Alternatives to Table Saws for Ripping Strips

**kaseencook** · 5th December 2009, 09:01 PM

I've been experimenting with ways to strip wood to 7mm thick strips for the kayak in the past few days with the tools I have.

The best one so far is to securely screw the very edge of the plank (within about 1cm or so) to the edge of the wooden work bench. I then take a piece of 7mm scrap ply about the size of my hand with a flat edge and a tiny fence nailed on and run it down the length of the wood with a pen up against it to draw the 7mm cut line in a few seconds. I then rip the strip with my circular (18V battery type) and wa-la! It is not too bad, takes about a minute or two per strip, until the batteries run out and I have to recharge. Strips are moderately refined and even. What would be perfect is if I could make a fence that goes straight on the circular that is 7mm wide (the fence that comes on the circular doesn't go smaller than the base plate, so can't get it to 7mm wide). I use 120mm wide pine 19mm thick, and get about 10 strips before I get to the edge then there is a small strip left over to figure out what to do with..... toothpicks.....

I think that's what I'll use for the boat, then I don't need expensive new tools and it's safer than a home made table saw because you can have both hands on the circular using it as it was intended with the wood securely screwed to the table.

**Daddles** · 5th December 2009, 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by kaseencook

then there is a small strip left over to figure out what to do with..... toothpicks.....

Save them for the inevitable demonstrations of your abilities as a woodworker ... and use them to fill the gaps

Glad it's working for you.
Tell me, when that battery goes flat, do you curse your luck or sigh with relief?

Richard
who will build strip plank one day (probably a rowboat), thus justifying the lack of faith many have in his mental stability

**hereselmo1** · 5th December 2009, 11:39 PM

I just went into Bunnings today and looked at a small Ozito table saw.

Looked pretty flimsy, only cuts to 40mm thickness and the blade cant be raised or lowered or tilted for angle cuts.

Having said that it is only around $100 and has a three year replacement warranty so it is probably perfect for my project. Has gone on the birthday/christmas list.

**Daddles** · 6th December 2009, 09:14 AM

Originally Posted by hereselmo1

I just went into Bunnings today and looked at a small Ozito table saw.

Looked pretty flimsy, only cuts to 40mm thickness and the blade cant be raised or lowered or tilted for angle cuts.

Having said that it is only around $100 and has a three year replacement warranty so it is probably perfect for my project. Has gone on the birthday/christmas list.

A mate of mine bought something similar for a similar price. The fence was useless so he cobbled up something that worked. You won't miss not being able to tilt the blade- I've done it once on the Triton to see how how it went but never since. Similarly, being able to raise the blade is a nice safety thing but not a problem in use. I couldn't raise or lower the first saw in my Triton either, mainly because it was a small thing. I cut a lot of timber in two bites - cut one side, turn it over and cut the other side - that worked though you'll note that eventually I bought a big brute of a saw for the Triton (and gave Dad his saw back

). The interesting thing about Mike's was how quiet it was - dead silent except for the sound of the saw tearing the timber. And the beauty of the price is that it's not excessive so you can afford to buy one just to work out how much you actually need it and, regardless of whether you decide to get a better table saw or not, it'll pay for itself just on the TS16

Richard

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