Don’t have a table saw? No problem! You have a multitude of options for creating attractive woodworking projects. In this article, we will explore the most effective means of achieving the task at hand without a table saw. Keep up to date, and you will soon be able to produce awesome work!
What is a Table Saw?
A table saw is a tool that utilizes electricity to slice through wood. The setup includes a round blade attached underneath the flat area near the table, known as the throat plate, that is in the opening. The blade can be changed in terms of how far down it goes and which angle it is set at by moving it up, down, or in an inclined angle.
A rip fence is often employed with a table saw to provide guidance to the material as it is cut. The person operating the machine is positioned at the front of it and moves the item to be cut towards the blade using the fence as a guide.
A greater benefit of a table saw compared to other types of saws is the extended workspace it provides, enabling it to cut larger materials such as sheets of plywood.
Despite its size and weight, a table saw is not as convenient to transport as other saws. You will probably need a spot particularly dedicated to it in your garage or workshop due to its size and weight.
What are the Reasons for Not Owning a Table Saw?
Though a table saw is helpful for many projects, there are a number of factors which stop people from owning one, including size, expense, and safety worries.
A table saw can occupy a lot of space, so if your work area is small it might not be able to accommodate one.
The cost of a table saw can range greatly, going from as low as $250 to exceeding $3,000 – a large expense that some woodworking enthusiasts are not willing or prepared to take.
Finally, table saws can be extremely dangerous. Each year, a significant number of individuals suffer from traumas caused by them and a lot of them are very serious.
It doesn’t matter why, you can make use of several different tools instead of a table saw when constructing woodworking projects.
Before making a selection for the tool to use, you need to decide what kind of cuts must be made for the task. Let’s look at those next.
Types of Cuts
It is critical to understand the different types of cuts you must make when looking for an alternative to a table saw. Taking that into consideration, let us review what a table saw can do when it comes to cutting and then look at other ways to achieve the same result. See the chart below to find out if the equipment you have available will be adequate for your project.
Rip Cut
To create a slit, adjust your saw blade to an angle of 90 degrees, then cut along the size of the object you are working on.
Rip cuts can be employed to decrease the width of a board or to reduce plywood sheets in order to create the size needed to assemble cabinets or furniture.
Bevel Cut
To create a bevel, tilt your saw blade away from a 90 degree position and then carve along the length of the material.
Angled cuts, or bevels, are often relevant when creating a french cleat, a great way to keep tools neat and tidy or for affixing cabinets to a wall.
Crosscut
You need to set your blade at a right angle (90°) in order to make a crosscut, and then you need to cut across the workpiece’s width. Crosscuts are often used to trim pieces of wood to the needed length.
Miter Cut
To create a miter cut, adjust your saw blade to an angle that isn’t a right angle, then cut across the dimension of your material. Miter cuts are usually employed to trim down moldings, trims, and components used in building picture frames to their required length.
Dados, Grooves, and Rabbets
A table saw can be outfitted with a dado blade composed of several blades that work in unison, forming a broad blade. The main function of dado blades is for use in carpentry when making dados, grooves, and rabbets; these cuts create a little area for connecting two items of material.
- Dados are made across the width of workpieces.
- Grooves are made along the length of workpieces.
- Rabbets are made along the edge of workpieces.
What Can I Use Instead of a Table Saw?
Let us investigate the potential of these suggestions and figure out how to use some of their features within your projects.
Circular Saw
My preferred option, if I lacked access to a table saw, would be a circular saw. The circular saw produces a cut that is quite similar to what a table saw can do, which is why it is so prevalent.
The sawblade of a circular saw follows a similar trajectory to those of a table saw, but at a much reduced size. I believe that this is a significant notion since it reveals that you will have the same kind of experience with a circular saw as you would with a table saw.
But clearly, it’s not the same.
A circular saw is both smaller in size and capable of being moved easily. The way you accomplish the task is to skillfully maneuver the saw over the object you are working on. The saw is placed in front of a table, and you operate by moving the material across it. Despite this, it still slices in the same fashion, and with the same kind of teeth on the edge.
Although it can be advantageous, you could have difficulty making a direct line along a lengthy distance. In my view, it’s not a major concern since other tools are also affected by this, not just the circular saw.
Using a circular saw, you cannot depend on the fence for support as you can with a table saw. Instead, you should attach a rigid ruler to the wood to use as a guide.
This can certainly have an effect, and you can certainly obtain the straight cut you desired, however a straight ruler has restricted access. It is necessary to continually modify it, which is a bother.
