Woodworking crosscut tools: Feedback needed

[Egon]

I prefer to rip on a tablesaw.

I have sears radial arm saw, joiner, routers, scroll saw.

I prefer a bandsaw for ripping.

 

[4570Man]

I prefer a bandsaw for ripping.

You’re joking right?

 

[dragoneggs]

I prefer a bandsaw for ripping.

You’re joking right?

I hope so... table saw for me, but I could see a panel saw would be handy.

 

[PILOON]

I've got them all, 14" band, 10" table and 12" compound sliding miter saw.
Also 10 portable table saw.
The only one that ever hurt me was my 8" Dewalt radial arm saw. Dang thing 'grabbed' a piece of 2x stock and literally drove it into my stomach.
As far as jobsite convenience my older 10" Makita was the handiest even though it could not do clean 45 Deg cuts in 2 x 4 stock. (always left a small corner) and also did ongles only one way so you had to thing 'upside down' so to speak.
The 12", while bulky, cuts any compound any which way and also being a slider can cut wider boards, just bulkier to handle and tote around.
In the shop my table saw is super accurate and has an upgraded rip fence as well as a slider for perfect 90 deg cuts.
The table is wide enough to handle 4 x 8 sheets as well as being equipped with outfeed table.

LOL I still maintain 4 hand saws, rip, coarse cut and one fine toothed for delicate moldings etc.
Every tool has its place and power is not always the answer.

If I did enough I'd have a small 'chop saw' just to make neat cuts in ABS and PVC piping. Always hated using a hand saw for that as the fits never were like I'd like them to be.

But then I'm a tool freak.

 

[Egon]

You’re joking right?

Nope!

Properly set up bandsaw and it goes much faster. Rip thicker wood too.

 

[/pine]

Depends on the size of the lumber/timbers being ripped...check out any major sawmill operation...besides a circle mill they usually have big band saws for ripping down bigger already sawed beams...

Lots of ripping done with band saw mills...can likely cut a pile of stickers a lot faster with the BSM than with a table saw (one board at a time)...!

 

[dragoneggs]

Nope!

Properly set up bandsaw and it goes much faster. Rip thicker wood too.

How do you rip a 4’ by 8’ in half? Most folks that that bandsaws are limited to 12” or 14” if you are blessed with a larger one.

Also a bandsaw really needs a longer fence and table to support anything large.

 

[4570Man]

Depends on the size of the lumber/timbers being ripped...check out any major sawmill operation...besides a circle mill they usually have big band saws for ripping down bigger already sawed beams...

Lots of ripping done with band saw mills...can likely cut a pile of stickers a lot faster with the BSM than with a table saw (one board at a time)...!

A sawmill bandsaw is a different animal. Sometimes typically found in a home shop like a 18” or less saw is a far cry from that. A bandsaw might cut thicker but how often are you doing that? My 10” table saw will cut about 3” thick without flipping the stock over. A table saw cuts faster, straighter, and smoother. You might get the bandsaw to acceptable speed and straightness, but it’s still rough and fairly limited in width. I’ve never seen a bandsaw even 36” ones with a big enough table to be very good at ripping long boards.

 

[/pine]

A sawmill bandsaw is a different animal. Sometimes typically found in a home shop like a 18 or less saw is a far cry from that. A bandsaw might cut thicker but how often are you doing that? My 10 table saw will cut about 3 thick without flipping the stock over. A table saw cuts faster, straighter, and smoother. You might get the bandsaw to acceptable speed and straightness, but it痴 still rough and fairly limited in width. I致e never seen a bandsaw even 36 ones with a big enough table to be very good at ripping long boards.

Around here most of the mills are set up with upright band saws with long feed tables and fences...logs are cut 8", 10", 12" + by whatever width the log is...unless there is a large order for smaller beams (timber frame job etc.) most cuts go to the band saw and not put back on a circle mill...

These days a lot of the commercial work (for builders/contractors etc.) is re-sawing old salvaged beams etc...this is almost always ripping long (often hand hewed) beams...it is all done with a band saw...

On our production saw bench we currently are using a 19" Grizzly band saw for re-sawing...

 

[Egon]

How do you rip a 4’ by 8’ in half? Most folks that that bandsaws are limited to 12” or 14” if you are blessed with a larger one.

Also a bandsaw really needs a longer fence and table to support anything large.

Skillsaw and a 2x4 work well for this. Lots of folks now use tracksaws.

In feed/out feed tables. No long fence needed; just a post opposite the blade works for many people.

With the right blades one can get a pretty clean cut.

 

[ddbackhoe]

. I have the saw table on a screw lift to allow vertical adjustment on other tools like the planer.

That was a really good idea.

 

[Cord]

I have a makita LS1210 chop saw that I use for rough cuts and a Makita sliding dual compound miter saw that I use for trim work. They both have their place, but the sliding saw definitely has more capacity and would be my first choice. The price of these saws has come down a lot, I paid over a grand for saw 15 years ago. I'd buy it again if I had to. I just love that saw. Spend the extra coin for the dual mitering. I use the feature all the time.

 

[Handloader109]

I've had, two sliders. Decent makita, and crap lowes brand. Both gone into trash. Miters sling stuff BADLY. I really don't like them even though they are similar to ras. I've two 1940s walker Turner radial arms. Easy 15 inch width crosscut.
Works great. I only crosscut with them, but they work great. Way better than a sliding miter.

 

[dragoneggs]

I've had, two sliders. Decent makita, and crap lowes brand. Both gone into trash. Miters sling stuff BADLY. I really don't like them even though they are similar to ras. I've two 1940s walker Turner radial arms. Easy 15 inch width crosscut.
Works great. I only crosscut with them, but they work great. Way better than a sliding miter.

Of course having both a radial and a sliding crosscut can't be worse than having only one or the other. But setting up a radial for compound mitering is not preferred by me. And then there are the space requirements especially if you have a table saw. If I am choosing two out of the three... the radial arm loses. Case closed as it sits unused in the corner for a decade.

 

[4570Man]

Of course having both a radial and a sliding crosscut can't be worse than having only one or the other. But setting up a radial for compound mitering is not preferred by me. And then there are the space requirements especially if you have a table saw. If I am choosing two out of the three... the radial arm loses. Case closed as it sits unused in the corner for a decade.

I currently have a radial arm saw that came in a lot of stuff I bought. The only advantage I see is increased crosscut capacity. It’s not even much gains with the smaller radial arms. Making mitered cuts with the radial arm is a joke compared to the miter saw. Also the radial arm is worse to force feed itself into the material.

 

[2manyrocks]

Even if you wanted a RAS, you might find it hard to find one unless you found it at an estate sale or in the want ads.

 

[kinglake]

Skillsaw and a 2x4 work well for this. Lots of folks now use tracksaws.

In feed/out feed tables. No long fence needed; just a post opposite the blade works for many people.

With the right blades one can get a pretty clean cut.View attachment 575756

View attachment 575760

What you are showing is "resawing" not "ripping".

 

[dragoneggs]

What you are showing is "resawing" not "ripping".

Correct... and resawing almost always requires planing and ripping afterward. Neither of which are best done on a bandsaw.

 

[4570Man]

What you are showing is "resawing" not "ripping".

Agreed. It’s an apples to oranges comparison. Bandsaws aren’t made to rip lumber and table saws aren’t made to resaw. The bandsaw cuts need cleaned up with a jointer or planer. A table saw cut is a finished edge. Good luck trying to cut boards a precise width while accounting for the width removed on the jointer.

 

[/pine]

A rip cut or "ripping" is any cut or cutting with the grain...does not matter what kind of saw is used...it's mostly about the blades or band blades...