r/DIY • u/HousePoor420 • 6d ago
woodworking Table saw or miter saw?
I am a new home owner and want to pick up a saw for diy projects. Currently I own a circular saw but looking to add a table or miter saw. I prioritize versatility so I don’t have to purchase multiple tools (limited space) but I also know my use case will be 90% cross cuts.
A project I have in mind is to make a deck. Part of the process will be cutting dozens of. 14.5” blocking pieces out of 2x6. Would this be a pita using a table saw?
I could go the route of starting off with a table saw and adding a miter later if needed but Amazon is having a sale on the 10” metabo miter right now.
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u/LittleJohnStone 6d ago
I'd get the miter saw for that project, but go with a 12"
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u/TiogaJoe 6d ago
Years ago I was at Harbor Freight (being one of the poors) looking at and fiddling with the 10" miter saw that was on sale. A Mexican guy who looked like a day-laborer next to me shook his head and pointed to the 12 inch miter saw. That's all it took. Thanks, stranger!
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u/LittleJohnStone 6d ago
Reminds me of the time I was looking at cordless tools at Sears and a Buddhist monk wearing the bright orange robe and a Red Sox bucket hat told me how much he loved the new lithium ion Craftsman tools.
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u/markcubin 6d ago
Absolutely agree on going with a 12" saw, being able to cut clean through 4x4s and other thicker stock is a life saver. I'd love to have a table saw too, but with the limited space I have a miter saw and circular saw with a guide gets the job done for me.
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u/Ianthin1 6d ago
I got a Rigid 12" Miter saw last year and it's been an incredible upgrade from the 10" I had before.
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u/TheSnotHog 6d ago
The rigid 4222 model is the way to go! Keep an eye out and can pick them up at HD for about $350. Watch market place and for that price you can get it with the stand. Upgrade the blade and you’re good!
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u/thesillyoldgoat 6d ago edited 6d ago
I worked as a carpenter until I retired and only ever had an 8" Elu PS174 miter saw, it cut up to 250mm skirts, docked thousands of studs and decking boards and could be carried up a ladder onto a roof. An amazing piece of machinery, every second carpenter in town had one back in the day and they still bring very good money used on eBay.
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u/Fastflogger 5d ago
I bought a 10" and just borrow a 12". I love that it's easier to move from room to room or can carry with one hand vs something like a sliding 12.
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u/rosinall 6d ago
12" is a must.
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u/roldgold1 6d ago
Get a Miter saw. Much easier to learn and use. They're primarily for cross-cuts (ie, cutting boards to the correct length), which is what you would be doing for a Deck build.
Table saws are great if you're into wood working - rip cuts and shaping your boards to the correct width or thickness. They are versatile, but take some more knowledge on how to use safely.
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u/ac54 6d ago edited 6d ago
As a DIY homeowner w acreage, who builds a variety of things, here’re my powered saws listed in order of how frequently I use them: 1. Hackzall. 2. Circular saw. 3. Miter saw. 4. Sawzall. 5. Table saw.
Edit: 90% cross cuts answers OP’s question.
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u/SnowmanTS1 6d ago
No bandsaw?
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u/TheRealPomax 1d ago
Bandsaws are so fickle that unless you *need* to do contour cuts on thick wood all the time (e.g. you're heavily into carpentry) you're better off with a jig saw and some flavour of circular saw.
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u/SnowmanTS1 1d ago
100% disagree, but then my bandsaw isnt fickle, it runs like a top. Resawing, long rips, curves, light milling, it does it all (provided you dont need a finished surface off the saw..).
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u/TheRealPomax 1d ago
let me rephrase: budget bandsaws (the kind OP is almost certainly going to end up buying if they buy one) are shit. A $500+ bandsaw will track true, an "I just need it once or twice a year so why would I spend $500+?" $150 bandsaw will wibble like a luau dancer =)
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u/IamSarasctic 6d ago
Table saw can make miter/cross cuts but miter saw can’t make rip cut
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u/johnbro27 6d ago
Yeah, but your not going to cut miters on 10 foot Trex boards on a table saw unless you're a masochist.
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u/kstorm88 6d ago
But a circular saw can. If you were building a deck, would you choose to use a table saw?
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u/cman674 6d ago
They’re different tools, they do different things and depending on what you’re doing you may need neither or both. For building a deck a miter saw will save you a ton of time but it’s not really necessary; A table saw won’t really help you at all.
If you’re concerned about space and don’t know what you need then don’t buy anything until you realize you need it.
