Table saw?

I'm not fully into building yet. Have to restock and tool. I am wondering if this table saw has been used by anyone here. Or one like it.

https://www.amazon.com/Rockwell-Bla...IifQ==&s=power-hand-tools&sr=1-4&ts_id=552962

It looks to be good for a lot of different cutting with the use of many kinds of quickly changed blades. Not only cross cut and ripping. Also curves which seem to be common. I already have a newer hand held version and hand held circular blade.
Would this be worth the money? Which is getting tighter.

 

Here's a review at [ https://woodsmithspirit.com/rockwell-bladerunner-x2-review/ ] that may be helpful.

 

I've been researching and experimenting with various cutting tools for small metalwork, and it has got me thinking about sawing in general. From that, what I do know is 1) the right tool for the specific job is most important, both for safety and effectiveness and 2) there are categories of jobs worth recognizing so the first tool you buy will cover the largest category you'll encounter.

For layout building, for the large majority of cutting I think would be done best by a chop saw. The table saw you reference could do a lot of that, but might struggle with larger-dimensioned sticks. Then, there's plywood cutting, both straight and curved, not sure how easy it'd be to feed such through that saw vice using a carpenter's circular saw for straight and a hand-held jigsaw for curves on a couple of sawhorses.

I have a large, heavy, floor-standing Craftsman 10" table saw, and there's nothing like it for dead-on straight cutting of larger wood. While calling itself a table saw, the Rockwell saw is not in the same category, although wider blades might help in the stability. And then, a wider blade will make it harder to cut curves.

So, to reiterate, IMHO you need to conduct an inventory of the specific types of cutting you'll need to do, evaluate candidate tools against that inventory, and then buy the tool(s) you need to support that work.

 

I only have 2' x 4' bases so most of my items I could buy from the hardware store already that size, but the 1" x 4" frame boards I bought and had them cut for free at Lowes. Everyone is different though and have different needs. The foam for mine I bought 4 2' x 2' squares, but like I said I got lucky in the size I chose.

Good luck! And be very careful with saws, for real!

 

Thanks guys. The video showed it features as well as some of the concerns I'm having. I had time riding the community bus to give it some good thought. As you all mention it does have to do as I want, in a small space, quietly and on my very limited budget.
I no longer need the 10.5" blade table, 12" blade radial arm to cut 2x10 at 45 degrees. The big house building stuff was sold off in 2000. I still have small power hand saws, jig say and simple miter box. But thoughts tell me this saw will not supply what's needed. One of the small table saws, big enough to cut 1x4s, should be enough. I have an 8 ft. aluminum clamp on guide to cut plywood sheets. Just need to get them delivered.
I feel I will be needing to make shallow cuts and notches for assemble and this little wonder can't do that.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and guidance. I will be going back to looking at little circular blade table saws. And watch what you all show us you are doing.
Onward!!

 

i bought a cheap table from my local community (posted in the market place) i traded an ac unit i had laying around for it. ive had to kinda hit it here an there with a hammer (so to speak) to get is straight , but it works just fine plastic base and aluminum table 10 inch blade. for cutting ply work i had to screw or clamp it down to something so it wont slde around or move and it works great. big sheets of ply really need two people to help with those but one man can do it . just have to go slow an easy and MIND them fingers........

 

I think a good decision. I use my radial arm saw the most for crosscuts and ripping boards. I have a long runoff to handle the longer boards I rip. Rip smaller pieces of plywood with it, larger pieces go to the table saw. At times I'll use the contractor's circular saw to cut a sheet of plywood down before using the table saw, especially if my helper (wife) isn't available to help.

Saying all of that if I could only buy one saw to use in building a layout it would be ...............



... a good saber saw. One that is heavy and solid. With the older one I use (above) I could cut anything that I needed to in building a layout, even a large one. You get a good one and it is very easy to cut a straight line with it even ....



... the length of a sheet of plywood. Of course above the idea was a curved line but cutting to a line is easy with it. It would also cut a 2X4 in half with no problem.

I've patched the one I got from my dad up a few times since I love it so much, but if it finally quit working I'd be looking for a good quality saber/jig saw to replace it. After the radial arm saw I use it the most, table saw second and circular saw third and chop saw last. When I built my hose it was chop saw first, circular saw and then radial arm saw. A table saw would be my last purchase. In my opinion very limited as I hate to cross cut on one unless the piece of lumber is very short and I'm not cutting curves on one.

For building a layout only I'd go Jig/saber saw as the first buy, chop/miter saw second, circular saw third and table saw last. Experience....built three of my homes, commercial building and did additions and remodels for about 5 years.

Sumner

 

Yes sir. My Craftsman Saber saw and circular saw were fantastic compared to what I have now. Someone else decided they needed them and all my motorcycle and snowmobile wear more than me. All my larger stuff had to be sold before that.
So now I'm trying to find a way to substitute. Micro-Mark lists some nice saws and drill press. Etc.

