Synopsis: A desk noticed is usually seen as important to a woodshop, however Vic Tesolin has determined he doesn’t want one. On this article, he shares the methods he has discovered to perform duties usually performed on a desk noticed with different instruments: reducing with and throughout the grain; reducing miters and bevels; ripping bevels; reducing dadoes, grooves, and rabbets; and reducing tenons.
A desk noticed is usually seen as vital for any store, however not having one shouldn’t be a barrier to taking on the craft. Whereas a desk noticed does carry out a wide range of invaluable duties, for the individuals who don’t have the area or finances for one, or who’re uneasy about utilizing one, there are workarounds.
I’m not in opposition to utilizing a desk noticed, and I’ve owned desk saws previously. Regardless of all of the duties a desk noticed can do, although, I presently don’t use one in my store. The prime purpose is that I don’t like the quantity of area it requires. Making an allowance for the dimensions of the machine plus the infeed and outfeed areas, the common cupboard noticed’s footprint could be as much as 160 sq. ft. should you plan on processing sheet items. That’s 40% of a two-car storage.
After I did have a desk noticed, it was usually cluttered with challenge components, instruments, and different store detritus. It was additionally used as a second work floor with extraordinarily poor work-holding options. Not having a desk noticed works nicely for the kind of woodworking that I do, and I don’t miss it. As an alternative, I’ve two smaller, multifunction work surfaces that, mixed with a small assortment of energy instruments, enable me to do any sort of woodworking, with any energy or hand device I select.
Finally, you need to use no matter instruments and strategies you need in your store. It’s possible you’ll desire to make use of a desk noticed, however you definitely don’t want one to make stunning issues. For that matter, you additionally don’t want a single energy device, however that’s a unique article. Right here I’m specializing in all of the issues you are able to do with different energy instruments or machines reminiscent of a observe noticed, miter noticed, bandsaw, and handheld router. Right here’s how I do it.
Ripping and crosscutting
After I studied furnishings design and making at Rosewood Studio, we have been strongly inspired to tear stable wooden on the bandsaw. Ripping can go pear-shaped on the desk noticed, particularly if the noticed is working and not using a riving knife. Ripping can launch stress and trigger the wooden to maneuver. If the kerf closes on the spinning blade, the wooden could be thrown again on the operator at a excessive fee of pace. Area and security are on a bandsaw’s aspect. Even a big bandsaw has a a lot smaller footprint than a desk noticed, and it’s safer as a result of with the blade operating down towards the desk, the wooden has nowhere to go. An argument in opposition to utilizing the bandsaw is that the ensuing floor just isn’t as good as that created by a desk noticed. This can be true, however each machines will go away their scars behind that should be jointed, planed or sanded away previous to ending. It’s important to do a cleanup go regardless of which technique you utilize.
No bandsaw in your store? That’s OK! You may simply rip stable wooden with a observe noticed fitted with a rip blade. With the Two methods so as to add angles Miter saws produce miters and bevels simply as simply and cleanly as a desk noticed does, as do observe saws and bandsaws. observe noticed, the wooden is stationary and your arms are on the device shifting over the wooden. To me, shifting a device throughout the wooden is simpler than pushing wooden previous a spinning blade.
In the case of crosscutting, that may simply be performed with a observe noticed and work desk. Multifunction work tables include a community of holes, fences, and stops that assist to line up cuts and all however assure correct and repeatable cuts. You may as well create an auxiliary desk for a miter noticed that can convert a device usually appropriate for “tough” work to 1 that’s able to furniture-quality cuts.
| From Positive Woodworking #314
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