Custom wood cutting?

[JackOfDiamonds]

Every so often I need to rip a piece of wood. I don't want a $300-500 table saw to rip a couple pieces of wood, and I don't have space to store it.

I can rent a table saw for $50/day but that's not terribly cheap and I have to go pick it up and return it just to rip a couple pieces if trim.

Are there companies that will rip you pieces of wood and ship them to you? Or are there lumber yards that will do it for a reasonable fee?

 

[velocipede]

A track saw (several brands) or just a regular circular saw with an appropriate blade and a good straight edge will do a good job making a rip cut. Also check out your neighbors for table saws. I've helped out my neighbors in similar circumstances.

 

[Skiff Builder]

A smile and a $20 bill showing, as you walk up to the contractor that's doing a job in your area?

 

[mike93lx]

I'll second a track saw. I use my grizzly a ton and it's been great. When you catch a sale, it's quite cheap and very easy to store. I have two 55" tracks to allow me to rip a full sheet of ply or a door

 

[FMB4]

Seriously, Home Depot and Lowe's, can do exactly what you're asking about.

 

[mike93lx]

Seriously, Home Depot and Lowe's, can do exactly what you're asking about.

Home depot will make inaccurate cuts to sheet goods and cut trim to rough length. They won't rip a board to width

 

[Bert_]

I've been using a $50 craftsman table saw for the better part of 10 years. But if you you don't have a place to put i guess that's a problem.

 

[Stuart in MN]

If you're talking about ripping a piece of dimensional lumber, a simple rip guide on a circular saw will do the trick.

 

[The Cobbler]

small portable table saws can be bought cheap used, and do quite a good job all things considered. but if you are truly lacking storage space, try to find a neighbour or someone that can do it for you

 

[merkyworks]

Makita track saw is what I would get.

 

[tyyost]

Many of our old school lumberyards still have a tablesaw, maybe you need to expand your horizons locally. Did you consider sawmills that make molding or other finished goods as well? Lots of folks out there who will cut exactly to your specs, you just need to look around. Many kitchen cabinet shops or similar may be able to help.

As mentioned above, a rip guide on a circular saw works well, and if you rip it before you cut to length you can cut off any variation in the start or end of cut. Just get some good sawhorses and clamps.

 

[jonshonda]

Track saw is the expensive option, but there are a number of companies who make attachments for standard circular saws for ripping.

I have found screwing the workpiece to saw horses provides the most accurate and trouble free option for ripping....if possible.

 

[mike93lx]

Track saw is the expensive option, but there are a number of companies who make attachments for standard circular saws for ripping.

I have found screwing the workpiece to saw horses provides the most accurate and trouble free option for ripping....if possible.

A track saw doesnt have to be festool

$180...its great, especially for the money. I use mine a ton

Search - Grizzly Industrial, Inc.

www.grizzly.com

 

[Ton ton]

People that we know use our tablesaw when we are working on the job. They ask our permission of course. I didn't see a $20 bill though.

 

[Skiff Builder]

People that we know use our tablesaw when we are working on the job. They ask our permission of course. I didn't see a $20 bill though.

Ok, but do you at least get a smile?

 

[JradM]

Circular saw and a guide, like several people mentioned, would also be my choice - and lucky for you its the best time of year to go shopping!

A piece of styrofoam insulation makes a cheap and light cutting board for that type of work.

If you really want to use a tablesaw, this might also be the time to shop for one of those. There certainly can be some sweet black friday deals. I picked up a Kobalt with a folding stand for ~$126 Canadian a couple years ago (that was a sale saw, an email coupon and a doorcrasher coupon combined to get it that cheap). If you're trying to break down a 4x8 sheet though, it's not really the best option.

 

[PFSard]

Here's a 90 second flick by Ron Hazelton on

 

[dnschmidt]

Seriously, Home Depot and Lowe's, can do exactly what you're asking about.

No, I don't think they can. Neither have table saws. All the ones I've seen have a panel saw for plywood and a DeWalt (or whatever the company that bought the radial arm saw business from Dewalt is called) radial arm saws. Neither is any good for ripping.

 

[Ton ton]

Ok, but do you at least get a smile?

We got a story out of the tablesaw borrower.

 

[Ton ton]

Every so often I need to rip a piece of wood. I don't want a $300-500 table saw to rip a couple pieces of wood, and I don't have space to store it.

I can rent a table saw for $50/day but that's not terribly cheap and I have to go pick it up and return it just to rip a couple pieces if trim.

Are there companies that will rip you pieces of wood and ship them to you? Or are there lumber yards that will do it for a reasonable fee?

Are you sure that you don't happen to have a tablesaw owning garage journal member just down the street from you?