Mark Kosmowski
Member
- Messages
- 1,456
- Location
- Central (upstate) NY
A thread in the classified ad section got me wondering.
I'm interested in how those of us who don't have a tablesaw get by without "the central tool".
Not having a tablesaw myself, I'll start the discussion. The cutting tools I have on hand are a bandsaw (with a Kreg fence), radial arm saw and a router table for the stationary tools - I also have a couple circular saws, a jigsaw and a reciprocating saw for hand held power tools as well as a couple Marples pull saws and a couple other handsaws that I never use (I do use the pullsaws - in fact I just flush trimmed some stuff with them today).
I've been using the bandsaw a lot lately, mostly because until very recently my radial arm saw (RAS, a nice solid Delta 12" - my first stationary tool and my pride and joy) has not had a visible tabletop due to clutter. This issue has slowly been rectified and I plan on ripping with either the bandsaw or RAS and crosscutting with the RAS (as well as miter and bevel cuts and dado operations). I have an idea for a rip sled for the RAS - if this comes to fruition and is useful, I'll share the results in jigs and fixtures sometime.
To declutter the shop, I've built a few organization aids (shelfs, tool holders, etc) from some plywood scraps. The RAS was still cluttered at this point, so I used the bandsaw for the majority of this work. The things that I did not like was that the bandsaw has a puny, minuscule table surface which led to not perfectly straight cuts. Both the RAS and bandsaw have significant limitations when it comes to sheet goods. My plan to deal with this is to someday invest in a guide system for a circular saw, likely an EZ Smart. Another thing that I might do is to consider adding infeed and outfeed table space for the bandsaw - although I will need to remember that the bandsaw is tippy, and thus increase the overall footprint of the machine by adding table to ground supports.
The other thing that I want to do to compensate for the bandsaw yielding irregular edges on sheet goods is to invest in a nice flush-trim router bit, both the kind with the bearing above and below the bit. I could then use the bandsaw to cut slightly proud of my desired size and use the router to do final trimming.
I mentioned the router table as a cutting tool because I started woodworking with the RAS and router (with table). The RAS did not come with a table (purchased used) and the only other cutting tool I had at the time was a scrolling blade jigsaw that I was unable to align for straight cutting. I made my RAS table on the router table with a 1/4" straight bit. How's that for full kerf?![ROFL :rofl: :rofl:](/forums/images/smilies/rofl.gif)
Well, I feel like I'm getting wordy here - I hope this gives some ideas how to do things without a tablesaw. I'm hoping to get more ideas from others and would be happy to discuss why I decided not to have a tablesaw in my shop if there is interest.
As I'm making my way to switch over to a "euro shop" I've decided that I really don't need my table saw.
I'm interested in how those of us who don't have a tablesaw get by without "the central tool".
Not having a tablesaw myself, I'll start the discussion. The cutting tools I have on hand are a bandsaw (with a Kreg fence), radial arm saw and a router table for the stationary tools - I also have a couple circular saws, a jigsaw and a reciprocating saw for hand held power tools as well as a couple Marples pull saws and a couple other handsaws that I never use (I do use the pullsaws - in fact I just flush trimmed some stuff with them today).
I've been using the bandsaw a lot lately, mostly because until very recently my radial arm saw (RAS, a nice solid Delta 12" - my first stationary tool and my pride and joy) has not had a visible tabletop due to clutter. This issue has slowly been rectified and I plan on ripping with either the bandsaw or RAS and crosscutting with the RAS (as well as miter and bevel cuts and dado operations). I have an idea for a rip sled for the RAS - if this comes to fruition and is useful, I'll share the results in jigs and fixtures sometime.
To declutter the shop, I've built a few organization aids (shelfs, tool holders, etc) from some plywood scraps. The RAS was still cluttered at this point, so I used the bandsaw for the majority of this work. The things that I did not like was that the bandsaw has a puny, minuscule table surface which led to not perfectly straight cuts. Both the RAS and bandsaw have significant limitations when it comes to sheet goods. My plan to deal with this is to someday invest in a guide system for a circular saw, likely an EZ Smart. Another thing that I might do is to consider adding infeed and outfeed table space for the bandsaw - although I will need to remember that the bandsaw is tippy, and thus increase the overall footprint of the machine by adding table to ground supports.
The other thing that I want to do to compensate for the bandsaw yielding irregular edges on sheet goods is to invest in a nice flush-trim router bit, both the kind with the bearing above and below the bit. I could then use the bandsaw to cut slightly proud of my desired size and use the router to do final trimming.
I mentioned the router table as a cutting tool because I started woodworking with the RAS and router (with table). The RAS did not come with a table (purchased used) and the only other cutting tool I had at the time was a scrolling blade jigsaw that I was unable to align for straight cutting. I made my RAS table on the router table with a 1/4" straight bit. How's that for full kerf?
![ROFL :rofl: :rofl:](/forums/images/smilies/rofl.gif)
Well, I feel like I'm getting wordy here - I hope this gives some ideas how to do things without a tablesaw. I'm hoping to get more ideas from others and would be happy to discuss why I decided not to have a tablesaw in my shop if there is interest.