I'm starting to get a decent collection of tools! Advice for projects?

**Kenyth** · 01-30-2009, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by CoventryCat86

Here's my table saw:

Powermatic 1792010K. 5hp, 10" with the 50" Accu-Fence system.

As far as a miter saw, I would highly recommend you spend the extra money on a SLIDING COMPOUND miter saw. You can do so much more with those than a cheapie chop saw. Here's mine:

I'd suggest this one, it's a little nicer and newer. It's 12" whereas mine is only 10"

Oh, another fantastic tool is an ORBITAL "sawzall" (reciprocating saw). I have an older Milwaukee regular Sawzall and I borrowed a friend's Porter Cable orbital reciprocating saw and WOW, what a difference! Here's the one you need. model 6536-21:

I'm a huge fan of Milwaukee brand power tools, it's pretty much the only brand I buy. My 3/8" drill, my 1/2" D-handle drill, my palm sander, rotary hammer drill, Sawzall are all Milwaukee brand tools. I will admit though that I have a Porter Cable power planer (door hanging kit), a Porter Cable 3/8" right angle drill, a Freud biscuit jointer, a Skil worm drive circular saw (model 77 I think?) and a Ryobi palm sander (which is a piece of $hit) and a couple of Craftsman sanders (which also suck). My cheapie router is a Porter Cable, it's "okay" it does the job.

My experience at this point amounts to a simple workbench and reading material, so excuse my ignorance in advance.

I must say, that is a sweet table saw! That baby probably cost's more by itself than my entire collection of cheapie tools! With a nice table saw like that, I assume you make furniture as well as utility woodwork?

As far as the sliding compound saw goes, I'm not sure what it could do. Couldn't you do anything it does with a table saw like that and a few jigs or sleds? I've only seen people use a miter saw to chop 2x4 or 4x4 stock. I'm guessing a 10 inch saw could chop up to 2x8 inch stock? Maybe the slide saw is easier to work with than a table saw for smaller stock? As much as I'd like a nice saw, I'm probably going to get a cheap ten inch miter. They are on sale for $69, so I don't mind if it doesn't last longer than this years projects. It will handle the 2x4 and 4x4 stock I'll be using, and I can always upgrade later if I get serious and garage sale the cheapie.

I've seen the orbital sawzall on DIY. Definitely a more aggressive tool! I believe they gauged it to cut approximately twice as fast.

**CoventryCat86** · 01-31-2009, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by Kenyth

My experience at this point amounts to a simple workbench and reading material, so excuse my ignorance in advance.

I must say, that is a sweet table saw! That baby probably cost's more by itself than my entire collection of cheapie tools! With a nice table saw like that, I assume you make furniture as well as utility woodwork?

As far as the sliding compound saw goes, I'm not sure what it could do. Couldn't you do anything it does with a table saw like that and a few jigs or sleds? I've only seen people use a miter saw to chop 2x4 or 4x4 stock. I'm guessing a 10 inch saw could chop up to 2x8 inch stock? Maybe the slide saw is easier to work with than a table saw for smaller stock? As much as I'd like a nice saw, I'm probably going to get a cheap ten inch miter. They are on sale for $69, so I don't mind if it doesn't last longer than this years projects. It will handle the 2x4 and 4x4 stock I'll be using, and I can always upgrade later if I get serious and garage sale the cheapie.

I've seen the orbital sawzall on DIY. Definitely a more aggressive tool! I believe they gauged it to cut approximately twice as fast.

Actually Kenyth, an inexpensive chop saw will probably be fine. I have one and I do admit, it still does get quite a bit of use. My brother borrowed the compound miter saw and I haven't seen it since, LOL!

He used it to do his deck and some finish trim work.

Yeah, the table saw gets used for darn near everything. I suppose it's a little over the top but I tell ya, a table saw is the heart of any woodworking shop. It's the first thing you need to get. We had an old Rockwell for years, it was way underpowered and was basically a piece of junk. Now I suppose you don't have to go crazy and get a Powermatic but don't go with the cheap Taiwan crap for a table saw. The Taiwan power tools definitely have their place in any shop and I have a few myself. For instance, I have a 3hp Taiwan shaper, a Taiwan drill press, and a Taiwan band saw. A shaper is just a motor on a stand so in my opinion, there's no need to spend the $$$ on a big name shaper. For what little I use a band saw, the Taiwan band saw fits my needs. A drill press is basically nothing but a motor as well and my Taiwan drill press works just fine.

**CoventryCat86** · 01-31-2009, 10:16 AM

Here's a picture of my shaper:

I made this built in chest of drawers and cabinet doors with it:

Here's another nice tool, a 12" planer/molder:

This is a 5hp model. I find it much more cost effective to buy my hardwood green from the mill and let it air dry and plane it with this. I also have shaper heads and have made my own "colonial" molding instead of spending a fortune on it at the hardware store.

Many people buy those portable 12" planers but I would suggest not wasting your money on those.

Here's my Craftsman 6" jointer:

It does the job (sort of...

) but it's tough to set and the fence is a piece of junk. This is where you have to spend the extra $$$ on a name brand (like a Delta) rather than trying to go cheap with Sears (like I did....).