Why Every Home Workshop Should Have A Table Saw
There have been entire books written on them and what they can accomplish.
Whether you are making shelves, making a bookcase, or refacing the cabinets in your kitchen, you will find a table saw can be a real time-saver.
If you are making shelves from plywood then there is not a better tool anywhere to rip the plywood down to the needed size.
You could use a hand circular saw but you will sacrifice on the accuracy of your cuts.
Once you set that table saw rip fence to the desired setting, you can then cut multiple pieces.
You will feel good knowing that every piece you run through with that setting will be exactly the same dimension.
This makes accurately cutting multiple pieces not only fast, but very easy too.
If you were making 4 sets of bookshelves, just imagine how many times you would have to measure and set a straightedge, if you were doing this with a circular saw.
And what if that straightedge slipped even 1/8 inch, even once.
With a quality machine, this will never be a problem again.
One of the strongest joints for a shelf is a dado.
A dado is simply a long, wide groove cut into one piece of wood.
Then the end of another piece of wood fits inside this dado.
While it is possible to cut a dado by hand, it is much easier, and faster with a table saw.
And using those 4 sets of bookshelves as an example, just imagine that each shelf requires you to cut 10 dadoes.
These dadoes will hold your 5 shelves.
Can you imagine how it will look if your dadoes are even slightly off? Your shelves will be loose if the dado is cut too wide.
Again, with a table saw this will never be a problem.
Once you set it up, you can cut literally hundreds of dadoes that will be exactly the same size.
And don't forget the recess, called a rabbit, to inset the back on the shelves.
Sure, you can just leave the back sticking out.
But just think of how much more professional your shelves will look with a recessed back.
They can handle many tasks in the shop.
With some simple accessories it can easily work with large sheets, square the ends of your work pieces, cut box joints for drawers and decorative boxes, rip all of your work pieces to the proper width, cut perfectly tapered table legs, repeatedly cut perfect compound miters, cut perfect tenons, cut crown molding, and even help you sand your project.
But many people don't realize that it can be used to cut beautiful dovetail joints.
These joints may need to be touched up by hand, but a table saw will still save you many hours.
In addition it can cut moldings.
Using a simple molding head you can easily create frame and panel doors and cabinets.
Your cabinet doors can even have fancy arched recessed doors, or arched raised panel doors.
All of these cuts are repeatable with incredible accuracy thanks to the built in accuracy of this machine.
If you throw together a cabinet using butt joints and pieces of plywood for solid-front doors, then your friends will congratulate you.
Now if your cabinet has arched recessed or even arched raised, panel doors, then they will be asking you to build their furniture too.
With arched recessed doors you have the option to install glass for the panel.
Try that with a solid piece of plywood.
A high quality is the centerpiece for any woodworking shop.
With a little creativity you will find out that a table saw will save you tons of time, and make your projects look more professional.
Do a little research on the Internet and find a high quality one, because it will last you for many years.
Whether you are making shelves, making a bookcase, or refacing the cabinets in your kitchen, you will find a table saw can be a real time-saver.
If you are making shelves from plywood then there is not a better tool anywhere to rip the plywood down to the needed size.
You could use a hand circular saw but you will sacrifice on the accuracy of your cuts.
Once you set that table saw rip fence to the desired setting, you can then cut multiple pieces.
You will feel good knowing that every piece you run through with that setting will be exactly the same dimension.
This makes accurately cutting multiple pieces not only fast, but very easy too.
If you were making 4 sets of bookshelves, just imagine how many times you would have to measure and set a straightedge, if you were doing this with a circular saw.
And what if that straightedge slipped even 1/8 inch, even once.
With a quality machine, this will never be a problem again.
One of the strongest joints for a shelf is a dado.
A dado is simply a long, wide groove cut into one piece of wood.
Then the end of another piece of wood fits inside this dado.
While it is possible to cut a dado by hand, it is much easier, and faster with a table saw.
And using those 4 sets of bookshelves as an example, just imagine that each shelf requires you to cut 10 dadoes.
These dadoes will hold your 5 shelves.
Can you imagine how it will look if your dadoes are even slightly off? Your shelves will be loose if the dado is cut too wide.
Again, with a table saw this will never be a problem.
Once you set it up, you can cut literally hundreds of dadoes that will be exactly the same size.
And don't forget the recess, called a rabbit, to inset the back on the shelves.
Sure, you can just leave the back sticking out.
But just think of how much more professional your shelves will look with a recessed back.
They can handle many tasks in the shop.
With some simple accessories it can easily work with large sheets, square the ends of your work pieces, cut box joints for drawers and decorative boxes, rip all of your work pieces to the proper width, cut perfectly tapered table legs, repeatedly cut perfect compound miters, cut perfect tenons, cut crown molding, and even help you sand your project.
But many people don't realize that it can be used to cut beautiful dovetail joints.
These joints may need to be touched up by hand, but a table saw will still save you many hours.
In addition it can cut moldings.
Using a simple molding head you can easily create frame and panel doors and cabinets.
Your cabinet doors can even have fancy arched recessed doors, or arched raised panel doors.
All of these cuts are repeatable with incredible accuracy thanks to the built in accuracy of this machine.
If you throw together a cabinet using butt joints and pieces of plywood for solid-front doors, then your friends will congratulate you.
Now if your cabinet has arched recessed or even arched raised, panel doors, then they will be asking you to build their furniture too.
With arched recessed doors you have the option to install glass for the panel.
Try that with a solid piece of plywood.
A high quality is the centerpiece for any woodworking shop.
With a little creativity you will find out that a table saw will save you tons of time, and make your projects look more professional.
Do a little research on the Internet and find a high quality one, because it will last you for many years.