power tools? which type is good?

[muffin man]

hey guys i have this saw

http://www.homedepot.com/prel80HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&pos=n24&MID=9876&com.broadvision.session.new=Yes&N=2984+3966&CNTKEY=misc%2fsearchResults.jsp

its skil 7 1/4 in $38 corded circular saw

the reason i got this is its cheap. well now i regret it, doesn't really work out me to cut MDF. Now im thinkin of returnin it and gettin a combination set from some where

Can you guys reccomend me a type of saw to mostly cut MDF. and also im thnkin of goin with cordless.

anyone know where i can get a combination set of jigsaw, circular saw, and drill ?

[miles2912]

Dewalt is my personal choice.  The saw has no problems with MDF or 2/4's.  Amazon.com is a good place to get tools.  Free shipping and no tax are hard to pass up.

Don

[RayB]

Avoid these brands:
 Tonka
 Fisher Price
 

[muffin man]

Dewalt is my personal choice.  The saw has no problems with MDF or 2/4's.  Amazon.com is a good place to get tools.  Free shipping and no tax are hard to pass up.

Don

ahh i need that exactly that

where did you pick it up from? and how much

[Luckydevil]

Your link isn't working. Before you go buying a new circular saw, try switching blades.
A 7+1/4" blade with 24 teeth will cut MDF pretty rough, while the same size blade
with 36 will cut it very nicely.

[muffin man]

ok the link wont link to the produc buts is the $38 one corded. im gonna return or exchange for a cordless with the saw blade on left hand a little easier

[mahuti]

My advice.... don't get cordless products unless you move around the house / site A LOT. I tried to install a deck once with my cordless drill... it could only do about 3 boards (16' plastic / wood boards, really heavy) until it ran out of power. Similarly, the cordless circular saw I had would inconveniently run low on power during the cutting of a bunch of boards. I agree with Luckydevil. Just get a different blade. Also, set the blade height only 1/4" higher than it needs to be to cut the MDF, that will help avoid tear out as well. Use a wood block as a cutting guide. Attach a small piece of wood on the bottom of the MDF at the end of the cut to avoid tear out.

That's the extent of my woodworking tips.  Anyway, If you prefer cordless.. I like lowes for tools. They beat the pants off of HomeDepot most of the time.

[Timoe]

My advice:  Buy the most expensive tools you can afford.

[DrewKaree]

STOP what you're thinking about.  You sound like you're new to the tool buying process.

1.  A set of cordless tools like what you're looking to pick up will cost you in excess of $400 for something that's decent, and by decent, I mean is STILL going to frustrate you when you run out of juice in the middle of a cut.

2.  If you're going to get a cordless set, don't bother with ANYTHING for your first set unless it's from Panasonic (and I don't think they have a circular saw) or the Milwaukee set that's Lithium-Ion (I believe, not sure of the type of battery at this moment).  Those 2 will be the most powerful and/or longest lasting you'll find right now.  The DeWalt set, while nice, is just as, if not more so, expensive than the Milwaukee set, and won't hold a charge as long. 

3.  Search around, or go online.  You can buy corded saws with the blade on the left hand side if that's what you prefer.  Are you left-handed?  If not, it'll end up being easier to follow your line if the blade is on the right-hand side once you get used to it.

4.  You haven't explained ANYTHING about what the phrase "doesn't really work out me to cut MDF".  Unless that saw isn't plugged in, there's not a snowball's chance in hell that saw won't cut MDF.  What do you mean about that?  If it's a terrible cut, tell us if you're using the blade that came with the saw, or if you replaced it, and with what kind/type/teeth on it.

I'm guessing the blade on a $40 saw isn't going to give you the same quality of cut that a LOT nicer $15 blade that's designed to cut MDF will give when you put that on your saw. 

First, you need to explain to us what you mean about the saw not working, and we can all go from there.  You may be $15 away from an enjoyable experience with an inexpensive saw and a lot less headaches down the road.

