# Best all-purpose wood cutting tool for hobbyists? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 26, 2017, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-purpose-wood-cutting-tool-for-hobbyists/789883 "2017-06-26T03:34:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-purpose-wood-cutting-tool-for-hobbyists/789883/41 "2017-06-28T08:23:31Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > On another note, a while back there was a big splash about saws using a blade that looked like a drill bit: Did anything ever become of those, or did they turn out to be much less practical than the hype made them out to be? Cutting bits are slow at cutting, horrible with thick wood. They work well with light materials like foam and very tough material like composites. They will not leave a smooth cut in some materials. Still in common use for trimming laminate counter top material. It’s really routing as opposed to sawing. It just has it’s time and place. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-purpose-wood-cutting-tool-for-hobbyists/789883/42 "2017-06-28T08:31:21Z")
Since nobody mentioned it yet, ALL POWER SAWS ARE DANGEROUS! If it can cut wood it can cut your finger off. And that’s not the only danger, even a SawStop table saw that can stop its blade faster than you can cut a hot dog in have can kick back a board or send sharp shards of wood into your body. Any blade can break. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-purpose-wood-cutting-tool-for-hobbyists/789883/43 "2017-06-28T12:53:43Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Jigsaws are inherently inaccurate. They make tables that mount the saws underneath, with the blades up, and that helps a lot, but you will never be able to cut a straight line with one (not straight enough to glue very well, but maybe that’s OK). I had this opinion for many years, and then a friend lent me his Bosch jigsaw. I eventually bought one, and it is an amazing tool to use. It is still a jigsaw, but it is far far better than the heavy cast aluminum piece of crap one I inherited from my folks in the 70s. > [@Chronos](#): > > I presume that by “table saw”, people mean one with a circular blade? Because I’m not sure how that’s superior to a band saw. A band saw can do things that a circular saw (even a table-mounted one) cannot, like cutting curves, but I’m not aware of anything a circular saw can do that a band saw can’t. This sounds like a question that may be difficult to answer succinctly in discussion, but is quite obvious in actual practice. I have both in my shop and I very rarely use the band saw, though to be honest my band saw is cheap and crappy. The band saw just doesn’t have the straight-line accuracy, power, or speed that my table saw does. The throat is always limiting me. They are really horses for courses: want a fancy shaped apron for the front of a piece of furniture? Band saw. Cutting sheet goods to size? Table saw. I guess it’s like saying that a sharp hand saw can do the work that the table saw can–try using one to build a project and your opinion may change. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-purpose-wood-cutting-tool-for-hobbyists/789883/44 "2017-06-28T14:29:08Z")
Just wanted to add in, that my dad was the kind of guy who would practically break things around the house to fix them. Would do everything from rebuilding the furnace blower motor, to making bedrooms out of our bungalow’s previously unfinished attic. And he did everything he wanted - to a VERY high degree of professionalism - with a jigsaw and a circular saw. I still have and use both of them - as well as his old craftsman drill. Yes, you do need a vise or some other way to secure your stock. Those foldable “workmate” tables can be a compact and practical option. Sure, table/chop/bandsaws are wonderful tools, but IMO it is ridiculous to suggest those as options for someone in the OP’s position. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-purpose-wood-cutting-tool-for-hobbyists/789883/45 "2017-06-28T14:41:56Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Since nobody mentioned it yet, ALL POWER SAWS ARE DANGEROUS! If it can cut wood it can cut your finger off. And that’s not the only danger, even a SawStop table saw that can stop its blade faster than you can cut a hot dog in have can kick back a board or send sharp shards of wood into your body. Any blade can break. I’d amend this to say that ALL power tools are dangerous, as are most other tools if used improperly or for a task for which they are not designed. Any time someone asks to borrow a tool from me, my first question is: have you ever used (tool) before? Second question: what are you going to use it for? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-purpose-wood-cutting-tool-for-hobbyists/789883/46 "2017-06-28T15:43:48Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Just wanted to add in, that my dad was the kind of guy who would practically break things around the house to fix them. Would do everything from rebuilding the furnace blower motor, to making bedrooms out of our bungalow’s previously unfinished attic. And he did everything he wanted - to a VERY high degree of professionalism - with a jigsaw and a circular saw. I still have and use both of them - as well as his old craftsman drill. I used a hand-held circular saw for years, and made several pieces of furniture with it, including the stereo cabinet that’s still in my living room. But when I got a table saw, I was just amazed at how much straighter and more uniform my cuts were. I still use a circular saw on occasion, but just for stuff that’s either too big to wrestle onto the table saw’s table, or if the job needs to be done somewhere else. I also feel a lot safer with the table saw. The blade is always in the same place, so all I have to do while working is keep my assorted body parts well away from that one place. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-purpose-wood-cutting-tool-for-hobbyists/789883/47 "2017-06-28T15:46:13Z")
