Woodworking questions for thos in the know

Deadpool66

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If you know someone with a table saw, that is what I would use.

Either the cutting device or the piece to be cut has to be able to be set at the angle needed.

A table saw easily lets one set the saw angle and move the work through.

I can't tell much from the pic of the router table. It doesn't appear that it will let the angle of the router be set but I can't be sure. If you can find a router bit with the angle you need then that table would work, I think.
 
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If you have no access to a table saw, depending on the angle you may be able to use a hand held circular saw. You can usually adjust the guide to cut at an angle but it's pretty limited and you have to be careful that you make a straight cut at the same angle all the way down. If I were gonna do this I would also set up a guide for the saw to follow to help keep your cut straight.
 
Well Ill just buy a table saw if this is the case I plan on building a few other things any suggestion for about 150-200?
 
I would look for a used table saw if you only want to spend 150-200. I would look for largest table and fence you can get. I would also make sure that you get a good saw blade.
 

The reason I would not go harbor freight is a couple of things. 1. Usually a saw for that price is not made very well. 2 You will need to get a stand for the saw and that would cost 50-100. 3. With that size table it becomes very difficult to cut larger items. Good price though. Last thing, just think about what you might or wish to use it for, small project or big, how long do you want to keep it?
 
Mostly I want it to make control panels, shelves, cuttiing moldin ect. I already have a porter cable router which is very neat only used twice so far. I guess I just want somthing that will do the job at hand and last a few years till I can afford a dewalt or the like. The only thing holdig me back is Im not sure what tables offer the most bang for your buck.

I would also like t have the panel ready to go for some nba jame this weekend.
 
Last Christmas I bought myself a budget Craftsman table saw from Sears. It's not huge, but works for everything I need it for. I love it. It was right around $150 brand spankin new! :cool:

But yeah, the answer you're looking for is table saw.

You'll wonder how you ever got by without it once you have one. Seriously.
 

You should choose your table saw based on the application you are going to be using it for. The harbour freight saw would work for you, if you're a hobby guy using it on weekends.

It bevels left and right, 2.4hp .. not too shabby. Investing in a good quality blade down the road would be wise. The website doesn't indicate it comes with a blade. I would recommend something in the 60 tooth range for particle board.

Personally I've found working in a store that sells import power tools, some just need minor adjustments and they are very good saws for diyers. Some have an adjustable trunion assembly. Also with the small fence, you have to measure between the blade and fence, at both the front and back of the blade to ensure square cutting.

Another tip for precise and accurate bevel cuts would be to buy a digital angel gauge. Level your table saw, and use the angel gauge to determine how accurate the bevel indicator dial on the front of the saw is.
 
It is hard to tell from those pics but it looks like a job for a router.
The edge looks more rounded than just an angle cut you would get with a table saw.
If the edge is rounded,you might be able to get a router bit close to the shape of the panel and then maybe sand it to the shape desired after.
If is just an angle cut then either a skill saw or table saw would work.
 
Buy a plastic angle finder tool.. You can check the angle of your panel, then stick it on the tablesaw and dial in your pitch. I've been doing that up till now, but i bought a craftsman digital table saw, and just punch my angle into the keypad and it moves to the desired angle for me! Got it barely used for 300.00
 
The reason I would not go harbor freight is a couple of things. 1. Usually a saw for that price is not made very well. 2 You will need to get a stand for the saw and that would cost 50-100. 3. With that size table it becomes very difficult to cut larger items. Good price though. Last thing, just think about what you might or wish to use it for, small project or big, how long do you want to keep it?

I was just about to respond to the above threads, but CalifTom took all the words right out of my mouth. Don't sell yourself short and get a cheap unit. The cheap units are very poorly made for sure and honestly seem quite dangerous to me.
 
Don't go too cheap. The rip fences on the cheap ones will not stay set and the last thing you need is to have that board come flying back at you.

The only other piece of advice I have to take the blade that comes with it and use it for a giant ninja shuriken, then go buy a minimum 40 tooth and probably 60 tooth carbide tipped blade. They will cut better, stay sharper and will outlast any just plain steel blade 20 to 1. I've had a small table saw for 25 years and the blade is still going strong.

ken
 
2.4hp .. not too shabby.

No way that's 2.4HP. Maybe it's a peak number or something, but not realistic. According to NEC table 430.148 "Full-Load Currents in Amperes, Single-Phase Alternating-Current Motors", a 2.4 HP 115V motor would draw ~28A. The 15A that it says it draws correlates with ~7/8 HP.


I'd skip the harbor freight model. You buy/use a table saw to make accurate cuts. A cheap table saw doesn't do that. You'd be better off with a sawboard until you can afford a nice table saw. I'd look for a 'contractor' level saw. These are usually in the $500 range. I think that these are the best bang for your buck.

I bought a Jet contractor saw used for $275 a while back (before the recession).

Rick
 
Well Ill just buy a table saw if this is the case I plan on building a few other things any suggestion for about 150-200?
Obligatory "if only you were closer" post. I have a very nice *large* table saw that I'd be willing to part with. This was my dad's cabinet making saw for 25 years. I don't really have the space to keep it. :(

I agree with most of what's been said already. Get a table saw. And get a good one. I would recommend a Ryobi BT3100 as a great starter saw. My step dad had either that or the BT3000 and I really liked it. Especially the sliding miter table. So nice.

The table saw is the foundation for any woodworking shop. I'm pretty sure you could build most arcade cabs from scratch using just a table saw and a router (and some clamps/jigs) to cut the pieces. It's certainly the right tool for your control panel.
 
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