Table Saw

[arcadegamenut]

Would something like this work?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20789&item=4387105006&rd=1

Or do you need one of the larger ones?

[CJK]

Depends on what you want to cut. 3/4" MDF or plywood? Nope.

Your best bet would be something like a contractor's saw (probably around $350-500+, depending on the brand and features), but if you're really tight for money, rather than wasting it on some total junk saw that will likely fail in some sort of dangerous fashion, take a look at benchtop saws like this one which can be mounted on legs:

Amazon.Com Link

-- Chris

[arcadegamenut]

I should have called the thread tools instead of table saw.

How about links to some of the other tools that might be needed...

Thanks!

[Navmaxlp]

Drill, Jigsaw, Circular saw, Router, Dremel tool and a wide array of drill bits and fittings are what I used. Additionally you can never go wrong with Sawhorses, a good T or L square, and clamps. I can't stress clamps enough hehe they make life a lot easier. Home Depot.com has everything there to look at then check different websites for lower prices. You could probably do it all with less but, I still dream of more tools hehe.

[arcadegamenut]

I have a fairly good idea of what tools are needed...Mr Saint discusses them in the book.

But since I don't know a lot about them and there are so many different kinds (the table saw being a perfect example), I guess I was looking for ideas/links to things that would work.

For example, Chris came up with a great one on the table saw. Nothing too cheap that it would fall apart, but not the $400 - $500 model either.

[DrewKaree]

Depends on what you want to cut. 3/4" MDF or plywood? Nope.

DEFINITELY nope!  I've got a cordless saw with a bigger blade than that - when that seller says "smaller woodworking projects", he sure as heck isn't kidding!  Judging from the blade size advertised, I'd think you might have a hard time cutting ANYTHING on that saw!

Your best bet would be something like a contractor's saw (probably around $350-500+, depending on the brand and features), but if you're really tight for money, rather than wasting it on some total junk saw that will likely fail in some sort of dangerous fashion, take a look at benchtop saws like this one which can be mounted on legs:

If you're really tight for money, you should be looking at buying a decent circular saw and some angle iron or MDF scrap for a sawboard to ensure your straight cuts come out straight. 

If you can't spend a decent amount of money for a tablesaw, you should save the amount you would spend on a small benchtop saw and put some more money towards it each month until you can buy a decent tablesaw in the higher range, otherwise, your money is better spent on the circular saw.  The benchtop saws tend to give people a false sense of assurance since it's "a tablesaw", and you'll get higher quality results - GENERALLY - from the nicer tablesaw. 

You'll only end up kicking yourself for spending the $100+ bucks on a benchtop saw instead of saving up to get a nicer saw.  Go to Home Depot and check out their larger table saw....the price will come down from that $450 with sales and other markdowns....Ryobi may make a saw more in line with your price range.....I'd also suggest NOT buying a tablesaw on e-bay.  If your tabletop isn't flat, fence is missing parts, trunnions are slopping all around....you can return it to the store - who are you going to send it back to @ e-bay? 

Oh, and check out www.grizzly.com decent prices and decent tools too!

[CJK]

If you're really tight for money, you should be looking at buying a decent circular saw and some angle iron or MDF scrap for a sawboard to ensure your straight cuts come out straight.

[CJK]

And another thing...

These are great for use as tool (saw) guides -- they clamp right to the work, and you can lock and unlock them with one hand:

Amazon.Com Link

(That's a 36" one, but they come in all kinds of lengths.)

-- Chris

[DrewKaree]

And another thing...

These are great for use as tool (saw) guides -- they clamp right to the work, and you can lock and unlock them with one hand:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000224DL/ref=pd_sxp_f/103-8824454-7026237?v=glance&s=hi

(That's a 36" one, but they come in all kinds of lengths.)

-- Chris

I didn't check the link, but I'm betting by your description it's one of those cam-lever saw guides.  I have the 48" one (figured I could use it for ply sheets), but have pretty much given up on it for anything over 2 and a half feet.  It bows up so much when locking it down (or else slides around when I LEAST want it to because I tried to use less pressure) that the shoe on the saw can slide under it!  The angle iron lets me clamp each end, and use my free hand to press down on the edge sticking off to the side (BEHIND the blade - accidents can and do happen when you least expect 'em - hence the name "accident" ) 

[CJK]

I didn't check the link, but I'm betting by your description it's one of those cam-lever saw guides.

