Best kind of saw?

[dndcollect]

if a table saw is not an option, would a jig saw or circular saw be the best option?

[NiteWalker]

Straight cuts: Circular saw
Curved cuts: Jig saw

You'll need both.
 

[fixedpigs]

can't make curved cuts with a tablesaw anyway...

so a wormdrive circular saw is my answer...-=)

[NiteWalker]

As nice as worm drive circular saws are, they're overkill for hobbiest use. I don't think worm drives can cut curves either...

[bfauska]

I can cut a real nice circle with a table saw, and huge even curves with a circular saw, but nothing you'd want to use on an arcade cabinet.

The Porter Cable SawBoss is a great little saw, even with it's little blade it can cut through 2x material at a 45 degree angle, and it's light enough to handle all day long with no worries.

And don't forget to check out This thread.

[ScottS]

The Porter Cable SawBoss is a great little saw, even with it's little blade it can cut through 2x material at a 45 degree angle, and it's light enough to handle all day long with no worries.

Just remember: if you buy a saw that uses a 6-inch blade, you'll never be able to find replacement blades locally and you'll always have to order them. For that reason alone, I'd buy a saw that uses a standard 7.25" blade...

[bfauska]

Keep 2 blades on hand when 1 gets dull take it to a sharpener and use the other, when one gets it's last sharpening order another.  If you aren't sharpening blades you are wasting money.

[NiteWalker]

For the price of decent circular blades being generally under $10 it's not worth the money to sharpen them...

10" tablesaw blades are a different story though.

I've dont the tablesaw method of making circles; IMHO it puts too much lateral stress on the blades. The same setup can be used on a bandsaw with great success. I generally prefer a router trammel arm though. Super clean precise cuts.

The sawboss is a nice little saw, but I think it's overpriced. A full sized circ saw of excellent quality can be had for less.

[bfauska]

If you make enough straight passes at the table saw with about a 2 degree pivot between cuts you can cut away most of the circle before starting to spin near the blade.

I suppose I was thinking more about larger blades with the sharpening comment, I haven't had to find a blade for the sawbosses in any of the shops I work at, I imagine in a good sized city it wouldn't be that hard.  I know all of the shops we have our stuff sharpened at can get just about any blade we can dream up in a pretty quick time.

The price on the Sawboss is a drawback, but I tend to move 2 or 3 other circular saws out of the way in any shop that has one so that I can get to it and use it.  The size and weight are really nice.  I suppose my original suggestion may be foolish since I was thinking about the amount of saw somebody would need for hobby use and not the amount of money somebody would want to pay for a hobby use saw.  Those things are clearly in opposition when comparing the Sawboss to a more standard circular saw......

I'm still going to get one soon.

[NiteWalker]

I do like the fact that it's only 9 amps instead of the normal 15. No poppin breakers...