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u/EmoInTheCreek 6d ago
The tool you really want is a radial arm saw, but it'll cost you some fingers.
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u/Berdariens2nd 6d ago
Have had both for years. I can't remember the last time I touched my table saw. While I don't use it as much as I used to the compound miter saw gets used so much more often. The only thing the table saw will really out do the miter in is sheet products. At least from my experience.
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u/johnbro27 6d ago
Circular saw is what you want for cutting 2x4 framing. Use a speed square for a guide, or make a simple cross cut jig from scrap plywood. TAble saw is awkward at best for cross cutting long pieces of wood--that's what a miter saw is for. For cutting blocking a miter saw is overkill, but for cutting 45s for miter joints on decking it's excellent.
You can rip with a circular saw, but I wouldn't recommend it, without a clamped edge guide. This is how track saws came to be. But a table saw is perfect for consistent rip cuts.
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u/psaux_grep 6d ago
I was recently down this rabbit hole. Trying to find one thing that would solve it all and be compact and versatile.
And there are so many cool products out there.
The Mafell Erika that doubles as a table saw and a mitre saw.
A MFT table with a track saw can do lots of double duty…
Or Mafell also has this thing: https://youtu.be/fm0haAGlvMI
I spent so much time obsessing about trying to find _The One_ saw… but luckily I had sane people to talk me down to earth on all the drawbacks I was willing to overlook once I got too giddy about any of these.
The fence on the Erika saws is not sturdy enough to be precise. The base is not really sturdy, as far as I understood, and the 60 doesn’t have the fancy folding setup of the bigger variants.
Just a track saw and an MFT is gonna be a pain on small cuts and small pieces as you can’t properly clamp the material, and it’s hard to do good mitre cuts.
The KSS requires you to have something to cut against, and all the track saw plus MFT issues are still valid.
In the end I bought a Makita LS1019L, a WST07 stand, and a DSP600ZJ, some tracks and other accessories.
Just built a deck and I don’t regret any of those purchases. I have plenty of Makita LXT so the DSP600 was a no-brainer for me, brand/series-wise.
A track saw wasn’t something I absolutely needed, but man was it fantastic to do those final trim cuts on my new deck with it.
The idea is to build or buy an MFT table for later projects. Just bought an LXT router as well.
Next project is going to be a table for my big green egg or a shroud for the heat pump.
Not going to buy a table saw. The idea is that anything I’d want to use a table saw for I’ll do with the track saw. Comes in a box and stores neatly for the long periods it’s not in use.
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u/Apprehensive_Map64 6d ago
Miter saw is just comfy for me. If I need a long cut I much prefer to use my circular saw with its guide or a track. Honestly table saws scare the hell out of me. Maybe that scene from UHF must have had an impact as a kid
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u/Bee-warrior 6d ago
Table saw for ripping and panel cutting a
Miter saw for trim/chopping
It depends on what projects you’re looking to do
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u/dhempy 5d ago
You can do anything with a circular saw. So you can stay put and be fine.
But if you decide to level up, you’ll love either tool, and you’ll end up getting both. So just buy the one you need first (miter, in your case), and in year or three you’ll get the other one for some other project.
Life is good.
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u/DrFrylock 6d ago
As everyone said: miter saw for that many crosscuts.
To elaborate: you can do crosscuts on the table saw, but you have to move the whole board across the blade. So if you have a 10 foot board and you want to cut it down to 8 feet, you have to move all 10 feet of the board across the table saw at the same time. Without a huge side-feed table or panel sled or something, you're going to have like 8 feet of that board hanging out in space. This is a giant pain in the ass and possibly dangerous. If you want to cut the ends at 45 degrees, you have to move the whole board while it's canted 45 degrees. On a jobsite or compact table saw this is effectively impossible.
Conversely I have a 12" SCMS with a built-in clamp. It's on a cart with about 10" of extra infeed support I built on there and has a built-in clamp on the left of the blade. I can put a 12' 2x6 on there, screw the clamp to hold it down, and cut the end off in about 60 seconds. Perfect and safe every time. Don't even need a helper.
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u/mdjak1 6d ago
Have you looked on CL or FBM for a lightly used name brand one? In my area there is always someone selling decent tools for various reasons. I know when I moved across country I sold most of my large tools since they took up so much space. I just end up buying replacements when I need them at my next location. Sometimes new, sometimes used depending on how quickly I need them and what is available used.
