"Old Nick" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 20 Aug 2004 23:14:44 GMT, "Larry"
vaguely proposed a theory
......and in reply I say!:
remove ns from my header address to reply via email
Flame suit on.
I wonder if you should _get_ a table saw. DAMHIKT.
If you are "just plunging in" it's the one of last tools to buy, up
there with planers, thicknessers etc, unless you have a lot of moolah
and want a big piece of iron to show off.
Its price displaces a lot of other stuff that you will need.
If you are building outdoor stuff you are going to to be using long
lumber, right? Unless you plan to do all you own ripping and such, a
table saw is not really suited to really long heavy pieces (and even
then you are going to need significant infeed and outfeed setups,
which take time and/or money to set up), and is much more accurate
than you need for pergolas etc. Also, table saws require quite a bit
of skill to get a piece of wood that is not perfectly straight and
flat to the level of quality that you expect from a table saw. Either
you have to be sneaky, or get a planer, jointer etc to prepeare the
wood.
I would be looking at a good saw guide and a hand power saw, or maybe
a chop saw (sliding compound mitre).
I have a table saw. I am at most a casual woodworker, but have
actually done more in the past than I do now. I decided that I would
get back into WW and that I needed a table saw. I bought one without
learning about them and their limits and requirements first. It does
_not_ do the work for you. To be really effective, you need to add
quite a bit to it. Handling big wood up to it is not easy.
In fact I was so ****ed off it probably slowed _down_ my WW level.
I do not think I am alone, although I have been bagged for saying what
I say here, several times. There are many posts here about how to keep
rust off table saw tops. Someone once quipped, all too truthfully,
that frequent application of wood was the best way.
I also have a philosophical outlook that too many people who buy these
tools have the wrong attitude to the purchase. It's all about speed
for them. This rarely works, until you get experience or skill. IT
leads to frustration and disappointment. Many of these people will get
frustrated and disappointed anyway, but withot the table saw they do
it a lot cheaper.
Sort of agree. My first big purchase was a TS, cause I always wanted one.
Then I went to trim my entertainment room in the basement and quickly
learned how useless it was for cutting trim. The trim was far too long to
make accurate cuts. So I had to buy a miter saw (not compound). Then there
is always the need to work outside or cut large pieces of wood (tiny shop),
so along came the circular saw, orange neon POS that it is. Also needed to
cut some curved pieces, so along came the jigsaw, at least it's a Bosch.
Coolest toy (least needed) had to be the brad nailer though.
But I still love my big honkin TS, especially with a Dado blade. Built in
router table is sorta useful/PITA.
I am about to plunge into the woodworking hobby and I am looking to
buy
my first table saw. I am not going to use it to build furniture or
cabinets.
I am mostly going to use it to build outdoor pergolas, trellises, and
kids
play stuff. At least initially. I have done some reading on the subject
recently. Initially I was partial to Craftsman, but after reading all the
bad reviews and reports I have ruled that out. Especially since they are
not
really significantly cheaper than Jet and Delta. I toured my local wood
working store and they had a few models to choose from. The two I was
most
interested in were a Shop Fox W1703 http://www.shopfox.biz/w1703.cfm and
a
Jet 708301K
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...1093042244/br=
1-1/ref=br_lf_hi_1//002-8383409-1042429?v=glance&s=hi&n=228366.
They were both $699.00 in the store. They did not have any comparable
Delta
model on the show room. The Shop Fox looks a bit nicer, and has a better
fence for certain. Seemed to be a little better value for the money
without
the name. That was the one the store guy was suggesting.
What I want to know is whether its OK to deviate from the Jet and Delta
name
on this one? Is Shop Fox established enough yet? I ususally prefer to go
with the top seller for reasons of part availability, repair help etc..
And
secondly, is it worthwhile to pay the extra $100 to get cast iron wings
instead of stamped steel? Thirdly, are there any good online places to
get
such equipment? I found a few on my own, but wondering if you pros out
there
have better sources. Thanks.
Larry
************************************************** ***
Marriage. Where two people decide to get together so
that neither of them can do what they want to because
of the other one.