table saw, circular saw into table saw or get it cut in bunnings?

**kris_mac** · 25th September 2014, 10:55 PM

G'day,

Welcome every one. I'm new to this forum and woodworking. I've done some stuff from wood: few little tables and a slanted CD case holding around 500 CDs. All done using hand saw, jig saw, screws nails, and brackets. I've also build a small rock climbing wall at my backyard. I've never done any joint or routing. I have now cheap drill, cordless drill, press drill, jig saw and circular saw and few other bits and pieces. I recently bought a router and intend to build a table for it.

Ok. to the point. I seek some advice about table saws. I would like to make some furniture. I've gone through a lot of posts here, read reviews in Australia and overseas. It looks like all the cheap table saw are capable to cut wood, but far away from being accurate for making furniture.
I would like to hear your opinion about buying a cheap table saw like ozito or similar and replace the whole table with a one made by myself with proper mitre slots and fence. All cheap saws I saw have a pathetic fences and so much play that it would be hard to achieve anything better than with circular saw.
I've also seen some projects on youtube, good and bad, about turning circular saw into table saw. I'm not sure how safe and accurate they come out though.
I don't have the budget to buy any half decent saw. I was considering to get scheppach HS120 ($400) but there are no reviews from Australia. Overseas reviews rate it as just a cheap saw, good for general cutting, nothing special.
Have anyone seen or used one? I don't want to spend $400 and have something which be suitable for making furniture. On the other hand I've heard similar opinions about makita MLT100 for about $530.

Living in Canberra also limits buying any second hand saws. None for sale.

Other option is to get the supplier to cut timber to size I need. I don't know how accurate cuts I would get from bunnings? Any thoughts?

Thanks

Kris

**Zed** · 26th September 2014, 02:11 PM

lash out and get a 10 inch saw from carbatec

http://www.carbatec.com.au/jet-10-pr...ablesaw_c22223

**Driftabout** · 26th September 2014, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by Zed

lash out and get a 10 inch saw from carbatec

Some of us just don't have that sort of money and therefore need to be a little creative rather than give up as its all to hard.

**Master Splinter** · 26th September 2014, 08:47 PM

Nip to Bunnies and buy one of the craftright(?) brand saw guide/clamp things to tide you over.

About $20. (not the protractor thingy, basically a long (1.5m??) aluminum rail you guide your saw with.)

aha! - http://www.bunnings.com.au/craftrigh...uide-_p5860136

From what I've seen/read, the few good smaller table saws are the DeWalt and Bosch ones. But they are getting pretty close to proper table saw prices (The $300 US DeWalt ends up as $995 here).

Be prepared to travel to buy a secondhand table saw...I did!

**Harmek** · 26th September 2014, 09:43 PM

Check out woodgears.ca for their homemade machinery. Just remember to put in a splitter if not a riving knife. So important.

I skimped at the start and regret it now. I am currently playing catchup with lots of small parts etc. Like was said above, be prepared to travel or even have something shipped. Set yourself a good budget then double it. A good table saw is so worth the investment once you consider all the jigs etc that can be with and for it. This includes a built in router table that shares a good fence.

Watch eBay, Gumtree and here. I have seen some good gear come up this year in Canberra. Check other states and see how much freight is. Investing in good machinery (if you plan on doing this in the long term) saves you so much in the long run. Top of the list is a good workbench and table saw. One obviously helps with the other.

Failing all that, buy a plane and make a huge shuting board. Should make all cuts accurate.

**doncra** · 27th September 2014, 07:08 PM

Bunnings won't necessarily do accurate cuts. If you do go for a DIY table saw I'd recommend you have a look at Instructables.com for heaps of different designs. The quality of your circular saw and any runout will be a big factor affecting accuracy. Another option would be a used Triton bench (these do come up for sale in Canberra on Gumtree). Or else you might try something like this : cheapie portable table saw mounted into bench with a DIY improved fence - http://www.simplyeasydiy.com/2014/01...nning.html?m=1

I live in Canberra too - found a used triton mk3, added my own fence system and a crosscut sled and I've got a good albeit basic setup - http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-...or-saw-bench-1

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**kris_mac** · 30th September 2014, 08:13 AM

thanks all for your advise. I'll keep looking for a second hand saw and if can't find anything I will buy some cheap table saw and make a better top and fence for it.

**orraloon** · 30th September 2014, 11:49 AM

This is worth a watch while you are on the lookout for a saw. Opens up options for a limited budget.
I dont think much of his safe work method however.
Regards
John

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