[flyguy1821]

Good LORD!!  DO not buy that thing!  Looks as small as a Dremel mounted on its side.  Dont waste money on junk.  Buy a middle of the road craftsman if you arent going to use it much.  You will be very thankful you did. 

[ScoopKW]

If you want to save money on power tools, check out your local pawnshop first.

I just bought I $200 jigsaw for $25.

Basically, many carpenters are always in financial trouble. Their loss is your gain. (Callous but true.)

ScoopKW

[lokki]

Hi,
I bought the following package from Home depot

Ryobi
18-Volt "The Works" 8-Pack Cordless Combo


HomeDepot.Com Link

Not professional tools. but all I have need to build my Cabinet.  And do some work around the house.

I bought black friday so it was $180.00 instead of the listed $250.00 price.

[DrewKaree]

If you want to save money on power tools, check out your local pawnshop first.

I just bought I $200 jigsaw for $25.

Basically, many carpenters are always in financial trouble. Their loss is your gain. (Callous but true.)
ScoopKW

Making a blanket statement like that demonstrates a lack of understanding.  My brother-in-law is a carpenter.  I do side work with him (carpentry stuff).  I know several of his buddies that my company use for projects we subcontract to them.

If a carpenter sells his tools, how does he WORK in order to make MORE money in order to get further into or out of financial burdens?  The "need quick money" carpenter you are speaking of has that need because some lowlife dirtbag scumball broke into his truck/garage/house, stole his tools, and sold them to a pawnshop where someone picks them up and tells everyone that's where down-on-their-luck carpenters look to score a few quick bucks.

Your "callous but true" logic has been refuted by dozens of people I personally know, changing your "callous" comment to something more along the lines of ignorant of basic precepts of business.  If some guy waves you over to the alley to look at some tools he's "selling cheap, what do you need?" you guess one thing.  Because the guy didn't wave you over to the alley and has a parking lot next to his building, you don't even stop to think twice about it, or make your "educated guess"?

* DrewKaree shakes his head and wonders how some folks make it home alive every day

[DrewKaree]

Ouch! That kind of thing can't happen with the Festool saw. (Sorry to keep bringing up a $400 circular saw, but I love the thing!)   

Yeah, I've been drooling over a Fein router....I know what "tool lust" is

Sounds like you do a lot of woodworking, Drew -- true?

Not a whole lot for myself personally, but yeah.  Kitchen remodels, basement makeovers, bathroom installs/remodels, demo/ripout/remodels....some basic case construction and more finish carpentry than I care for (I hate the math angles....found a chart from WOOD and had it laminated )

Brother-in-law has enough tile and carpentry jobs that the money is either going to be dynamite, or the job gets turned down   Other brother-in-law does electrical, and father-in-law used to do rough framing....I just get to learn from all of 'em.  I've got to die in order to have enough time to do all the projects people "you could build this for me, hey?" to me, and I'll never turn down a new job/project where I'd learn something new.  Apprentice of everything, master of nothing

[PoDunkMoFo]

Two Words.....

Harbour Freight

If you are not planing on doing more woodworking than what you do with your cabinet you don't need to spend a fortune on tools.  I recently read a review in a magazine where they ordered a bunch of low budget tools.  They were surprised by what they got.  There point was that these tools were not as good as something name brand but if you were occasional user they did the job without breaking the bank.

You might also check the classified and yard sales just do a little research on buying used tools first.

[CJK]

Brother-in-law has enough tile and carpentry jobs that the money is either going to be dynamite, or the job gets turned down

[pcb]

..., Chris came up with a great one on the table saw. Nothing too cheap that it would fall apart, but not the $400 - $500 model either.

Yup, a 10" Table saw from Home Depot, or where ever will do just fine if you use a nice melamine blade.

[nostrebor]

Excellent sub-$300 table saw = Ryobi BT3100 at Home Depot.

The best part about this saw is a dedicated forum, on-par with this one for help and info... www.bt3central.com

Lots of info on lots of tools there, and great community.

