Table saw for DIY

davidoc4 · 23-07-2016 01:42PM #1

I'm looking to get a table saw for some DIY, small furniture making, frames etc. Looked at the lidl and aldi brands but reviews are not the best. For a budget of about 150-200 would anyone have suggestions? Thanks

jack of all · 23-07-2016 11:11PM

Unfortunately your budget is very low, most "table saws" in that price range will be hobby/ DIY rated and will have flimsy and inaccurate fences- not suited for any kind of dimensioning work other than rough ripping perhaps. I have a Dewalt site saw which is a good compromise for me but costs around €700 new. You might get something closer to your price range second hand- but any of the second hand stuff I've seen for sale in this country tends to be well over-priced for worn out machines or at best a decent machine that requires work (and unless you have the tools and know-how it may be uneconomical).

recipio · 24-07-2016 10:26AM

A mitre saw with the table on top would be a lot more versatile and still in your budget. Most carpentry involves cutting accurate right angle crosscuts and mitred angles. A good 60 tooth blade would make all the difference.

timfromtang · 24-07-2016 02:10PM

You may do well building one from quality ply and mdf, have you seen Matthias Wandel's work on you tube?
A common approach is to insert a handheld circular saw upside down into some sort of flat surface, and provide a sliding fence arrangement.
you could end up with a quality result with some care and research, I imagine the thrill of achievement after building your first piece of furniture with the saw you constructed might be quite worthwhile.
tim

Sparks · 24-07-2016 11:42PM

The axminister ones seem to be pretty decent (cast iron tables, induction motors and so on)... but they're a little over 400. That does seem to be the entry point for decent table saws when buying new.

davidoc4 · 25-07-2016 09:57AM

Thanks everyone for your replies, looks like I may have to wait for a second hand one to pop up or save a little more! If I was to push the budget up to the 200-400 mark would anyone have suggestions? timfromtang - great suggestion to make one, but not sure id have the skillset at the moment. Thanks

basillarkin · 25-07-2016 12:32PM

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DeWalt-DW745-Heavy-Lightweight-220V-240V/dp/B000Y8TZV8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469446302&sr=8-1&keywords=dewalt+table+saw

comes in at a little over 400e delivered to aparcel wizard address in NI

Yelnahs · 11-08-2016 03:56PM

I recently made a table saw using a combination of Matthias' and a few other YouTubers methods. I would highly recommend going down this route if you're on a tight budget. I also added a router to the table so mine is 2 in 1. Got it all done for about 300 including router and circular saw.

eoinp11 · 23-08-2016 05:33PM

Yelnahs wrote: »

I recently made a table saw using a combination of Matthias' and a few other YouTubers methods. I would highly recommend going down this route if you're on a tight budget. I also added a router to the table so mine is 2 in 1. Got it all done for about 300 including router and circular saw.

Would you have plans for this? Or some of the videos that led you close to it?

I have a circular saw, but it's not amazing. What kinda specs for the circular saw would be required?

Any info is welcome!

Yelnahs · 23-08-2016 06:18PM

I don't have any exact plans but it looks a lot like the one made here (minus the inverted jigsaw/scroll saw) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P14zJ2mkL8o

Here is Matthias' table saw but he is a freak of nature (meant in the best way possible) and for my purposes was over the top, I did steal his fence design and clamp. Also his has dust extraction which the one above doesn't have: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBucMKhrL8M

Finally, another good design is by the Italian Makers here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-IufFlTuIQ

The purists on here may disagree with building your own table saw but it meets my needs perfectly and was dirt cheap to put together. Plus it's a very interesting project.

jonon9 · 23-08-2016 10:37PM

If you really want a table saw and got space I would save the pennies and go for something good. I brought a cheap table saw years ago and it caused nothing but arse ache. Now I'm not saying spends a few grand but a 5-8 hundred quid saw will be of very good quality The dewalt table saws or site saws as they are called are decent for the price I love their rack and pinion fence best in the market I think.

recipio · 24-08-2016 10:54AM

jonon9 wrote: »

If you really want a table saw and got space I would save the pennies and go for something good. I brought a cheap table saw years ago and it caused nothing but arse ache. Now I'm not saying spends a few grand but a 5-8 hundred quid saw will be of very good quality The dewalt table saws or site saws as they are called are decent for the price I love their rack and pinion fence best in the market I think.

Belt driven makes all the difference....;)

eoinp11 · 27-08-2016 11:32AM

Yelnahs wrote: »

I don't have any exact plans but it looks a lot like the one made here (minus the inverted jigsaw/scroll saw) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P14zJ2mkL8o

Here is Matthias' table saw but he is a freak of nature (meant in the best way possible) and for my purposes was over the top, I did steal his fence design and clamp. Also his has dust extraction which the one above doesn't have: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBucMKhrL8M

Finally, another good design is by the Italian Makers here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-IufFlTuIQ

The purists on here may disagree with building your own table saw but it meets my needs perfectly and was dirt cheap to put together. Plus it's a very interesting project.

They are some excellent videos. I've watched that mathias guy before, his stuff always seems WAY to advanced for me.

I really like the 3 in one design. Did yours come out perfectly square? Is yours height adjustable? What width did you end up making yours?

EdmondShiels3 · 09-09-2016 11:48AM

If you are still looking for a table saw for DIY, EPT in Carlow have a good range. https://www.ept-irl.com

Yelnahs · 12-09-2016 02:45PM

Mine did come out perfectly square. I routed out the profile of the mitre saw and then place the saw inside. I then routed out where the blade would appear (as opposed to plunge cutting it). This ended up nearly square. I then shimmed one side of the mitre saw insert with small piece of wood until it was square. Once this was done I bolted it into place and it hasn't moved since.

My saw/router table is 4 foot x 2 foot. The box underneath it is hinged and is 4 foot x 1 1/2 foot. The over hang allows me to lift it and also to mount a fence (which I have yet to do!)

Hopefully that explains it, if you need any more detail give me a shout

edit. Sorry, just saw the date of your post. I wasn't notified about the post for some reason so apologies for the delay!

Table saw for DIY

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