 

I give the saber saw high marks. A nice straight piece of finished lumber like 5/4 clear pine makes a nice guide for straight cuts.
My dad, who built houses, cabinets and boats, relied entirely on an old DeWalt radial arm saw. Other than his bandsaw, it was the only saw he owned. He kept it well tuned and used it as a chop saw, ripped lumber with it, everything. Granted, it's not the kind of tool the average model railroader will spring for, but if maintained properly, it will do everything.

 

Good and economical advice I think. 30 and 40 years ago I built two layout tables with only a bottom-of-the-line Black & Decker saber saw. It takes some patience to rip with one, but its versatility is hard to beat and its storage space is minimal.

 

I don't get on this board much so this will be the late-to-the-party comment, but we sell that saw here. I have a handheld 4-1/2" Rockwell circular saw that I would put up against anything out there for framing, so I really like the Rockwell name. This saw is basically an upside-down jigsaw. The table and gate make it more useful, and it folds well for portability, but just know that's pretty much what this saw is.

The upside, however, is that all you need to do to cut a bunch of different materials is swap a blade. I wouldn't try to do much more than 1" stuff on it, I can't imagine a 2x4 would cut without the blade flexing considerably, but for small projects like *cough* hobbies lol it would be good. It limits the possibilities of what it can and cannot cut, but for small stuff it will cut fine.

There's 500+ reviews of this guy on Lowes' website, usually where I direct people since we don't have one. Just my $.02 fwiw

 

Thanks for your input. I would like to have it for the smaller and varied materials. But don't think it would be all that handy now. I do have smaller circular and jigsaws.
Just dreaming I guess. I think it comes with old age.

 

All this talk about radial arm saws ... Good grief! Unless you inherited one, you're talking about 10 times the price of a good table saw to buy one new - minimum.

I love my Dewalt 7491RS. It sits in my garage up against the wall, taking up about 18" of space away from the wall. It rolls out and unfolds in about a half-minute. A couple of sawhorses provide the runout in back. I'm still learning, but it seems to do anything I need, within reason.

All that said, I agree that a good miter saw and jigsaw are generally your best tools for a layout - along with a great drill or impact tool. I'm going to try and see how the Dewalt table saw works with ripping plywood to obtain my framing lumber though. Quality framing lumber in 1x4 sizes is awfully expensive these days. So is plywood, but maybe turning it into 1x4s or 1x3s is not. The Dewalt will also rip standard lumber 2x4s all day long, right out of the box.

 

tomb the table saw is very versatile you can also cut circles with them as well with an addition of some home made mods for the table.
as far as cutting plywood you do need to keep it strapped down so it wont move and it does work better with two people....

 

Most of us that have brought up radial arm saws probably bought them a long time ago, at least I did. Thinking about that though$250-$300 in the early 70's is like $2000 now (just looked it up) so it wasn't cheap then. ( HERE ) is one on the bay for maybe what I paid for mine but can't remember for sure. And others ( HERE ). I wouldn't hesitate a second to buy one if I got to run it first. It is still my most used saw in the shop but realize that might not be the case for everyone. I've got a good table saw and it is used but sometimes not for months. Has come in handy lately. Just ripped 6 sheets of Masonite for the backdrops.

I use...



... a combination of dimensional lumber and plywood for my layout framing. I wouldn't want to use plywood over dimensional lumber for most of it. Not as easy to screw into and not really good if you have to try and screw into the end grain of it. Dimensional lumber you can run a screw in from any side.

Sumner

 

I asked because I can't have the big stuff anymore. Along with it would still be new when I'm no longer here. And I don't know who I'd will it to.
Oh well time to go play in the leaves before the rain starts.

 

good ol circular saw works great as well and there cheap......or as others have stated good jig saw will do just about everything even 2x4's if you get the right blades. i used to have a radial saw but those are mostly for contractors or people whom have shops that do lots of work. i really didnt use it much , so it went away with the last move along with my large metal lathe witch by the way im still kicking my self in the rear for letting that go..
(man needs tools lots of them )

 

Man can always want. But, he must learn to have only what's needed.
Hmmm!! I was divorced in '72. Still have the trains.

 

I would be concerned about the 'plastic' table on the saw in the link ( 1st message ). Looks like the only metal is that small square around the blade. The plastic table will bend and skew while you are trying to do something with it. I did not see what the saw weight was. That is another thing that will come into play when you are ripping something. In other words, make sure that it is securely attached to the floor. Well, since you are a Model Railroader, you have a ton of lead weights -- right? FWIW, you should be able to get any 4x8 piece of plywood cut in half either length or width wise at the seller. Makes stuff more manageable.

That being said, I have a metal table and base 14" saw that I put 4x8 sheets on to cut. It is setup with entry and exit tables that are removable just for the big stuff. Getting that big stuff into the shop is another story - good thing my wife helps. I don't cut much dimensional lumber, just panels. Because I was doing house inside stuff, I got a 10" sliding chop saw. Boy for $150 ( few years back ) you can not go wrong; and it came with extender wings too. 16ft stuff needs bigger wings, but again have removable ones when it comes to that. The wings allow you to setup a specific board length stop, then you can cut, cut, cut to your hearts desire. Then when I get down to layout size panels, I use a jig saw like many of you all.

Later