[muffin man]

well the saw drawbacks alot, as i go into cutting it cocks back messing up the line i was following. now i im thinin of gettin a jig saw to cut some angles and don't know which one i should get. i wont be probally using it alot just for some edges and angles

o and i was too also thinkin bout changing the saw blad but i taught i might as well get a a little better saw if im going to keep it.

[DrewKaree]

well the saw drawbacks alot, as i go into cutting it cocks back messing up the line i was following. now i im thinin of gettin a jig saw to cut some angles and don't know which one i should get. i wont be probally using it alot just for some edges and angles

o and i was too also thinkin bout changing the saw blad but i taught i might as well get a a little better saw if im going to keep it.

WOW, that's difficult to sort through   Sounds like the problem is either a serious flaw that should be visible with the saw, or a technique issue.  Using a jigsaw is fine, and may end up being easier for you than a circular saw.  I can't really tell if you're talking about angles on an edge, or just angles in general - kinda disjointed again in that explanation. 

The saw blade that comes with a circular saw is a general purpose blade, and usually isn't even very good at THAT!  Those circ saw blades are pretty cheap, make sure to spend the money to get one that's BETTER SUITED to what you're cutting than the standard blade that comes with your saw.  You could throw that "free" blade out and do yourself a lot of good.

[MikeDeuce]

mind if I add a Q? I'm looking into a lowbuck light duty disc/belt bench sander combo.

Considering:

http://www.ryobitools.com/index.php/catalog/tool/bd4600/

and

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00921514000

They both look like toys, but then again, so are most of my power tools and I haven't broken one (besides a dremel) yet.

The main differences I can see from online pictures is the ryobi runs faster at 1900sf/m 3450rpm (belt/disc) w/ 1/2hp and the craftsman @ 1100fpm and 2200rpm w/ 1/3hp (2/3hp max). Leaning towards the ryobi because it's cheaper. Mostly it will be sanding MDF and acrylic, and just the smallest bit of metal here and there.

Any recommendations would be appreciated, thanks.

mike

[miles2912]

I was just replying to his question about cordless tools.  The set pictured was 450.  It comes with 2 batteries so you can work pretty much all day and not worry as long as you have one battery charging.  I agree it is overkill for a project like this and is probably a bad idea. 

There is a thread about how to make a sawboard that you should check out.  Makes cutting a straight line real easy.  I would definitely get a new blade on your existing saw before dropping any more money on new equipment.   Save your cash for all the cool stuff you can put in your cab 

Don

[DrewKaree]

mind if I add a Q? I'm looking into a lowbuck light duty disc/belt bench sander combo.

Considering:

http://www.ryobitools.com/index.php/catalog/tool/bd4600/

and

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00921514000

They both look like toys, but then again, so are most of my power tools and I haven't broken one (besides a dremel) yet.

Do you own a belt sander yet?  Not these kinds, but a portable hand-held belt sander? If you do, just make a base to hold one of those if you want a bench-type sander like those.  There's plans here and there on the 'net, or someone may have one to scan in (I don't, as far as I know, and it'll take me at least a few days to check (real-life commitments next few days)) and it'll save you about half the price of those 2.  Ryobi makes a $50 sander, Black & Decker makes a $50-60 one, and "name brand" sanders will run about $90-150. 

The nice thing about a hand-held belt sander is that you can carry it right over to the larger pieces you'll deal with in this hobby, or you can put it in a holding stand you can build to deal with smaller pieces. 

The two belt-sanding stations you are looking at won't be of much use if you're looking to sand the edges of your cab sides, for instance, because you'll be frustrated trying to hold the piece on the small tables of those things.  Those stations are almost, IMO, designed for finish work of small pieces.  Until you start dealing in BIG sanding stations, the kind that'll use a lot bigger belt than either of those 2 and have a table to match the belt, and cost in the $300+ range, then a sanding station like the two you're looking at is really more of a convenience item to supplement a belt sander, random orbit sander, quarter sheet sander, or a combination of all three of those items.

