table saw or sliding miter saw???

[b23]

Not sure where to ask this so if it's in the wrong place, mods, feel free to move it to the appropriate location.

Sooo, I've been toying with the idea of getting either a table saw or a sliding miter saw.  I'm kind of leaning toward a table saw because you can cross cut as well as rip cut and with a sliding miter saw you can only cross cut.  I'm no particular expert on either and I don't want to buy one then wish I'd got the other so hopefully some of you are more versed on the pros and cons of each.  I'm open to any and all feedback so what say you??

[KFhunter]

table saw


You can always get a cheap miter saw that doesn't slide and save some money, or use a skill saw and clamp on guides, or worse case use a miter box/hand saw but that really sucks

[JimmyHoffa]

for a table saw, you can take off the fence and push through for an angle like a miter saw would give.  Some you can angle the fence and then just raise the blade.  I think the table saw is more versatile.  Table saws are usually a bit heavier.  But it is nice being able to square up wood like a table saw does.

[b23]

I've been looking at the fold up portable table saws.  I like that they fold up into a small size and won't take up a lot of space in my shop, which was kind of the one thing I liked about the sliding miter saw. 

Anyone have any experience or know much about one of these fold up portable table saws??

[Alchase]

I have a nice fold-up table saw, rarely use it.
To much work to pull it out, set it up, then clean it up and put it away again. I find myself using my circular saw with a Craig fence.
But I use my chop saw all the time. I bought a Toshiba (non-slider) and it has been a great saw, but if I were to do it again, I would by a slider.
You are limited to a 2x6 in width on a non-slider.
If you have the room for a good table saw, they are very useful.
Especially if you are cutting fine grade ply.

If it was me, I would buy a good slider chop saw.

[HighlandLofts]

My table saw just went tits up so i,m in the market for another one.
I use the table saw a lot, I generally rip 2x4s or2x6s with it.

I bought a new Ryobi miter saw at JC's pawn shop in Mt Vernon for only $75. I use that a lot as well, they each have their own use. As far as cutting angles the miter saw is the only way to go. I made a table for the miter saw that I made. I have five feet on the left side of the saw and 3 &1/2 feet on the right side the wood rest on when I cut it. I used plywood with 2x4s flat underneith to hold the saw and I ripped 2x4s with plywood on top even with the table of the miter saw.  I have two 3/8" carriage bolts that the miter saw set in the keep it aliened with the table.

I'd buy both and be done with it.

[Alchase]

My miter saw is recessed four inches lower then my work bench so the saw surface is even with my bench top. I have 8 ft to the left and 6 ft to the right of the saw.
This pic was before I put the Hardboard top on.

[j_h_nimrod]

Both have their place but I know for the majority of the work I do a miter saw is the go to. I love the sliding miter with double bevel, rip out to 16" and still cut pretty good corners for fine trim work. I have used a guide board and Skil saw a number of times to take the place of a table saw. I think the job a miter does is harder to recreate with other tools than what a table saw does.

[heronblu]

Sliding miters are great, but for the hobbyist woodworker are generally not necessary. I'd echo what others have said already and suggest buying a folding table saw and a cheaper non sliding miter saw. I use bosch folding table saws for my job sites and I couldn't recommend them more highly. Dewalt and makita make comparable saws if you'd rather those brands. Good luck.

[tlbradford]

You need both, since they are different tools for different purposes.  I agree with j_h though.  I can get by with a skil saw and a fence for most of what a tabLe saw does for me.  So if I could only buy one it's a miter saw.

[HighlandLofts]

For the price of a new saw you can buy them both from a pawn shop or on CraigsList. I'm going to pick one up from Craigslist tomorrow and then get a better one from a hunting Wa member in November.

[AWS]

Any thoughts to a Radial Arm saw?  When I had my construction business it was used a lot being able to do precise cross cuts and rip.  It really came in to it's own when doing dado cuts as you can see the work and easier to adjust the depth.

[b23]

Any thoughts to a Radial Arm saw?  When I had my construction business it was used a lot being able to do precise cross cuts and rip.  It really came in to it's own when doing dado cuts as you can see the work and easier to adjust the depth.

I could be wrong but I think the sliding miter saw, for many, has taken the place of a radial arm saw.

Ya know, you all aren't making this a very easy decision.  Everything time I think I've got my mind made up, I read another reply that makes me second guess myself. 

Sheesh, this is more difficult than deciding which new cartridge to have built. 

[AWS]

I have a dewalt 12" sliding compound miter saw and while it is great there is no way that it can replace a tabe saw, just as there is no way that a table saw can do the work of a miter saw.  When building I could easily do most of a house with a radial arm saw and a hand miter box for trim.

[b23]

Here's another question I have, if a person was to buy one used/craigslist would it be better to get a used table saw or a used sliding miter saw or are you chances of getting a POS the same either way??

[ctwiggs1]

You can do more with a good table saw than any other wood working tool.  Miter saws are for convenience. They're great but a table saw is far more versatile.

Craigslist is great.  You'll see unisaws on there regularly for $300-500. 

[AWS]

If your buying on craigs list you can inspect it and make sure everything is in order, no worn out bearings and you should be able to run it, to test the motor.

[tlbradford]

I buy a lot of tools used.  That being said, black friday sales are coming up and you can get some crazy deals.  That saw AWS posted usually goes on sale for $399, or $499 with a stand.  The labor I save from running trim in a home pays for a saw.  If you are running crown molding it pays for itself even faster.

[ctwiggs1]

Black Friday sales are REALLY good for tools

[b23]

Good to know and I'll start looking at the sales, thank you all.   

Is there any particular brand better than another when comes to consumer level, table or sliding miter saws?

[Happy Gilmore]

I couldn't give away the perfectly good table saw I had. Tried here for three weeks until I found someone looking for a boyscout donation for camp tools. I drove it to Mount Vernon.

I don't make cabinets so, everything I need ripped my skilsaw works fine for and a few more precise things, I have plenty of clamps and I can make a fence in a matter of minutes.

[TheHunt]

I have both but I purchased them based on the projects I was working on.  Base trim, hardwood floors and a deck.  That right there paid for both.

[tlbradford]

Is there any particular brand better than another when comes to consumer level, table or sliding miter saws?

Not really too much, just stay with the major brands.  You can save some money on a generic miter saw stand, rather than going with the same brand as your saw.

[Jpmiller]

You can turn the head on a radial arm saw to do rip cuts and cross cuts. If you're not ripping wide strips or ripping from sheet wood a radial arm saw does both the best. I don't use my miter saw hardly ever anymore. It's all table and radial arm. It all depends on the application and budget.

Bear in mind a construction grade saw of any kind requires alot of constant tuning to keep it square in my experience so if you're looking for a finer quality level be ready to step up a level in price.

[Holg3107]

Honestly if you really want a one tool does it all go with a track saw! We get more use out of a track saw at our job sites than a sliding miter or table saw. Especially if you already have a 12" chop saw the track saw will take care of your needs! We run all Festool (Insanely expensive) but Dewalt makes a nice track saw that is a little more affordable.

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DWS520CK-TrackSaw-59-Inch-102-Inch/dp/B001IMEEEM/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1508940944&sr=8-6&keywords=track+saws

[KFhunter]

I wouldn't mind a track saw