The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: dndcollect on May 28, 2007, 08:31:29 pm
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if a table saw is not an option, would a jig saw or circular saw be the best option?
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Straight cuts: Circular saw
Curved cuts: Jig saw
You'll need both.
:cheers:
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can't make curved cuts with a tablesaw anyway...
so a wormdrive circular saw is my answer...-=)
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As nice as worm drive circular saws are, they're overkill for hobbiest use. I don't think worm drives can cut curves either...
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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 (http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-345-Boss-6-Inch-Circular/dp/B00002269C/ref=sr_1_1/103-1250915-8743001?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1180408304&sr=1-1) 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. (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=43568.0)
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The Porter Cable SawBoss (http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-345-Boss-6-Inch-Circular/dp/B00002269C/ref=sr_1_1/103-1250915-8743001?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1180408304&sr=1-1) 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...
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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.
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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.
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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.
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I do like the fact that it's only 9 amps instead of the normal 15. No poppin breakers...