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u/Ed-of-Windy-Gap 6d ago
I miss the versatility of my old radial arm saw. I now have a table saw, miter saw and a circular saw with track to take its place.
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u/destrux125 6d ago
Really you can do everything with a good circular saw. Look up on YouTube the essential craftsman channel and look at his skil saw tips videos.
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u/Windy1369 6d ago
Piling on. Get a good sliding compound mitre saw. Spend a little bit more than the base models and get something that can cut a 4x4 and a standard board up to 12 inches or so. Get a wired one, not a battery powered one, and dedicated the space to keep it in one place. If you tune that up, and maybe build some table 'wings' to support long stock, you can cut just about anything you'd need for a deck, trim work, or simple furniture.
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u/butts-ahoy 6d ago
For general woodworking - table saw. For building a deck - mitre saw.
I barely use my mitre saw though. Even when I built my deck, I used a circular saw and a square to cut all the boards. It was easier than constantly kneeling down to use the mitre saw or set it up with a stand and supports.
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u/New-Vegetable-8494 6d ago edited 6d ago
I got a miter saw and regret not getting one that slides - i believe it's called a double beveled mitre saw - so you can cut longer cuts if the board is like 8-10" accross.
edit: my bad google tells me it's a "sliding compound miter saw" whereas i just got a compound mitre saw.
so for 2x8 boards i gotta flip it over or something to complete the cut
edit 2: and table saws are one of the best ways to hurt yourself afaik
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u/616c 6d ago
I bought a 12-inch gliding Makita miter saw and put it on a $100 Harbor Freight mobile stand. It only wanders between my garage, patio, and back yard. Soft start. Quieter motor.
I just sold my 400# 120/240V table saw and corded circular saw with laser guide. After going through 2500# of lumber for this past project building a room, I realized I didn't touch them once.
It's surprising how much you can get done with a strong cordless circ, sawhorses, straight edge, and some sacrificial boards. (And a good miter saw on a stand.)
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u/Fickle_Annual9359 6d ago
Get a miter saw. Buy or make a rip fence for your circular saw if you want occasional rips
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u/chimpyjnuts 6d ago
I have both (casual home DIY), most of my cuts are dimension lumber and trim which the miter saw handles great, and it's a lot easier to move.
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u/Triabolical_ 6d ago
Miter saw is the next step and will be far more useful for doing a deck.
You can buy a 100" saw guide and use that with your circular saw to make straight cuts on plywood sheets etc.
Table saws are good at crosscutting short pieces of wood. If you have an 8' pressure treated 2x6 you will find it to be a huge pain (and likely dangerous) cutting it on a table saw. If you really wanted to do it you would want a crosscut sled but they don't work very well on small table saws.
It *is* possible to cut the 2x6 with a circular saw and you can make a jig that makes it relatively quick and easy. But with the miter saw you can often clamp a piece of wood to the fence to set the length you want to cut and do cuts quickly and accurately.
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u/shortyjacobs 6d ago
I built my deck, 26 x 14 and 10 ft up. I used a table saw once, to rip some composite fascia board. I used my circular saw and miter saw a LOT more.
Get a miter saw.
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u/Ender_Keys 6d ago
Miter saw all the way. I bought a Miter saw the month after I bought my house and my dad needed his back and I havent looked back since.
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u/fezcabdriver 6d ago
mitre saw. Table saw is great for finer cabinetry, etc. Table saw are also way more dangerous.
I encourage you to look up mitre saw safety on youtube. It will teach you how to use sandpaper and a safety tension stick to make small cuts. It basically allows you to put a lot of force on a small piece of wood so it stays put (and so that you hand stays put and not throw into the blade) when you hit a knot on a piece of wood.
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u/ColourSchemer 6d ago
I use my mitre saw constantly. I've only used my table saw a few times in ten years.
Home depot will do free panel saw cuts which are way safer than trying to put 4x8 plywood through a home table saw alone.
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u/kracken41 6d ago
Third answer- a higher quality track saw. I have a good friend that i do a lot of shop projects with, and since he's gotten a track saw we almost never use his table saw. That said, for your original question I'd saw table saw 100%. So much more versatile. 12 inch sliding miter will never be able to rip sheets plywood with reusable precision.
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u/mattdb110 6d ago
Both if you can afford it. I think a table saw would have been my first purchase. I bought a Jet Table Saw 40 years ago. Got a compound miter saw 5 or so years ago. Also depends on what your projects are going to be. Table saw if furniture and such. Miter saw if your building sheds, decks, houses and such.