This one time, at Band Saw camp… ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-purpose-wood-cutting-tool-for-hobbyists/789883/48 "2017-06-28T16:37:51Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I used a hand-held circular saw for years, and made several pieces of furniture with it, including the stereo cabinet that’s still in my living room. > > But when I got a table saw, I was just amazed at how much straighter and more uniform my cuts were. I still use a circular saw on occasion, but just for stuff that’s either too big to wrestle onto the table saw’s table, or if the job needs to be done somewhere else. > > I also feel a lot safer with the table saw. The blade is always in the same place, so all I have to do while working is keep my assorted body parts well away from that one place. You just see the wrong part of the saw with a circular saw. With a table saw you see the entire cut line from front to back and the saw blade cutting through it. And you’re moving the stock, not the saw. Good table saw cuts are square and smooth, ready for joining or with very little prep. There’s nothing like a good table saw. You are still better off cutting up large stock with a circular saw first though. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-purpose-wood-cutting-tool-for-hobbyists/789883/49 "2017-06-28T17:21:17Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > You just see the wrong part of the saw with a circular saw. With a table saw you see the entire cut line from front to back and the saw blade cutting through it. And you’re moving the stock, not the saw. Good table saw cuts are square and smooth, ready for joining or with very little prep. There’s nothing like a good table saw. You are still better off cutting up large stock with a circular saw first though. Also, jigs are a woodworker’s best friend. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-purpose-wood-cutting-tool-for-hobbyists/789883/50 "2017-06-28T17:51:06Z")
My wife makes violins. We have all manner of hand and power tools in our basement shop. I’m well aware of the relative merits of different tools. I’m just responding to the OP who described a need to cut some dowels and boards, and considering the degree of accuracy needed for “good enough” basic home woodworking… Also, I don’t believe there has been any discussion of whether the OP has the space/budget for larger tools. They asked for a single INEXPENSIVE power tool. Everyone’s perception of “inexpensive” varies, but I’d prefer a pricey jig/circular saw and a couple of blades, over a cheap table saw. Finally, discussing danger, I incurred one of my worst injuries being careless cutting cardboard with a frigging boxcutter! And I know more than one person who needed surgery just because they thought they could get away with placing their offhand in front of the chisel blade. Just saying, it isn’t just power tools that can fuck you up good in a hurry. But I’ll bow out of the discussion. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-purpose-wood-cutting-tool-for-hobbyists/789883/51 "2017-06-28T18:05:32Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Also, jigs are a woodworker’s best friend. Word. The average table saw comes home with a flimsy miter gauge, bunch of annoying guards, and not much to help with challenging cuts. That crown molding is still hard to cut right. Then you start making jigs and fixtures and things get amazingly easy. Bare minimum for me is to make a crosscut sled. Then a angle sled if I have a lot of … crown molding to cut. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-purpose-wood-cutting-tool-for-hobbyists/789883/52 "2017-06-28T19:11:55Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > My wife makes violins. We have all manner of hand and power tools in our basement shop. I’m well aware of the relative merits of different tools. I’m just responding to the OP who described a need to cut some dowels and boards, and considering the degree of accuracy needed for “good enough” basic home woodworking… > > Also, I don’t believe there has been any discussion of whether the OP has the space/budget for larger tools. > > They asked for a single INEXPENSIVE power tool. Everyone’s perception of “inexpensive” varies, but I’d prefer a pricey jig/circular saw and a couple of blades, over a cheap table saw. > > Finally, discussing danger, I incurred one of my worst injuries being careless cutting cardboard with a frigging boxcutter! And I know more than one person who needed surgery just because they thought they could get away with placing their offhand in front of the chisel blade. Just saying, it isn’t just power tools that can fuck you up good in a hurry. > > But I’ll bow out of the discussion. Blade tools are the most dangerous, IMO. While power tools will cause the most egregious injuries, people tend to be more careful around them. But those same people don’t seem to understand the concept of ‘stay behind the edge’ when using blade tools. A sharp chisel will flat fuck you up in a nanosecond. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-purpose-wood-cutting-tool-for-hobbyists/789883/53 "2017-06-28T19:19:56Z")
There’s a million ways to die in the wood shop. Ok, rarely death, but easily a million ways to get cut really bad. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-purpose-wood-cutting-tool-for-hobbyists/789883/54 "2017-06-28T23:31:34Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Blade tools are the most dangerous, IMO. While power tools will cause the most egregious injuries, people tend to be more careful around them. But those same people don’t seem to understand the concept of ‘stay behind the edge’ when using blade tools. A sharp chisel will flat fuck you up in a nanosecond. Actually a drill press is reckoned to be amongst the most dangerous tools, some say the most dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-purpose-wood-cutting-tool-for-hobbyists/789883/55 "2017-06-28T23:36:49Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Actually a drill press is reckoned to be amongst the most dangerous tools, some say the most dangerous. A router is more dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2017, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-purpose-wood-cutting-tool-for-hobbyists/789883/56 "2017-06-28T23:49:14Z")
Without bothering to look anything up, since this is IMHO, I’ll tell you anecdotally what is the most dangerous. 1. Hilti type guns / pneumatic nail guns 2. Chain saws 3. Table saws 4. Circular saws 5. Angle grinders Now this anecdotal set only includes people not killed immediately, as I don’t usually see them. I have never taken care of someone injured by a home drill press. I don’t recall any router injuries, it certainly isn’t common. Snowblowers are the most frequent power tool caused injuries some years. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-purpose-wood-cutting-tool-for-hobbyists/789883/57 "2017-06-29T00:10:01Z")
Drill presses dont cause injury as often which is why your anecdotal survey doesn’t include them. However when they cause injury it can be horrific. They are extremely powerful and if someone gets their hair or arm somehow tangled the drill will just keep twisting and Will Not Stop. Scalping, amputation of arms and hands and fatal strangulation are all possible. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2017, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-purpose-wood-cutting-tool-for-hobbyists/789883/58 "2017-06-29T16:30:48Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Actually a drill press is reckoned to be amongst the most dangerous tools, some say the most dangerous. Sure, which is why I qualified what I said. I’m sure there are far more injuries from non-rotating tools than otherwise, just not as catastrophic. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-purpose-wood-cutting-tool-for-hobbyists/789883.md?page=2)