Tools – Page 3 – Woodworker Magic

I started wood working as a hobby to keep myself busy in my free time. The projects began to grow, and I was stuck trying to rip an inch off a 2x4 yellow pine stud and only had a miter saw to use. So, as the persistent person I am, I set on a quest to use my miter saw to rip this wood. As much as I wanted to use my miter saw for this problem, there was no way for me to rip the stud. The saw presented a lot of safety concerns and could not perform this task. A miter saw is used to make precise, straight cuts in all sorts of wood as well as angle cuts which are important for baseboard trim, crown, quarter-round trim, etc. There are many ways to use a miter saw, techniques you can learn to utilize this piece of equipment, and I can show you the proper ways to rip wood. Stay tuned and read on to find out! Is It Possible To Rip Wood with a Miter Saw? It is very dangerous to use a miter saw to rip wood. The producers of these machines implement safety measures that ensure its users cannot accomplish tasks such as this. Removing the guards and walls from the saw can cause serious injury and even remove appendages. Under no circumstance should anyone modify or change their saws to use them improperly. That being said, it may be possible to rip wood if you decide to modify your miter saw. On an average saw, there will be walls that block the wood from going behind the blade and off the table. The most dangerous part of using a miter saw for ripping wood is that the blade can pull the wood into itself faster than you are prepared for. The blade is spinning towards the user and therefore can cause your hand or finger to be caught in the blade which could result in major injury and possible appendage loss. Moral of the story, do not use a miter saw to rip wood. What is Ripping Wood and What is Needed to Do It? Ripping wood is the act of taking a small portion of a piece of wood off lengthwise. Typically, when someone thinks of cutting wood with a saw, it is by cutting it to size widthwise for the precise fit. But what happens if your board is too wide for what you intend for it? That is where ripping comes into play. To rip wood properly and safely, you need to use a skill saw (or commonly referred to as a circular saw) or a table saw. A table saw is exactly as it sounds. It is a saw that is embedded into a table that allows you to push a piece of wood through the spinning blade and take off the desired proportions. A circular saw accomplishes the same task but is handheld and portable. What is a Miter Saw and What Can You Do with It? A miter saw looks very similar to a chop saw but are smaller and used for more specialized cuts. The big question I hear often is whether you need both machines. Do you need both a chop saw, and a miter saw? Can both items complete the same tasks? They are very similar and, depending on the project you are working on, you may need both saws. A chop saw is larger and has more power to it but can only make 90-degree cuts. A miter saw can make 90-degree cuts but on a smaller scale. T he big advantage to a miter saw as opposed to a chop saw is that you can make angled cuts ranging from 22.5- degrees to 90-degree and everything in between. Here is a list of pros and cons of each: Miter Saw Pros:Cons:CheaperLess powerSpecial angle cutsSmallerTakes up less roomCannot cut larger pieces of woodEasily movable Chop Saw Pros:Cons:More powerfulCan only make 90-degree cutsUsed for large projectsMore expensive repairsLongevityHarder to move Is it Worth Buying More Equipment? There are many options when considering what equipment to buy for your hobbies. One such as woodworking can quickly make a dent in your bank account. But not worries! I have several ways to save that cash. Once you have begun to dive deeper into the art, you can make the decision of what kind of projects you will want to specialize in. This decision is actually more important than most people think. The possibilities of wood working are all but limited and it can get overwhelming if you take on several different styles of building. Do you need a lot of equipment for smaller projects? Not at all! Many creations can come about with hand tools alone but having a few power tools here and there can be crucial, especially if you plan to make a business selling your masterpieces. I would advise that the most important pieces of equipment a wood worker possesses is a miter saw and a circular saw. These two items by themselves can accomplish almost anything with the right training. If you decide that large projects, such as cabinetry or table making, is more your cup-of-tea then you may want to invest in a table saw and possibly a chop saw as well. There are hundreds of manufactures, brands, and individual tools to choose from. To help with your thought process, I have listed some of the most common ones: Table SawMiter SawDrill PressDrills and Hand-toolsHand sawJig Saw Is it Always Necessary to Buy Tools Brand New? Just as anything else you may buy, there are always second-hand tools that are well maintained and operate just as a new one would. Sites like eBay, Offerup, Craigslist, and Marketplace have fantastic options for used tools and it would be beneficial to take a gander if you are new to wood working. The biggest advantage to buying tools new is that you can return them (if the seller opens the opportunity), sometimes they will come with a warranty, and you can often get help from the seller directly. Big, brand name tool companies such as DeWalt, Kobalt, Craftsman, and Milwaukee are top of the line when it comes to what to buy. The best plan of action when going to purchase any tools, not only power tools, is to ask an expert at your local stores. Most, if not all, stores will have an expert or professional center that can give their best advice into what you are looking for and can point you in the right direction. Read more: How to Buy a Used Table Saw on the Cheap Can I Start Slow or Do I Have to Go All In? With anything you are beginning to explore, there are different levels to the art. The best advice I can give is to start with something you are heavily interested in. My biggest curiosity was using a lathe and wood turning. I did not go all in and buy everything I saw in YouTube videos, but rather I bought the few things I could use. I bought a lathe and a belt sander and have been able to create some pretty cool things, in my opinion. Explore the different avenues of your craft and decide what you would like to create. There are hundreds of different ways to get into wood working. Here is a few you can think about: Wood turningCabinetryModel boats and planesTablesWicker furniture Read more: Best Miter Saws for BeginnersBest Miter Saw Stands