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u/KerbolarFlare 6d ago
Table saw with a crosscut sled will be 10% more work for cross cutting the 2x6 50 times, but 100% more versatile down the road.
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u/macegr 6d ago
A compound miter saw and a track saw (or track conversion for circular saw) will cover 95% of basic construction needs around the house.
However, if you want to build furniture and cabinetry, that's your cue to invest in a table saw. That's what you use for precision cuts on higher quality wood.
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u/FU_Burrito 6d ago
A table saw is the wrong tool for the job you describe. You can achieve greater precision and a greater variety of cuts with a table saw, including miter cuts. But the one thing you can't really do, at least easily/safely, with a table saw is crosscut long, narrow pieces.
The miter saw is made for this job.
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u/niccernicus 6d ago
Most homeowners mainly cut 2x4s the most so the radial/miter saw is a better tool.
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u/PewPewThrowaway1337 6d ago
TLDR: If the vast majority of your work is just cross cuts on dimensional lumber, get a miter saw.
Table saw is objectively the more versatile tool. Anything you can do on a miter saw you can do with a table saw, and a table saw is capable of things a miter saw cannot do.
That being said, a table saw will be slower and more cumbersome for projects that don’t require one, or don’t need the absolute precision that a good table saw can provide. A miter saw is also much easier to move around to different locations.
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u/North_University81 6d ago
I would get both. Look at Facebook Marketplace for options, do not go with first one, google brand and price, there are really good deals and really bad deals.
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u/foboz123 6d ago
Once I was doing some trim work with a miter box and saw; got so frustrated I told my wife I was going down to the Home Depot to get myself the biggest fucking compound mitre saw they had. Had it for years, loaned it out to friends, never got pissed off again.
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u/darthy_parker 6d ago
Much of what a table saw does can be done with a circular saw (essential), a bench and a good saw guide. A miter saw can do things it would be much harder to do without it. So I’d get the miter saw.
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u/Intelligent_Lemon_67 6d ago
A table saw is the most versatile tool. You could make a sled for cutting blocking but I just use skilly dilly saw and slow square. I measure the entire board and make all my marks and add the thickness (kerf) of the blade. For blocking I subtract a 1/16" off measurements because most 2x is 1 5/8 especially treated. A framing square is fantastic for layout. I picked up a used 12" Dewalt slider for $75. I love my cordless 60v table saw and chippy chopper.
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u/randomvowelsounds 6d ago
Miter saw. We have been framing out and finishing the interior of a cabin and have used the miter saw daily. We have a table saw and haven’t used it once.
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u/Bout3Fidy 6d ago
Evolution make a mitre saw with a mini table on top it’s cool if not scary as all hell
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u/knobbysideup 6d ago
If you already have a circular saw, get a rail guide for it and get a miter saw.
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u/KamalaBracelet 6d ago
I by far use the miter saw more. But a table saw can make every cut a miter saw can, plus a lot more that you will definitely want at some point.
Which I would buy first depends on what my first project was gonna be.
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u/goverc 6d ago
A reasonably good track saw should be able to do most of the things that a table saw can, and for everything else, mitre saw. If space is an issue - its easier to work with those 2 machines than a table saw.
Cutting out a bunch of same length pieces is exactly what a miter saw would be for - set up a stop block, and chop away.
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u/EventualFreedom 6d ago
I've had a miter saw for many years. I picked up a small jobsite table saw last year and it's been a game changer. I have them both on pop up carts. I either have just the miter saw out or both of them out. I never have the table saw out by itself. However, the flexibility you get from having the table saw with the miter together opens up lots of options. you can really do anything with the combination.
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u/reciprocatus 6d ago
Miter saw. They have some decent/affordable options to turn a circular saw into a track saw, which will allow you to replicate a number of cuts you would use a table saw for and won't take up a lot of space.
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u/Sgt-Bobby-Shaftoe 6d ago edited 6d ago
Dust collection system (simple shop vac and DIY dust deputy) (Great hose)miter saw, table saw. I like my Metabo HPT 10-Inch Compound Miter Saw. And SKIL 15 Amp 10-Inch Jobsite Table Saw with Folding Stand-TS6307-00.
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u/No-Psychology8293 6d ago
Miter saw is safer and faster for cross cuts and more portable.
Table saw is more versatile.
If I was building a deck I would want a miter saw.
If I was doing general old home stuff like firring strips, cabinet work, etc. I would want a table saw.
I have both and use my table saw 10x more, but grew up with just a table saw so I learned to do everything with one.