For sanders, check out these guys for some cheap prices (check their refurbished's too)

www.northerntool.com
www.harborfreight.com

[DrewKaree]

Mike, this is what I'm referring to when I say a hand-held belt sander.  If you don't have one of these and are referring to using a sander on your cab, pick up one of these instead of struggling with one of those sanding stations.

[NipRing]

I'm sure someone already said this, but when it comes to tools you usually really do get what you pay for. I'm a union carpenter and i know how ---smurfy--- and short lived cheap tools are. In the end you can just add the $35 you spent on a junk circle saw to the cost your gonna pay for a decent one. For circular saws i recommend Porter Cable, for Jig I would recommend Bosch with the D-Handle, Belt sanders i recommend the Porter Cable, Panasonics for cordless drill, and I've only had 1 mitre box so far, its a Bosch and its held up pretty good over the last 7 years. Weather or not that's the best i dont know, but its been pretty good so far. One other thing, personally i really like the DeWalt table saw. Its the gear drive fence that i really like and its very portable. Good luck with your project.
~bill

[MikeDeuce]

Do you own a belt sander yet?...

Nope, as far as sanders go, just a dewalt handheld random orbit... I should have added that I just wanted the station for smaller projects (including small non arcade control related ones)... and mostly for the disc sander. I do a few projects that require true-ing up rough cuts on a variety of materials and a proper disc sander would be really helpful. Surely nothing much larger than a single player CP for rounded edge... only I've never owned one of these so I'm not sure what to look for. Seems like it might be safe to assume either one is good enough for light jobs.

If I can ever make enough room at home for a full cab though, I promise I won't look at anything less than a proper hand held belt sander. Thanks for the tips!

[pmc]

well the saw drawbacks alot, as i go into cutting it cocks back messing up the line i was following.

Make sure the blade only protrudes through the bottom of the stock by 1/4" or 1/2". If you have the blade set too deep, the saw will bind and drawback like you describe. If you were cutting 2x4's or something, the saw is probably set deep to cut the thicker stock. Adjust it for the thickness of the MDF that you are cuttting and the saw will stop fighting you.

And like others have said, swap in a plywood blade which has more and finer teeth. You'll get a much better cut.

-pmc

[RobotronNut]

...
when it comes to tools you usually really do get what you pay for. I'm a union carpenter and i know how ---smurfy--- and short lived cheap tools are.
...
For circular saws i recommend Porter Cable,
for Jig I would recommend Bosch with the D-Handle,
Belt sanders i recommend the Porter Cable,
Panasonics for cordless drill
...

LISTEN TO THIS MAN; HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT!

i heavily researched my hand power tools before i bought them, and i came to the exact same conclusions. specifically, i own the following models, and they perform beautifully and will last a lifetime, more or less  :

porter cable 6" saw boss, model 345
bosch top handle jig saw, model 1587AVS
panasonic 12V cordless drill, model EY6409

i don't own the porter cable belt sander, but their sanders are legendary, and i'm pleased with these two:

porter cable quarter sheet finishing sander (palm sander), model 330
porter cable half sheet finishing sander, model 505

[Orclord]

Dewalt is my personal choice.  The saw has no problems with MDF or 2/4's.  Amazon.com is a good place to get tools.  Free shipping and no tax are hard to pass up.

Don

Jesus $450 !!!!!

I have the same......

Mines 18v with 3 batteries and a 15min charger...bought it about 3 years ago.....

Cost

[quarterback]

Avoid these brands:
 Tonka
 Fisher Price

Hmph.  Seems like an odd reply from a guy who thinks that Lego makes power tools.   

[KrawDaddy]

All you need for this hobby is a plunge router, jig saw, drill, some C-clamps, and a piece of wood to wrap sandpaper around.

Sure as hell don't by a circular saw.  We have too many angles on our cabs.

Kraw