Do I really need a table saw?

[LocalOak]

I seem to have convinced myself that, despite my desire to have a new shiny piece of kit, that I don't need a table saw for the moment. But am I missing something?

I am slowly redoing our house which involves quite a lot of building shelving units, a cabinet for the TV, perhaps the odd L&B door and a bit of general fitting of skirtings and so on.

I work in mdf, softwood for carcasses and some hardwoods, mainly oak. I am not, and never will be, a pro, but I do take on some pretty ambitious projects. I have just built a kitchen and utility room out of old beech and iroko school chemistry lab benches.

I'm pretty good with a circular saw and guide, and having just come across sawboards will make and use those as well. Space in my workshop is tight and I have to do most of my sheet cutting down outside so I suspect any table saw will need to be portable, or at least luggable.

I want to move on to furniture, boxes and more hobbyish things when this work is finished (probably a couple of years at least). A table saw would be a big investment (I would buy a decent one, been drooling over the Bosch GT10) but even though I would like one I am really not sure I need one.

So, would a table saw really be a big advantage over sawboards, careful marking out, my (muscle powered) mitre saw and a bit of thinking before cutting?

I don't want to be persuaded necessarily, I am just not sure whether I have really grasped what a table saw could do for me?

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Toby

 

[RogerS]

I think you've already answered your own question! If you have found a good way of working then why go the extra expense? I recently finished renovating an old cottage and bought some site tools to be used there. The table saw was the least used item and i found myself using the circular saw and guide time and time again partly because usually I was looking to make non-parallel cuts.

if you wanted to buy a new toy then why not think about a bandsaw?

Whereabouts in Herefordshire are you?

 

[wizer]

The short answer is no, you don't need a tablesaw. However it will make dimensioning board materials easier and more precise. But then swinging back the other way you need a bit of space for a TS to work properly for you and you if you go for a cheap model you'll be wasting your time and money. The Bosch GTS10 has had a few bad reviews on here recently. A couple of people have spoke about blown motors just outside the warranty period.

Just a couple of things for you to think about.

 

[wizer]

if you wanted to buy a new toy then why not think about a bandsaw?

Or upgrade to a Festool system?

 

[MikeG.]

Roger has it spot-on.

Table saws eat space. It isn't just the footprint of the machine, it is the area you need around them in which to work, and to my mind, the space you lose is far more important than the ability to rip exact parallels.

If my workshop and wallet were twice the size they are in reality, I might consider a table saw, but all my needs are met by a bandsaw.

The bandsaw occupies a small footprint, and can be hard up against a wall. It is extremely versatile, and surprisingly powerful. Allied with a planer thicknesser you won't ever feel you are missing out on something by not having a tablesaw.

Mike

 

[LocalOak]

Thanks RogerS, I suspect you're right but I was just wondering whether I had missed something obvious.

I have never thought of a bandsaw as I don't really know what they do compared with other tools. Anyone care to enlighten me??

And I live in the Golden Valley, the nearest big woodworking landmark is the Pontrilas sawmill if you know it.

Toby

 

[LocalOak]

Thanks for all of your replies, I'm now starting to look at bandsaws (sigh etc. etc.). My problem is still one of space though, and I'm not sure I can fit a reasonable sized one into the workshop. I have had a look at the little Record BS250, but do wonder whether I could do with something larger.

Decisions, decisions.

Toby

 

[wizer]

hang on. a bandsaw is nice to have, but what do you need it for? In fact what do you need.

What are the next few projects on your list?

 

[LocalOak]

Wizer

just had five minutes away doing other things and you're right, I don't actually need anything more than I have at the moment. My next few projects are largely mdf based units of various sizes and general diy.

But a man has to have a dream doesn't he...

Off to make a cup of tea and a full width saw board.

 

[RogerS]

hang on. a bandsaw is nice to have, but what do you need it for? In fact what do you need.

What are the next few projects on your list?

Look! The man wants to buy a new toy!!!!! Give him a break :wink:

 

[RobertMP]

Seems the longer I've had my bandsaw the more things I find to do on it. I didn't think I'd use it that much when I got it - now I wouldn't like to be without it. I don't own a table saw.

 

[stuartpaul]

Seems the longer I've had my bandsaw the more things I find to do on it. I didn't think I'd use it that much when I got it - now I wouldn't like to be without it. I don't own a table saw.

