Best power tool for general wood cutting?
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thin_concrete
Well-known member
Do not worry about hard woods yet. Pine is cheap, and as such is a good material to learn with. You will make mistakes - we all did when we started out. Better to be out a few bucks than being out more.
Here's my 2 cents based on 25 years of homeownership, being a landlord, DIY'ing and vintage RV restoration:
For the home DIY'er:
1. Buy that Skil Circ saw, put a diablo blade on it. Get the magnesium version, they're right. This is the tool for quick cuts of dimensional lumber, and the right choice to cut sheet goods when building.
2. Buy a 10" sliding compound miter saw. I bought the cheap HF one after literally breaking my old Craftsman non slider. Put a Dewalt or other Good Blade on it. This will make short work of boards wide and narrow. If you are a professional house or deck builder you might want the 12" but the cost is not worth it for a DIY'er, when you can whip out your circ saw to finish that one huge cut.
3. Buy a cordless jigsaw. I have the Ryobi green one and love it. Upside down, side ways, PVC, copper, aluminum, these can do it all.
Then, here's why you want other saws:
4. Sawzall: this is a destructive tool, for cutting out beams, structural members, pipes in place, limbs, etc. If you are doing tear out, R&R, old house or barn work, get this.
5. Multitool: The vibrating saw. This is VERY effective for cutting new holes for outlet boxes, under cutting trim, and there's a very cool way to cut out a board from a wood floor and replace it using one.
6. Table Saw: Going to make cabinets or furniture? Get this. You'll find lots of uses once you get one but most of the other tools can cover for it.
7. Bandsaw: You're not ready. Had one for 20 years and I still can't cut straight with it. But it does make short work of your kids pinewood derby car design.
8. Radial Arm Saw: Like your thumbs? Then forget about this one.
John
For the home DIY'er:
1. Buy that Skil Circ saw, put a diablo blade on it. Get the magnesium version, they're right. This is the tool for quick cuts of dimensional lumber, and the right choice to cut sheet goods when building.
2. Buy a 10" sliding compound miter saw. I bought the cheap HF one after literally breaking my old Craftsman non slider. Put a Dewalt or other Good Blade on it. This will make short work of boards wide and narrow. If you are a professional house or deck builder you might want the 12" but the cost is not worth it for a DIY'er, when you can whip out your circ saw to finish that one huge cut.
3. Buy a cordless jigsaw. I have the Ryobi green one and love it. Upside down, side ways, PVC, copper, aluminum, these can do it all.
Then, here's why you want other saws:
4. Sawzall: this is a destructive tool, for cutting out beams, structural members, pipes in place, limbs, etc. If you are doing tear out, R&R, old house or barn work, get this.
5. Multitool: The vibrating saw. This is VERY effective for cutting new holes for outlet boxes, under cutting trim, and there's a very cool way to cut out a board from a wood floor and replace it using one.
6. Table Saw: Going to make cabinets or furniture? Get this. You'll find lots of uses once you get one but most of the other tools can cover for it.
7. Bandsaw: You're not ready. Had one for 20 years and I still can't cut straight with it. But it does make short work of your kids pinewood derby car design.
8. Radial Arm Saw: Like your thumbs? Then forget about this one.
John
Last edited:
sberry
Banned
I got a radial, never use it. Rarely, very rarely use a table saw. If its humanly possible I cut it with a cordless circ and a Sawzall which can be rather safe. I don't have a compound slider but would if I had a project or needed it. Very handy, very accurate, super nice for boards and basically does what a radial would have back in the day.
If you want a Skil 77, shop around. I picked up a new mag version on sale a few months ago for $160ish shipped. To me there wasn’t enough savings to be worth buying used or refurbished but you may be able to better locally. I’ve burned up 2 sidewinders, while my dad’s 40ish year old worm drive is still running.
MarvinBerry
Well-known member
Honestly best thing you could do is drive to a store and put your hands on a few things. Should be able to figure out real quickly what feels good and right for you.
Things like is the switch in a good place or feel awkward to keep grip on? Does it feel balanced or is it weighted oddly?
Gotta have a good feeling about whatever you buy...safety is a concern with any saw but if it doesn't feel solid you won't work as confidently.
Crazyjake8493
Well-known member
A circular saw would be the best place to start. With a circular saw you can do just about anything you could do on a miter or table saw. Get comfortable making straight and angled cuts with it, then maybe add some jigs or cutting guides.
After the circular saw, a good table saw would be your next best saw investment. A jig saw or band saw would be good if you plan to make a lot of curved cuts. A miter saw would be my last choice for a saw, they're the least versatile.
After the circular saw, a good table saw would be your next best saw investment. A jig saw or band saw would be good if you plan to make a lot of curved cuts. A miter saw would be my last choice for a saw, they're the least versatile.
derosa
Well-known member
Never understand this sentiment, I let my daughter use the radial arm saw, along with the scroll saw. Saw is perfectly safe if you push it into the wood, it's like trying to push plywood into the back of a tablesaw blade and blaming the saw when the board goes flying.
