just starting to get interested in wood working-so bear with me. i am going to start a project where i need to cut some 4x4's. which saw is better for the job? a table saw or a miter saw? i have one buddy that says a 10" table saw will take two passes another buddy says his saw can go through it- in on pass. do not want to spend big bucks. most of mine power tools come from sears-occasionally home depot- if they have a decent brand on sale.

 

Miter saw, if thats your only job.

 

If just cross cut miter would be the ticket, ripping would require the table

 

thanks timk006. i appreciate it.

 

I agree, for what I am hearing, the miter saw, perferably with a slide, would be the way to go

 

What kind of wood working?

I have found that a miter saw and a good laser circular saw to be about all that is needed.

 

Keep in mind you get what you pay for with power tools. Myself and the crew I work with have been known to put the hurt on "home owner special" tools in no time.
As for what kind of saw, it really depends on what you are going to use it for. What kind of project are you doing?

 

I want to see the 10-inch table-saw that will cut through a 4x4 in one pass.

For cross-cutting, go with a 12-inch miter-saw.

My preference is the Makita LS1200, I think, any way there is one out in my shop and I love it.

For ripping, a table-saw.

A good old arm-eating radial-arm saw also has it's advantages, such as notching/dadoing long work-pieces that would be un-wieldy on a table-saw.

 

thanks guys- miter saw it is.

 

Me too. Depending on the saw 3 to 3.25 inches is all they are going to cut.

12 inch miter saw is the way to go for crosscutting. Ours is an older 12" dewalt, cut many 4x6's when we poured the porch floor/cold cellar ceiling.

 

If you are framing, there is no argument about which saw is best (miter saw). If you get into serious "woodworking," a table saw would be a better choice if you only had one saw. A true woodworker makes lots of longitudinal cuts which cannot be done on a miter saw. For example, try re-sawing or making long dados on a miter saw (can't be done). I have all types of saws (table, radial, miter, band) and the table saw gets more use than all the others combined.

 

I have both, actually I must have 8 or 10 different power saws and if i could only pick one id say table saw for sure. A mitersaw is nice but limits you severly on the types of cuts you can make. Sure you might have to make 2 passes with a table saw.......but a miter cant do the other 99 things a table can.

Just my .02

 

I second this. You will need a 12 inch miter... preferrably a sliding compound miter.

 

Yea, cheap tools are for people who don't "use" them. Dewalt is what I'd get.

 

I'm going to guess that you already have a circular saw, if you do, I would say get a 12" sliding miter saw. You can use a skill saw with a guide to rip plywood, which is what you will use the table saw for the most starting out. As you gain more experience you can get a table saw.

On the miter saw, get one with a dual bevel (flips both ways) mine is, and you don't realize how handy it is untill you get used to it and have to use one that isn't. I have the Ridgid, because I needed one immidately (fence on my old miter was warped, found out while on a job) and I have had numerous problems with DeWalt, and will not buy their tools any more. I also like the huge base on the Ridgid.