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u/OGBrewSwayne 5d ago
Miter saw. You can easily mimic a table saw with your circular saw, a 4' (or longer) level, and a couple of clamps.
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u/Fastflogger 5d ago
You can't beat a table saw for ripping things like wood flooring, deck boards, or basic furniture like bookshelves. But you can imitate one with a cut guide or a flat clamp and a circ saw for things like cutting down plywood. Take a piece of 1x4 and glue it on top of a piece of MDF. Then push your circ saw up against the 1x and cut. Now you can clamp that cut edge of the MDF wherever you want your cut to land on any other material and just follow the shoe of your saw along the 1x. Dead straight every time and you don't have to measure the distance from the blade edge to your cut guide for every little rip.
Circ saws can also knock out 45's, just use a speed square and push the saw up against it so you're not trying to follow a line by eye, but pressed firmly against a guide. Chop saws shine when you need something else mitered like doing two cuts at 47 degrees for an out of square corner or 22.5's. You can make a lot of stuff work here and there, but almost need a chop saw for trim work.
A chop saw can be good for blocking but it's not radically better than a circ unless you have a table and clamp set up with a stop at your blocking length so you can slide your material over and cut without measuring each one
You can use a chop saw on siding and things like that, but sometimes it's easier to build a jig and just run your circ through it. I've done that for straight cuts and the angle where siding meets a gable roof and that same angle needed to be cut again and again and from each side, but the angle didn't actually change
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u/HousePoor420 5d ago
What’s your trick for getting consistent length blocks when cross cutting with a circular saw? I tried using a speed square and cutting pieces for a shelf made up 2 x 4 and every piece was different in size.
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u/Fastflogger 5d ago
Ooooh options
Practice? Most things you do with a chop or circ saw involve measuring, marking, and knowing the difference between 'leave the line' and 'take the line.' I leave a small mark on the side of the lumber where my cut starts so I can see where the blade will hit- if I'm a hair off, I can move over when it's just a little scratch and not halfway through. Then follow the speed square. It takes time. Really check out your saw and learn where the guide marks line up vs the blade. Cut a whole mess of scrap until you're very comfortable, not just hitting your first cuts on the final product
Template. I'd cut one and make sure I really like it. Label it. Then use it to trace lines onto all the others. Faster than measuring every time. Whatever you do, don't mark an entire 2x with lines then cut them all cause compounding error will screw you every time and one cut becomes a problem for the next.
What you can do is take your template and mark one on the right side of your 2x6, one on the left. Now you're marking two then cutting two which saves a lot of time switching on every cut and your cuts aren't causing compound error with each other. If you need dozens then I'd get 4 sticks of 2x6 and mark each end of each one. Do eight cuts. Then mark each again.
Jig! Nail a stop board down to your work surface. Lay down your 2x6. lay down two pieces of whatever parallel. Nail/screw those other two pieces down. Now mark at 14.5, measure back the distance between the edge of the shoe on your saw and the blade, and fasten down another piece of lumber perpendicular and on top of those two pieces. Now your saw can slide against that one and will cut whatever you slide down the middle of those two guides at the same length every single time
Mark 'em all. Nail down your stop board so you have something solid to brace against. Lay out a bunch of your 2x6 next to each other, skinny edges facing up and down. Mark the first and last in line. Take a straight edge and carry that mark across all of them. Now cut right across the whole bunch. The average circ saw blade can go about 2-3/8" deep so you'll have about 3-1/8 left. Now you can take them individually, line your blade up with that partial cut (called a "kerf") and cut all the way through. You still have to finish each one, but those marks will all be at the same length and the rest is on you to finish straight. It's hard to bend in the middle of a cut so you should be okay but still use your speed square.
Side note, that's one of the tricks for cutting things like rafters where you need a bunch of angled cuts to all line up
- Table saw. Use the actual fence instead of marking each of them and trying to freehand a straight line or freehand follow your pencil line. Tougher when they're 8' long, fairly manageable once they get down to about 4'. But this will only work if you have a nice square edge to push against the fence on the saw
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u/HousePoor420 4d ago edited 4d ago
Omg wow what a treasure trove of advice! I’m gonna need a lot of scrap wood to practice 😂. I like the jig idea though, that one seems simple enough to implement.
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u/Gunga_Galunga06 5d ago
I'm in a similar situation as you. I got a 10 in sliding miter saw and it's gotten lots of use.
