Compound miter saw or Table saw?

Question

we just bought our first home, so i have a brand new garage to feel with all the tools i have ever dreamed of. we lived in an apartment for years, so all i have is a tool box with the basic things to get. don't get me wrong i love my power drill, socket wench and stud finder, but its time to move up with the big dogs. so to mark this new occasion my wife has decided to get me the first piece. so heres the question. For the DIY, first time home buyer, what is the better tool to have first. Table saw, or Compound miter saw?

Answer 1

radial arm saw is what i would buy,  

Answer 2

if you want to go all out, get a Shop Smith.

table saw. compound miters. drill press, disc sander. wood lathe. horizontal boring. belt sanding. planing. jointing.

i don't know what all they have for them now. mine is a 1955 model.

the basic unit is mostly a really adjustable table saw, disc sander, and drill. for lathe work a few more pieces. check out their website.

expensive. but can be worth it.

Answer 3

Compound miter. it's great for straight cross cuts ( against the wood grain) and angled cuts a 10'' blade is a good start.

(a 12" would be good for straight 2x8 cuts or angled 2x6's if you plan on doing anything elaborate)

A table saw would be more for straight rip cuts (along the grain) and for really straight long cuts

Answer 4

I agree with the shop smith recomendation..I know a friend has one also from the 1950's and still going..you can plane wood, have a table saw, a mitre saw, a lathe, a drill press, and many mnay other options..here are some on e bay for bidding that look good..make sure to get one that has all the attachments like some here..I seen one that is just the basic motor and frame..do not get that one..for you will have to buy all of the attachments seperately and cost alot..I see some with all the bells and whistles here at the 5 and 600 doallar range..Check the sellers ratings out and thier amount of sells they have before considering..they have feedback links here on every item for sell..heres some links...

http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_nkwZsho...

The above are for bid..You can e mail the seller for a buy now price..

Here is one with a "buy it now" option if you don't want to bid..make sure you see the shipping info on any of these items...some or "pick up only"....

http://cgi.ebay.com/Shopsmith-woodworkin...

The seller on the one above has a 100% positive feedback

Answer 5

I would definately say a compound mitre saw.  They are much more useful and can give that perfect finish to those awkward jobs.  Do't get me wrong a table saw is good, but most jobs that a table saw can do, a basic hand saw can do.

Answer 6

Unless you plan on doing rip cuts on large pieces of wood(which a good home supply store of lumber yard will do for you) go for the compound miter.

Answer 7

The Shop Smith is a fine tool but if your budget only allows you the choice of a table saw or compound miter right now get the table saw.  It will do everything a compound miter can, plus.  With a few attachments you can cut dadoes, moldings, coves, tenons, and wedges. Coped, rabbet, and box joints are easy with a table saw and if you want to build some plywood cabinets, shelves or any other projects are you going to have the building supply store cut it all for you?

Answer 8

Do NOT get a 10" saw.   Go to home depo... they have a 12" Rigid sliding compound miter saw that is excellent.  You can get the stand with wheels also for about 179.00.  So, for an investment of around 700 bucks you can have a saw that will do many many things around your house.

Answer 9

Whow! You have a lot of answers.  Some of it may be due to the way you asked the question.  Let me mention that first.  You have spoken of your love of tools; just the idea that you can do so many things.  That's fantastic.  But having worked with tools and having been around some of the old timers I would say a power tool is not picture or a special baseball used in that All stars game.  You will not just be looking at it but you will want to do things with it.  Its purchase should be driven by function.  Many times I have heard a tradesman talk of going to buy a new tool... "when the next job comes along to use it."  

Figure out what you might want to do first.  Are you putting up moldings and want to make a lot of angle cuts?  Will you be making many cross cuts in a lot of dimensional lumber?  (miter saw)  But are you thinking of making some cabinets and will need to saw down some sheet goods or rip dimensional lumber or trim?  (Table saw)  

When I think of your asking this question, it implies that you don't have a whole lot of experience with power tools (other than your drill.)  You will need to increase your skill level while trying to do things in a safe way.  It would be the saddest thing if in your excitement you made some damaging mistake.  I would rate some tools from most dangerous to the least as radial arm saw, sliding arm compound miter saw, power hand saw, table saw, Shop smith, compound miter saw, hand drill, tile saw.  (I hope the Shop smith guys aren't going to be too upset that I don't rate their favorite higher than a table saw. (on this scale of what is more dangerous) Something you have familiarity with is going to be safer than something which is new (to a degree.)  

Also there is some distinction between bench tools with hand tools.  Bench tools are generally safer than their hand tool equivalent.  Next to my drill, I probably use my power hand saw or my sawzaw the most.  But this is not as safe to use as a miter saw.  You will want to consider if you want to go battery powered for a lot of tools and use the same battery system or don't care for the portability. (I recently used a battey powered miter saw.)

Depending upon the size of your miter saw it can be like a portable bench tool or mostly restricted to bench use.  A table saw is almost by definition a bench tool, but there are many more portable versions now.  Mine folds.  When I have my table saw set up it becomes my work bench and operations central for my project.  

Read magazines or books about the different things you can do with the tools.  Decide on a smallish project you might want to tackle.  Consider renting a tool if you think you may use it infrequently.  Try to buy the best tools you can afford.  It will save a lot of grief.  I am not against buying some tools in garage sales or "flea" markets or other second hand sources like "Craigs list." once you know what you want.  Look for sales on tools.  They happen all the time.  

Finally, your best current decision would be to buy a gift certificate until you know what you want to tackle.  Welcome to the world of power tools.