Good Choice of Table Saw for very casual home use ??

I am not a carpenter or even a handyman. The only kind of saw I have owned for 25 years is a skill saw. Even with very casual use, I am still not good at using a skill saw to cut a straight edge on a piece of plywood or a

2 x 4 !!

Perhaps several times a year, I will have a need to cut 2 x 4's , some trim pieces , and perhaps some plywood. Because I am not really skilled at using a skill saw, I have thought of getting a bare bones, but quality table saw. Again, I just need something that will allow me to cut boards and trim pieces and end up with a straight cut. It doesn't have to be very high powered, or have a lot of fancy adjustments. I guess just an adjustable fence (isn't that what they call it........ the piece you move left and right, and put your stock up against for cutting?) and I guess something that adjusts the depth of a cut. I don't think I would need any angle cutting, such as a miter saw is used for.

So, what is a recommended brand, and/or a particular saw not exceeding $150 ? Can I get a quality one for that price ??

I am thinking of looking at Sears and Home Depot, but wanted to get comments here first.

Thanks for any advice !!

James

Reply to
James
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I think your price range is low for a decent unit. A Ryobi *might* be passable as some of their other products are. For my occasional table saw needs I have a Bosch (branded) TS4000? contractors saw that has been very good. I recall it being closer to $400 though.

Reply to
Pete C.

Not sure of the price but have always ahd good luck with Craftsmen

Reply to
jim

Ditto on the Ryobi...I bought a 10" miter saw ($75) and a tablesaw with a stand ($99) at Homedepot...Can't beat it for occasional use...But I ain't into the , mine is bigger and better than yours crap....Just needed to gitter done on a budget...LOL...Also have a duffel bag full of Ryobi cordless tools ($150) that work good as well....

Reply to
benick

At that price you won't get much. Look for used. There are saws in the $250 range that will probably do what you want. Serious saws start at $800 and go to $3500 or so. Local shopping papers often have five or ten saws listed for sale. If you find one that has not been abused you may get a very good deal. Belt driven saws are quieter and smoother running that direct drive saws. The Ridgid saws at Home Depot are decent but more than your budget.

No matter what you end up with, take some time to learn how to use the saw, how to use a push stick, learn to use the fence and miter properly and never use them together or you can get kickback that is very serious.

The blade that come with the saw is OK for hacking a 2 x 4, but not so good for serious trim cutting or plywood. Good blades start at $50, very good blades are $100 and up.Freud is a good brand for the modest priced ones.

Reply to
Ed Pawlowski

what you need is a miter saw, not a table saw.

steve

Reply to
Steve Barker

I bought a Ryobi at HD for $99 to cut laminate flooring. I figured if it would streamline and simplify the job, it would be well worth it. It did.

Now, I put the saw to use quite frequently. Frankly, it's one of those things that, once you get it, you wonder how you ever lived without it. If I need a 2x2, I grab a 2x4 and rip it. If I need a 1x1, I grab a 2x4 and rip it twice. If I need a 1/2 x 1...

The saw comes with a stand, but you'll probably want to fashion a shelf. Also, Harbor Freight has a sawdust-catching canvas bag (I think it's $8) that you can attach to the underside with snaps for easy removal.

While you're at HF, get a stock support gizmo. It's an adjustable tripod with a roller top. The table on the Ryobi was not designed for cutting 4x8 sheets of plywood.

Reply to
HeyBub

Going through a similar mental exercise (Plus some hands-on experimenting, visiting my father's place where all needed tools are available), and came to the following conclusions:

  1. The low end table saws with the tiny tables are useless for ripping plywood and panels more than a couple feet on a side, unless you rig all sorts of tall sawhorses, and/or have a helper available. And unless you have a walkout basement, barn, or extra bay in the garage, they are pain in the ass to store and set up. Surprisingly easy to get them out of adjustment if they get moved around a lot.
  2. A cheap power miter saw beats the heck out of a table saw for trim miters and cutting 2x4s square for framing projects. (I can't freehand square cuts any more either.) And they are easy to move around, especially if you spring for a fold-up stand.
  3. For once-in-a-blue-moon panel ripping, several solid sawhorses, and 4 carefully placed 2x4s, plus a metal rip guide (a long straight piece of metal channel) and some clamps, will let you rip panels with a skilsaw about as well as a tiny table saw will. Just slide the saw up the rip guide, and the cut is straight. I wouldn't use something like that for production work, because it takes too long to set up each cut, but if you are only cutting a few boards a year, it works. Once you learn the right offset for your skilsaw/blade combination, setting the fence to the right offset on the raw material doesn't take long. One strong clamp at each end, and a stiff enough fence, and the cut is straight enough for anything short of fine cabinetry. Laying out the loose 2x4s properly under the work piece keeps the cut from binding up, or the wood from splintering at the end. (and keeps you from cutting into the sawhorses.)

Anyway, once weather warms up, and I get off my ass and actually start on my long-postponed projects here, that is the approach I plan to take. Already have the miter saw, and a half-ass skilsaw (which may need replacing, since bearings are a tad sloppy.) So all I need is some better sawhorses, and some2x4s and a piece of metal channel. I think I have enough clamps laying around....

-- aem sends...