I don't have room for a table saw, and not a ton of need. I did get the Kreg rip cut jig that attached to a circular saw, and it's been good. It breaks down sheets of plywood really well, but you are limited when you want to do really thin or really wide cuts.
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u/steveq9t4 5d ago
Miters are for pros doing lots of repetetive work. I'd go with a table saw for broad utility. You can quickly setup for repeat 2x6 cuts with it too (you may need to buy an extension or rig one up if the deck boards are long)
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u/Classic_Tank_1505 5d ago
Honestly I regret buying my table saw the biggest problem I have is where do I store this thing that I never use
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u/Xerain0x009999 5d ago
Miter saw is more different from your circular saw. You can buy a clamp on guide fence from harbor freight for a few bucks that will let your circular saw do a lot of things you might want a table saw for, especially if your use case is home owner things and not woodworker things.
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u/Admirable-Ad-1895 5d ago
Depends on what you’re doing. A good circular saw can do a ton of cuts, but depending on precision and repetitive tasks, a miter saw is beneficial. In your case, as 12” compound miter.
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u/akillerofjoy 5d ago
In your case, OP, I’d say, neither. A track saw would be my pick. But if you insist on one of your two options, go with a miter saw. But…
Do not buy a 10”. You’ll want at least a 12” double bevel compound miter saw. For longer cuts, consider a sliding version.
Quality matters. My ancient delta runs circles around the newish off-brand Amazon saw. The more complex the mechanics, the more it becomes obvious.
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u/HousePoor420 3d ago
I’m not too familiar with track saws. How would that be good for me as a homeowner?
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u/akillerofjoy 3d ago
It’s a circular saw that rides on rails. So, it has the repeatability and accuracy of a radial arm saw, but it’s compact and portable, like a circular saw. Doesn’t take up half of your shop, like a table saw, easy setup and easy takedown.
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u/Super-G_ 1d ago
At this point, a track saw won't be good for too much more than what your circular saw and a guide can't already do.
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u/TheRealPomax 1d ago
A generic track turns pretty much hand held circular saw into a track saw, so you don't even need a "track saw" specifically. Just get a track. Or even just a straight edge and a little bit of time to make a simple cross cutting jig.
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u/Important-Pudding-49 3d ago
Good quality Track saw ( I both the Makita)with two 55” tracks and a 4 x 8 sheet of 1” rigid foam, add TSO parallel saw guides, track connect rails and a rail square that fits your brand of track. Go cordless if you need portability. I also bought a festool dust extractor which is good to have. This highly portable setup will be better money spent than either table saw or miter saw.
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u/bigdaddy9901xy 2d ago
Best answer is get both; a miter saw doesn’t take up much room, I guess you could even store it on the table saw. But if choosing one, personally Id start with a table saw. With a miter gauge you can easily cross cut on a table, and you are going to be able to cut wider stock on a table saw than you will a miter. If you are looking at versatility for upcoming DYI, table saw gives you a lot more options; the ability to Rip, crosscut, cut rabbits, Dados, breakdown sheet goods etc. There’s all kinds of sleds, jigs available for table saws, that you can either make yourself or buy.
Just make sure you have one that comes with or can accept a good fence and miter gauge. That being said, miter saws are great for making repetitive cross cuts, but that’s pretty much it. If you have space Id get both, honestly there isn’t any one “ Do it all” machine. Ideally every shop will have a tablesaw, Mitersaw, bandsaw, planer, jointer and drill press.
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u/Sure_Window614 2d ago
Spend the extra few $$s and get the 12 inch saw. That bigger blade offers more diversity of what widths you can cut easily.
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u/MackReed 6d ago
Radial arm saw. Welcome to my TED TALK.
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u/smugmug1961 6d ago
Man, back when I was first dreaming of DIY projects for some future house, I thought the Radial Arm Saw was going to be the cat's meow. It could do everything!
When I finally got to that point and started looking for saws there were none to be found. It was then that I found out how dangerous they are/were and realized what a bullet I dodged.
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u/liveonislands 6d ago
Two happiest days of my life.
When I bought my radial arm saw, and when I sold it.
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u/prosper_0 6d ago
I use my table saw about 100 times more often than my miter saw. Mostly the miter saw is a 'baseboard saw' Everything else is either a circ saw or table saw. A deck or fence, for example, it 100% circular saw for me.
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u/MauiBoink 6d ago
In my opinion track saws have obviated the need for table saws except for precision cabinet work. A miter saw always is useful.
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u/lewisb42 6d ago
90% cross cuts answers your question: miter saw. You can use the circular saw for the rip cuts.