Table Saw

[Woodyoumind?]

What is the best brand of table saw to get. I need something to help me out with a few projects on the back burner. Also, do you think I need to purchase one or could I just get away with renting one for a few days. I don't have a lot right now to do, just a few little things that need done (finishing a cabinet I'm making). What do you think?

 

[woodywoodpecker]

Honestly, if you don't use it very much, I'd just rent or borrow one. If you have a friend who has one ask he or she will let you use it. You could take your pieces to them and try it out. Find out if you like it. Count up the times in a six month time span when you have need of one. If you find you don't use it enough to spend the money on one-don't, unless of course you want to give it to me as a present.

 

[heretoday]

If a friend has a cha-cha set up they might not only let you use their saw in their shop, if they're like my friends they'll want to join in and show you any tricks they've learned with it. Sometimes my friends have projects that work best with two people and that's when I can sneak in my own little projects

 

[Taggart]

Sorry, I'm not sure about what brands are good. My dad used to have an old table saw, but when I was doing most of my projects in our first house, I used an attachment to use a circular saw with a Workmate table, and in my experience that worked for my limited amount of cuts.

My impression is that if you're going to be renting for a week or more, then it may be worth buying tools.

 

[Woodyoumind?]

Sounds good Taggert. Thanks. I may rent this one time and then see how many times I have to have one. I don't think I'll have a lot of use for it and I can't see outlaying money for a big table saw when there's so much more I'd like to have.

 

[Taggart]

The last "major" cuts I made where I could have used a table saw were done on one of those old Workmates with a circular saw and a saw guide for the Workmate.

It takes a little more setting up but if you're careful it works in a pinch.

 

[oldnamvet]

If you have the money and will use it a lot, either Jet or Delta table saws are good. They are going to set you back about $700 to $1500 depending on the model (contractor vs. cabinet saw) so be sure you really need/want it. For just a few simple projects (i.e. straight 90 degree cuts), a good circular saw with a straightedge guide and sawhorses will do the trick.