Fair point. It will be used for multiple things. Mainly ripping timber and sheets. A handheld circular saw works for a lot of things, but sometimes only a table saw will do.
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julianf
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I've got a wadkin ags10 (not portable).
It's still not the best for ripping sheets.
If I were to buy again, I'd probably get one with the sliding table to the side, but then that's more space again.
A small (portable) saw will never be the best for ripping down sheets. A track saw would be a way easier tool than balancing an 8x4 on a portable saw.
It's still not the best for ripping sheets.
If I were to buy again, I'd probably get one with the sliding table to the side, but then that's more space again.
A small (portable) saw will never be the best for ripping down sheets. A track saw would be a way easier tool than balancing an 8x4 on a portable saw.
mtt.tr
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As I said above, I've had a portable table saw.
Do consider I was apprenticed in traditional cabinet making, I've make some lovely bits joinery items with it windows mostly.
It's also fantastic for kitchen fitting, Ive had to make some really awkward kitchen components onsite.
I think with enough effort and planning I could make some exceptional bits of furniture with it.
But I do also have a cast iron startrite
Sheet ripping I just use a tracksaw
Do consider I was apprenticed in traditional cabinet making, I've make some lovely bits joinery items with it windows mostly.
It's also fantastic for kitchen fitting, Ive had to make some really awkward kitchen components onsite.
I think with enough effort and planning I could make some exceptional bits of furniture with it.
But I do also have a cast iron startrite
Sheet ripping I just use a tracksaw
A table saw is unsuitable for processing firewood, unless you are thinking of cutting up waste pallets, etc and even then there are better options (I use a chainsaw and risk the nails).
Small cast iron table rip saws (I have a multico) give a excellent cut and could even be used for cabinet making except they have a fixed non tilting arbour. They can often be found quite cheap.
Big wadkins etc are... big and heavy.
My neighbour has a "portable" sawbench. Diesel powered. Towable. Probably a 24" blade or something like that.
Small cast iron table rip saws (I have a multico) give a excellent cut and could even be used for cabinet making except they have a fixed non tilting arbour. They can often be found quite cheap.
Big wadkins etc are... big and heavy.
My neighbour has a "portable" sawbench. Diesel powered. Towable. Probably a 24" blade or something like that.
Trevanion
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The Lumberjack saws get some praise, you can't really beat the price point and you can always fettle it to make it work better and not feel too bad if you have to make modifications. Even with the more expensive ones you'll find problems, the Dewalt ones are notorious for having dished tables for example.
One thing to note about portable saws, some will have brushed universal motors and some will have induction motors, universal motors sound like a jet engine taking off while induction motors generally quietly hum, you'll have the noise of the blade idling and cutting of course, but a universal motor is noticeably louder which can be a problem in regards to neighbours.
Not necessarily. While quite rare, the "Hammond Glider" or "Funditor SuperSaw" were incredibly precise saws with an integral sliding table in a footprint not dissimilar to a modern portable saw, just much less portable being made entirely from cast iron. There are also other old saws that are quite compact but very well-built with cast iron tables like the Multicos, Startrites, and some others like Tyzack and Sundial, there were a lot of saws aimed at very small workshop joiners in the middle of the 20th century because you really could make a living out of a 12' x 4' lean-to off the side of your house back then.
roblane65
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i have one of these a metabo TS254 for portabilty and site work it's been excellent for the money
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skotl
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Pretty hard to find a table saw that doesn't have an adjustable angle blade and a fence for repeatable cuts. I don't understand why you're being so cagey and drip-feeding the requirements (and being rude to people who have tried to help).
I was willing to offer an opinion, having had several table saws plus every other kind of saw known to man, but you're making it too hard so I'm off to read the easier threads.
What do you want it for? Tablesaws are good for cutting long things & crap at cutting short things. They are lethal at cutting round things as they will kick back violently.
Aged 7 i watched my Dad cutting a short piece of wood on his 8" startrite, Push stick & being careful but the back of the blade caught the short lump & shot it back & out smacking him right on the chin at 100mph, Damn near knocked him out!
Aged 7 i watched my Dad cutting a short piece of wood on his 8" startrite, Push stick & being careful but the back of the blade caught the short lump & shot it back & out smacking him right on the chin at 100mph, Damn near knocked him out!
Apologies if it comes across that way. I specifically asked about buying a table saw, and people are asking *what seems to me* silly questions; such as 'what do you mean by chopping wood'. Forgive my ignorance, but why else would I want a table saw? I really thought this would be a simple subject which didn't require minute detail.
The only requirements are that it does a good job of being a table saw, and that it's portable. It's going in my shed and has to battle for space with everything else. I'll be moving it out of the shed when I want to use it.
I'm not looking to build Noah's ark. It will be for occasional use where I need accuracy and repeatability across a range of sizes and shapes of wood. I may decide to build some furniture one day, but that's not currently within my skill level. At the moment I have some planks and battens which need to be cut to size at an angle and my circular saw isn't the right tool for the job. Hence I need a table saw.
skotl
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So you just want a table saw. Look at Evolution options for decent, flexible, portable do-it-all machines at a reasonable price.
skotl
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snap!
MetalMonkey
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I think this misunderstanding was because reading your post "chopping wood" implied you might be using it for cutting up firewood, for which it is wholly unsuitable.
Also the quality, capacity and size of the saws vary massively depending on if you want something very light and portable, all the way through to massive cast iron cabinet saws - with the price tags to match.
If you are just starting off, a cheap table saw is better than no table saw, but once you have used a decent one you can appreciate the differences - so knowing your expectations on the type of machine you want, for the type of work and your budget is all necessary before making any useful recommendation. I don’t think anybody was trying to be awkward, just trying to understand the requirements.
Hopefuldave
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I'm a fan of Radial Arm Saws, have an old DeWalt DW125, can rip, crosscut, mitre, bevel, dado, and take your arm off if you're clumsy or careless (Saw the Radius in the Arm), not the mosst portable but will go in the back of a medium-sized estate or a hatchback with the seats down, always a few on Ebay. Probably because they scare people.
Note that they DON'T use standard circular saw blades which have too much rake on the teeth!
Note that they DON'T use standard circular saw blades which have too much rake on the teeth!
frank horton
V twins are great but 4"s rule.........
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take a look at one of these....a FLIP SAW.....it sounds like u dont do much woodwork but always handy to have a miter saw as well..........
Dewalt DW 743n.......I regret selling mine........plenty available even for just 200 squids...cheaper still at 110v.....
built like a tank but manageable....there;s a wheel kit as well avail.....easy to flip.....even Makita make one....
better than all that machine mart bench top carp.....
Dewalt DW 743n.......I regret selling mine........plenty available even for just 200 squids...cheaper still at 110v.....
built like a tank but manageable....there;s a wheel kit as well avail.....easy to flip.....even Makita make one....
better than all that machine mart bench top carp.....
sako243
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Because people have different interpretations of what that might mean. For example to me chopping wood involves a chainsaw and then I use a 3ft diameter diesel powered saw bench for cutting it into logs for the fire. The bigger stuff gets chopped into smaller bits with an axe.
Case in point your definition of chopping wood is vastly different to mine.
