Table saw or router table?

[dnoyeB]

Table saw. I bought mine before I knew really much at all. Now when I buy other tools, I try to justify using them instead of the tablesaw...Table saw is a real workhorse.

[Frank Drackman]

I have a shaper and agree that it is a great tool for spinning shaper cutters but don't think that it is even a good tool for spinning router bits. The maximum speed of most shapers is way too slow for most router bits. I have a no frills router table for router bits and use the shaper for the bigger jobs.

[Mark Wells]

Bandsaw.

Mark

[Phisherman]

These are very different tools. If you have the money, buy a (quality) table saw.

[No]

Thats a pretty ambitions project for your first. If you buy all your materials pre-planed and jointed; buy stock, pre-made, mouldings and can find premade turned posts then I suspect your best first tool will be a compound mitre saw. Then Table saw, router w/table, jointer, planer, shaper and hundres of other cool things. bwo ha ha ha.

[Dave Balderstone]

Your first tool should be your library card. Do a whole lot of research on what's *really* involved in building furniture.

[Locutus]

Sorry I wasn't clear, I actually own quite a few tools... just not the kind that would be used for making furniture. My weekend job is rehabing houses so I have quite a bit of experience with rough and finish woodworking (from framing to moldings). I already own several compound mitre saws, jig saws, circular saws, multiple drills and rotary tools, etc...

[Locutus]

I do plan on purchasing the wood preplaned and using pre-made moldings. For the posts I was considering using porch posts... I already own a compound mitre saw and many other tools. I meant to ask "which would you buy first out of those two tools", I did not mean to imply that it would be my first tool.

[Mark Wells]

Well, you can make a router table for almost nothing, so all that leaves is buying a router if you don't already own one. That is dramatically less expensive than a table saw.

I work just fine without a table saw. I use a bandsaw instead. At first I did that because that is all I had room for. Now I'm sure I'd get a table saw, even if I had room. It is safer, quieter, and very versatile. One caveat: Bandsaw is not good for handling a lot of plywood.

Mark

[Steve DeMars]

Why not use medieval tools to increase authenticity . . .

[Tom Cavanagh]