Best Small Box Building Saw for a Lousy Woodworker

[Richard D]

I never have much success building anything from wood unless it's 2x4s and plywood. I'l like to make some small decorative boxes with dovetails or finger joints from thin wood. I don't have the room or the funds for a big table saw. I will post another thread for advice about dovetail jigs.

 

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

dovetails are typically done with a router table set up. Finger joints are easy enough on a saw. You can find videos showing exactly how to build a simple finger joint jig as well.

As far as the saw goes, most any will work if you put a GOOD blade on it. The real limitation is power. If you are working in hardwoods you will need to be patient. Build yourself a good out feed table the same height as the saw (as well as in feed and side if using sheet goods) for much easier one man operations.

 

[Richard D]

I guess what I am looking for is accuracy cutting small parts. Do you need a lot of power to cut hardwoods, even at less than a half inch thick? I have a small table saw that has been hanging on the wall in my garage ten years, don't even remember what brand. Is there a decent fence that can be added to a portable table saw?

 

[gasgas17]

I guess what I am looking for is accuracy cutting small parts. Do you need a lot of power to cut hardwoods, even at less than a half inch thick? I have a small table saw that has been hanging on the wall in my garage ten years, don't even remember what brand. Is there a decent fence that can be added to a portable table saw?

It's best to buy a portable saw that comes with a decent fence. The small dewalt table saws come with pretty decent fences and even go out to 24" so you can split a piece of plywood. And they make pretty good power. The larger portable version will even take a dado blade. If you have a dewalt service/clearance center in your town, the reconditioned tools go on sale from time to time for dirt cheap compared to retail pricing. And they are new tools!

Bosch also makes a nice portable and there are probably others as well. The fence is one of the 3 most important parts of the saw in my opinion. Along with the quality of the blade and the motor/power.

 

[Richard D]

I guess I will have to break down and get a precision table saw sooner or later. I have been using a track saw on plywood and it's great! But to make really small accurate pieces, not the right tool.

 

[matt_i]

One limitation I find, is that it would be superb to have a supply of wood that's something like 3/8" x 3-1/2" or 1/2" x 3-1/2"...sort of a 1/2 x 4 But it really doesn't exist unless willing to waste half of it thru the planer or the ability to have a pile custom sawn like that...box bottoms can always be made from 1/4" baltic birch or even sheetmetal like Gerstner boxes.

My finding is that a good blade (always relied on Freud) plus a good fence made a huge difference. I had a Craftsman saw that wasn't so much but it had the Biesemeyer fence on it...best fence ever as far as I'm concerned. The Incra looked nice also but 10x more complex. Powermatic has a copy of the same simple fence design (or bought the rights) on later legacy model 66s. I have a Biesemeyer scaled copy on the drawing board for my Dad's 1940s vintage cast iron mini-saw.

 

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

I use a 30+ year old craftsman contractor table saw. It has a cast iron top and wings and a cheap fence that I need to measure every time I lock it down. I have shop built crosscut sleds for 45 and 90 degree cuts and one for cutting splines into miters. There is no need for a high dollar machine and tools unless you are making money using them. My junk saw has made some very serviceable items including my arts and crafts style kitchen table/chairs and bed.

 

[joe49]

A small Dozuki saw or hand dovetail saw, a simple to make metal template, and a sharp knife point. You will be in business.
https://www.google.com/search?q=best+dozuki+for+dovetails&rlz=1C1ASUT_enUS505US505&oq=dozuki+for+dove&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0l5.23845j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

[bczygan]

Bill

 

[Richard D]

A small Dozuki saw or hand dovetail saw, a simple to make metal template, and a sharp knife point. You will be in business.
https://www.google.com/search?q=best+dozuki+for+dovetails&rlz=1C1ASUT_enUS505US505&oq=dozuki+for+dove&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0l5.23845j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

I think you missed the "Lousy Woodworker" tag line.

 

[jdoe213]

Practice, practice, practice and then practice some more

 

[bullnerd]

How about a pic of the saw you have.

I put a Biesmeyer fence on an old craftsman saw I got for free and have been using it for about 25 yrs.

Back then, Sears sold the fence at the tool stores.

You may be able to tune up the saw you have enough to make small boxes.

For me, the deciding factor is if it has a universal motor or a real capacitor start motor.

 

[Richard D]

I'll get the saw down tonight. Seems like the table is about 24" wide and aluminum, if I remember correctly. El Cheapo.

 

[Richard D]

I think I found what I need...
https://vsctools.com/

 

[theoldwizard1]

For small projects that don't have an long cuts, you can not beat a real Japanese hand "pull" saw. Just make sure it is actually made in Japan. There are a few to choose from on Amazon. Get one with a folding handle and it will fit in your tool box.

For dovetails, you can not beat a good jig and router. If you are going to be doing them by hand, you will need a good set of chisels ($$$) and someone to teach you how to properly sharpen them.

 

[Richard D]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I just need a decent table saw (we may have one here at work) and a really good Biesemeyer type fence, the VerySuperCool T square with aluminum extrusions is in my mind, see link above. My problem is holding the work steady, feeding it into the tool or vice versa. I am pretty good with metal; can always weld more back on and grind/mill/lathe it into shape. I need machinist-type tools for wood!

 

[bullnerd]

Aluminum table = probably junk.

You don't need that fancy roller setup to make small boxes.

Your saw is probably a universal motor and it vibrates like crazy right? Sounds more like a router than a saw?

 

[csp]

How big of pieces are we talking here? Even using a quality table saw, there are imperfections to clean up via jointer if you want really precise.

I would think that a combination of your existing track saw and a quality power miter saw would cover 99% of the cutting part for small boxes.

 

[Richard D]

We do have a table saw, I'd need to move a bunch of **** to get the forklift up there to bring it down. I climbed up the pallet rack, it is model # 113.298151. I found a manual for it. Don't remember if it works or not. I also have a couple radial arm saws with particle board tables that are shot. Anywhere I can buy a table(I guess that's what it's called?) for a radial arm saw? My dad had one when I was growing up and I was not allowed to touch it until I was about 16. They still kinda scare me. And a small jointer I forgot about.

https://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/user-manuals/113298151-CRAFTSMAN-10INCHTABLESAW-manual

 

[bullnerd]

Does it look like this?

http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=...aw3os5LnOCx_3STOlP-wyD61&ust=1519433817950427

The table for the RAS you have to make yourself.

 

[Richard D]

Not sure, It's up on the shelf backwards, I'll pull it down tomorrow when I haven't been drinking beer...

 

[bullnerd]

Come on...What could possibly go wrong?

 

[rsanter]

Good quality small or medium sized table saw that has the hole for putting a router into.

For small boxes it is all you will ever need other than the hand tools

 

[Richard D]

Come on...What could possibly go wrong?

We put a policemans personal vehicle on top of a Connex with a forklift, years ago. Jim Beam was involved, yet no damage...He still doesn't know, but I have video.

 

[stioc]

I don't do a lot of woodworking but when I do, I have an old Ryobi BT3100 which was a *huge* upgrade from the $100 Craftsman saw I had before it. It has a decent sized fence, router table and a sled built in though I don't like the sled and use an Incra miter gauge. Craftsman also sold a version of the same Ryobi saw but I forget the part no- those are just as good and even came with a folding stand.

Bosch and Dewalt have good saws if you're looking for smaller/contractor saws. Rigid also makes decent saws.