Reply to
aemeijers

I second that if you can find a good used one that was the old Craftsman Who knows what is under that label now. I have a 40 year old Craftsman that just won't die. I have cut all sorts of stuff on it over the years. If you tune it up it will still do cabinet quality work.

I bet you can get one for under $100 used.

Reply to
gfretwell

I have a small table saw. The first thing I learned is that the supporting table is more important than the saw. You can take a cheap $150 table saw, and if you build supports around it, it will do a lot of things a good one will. When you run into trouble is trying to do big sheets of plywood, etc. I built a metal frame around mine that is 4' square and flat with the table saw top. It closely fits around the table top so that the saw cannot shift or tilt. It does most of all I have asked it to do. If you notice, with table saws, the bigger the table, the more the saw costs. Yes, the fences and other accessories are more accurate, and you get a better motor, but essentially the difference is table size. If you don't feed it more than it can chew, you won't kill it.

Steve

Reply to
SteveB

In the past two months, I saw a big Craftsman for $100, and a Rockwell for $50. Shop around, and you can get a good used one. Just test it and make sure you hear it run.

Steve

Reply to
SteveB

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Reply to
BobK207

For what you want (rip ply, cross cut 2x4)...

  1. Buy/make a couple of wood saw horses

  1. Buy a sheet of 1/2" or 3/4" and have the store rip you off a piece about

10" wide. Mark the factory edge,

  1. Buy a couple of clamps

  2. Buy a Speed Square (alternately, a chop saw)

Use the speed square or chop saw for cross cutting. For ply, lay the sheet you want to rip on the horses, clamp your 10" piece of ply on top, use the factory edge you marked as a fence for your hand saw. Set the saw's depth of cut so that it is only a bit more than the thickness of the ply so you don't mess up the top of the horses too badly.

You could improve the fence by having the 1/2" thick strip cut narrower - around 6", say - and gluing a piece of masonite to the bottom. The masonite should be wide enough so that you can run your saw along the fence and trim off a bit of masonite along the full length. You now have a rip guide that shows you exactly where you will be cutting and you don't have to include the saw's shoe width as an offset when you are measuring. You could also make a 4' rip guide for cross cutting sheets of ply. With either - if you want to be fancy - you could add a "T" at one end to help square the guide to what you are cutting.

Believe me, rip guides like these are easier to use than trying to manhandle full sheets of ply through a table saw. Especially through a small, inexpensive one.

Reply to
dadiOH

For $150 you can get a decent circular saw. You need $90 for a quality 10" tablesaw blade. High quality table saw brands include Powermatic (USA) and General (Canada). Avoid Made in China, save up more $.

Reply to
Phisherman

For 20 yrs I had a radial arm saw as my 'shop saw'. When it died I got a table saw. After missing the ease of making angle cuts for about 10 yrs I got a 12"chop saw last summer.

I'd say spend your money on a decent 12" miter saw- make sure it swings left and right and has some good solid locking. buy a foldable stand for it. The first time you cut 1/2" off a 4x4 with one clean swipe you'll have to sit down and smoke a cigarette.

Make a fence like a couple people have described here for ripping and cutting plywood.

Craigslist is worth watching- but after watching for several months I got a better deal right from Bosch on a reconditioned saw- 1 yr warranty.

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the saw I bought after shopping for months for the best bang for my buck was the 3912. I paid $317 for it--- now it is $229. Still a bit over your budget [and you'll want a stand for it at some point] but in the long run you'll be glad you splurged. Make the Mrs. a nice octagon shadowbox frame & she'll love the saw, too.

Jim

Reply to
Jim Elbrecht

Steve, I don't think one can cut plywood with a miter saw ~!

James

Reply to
James

James,

We have a Ryobi table saw with a built in folding stand that we purchased at HD about 5 years ago that we use for a jobsite saw. I would not call it a quality saw but it does the job. We paid about $200 for it. If you want quality look for a used contractor style table saw on craigslist. You can get them for $300 - $350 around here. It would probably last you the rest of your life. Make sure you buy a good blade $50 - $100.

Reply to
cm

Very, very good comments and responses here. I will look at the Ryobi and Craftsmen, and will also look at Craig's List.

Thanks a lot to all !! Very good comments ~ !!!

James

Reply to
James

First your price limit is low, so it will be hard to find one that is quality at that price. In fact, hard to find anything at that price.

Consider good used! With today's economy used tools are going for pennys on the dollar, so a reasonable saw can easily be gotten for $150.

Also consider seriously a radial arm saw instead of a table saw. Much more versitle and will do (with some practice) everythign that a table saw will do, and much, much more. Even a better Sears Crapsman radial arm saw can be gotten used for virtually nothing. Try Craig's list and eBay. If eBay, only bid on local items so you can inspect it first, and pick it up to avoid shipping. These can be big and heavy so shipping can be a PITA...

I ship 100 to 150 lb packages motor freight all the time, and for a run from Virginia to NH (about 600 miles) we pay about $100 for the shipment. UPS Freight and FedEx freight, if you have an account, can be cheaper, we ship 200+ lb shipments from TX to NH monthly for about $150 using UPS Freight.

Reply to
PeterD

Ryobi and Craftsman are not "good choices" but may be okay for your use. Don't expect to get into precison work without a lot of fuss. The fence is a very critical and important part of a table saw. You will want a circular saw to cut 4x8 ply sheets, not a small table saw.

Reply to
Phisherman

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