Table Saw vs Miter Saw

[dbhost]

Honestly, I would try to find space for both. I use my table saw WAY more than the miter saw, but that doesn't mean the miter saw is in any way a shop slacker...

Cutting sheet goods or other stock over 4x4 in size, circular saw and an edge guide. Trying to move material that large over the blade scares me, I would MUCH rather run the blade through the material...

Cutting sheet goods or other stock smaller than 4'x4' either ripping, or crosscutting, table saw.

Compound miters where you have angles in 2 planes. Miter saw.

Cross cutting long stock less than 12" deep, miter saw (my miter saw is a slider...).

Cutting curves in thick stock, and resawing stock. Band saw

Cutting curves in thin stock / sheet stock, scroll saw.

So you see, it's all about matching the tool to the job at hand...

[LCHIEN]

I'm going to add to my response earlier.
1. panels saws are great for their limited purpose but they're too expensive and large for most people to have standing around. All the lumber yards typically have one, let them make the first or second cut and from there your table saw can handle it easily.

2. A table saw should probably be the first saw (unless you are just making picture frames) for the versatility. Even longer boards can be cut down with less accuracy then if they are all under 4-5 ft. in length they can be cleanly crosscut on the table saw.

3. a Compound miter saw is nice for making a lot of crosscuts; i prefer it to do that on the CMS rather than the table saw. A limit to the CMS is a 10" will only do 5.5-6" wide crosscuts at 90 degrees, about 4" at 45 degrees. 10" is the most popular size but I find it limiting, I wish sometimes I had a SCMS or a 12" CMS.

[phrog]

+1 on Loring's posts.

[Officeronin]

I concur with all of those who argue that the TS has the versatility.

In your post, you mentioned that the reason you were not getting both was cost. I would urge you not to purchase EITHER a TS or a CMS until you can get a decent one. What qualifies as "decent" is a matter of opinion, but at least make sure you have a high degree of confidence in your tool -- if you are planning to do miter cuts on a TS, make sure the miter is tight enough to give you confidence, the fence is solid when locked, etc.

If you do opt to purchase a CMS, I really like my Makita 10' Slider. I found that a 10" slider nearly the same or better capability (in terms of what I can cut) as a 12" CMS, but the blades were half the cost.

[andyzee]

WOW, gotta love this site, thanks for all the great replies. Looks like table saw it is. I imagine as a start most of my projects will be cabinet making. I figured if I don't buy a miter now, I can invest more in the table saw and then buy miter later. Once again, thanks!

[mpc]

Having a BT3000 table saw, a Craftsman radial arm saw (10 inch blade), and a 10 inch CMS... I find the table saw gets used the most. The others get used mostly if I need to make 1 or 2 crosscuts on long materials OR if I have the fence & blade in the table saw set for some particular cut (e.g. dado stack and/or my box joint blade set)... and I need to make one quickie crosscut first. Then I dig out one of the other two saws so I don't mess up the table saw settings.

For crosscuts on the table saw, as others noted the big problem is when the board is rather long... it isn't supported very well on table saws nor by the typical miter guide. A crosscut sled though helps a TON. A CMS without a stand - and without extra supports for long boards - can also be hard to use on long boards. So it isn't just the tool that matters, it's what accessories and extra supports you have available. Ridgid's "Flip Top" stands are really handy (think adjustable height saw horses, infeed/outfeed support, etc). The MSUV (Miter Saw Utility Vehicle) stand is handy for a CMS as well - it makes it easily portable and provides extra width workpiece support.

For sheet goods, I use a hand held circular saw with a sawboard to get the panels down to a workable size. Then the table saw for most other cuts. I've made infeed and outfeed supports that utilize the BT3 rail system so I can easily handle full 4x8 sheets on the table saw if/when necessary. For miters, crown molding, and base molding type of cuts either the CMS or table saw work fine... and I'm sure the radial arm would work well too though I reach for the CMS before the radial arm for these type of cuts. (I can roll the CMS+MSUV to the job unlike the radial arm.) I often use a hand plane and shooting board to trim them to final length and angles since few house wall corners are really 90 degrees... so some method of measuring that angle is necessary. I find it easier to cut the boards slightly long and hand plane them to final fit.

mpc

[Denco]

Although the table saw is the bomb, a good inexpensive mitre saw is a good thing to have. It's great for quick cuts on 2x4's when doing projects around the house. Sometimes a good, quick tool instead of having to try to run a long 2x4 across the TS. While remodeling, I used my mitre saw way more than the TS.