I am definitely going to be in the minority in my views but I really prefer a good jigsaw over the circular saw, actually can't remember the last time I used the circular but sliced up some 3/4 osb the other day with the jigsaw.
For whatever reason I can't cut a clean straight line with a circular saw to save my life, and I only have it for when I had to cut out rotted sections of roofing. Jigsaw can cut straight a little slower but easily and doesn't bind, cuts curves, cuts electrical box openings, just much more versatile.
I will agree with the slider next, just a lot that can be done with it. I've for a friend who set his up perfect and makes some amazing picture frames with perfectly tight corners with one. I don't own one but that's cause I have the radial and I'm not traveling with my work any and I make the space for it.
Just to throw another spanner in the works, have a read about track saws: https://www.familyhandyman.com/tools/power-tools/benefits-of-a-track-saw/view-all/
Interested in opinions of people who use them - how suitable would a track saw be as your only circular saw, or do you need a traditional sidewinder/worm as well?
Interested in opinions of people who use them - how suitable would a track saw be as your only circular saw, or do you need a traditional sidewinder/worm as well?
Re: Best power tool for general lumber cutting?
If you have very little experience working with wood, you will struggle at first getting a straight cut with a circular saw. I suggest you get a sliding miter saw because even a novice will get a nice straight cut with one of those every time. Good luck.
Sent from my VS501 using The Garage Journal mobile app
If you have very little experience working with wood, you will struggle at first getting a straight cut with a circular saw. I suggest you get a sliding miter saw because even a novice will get a nice straight cut with one of those every time. Good luck.
Sent from my VS501 using The Garage Journal mobile app
Re: Best power tool for general lumber cutting?
That's what long levels and speed clamps are for
That's what long levels and speed clamps are for
Re: Best power tool for general lumber cutting?
I'm a woodworker, I build furniture, cabinets, built ins etc. A circular saw and guide (a piece of ply + clamps, speed square etc) as well as a bit of skill will allow you to do whatever a table saw and mitre saw can do.
As your skill and project complexity grows, so do your tools. A compound mitre is one of my least used tools.
Sent from my LM-G710 using The Garage Journal mobile app
I'm a woodworker, I build furniture, cabinets, built ins etc. A circular saw and guide (a piece of ply + clamps, speed square etc) as well as a bit of skill will allow you to do whatever a table saw and mitre saw can do.
As your skill and project complexity grows, so do your tools. A compound mitre is one of my least used tools.
Sent from my LM-G710 using The Garage Journal mobile app
Re: Best power tool for general lumber cutting?
I see track saws mentioned. It's my favourite tool but isn't useful as a conventional circular saw IMHO.
Sent from my LM-G710 using The Garage Journal mobile app
I see track saws mentioned. It's my favourite tool but isn't useful as a conventional circular saw IMHO.
Sent from my LM-G710 using The Garage Journal mobile app
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Everybody should have one of these. 
MarvinBerry
Well-known member
Re: Best power tool for general lumber cutting?
Totally.
If you can't setup a staightedge, draw a line and clamp it then I'm sorry not sorry but your fucked.
Game over. Do not pass go. Hang yourself from the highest rafter in the building.
It's not exactly rocket science to cut a straight line with any kind of saw.
Totally.
If you can't setup a staightedge, draw a line and clamp it then I'm sorry not sorry but your fucked.
Game over. Do not pass go. Hang yourself from the highest rafter in the building.
It's not exactly rocket science to cut a straight line with any kind of saw.
crewchief888
Well-known member
for many years i "got by" with a circular saw and a cheap single speed jigsaw.
did everything i needed to do at the time from building benches and shelving. building "custom" van interiors, cutting landscape timbers.
over the next 40 years the original saws were replaced after they burned up, i added a sawzall, 10" compound sliding miter saw and a table saw...
did everything i needed to do at the time from building benches and shelving. building "custom" van interiors, cutting landscape timbers.
over the next 40 years the original saws were replaced after they burned up, i added a sawzall, 10" compound sliding miter saw and a table saw...
Krokodil
Well-known member
Just got my speed square and circular saw delivered yesterday!
Re: Best power tool for general lumber cutting?
Agreed.
But, I built a table top from two 14' x 3' x 2" slabs using a tracksaw. Only minimal cleanup with a no. 5 plane. Tablesaw quality cuts. Drastically better than a skillsaw but totally unrequired unless of course you require one...
Sent from my LM-G710 using The Garage Journal mobile app
Lol, that's awesome.
Agreed.
But, I built a table top from two 14' x 3' x 2" slabs using a tracksaw. Only minimal cleanup with a no. 5 plane. Tablesaw quality cuts. Drastically better than a skillsaw but totally unrequired unless of course you require one...
Sent from my LM-G710 using The Garage Journal mobile app