jig / circular / table saw?


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Old 10-14-14, 06:06 AM
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jig / circular / table saw?

The immediate job is that I need to cut some 7 inch planks. They are about 8ft long, which might make using a table saw difficult and or dangerous.

What is the most versatile out of these tools?
I had originally thought a table saw would be best as it's good for future wood cutting use. They are also more expensive.
 
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Old 10-14-14, 06:11 AM
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How are you cutting them? I'm envisioning just to length.

If you don't have one already, you need a circular saw, so I would start there.
 
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Old 10-14-14, 06:37 AM
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I agree! it's easy to make a straight cut with a speed square and skil saw. What are your future plans saw wise?
 
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Old 10-14-14, 06:52 AM
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It depends what the quality of the cut needs to be. A table saw along with either an outfeed table or a helper would be the obvious choice if you need a "perfect" cut (provided you can keep it against the fence as you rip) but a circular saw with a guide would also work. The guide (often an optional part) will help you keep the cut straight, at least until it runs off the work at the end of the cut. you would have to guide the saw by hand that last few inches.

edit: i guess i was imagining you are ripping lengthwise. if you are crosscutting, you want either a miter saw, miter box and hand saw, or circular saw. as mark mentioned, you can use a speed square as a guide to make straight cuts with a circular saw.
 
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Old 10-14-14, 07:33 AM
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I would rip them on a table saw, using an aforementioned outfeed table. I have ripped 16' 2 by's on mine, and there is nothing inherently unsafe in ripping longer pieces, as long as they are handled properly. And I think of a table saw as a "centerpiece" of a well equipped shop. But, starting from scratch, my suggestion is a circular saw, as it is equally capable, and you will most likely find it more versatile than a table saw. To keep them straight, your circular should come with a rip guide, or you can use one of the other boards and a couple of clamps as a guide.
 
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Old 10-14-14, 08:05 AM
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If these were being ripped, a table saw becomes more likely the right tool.

That said, as I mentioned in my first response, you should probably be looking at picking up a circular saw anyway if you do not already own one.
 
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Old 10-14-14, 12:37 PM
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It's probably 80% cross cuts and maybe an occasional length cut for which I guess I could build a rig?

One other question, if a circular saw is rated 15A, does that mean I can only use it on a 20A circuit? 15A means it will probably trip the breaker?
 
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Old 10-14-14, 12:38 PM
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Theoretically yes but mine is a 15 amp and it's been used on 15 amp circuits successfully more times than I can count.

Some of the pros should actually be able to explain the details, though.
 
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Old 10-14-14, 01:32 PM
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You can use it on either a 15 amp or 20 amp circuit. If the saw pulls more than 15 amps on a 15 amp circuit it will probably kick the breaker. That would only be likely to happen if you got the saw in a bind.
 
 

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