I've quite surprised myself by agreeing with you (apart from the fact that I've got a TS as well ) and despite having been looking at a new, upgraded, more powerful TS I now find myself tracking down a new bandsaw because I can do so much more with it.

With a P&T by it's side you can do almost anything and certainly more than with a TS.

 

[wizer]

When the Supersaw went, I found myself using the bandsaw quite a lot. I've got the TS200 now and I'd say the work gets evenly shared. I'd certainly now be without the bandsaw now but could probably live without the TS.

 

[Steve Maskery]

I love my TS and turn to it first. But I've spent the last few months making 2 films of my bandsaw, and have got to know it more intimately than I ever thought possible. Whereas in the past I would always have chosen the TS over the BS, now that I'm and "expert" in using it, the match is much more even.

It does, of course, depend on what sort of work you do. If you work mainly in MDF then a BS is not going to be quite as useful as a TS. But I have a tight workshop, so almost all my MDF work is done outside (like you) using a circular saw and guide track (like you).

If, on the other hand, your main work is going to be chairs with curved legs and smallish section timbers, then a BS would be far better.

I'm just glad I don't have to choose between the two.

Cheers
Steve

 

[crazylilting]

I simply wouldn't consider woodworking without a table saw but then woodworking is my living. When you have 20 sheets of plywood to cut through a straight edge and a circular saw wouldn't do. About 1/3 of my shop is devoted to the table saw station that is incorporated with my workbench to utilize the space better.

My shop is 20 x 34 and it is still to small in my opinion but i wouldn't be without my table saw. They don't have to be expensive. My first one was a wadkin £210 on ebay, recently sold it for £400 and now have a startrite with a scoring blade also bought on ebay for £450 which is miles better then the wadkin i had. The sliding table is more robust, i can put a 12 inch blade on, it has a 54 inch delta unifence which is fantastic. It cuts like butter through 4 inch sapilee and accepts a dato blade.

I also have a very big bandsaw, but i don't use it nearly as much as i do the table saw. There is only so much curved things to build, people don't like to spend the extra money. And how much resawing does one need to do?

Hard to say though, if your a hobbyist it might be the exact opposite to me.

 

[matt]

I think, if you had the space to use it (without having to lug it outside), then a tablesaw will get a lot of use. However, as soon as you cram it in a garage, for example, the space limitations limit its usefulness.

I have both a tablesaw and a bandsaw. I use the bandsaw for most things - I find it a lot less stressful to use than the tablesaw and a lot more convenient. The bandsaw is a lot more forgiving! With the bandsaw I often have to plane the sawn edge but I still use if over the tablesaw. It's is also much more useful/safe for small pieces.

That said... I could not bring myself to part with my tablesaw. I'm going to make some changes to the workshop layout to give myself more working space around it. It's a singe garage to I'll always be limited - but I can do better than now.

So... "need" a tablesaw? Probably not.

 

[LocalOak]

Thanks for all your thoughts, very helpful (I think:? )

I'm going to stick with circular saw and guides outside for the mdf. I will keep a vague eye on a bandsaw but space in my workshop is tight so I may not be able to fit one in. And for the moment I won't be buying a table saw.

Though the Festool guide kit does start to look a little tempting...

 

[Chippyjoe]

Well if you think you are going to struggle getting a bandsaw into your workshop,then a table-saw is not going to fit so you have answered your own question. :?

Mark.

 

[Chems]

Dont listen to them, I have a Table Saw, its brilliant, its only cheapy but I love it. Thing that puts me off Bandsaws is that the blade can get dull an not cut straight or wander an there are tensioning issues. My table saw cuts 90 or 45 when I set it to everytime. Perfect world you'd have both. But don't write off the table saw, guide rail isn't a real subsitute. Does big boards better but not small things.

 

[crazylilting]

I bought the festool saw and guide, and i'm not that impressed for the money. It's alright for mdf and plywood but cutting solid wood doors etc, it struggles. Makita and dewalt also make a plunge saw with a guide and heard from another woodworker that the dewalt one was pretty good.

The other table saw i own is a portable one. The bosh. This is a very powerful saw three horsepower i believe. It was about £600 but can be stored in a small space and has a folding stand. I use it for on site work in combination with a sheet of plywood and saw horses. It was good when i didn't have the room for a full size one.

I don't find festool value for money. and probably wouldn't buy any more festool products unless they come down in price.