[Samstag]

Although I own a decent collection of various power tools, I used very few building my cabinet:

• Cheap jigsaw
• Nice (Porter Cable) router
• 6 foot angle aluminum as a straightedge
• 4 very cheap (ebay) C-clamps
• Nice (Porter Cable) cordless drill (a cheap one would work fine too)
• Large carpenter's square
• #2 pencil

That's all I used for the entire woodworking portion of my build, and it came out looking very nice.

[Voodooray]

Hi gang.
Ok, first things first. That saw is a dry cut ceramic tile saw with a hobby wood blade fitted. It would struggle with most projects of even medium size, stay well clear.

Secondly.
I have been a carpenter/ cabinet maker for 14 years.
The above statement, qualified by the author as "callous but true" would be better labled as idiotic but wrong. SkoopKW, as Drew Karee pointed out, the reason they are there is because low life scum steal them to sell to people who are as low as them in my opinion. If people didn't buy stolen goods, people would not steel them in the first place. I hope that $25 Jigsaw feels good in your hands when you use it. It's hard enough getting people to pay you for a job well done these days without losing the tools of your trade. I'm lucky that i have never been out of work but if i were i would not sell my tools as when work came along i would have nothing to do it with. Frankly, your crass and stupid statement is an insult to my profession and my livelyhood.
You put it much better than me Drew Karee, but i'm incensed at this idiot.

Voodoo Ray.

[arcadegamenut]

I don't think every tool you'd see in a pawn shop is from an out-of-work construction worker, but I also don't think that every tool you see (especially the ones you get for good deals) are stolen either.

And if it matters, I have never stolen a tool nor have a ever bought a used one...so hopefully I'm safe. 

Anyway, I do, as always, appreciate everyone's thoughts, let's just try to keep the flames away, huh?

[SpeedyR]

nostrebor hit the nail on the head..

another vote for the BT3100 Ryobi table saw. I bought one a few months ago and have yet to have time to really get into it, but it's about the best bang for the buck that you can find for the table saws. just look for a sale from HD, or sign up for the credit card and get an extra 10%, etc.

and as he said as well, they have a great forum to answer any questions.

as for some other basic tools, harbor freight is ok but they are definity cheap quality. if you aren't using them much they are decent. I get some of my clamps there until I can figure out what I use a lot and buy better quality ones.

I spent a lot of money on stuff to measure and mark my wood as if you can't get that right, the rest of your project is screwed up.

Jeff

[Avery]

I dare say the majority of used tools are neither stolen nor from an out of work carpenter trying to scare up some cash.

[Avery]

Going back to the original question, I'm not sure how useful a table saw would be for an arcade cab anyway.  A miter saw might be useful if your cutting pieces for an internal frame, but for sheet goods like MDF or plywood, a circular saw and a straight edge is definitly the way to go.

According to one of the wood working magazines (Fine Woodworking or American Woodworker) a good cheap edge guide can be had in a sheet metal framing stud.  They say the ones your local home center stocks are too thin, but these are people who think a hundreth of an inch is a barely acceptable gap, so it may be plenty stout for what folks here are doing.

[nostrebor]

The whole discussion is relative. If I had to start from scratch with no tools and build a cabinet with bare minimum in tool investment, I would get the following:

1. Circular Saw (corded)
2. Router (non-plunge & 1/2" collet)
3. Reciprocating saw ("jigsaw")
4. Cordless Drill

Accessories:

1. 1/2" straight, 3-flute bit
2. 1/2" pattern bit (bit with bearing for matching a pattern)
3. 1 1/8" forstner bit (for button holes)
4. assorted twist drill bits
5. Countersink bit for #6 & #8 woodscrews
6. Pack of BOSCH brand jigsaw blades
7. As many 30" f-type clamps as I could afford
8. a bottle of white or wood glue

Using these items and some consumeables, (sandpaper, etc.) you could build anything from a basic to a very nice and complex cabinet.

This list of tools also includes some very dangerous items, and items (router comes to mind) that take some study and practice to use well.

The most important tool you have at your disposal is the internet. As I started my woodworking obsession, I spent HOURS on line. I read forums, articles, how-tos galore. I learned the terminology. I saved one metric ton of favorite sites and pages. I scrounged scrap wood for practice, and got very familiar with my tools...

Then I built a cabinet, and it came out great!