Band Saw
If using a circular saw is not your desired choice, another alternative is a band saw which can achieve desirable results. I concede that not everyone will be able to utilize a band saw. If you choose to do it, I would not exclude the possibility of utilizing it.
A band saw is a fantastic piece of equipment, offering multiple cutting options from a single device. Basically, this duplicates the table saw, but with added cuts for even more diversity.
A band saw is advantageous when making delicate or sweeping slices in material due to its vertical blade and the blade’s thinness. You don’t encounter this kind of issue with a table saw, as its blades are incredibly sturdy and made to complete one task in particular.
I recognize the assortment of slicing possibilities that accompany a band saw, and I comprehend why it could be a beneficial substitution for certain conditions. Nevertheless, there are a few drawbacks, and the band saw does have some problems.
I believe the major issue is the positioning of the blade on a band saw. I understand that it is simpler to make curved slices, etc. with it, yet it likewise stops you from doing so.
The concern is that it restricts the breadth of what can be cut because of the blade’s position. That’s irritating, and it’s definitely not a tool you could use if you wanted to duplicate a table saw that has a 50″ rip capacity, since it’s totally incapable of doing that.
Jig Saw
The blade on a jigsaw is quite thin. This indicates that it doesn’t require a lot of force to make it move away from the path it is on. In the end, it is possible that a jigsaw may not be able to provide straight, elongated cuts.
I’m not suggesting it is inconceivable, but anything in the forest can alter your trajectory, even a bit, and that is not what you desire. If you’re only doing small, straight cuts, this won’t be an issue.
The slender edge implies that this wouldn’t be suitable for cutting thicker materials. Boards that are very dense can put strain on the blade of the saw, resulting in a slower cutting time. At that time, I would opt for one of the other choices provided here in comparison to utilizing a jigsaw.
However, working with a jigsaw does not have to be a completely unpleasant or challenging experience. It will work more effectively than anticipated, despite its appearance being much different than that of a regular table saw.
As I noted earlier, if you need to make cuts of a specific size and width, then using a jigsaw is ideal. The advantage of its low weight and portability make using the saw to relocate materials much more feasible than needing to move a band saw would be.
Track Saw
Due to the rails that are connected, cutting in a straight line shouldn’t be difficult. The rails are attached to the object you are cutting, so they should remain stationary.
The rails also have a non-sliding surface that keeps them in place. In some circumstances, it might not even be necessary to use clamps because the surface is of excellent quality.
I really like the convenience of using a track saw because it’s so easy to adjust to different depths. This enables you to use multiple materials and totally manage the cut, which does work similar to a table saw for certain cuts.
How to Rip Cut Without a Table Saw
If you do not possess a table saw, there are various ways to accomplish a precise rip cut.
Circular Saw
A circular saw can be used to make rip cuts without the need for a table saw. They are most effective for cutting through sheet materials like plywood and MDF.
A circular saw can be operated without assistance, but the most precise output is achieved when using it with a guide.
A guide will direct you as you move the saw along the piece in an even path.
You can employ anything from a long plank or a shop-bought leveler, such as the Kreg Direct Edge Rule or the BORA Straight Cut Guide.
You can also utilize an attachment, such as the Kreg Rip-Cut, that connects to your saw and follows along the side of your workpiece.
The benefit of this is that you can establish the guide just once and be able to reproduce the same cuts over and over again. The downside is that the edge of the piece you are working on needs to initially be perfectly aligned; otherwise, your cut will not be exact. The cutting ability is restricted to a width of 24 inches.
Track Saw
A different approach to producing rip cuts is to utilize a track saw, which is essentially a circular saw attached to a guiding rail. The benefit of using a guide rail is that it enables you to make straighter, more precise cuts by keeping the saw’s path in check.
The downside is that they can be pricey and the guide rails may be difficult to keep in your workshop.
Band Saw
A band saw can be employed to carry out rip cuts as well. The size of the work surface being small, these tools are best used to make rip cuts on boards rather than sheet goods.
A downside to a band saw is that the saw blade could wander off path, leading to a cut that is not precise. Band saw blades result in a workpiece with a rougher edge than a table saw or circular saw so you will have to sand it to make it smooth.
Jigsaw
A jigsaw can also be used to make rip cuts. A jigsaw may not be as precise as a circular saw or track saw, so only go with it when you do not need to be particularly accurate.
Using a Kreg Straightedge Guide is a great method to guarantee accuracy in your sawing as it allows you to follow the line you wish to cut. A jigsaw blade can bend upward and downward, causing the line of the cut not to be perpendicular.
