
I love my grandfather. When he died, he bequeathed his Shopsmith Mark V with all the attachements to me. I have some other assorted power hand tools and hand planes. I just need my own garage or large shed now to house it all.
 
S

Sundog

Lifer
Nov 20, 2000
12,342
1
0
Originally posted by: jemcam
Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
I have a Delta Contractors table saw, Craftsman 10" compound Mitre w/ laser (should have got the 12" but it's kind of big) and a 10" Craftsman radial arm saw. The Craftsman line has worked well for me as a homeowner but I'd get something better if I was a contractor. I haven't used the Craftsman table saws.
Click to expand...

As far as non-portable tools, I've got:
10' Jet tablesaw
12.5" Dewalt Planer
Jet Mortiser
Delta drill press
Grizzly jointer
Ryobi 16-32" thickness sander
Delta 12" disc sander
Jet 14" Bandsaw with extension block and Carter guides

And a slew of handheld stuff from sanders, drills, biscuit joiner, etc.

My other hobby is making Craftsman furniture. I can post pics if anyone is interested in seeing some of my work.
Click to expand...

Luckily I don't have to deal with tool issues. My father-in-law is a woodworker by trade so I have been learning the business for the last 5 years in his 2500+ sq ft wood shop. All he gets is the Delta pro stuff....

Except for routers that is...we tend to go through them (Bosch) on a regular basis.

In 3 weeks or so we are getting in 13K-15K board feet of lumber.
 
Pliablemoose

Pliablemoose

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
25,195
0
56
I'd grab a compound miter saw with the laser attachment.

For quickly doing moulding, etc, you can't beat them.
 
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