[Pappy]

Most of the time my CMS sits on a shelf about 6' high. If I had the space to keep it handy, it would probably see more use.

When I built my back porch several years ago, and again when we built the pony barn last year, it was indespensible. Every board in the porch had to be custom cut to length. The studs for the barn were precut but the plates all had to be cut to exact length. Building the 11 trusses for the roof and the end trim, with 12 angle cuts each, would have been a nightmare (if not impossible) on a table saw.

[greenacres2]

I'm going to add to my response earlier.
1. panels saws are great for their limited purpose but they're too expensive and large for most people to have standing around. All the lumber yards typically have one, let them make the first or second cut and from there your table saw can handle it easily.

Our local lumber yard (15 miles closer than the nearest big box) delivers for free and charges $0.50 per cut. A ripped sheet of 3/4" ply will fit in my compact hatchback if i want it now and the size works. Could maybe go to 30"/18" if need be. I prefer to cut my own, and if i've got a few hours to let them deliver i do. But at half a buck a cut--i'll never buy a panel saw.

earl

[jussi]

I agree with the opinions that it depends on what you plan to do. If you're doing around the house projects and will be working with alot of 2x4s then a mitersaw and circular saw might be a better combo. If you plan on doing more woodworking projects, furniture, etc then I'd go with a tablesaw.

[LCHIEN]

Our local lumber yard (15 miles closer than the nearest big box) delivers for free and charges $0.50 per cut. A ripped sheet of 3/4" ply will fit in my compact hatchback if i want it now and the size works. Could maybe go to 30"/18" if need be. I prefer to cut my own, and if i've got a few hours to let them deliver i do. But at half a buck a cut--i'll never buy a panel saw.

earl

very often the stores like lowes and HD make 1st cut free.

[pelligrini]

Or more depending on how busy they are. I don't depend on their accuracy though. My HD crosscut some 16 SYP 2x12s for me so I could fit them in a Taurus when I was doing my bench build.

[T...K21]

Congratulations on the new house.

I get equal uses out of both a table saw and chop saw. Doing trim work is much easier on a chop saw. But then ripping lumber and ply length wise, I use the table saw.

If budget permits get both. If your budget won't allow for both new, look for used ones in decent shape (CL?). Nothing wrong with getting used to start then upgrade to new later. When looking for a chop saw... I found sliding with dual miter is a nice set up. Work and red lights are frills. Table saws with at least a 24 1/2 inch rip capacity is a good start. As for as size...I've done alot with a 8 inch chop saw and 10 inch table saw when doing frame and finish.

There are also alternatives (the beauty of wood working) such as radial arm saws that could perform most cutting/miter/ ripping tasks but they're heavy and not as mobile. Or a good worm drive skilsaw, router, straight edge, and jigsaw can accomplish alot of around the house projects.

[andyzee]

Congratulations on the new house.

I get equal uses out of both a table saw and chop saw. Doing trim work is much easier on a chop saw. But then ripping lumber and ply length wise, I use the table saw.

If budget permits get both. If your budget won't allow for both new, look for used ones in decent shape (CL?). Nothing wrong with getting used to start then upgrade to new later. When looking for a chop saw... I found sliding with dual miter is a nice set up. Work and red lights are frills. Table saws with at least a 24 1/2 inch rip capacity is a good start. As for as size...I've done alot with a 8 inch chop saw and 10 inch table saw when doing frame and finish.

There are also alternatives (the beauty of wood working) such as radial arm saws that could perform most cutting/miter/ ripping tasks but they're heavy and not as mobile. Or a good worm drive skilsaw, router, straight edge, and jigsaw can accomplish alot of around the house projects.

Someone actually offered me an arm saw, they're in Texas, I'm in NJ. May take them up on but wondering what shipping may be.

[T...K21]

Someone actually offered me an arm saw, they're in Texas, I'm in NJ. May take them up on but wondering what shipping may be.

They're not light by any means. But once you get one properly set up, it's amazing what you can do with it.

I bet you could find one in your area for darn near close to nothing.