table saw use?

[Jim Engen]

My question is. How much do you use your table saw for guitar building? The reason I asked is that I aquired a 1968 unisaw. I have a not so great table saw that work fine for the most part. The unisaw is sweet but I need a jointer so I thought maybe I would sell the saw and get a jointer. I know I might regret it if I sell it but that's the only way for me to get a jointer right now. What would you guys do?

Thanks for any help,
Jim

[ltdave32]

A really good table saw, professional grade, (Jet, etc.) can have several uses. My body blanks are cut and joined in the center on a Jet table saw, it cuts that smooth and true. I can also cut headstock overlays to 1/16".

A cheapie like those 10" Skil's or Craftsman, not so much.

[DGNRepair]

Originally Posted by Jim Engen

My question is. How much do you use your table saw for guitar building? The reason I asked is that I aquired a 1968 unisaw. I have a not so great table saw that work fine for the most part. The unisaw is sweet but I need a jointer so I thought maybe I would sell the saw and get a jointer. I know I might regret it if I sell it but that's the only way for me to get a jointer right now. What would you guys do?

Thanks for any help,
Jim

Jim, hold on to that Unisaw. You will definitely regret selling it down the way. Every straight line I cut is on my table saw. If you hold out you can find a jointer for a steal on CL that may need a little TLC.

[gobig2000]

I use mine to cut the neck tennon and the neck and fretboard taper
Don't sell it

[Enrico74]

Now that I both have a good track saw and a good bandsaw, I almost never use the table saw.
I find the track saw safer (blade is not exposed), more convenient and even more accurate in most circumstances.
When the lumber is too thick, I switch to the bandsaw.

[DGNRepair]

Sorry, but a good quality cabinet table saw will always cut a better straight line than a band saw. I have never used a track saw so I cannot comment on that. In most cases, and in my experience, the edges from a good quality table saw look like they have just been run over the jointer. Maybe your saw wasn't setup properly, or maintained well. And I agree, most of the tools we use for woodworking are dangerous. One simply needs to be educated about how to properly use a tool before you actually use it.

[Enrico74]

Originally Posted by DGNRepair

Sorry, but a good quality cabinet table saw will always cut a better straight line than a band saw

For sure.
My point was that a track saw can generally do as well as a table saw, except if you plan on cutting very thick lumber.

[MRJ]

When I first got started my table saw was used for 90% of the work I done. Eventually I've bought other tools that replaced some of the things I was using the table saw for. I still use it, but not as often these days. But it's one of those tools that in my opinion is a must. Especially if you don't have very many tools. There's so many different uses you can get out of one.

[bruce bennett]

Originally Posted by Jim Engen

My question is. How much do you use your table saw for guitar building? The reason I asked is that I aquired a 1968 unisaw. I have a not so great table saw that work fine for the most part. The unisaw is sweet but I need a jointer so I thought maybe I would sell the saw and get a jointer. I know I might regret it if I sell it but that's the only way for me to get a jointer right now. What would you guys do?

Thanks for any help,
Jim

about the only things I do on an actual guitar with the table saw,
is my headstock angle and body blank resizeing

but all my jigs, templates and fixtures need to be straight and square so for that I use the table saw plenty.

[SJK55]

Keep the unisaw. It's a classic.

[Jim Engen]

Thanks for your opinions. The rest of the story is that I also got an old delta 14" wood/metal bandsaw. I already have the same saw but not the multi speed one. The unisaw is 3 phase so I need to switch the motor of buy a converter which I would need to sell the bandsaw to get the money for that. Then I wouldn't be able to get the jointer. Also having a second bandsaw would be nice to set up for resawing. My bandsaw gets a lot of use so an extra would be great. The table saw I have now is an old menards brand 1 1/2hp. Fence needs to be squared up every time you want to use it. I can only cut about 2 1/2 inch stock with it if I'm not using a sled or jig of some sort. I can't use my taper jig for cutting headstock face.

[Jim Engen]

I should add that I feel very fortunate to be in this situation. I know some people would love to have these old Deltas. I'm just trying to get the best bang for my buck.
Thanks again.
Jim

[SJK55]

I just set up a unisaw thats running on a VARIABLE FREQUENCEY DRIVE. The unit cost 150 bucks and will run a 2 horse motor. 220 single phase in and 220 3 phase out. Freakin magic. Either way you should be able to sell the saw for a nice price. A lot of people are looking for them.

[emoney]

I'd be willing to sell my recently acquired Jointer for a GOOD table saw, if that tells you
anything.

[bruce bennett]

keep the saw. build a guitar, sell it, buy the new jointer..


NEVER sell a tool.. build something with it and SELL that.

[Jim Engen]

What do you think i could get for this? Unfortunately it is 3 phase. 2hp

[SJK55]

That looks like a very nice setup. Excellent fence and overhead guard. I'm no expert, but I would think getting enough to buy a nice joiner would be no problem. Two websites that could help you would be owwm.org and vintagemachinery.org. I think one is linked to the other but try them both.

[Mistrals60]

Originally Posted by bruce bennett

NEVER sell a tool.. build something with it and SELL that.

Amen brother!

[fatdaddypreacher]

table saw is the first tool i buy and the last tool i get rid of. of coiurse, speaking from a strictly luthiery standpoint is a bit different, but still, i would venture to guess that even tho you may only use a table saw for selected duties in lutherie, no other tool will do those better than the table saw.

i have only built 3 guitars, so i understand that how i approach things later will most assuredly be different than how i approach them now, but a see a table saw here for the longterm

other functions prior to actual parts making include stock preparation. a perfectly good straight edge can be put on a board that has none on either side by attaching a straight edge to the board that willl run along the fence parallel to where you want the cut to be. a pc of 1/4" plywood will work fine. it can be stapled in several places, and the staples remove much easier than nails or brads. once the straight edge is ripped, you then have a starting point to process you rough stock.

cutting squaring neck blanks and cutting truss rod slots are a snap with a table saw. to get truss rod centered, simply get all of your neck blanks the same dimension, work from center. make first cut, then turn stock around making another cut. tap the fence til the desired with is obtained.

other luthier functions have been listed.

perhaps an alternative is to get enought out of your unisaw to get a jointer plus a table saw. if you are prudent with your shopping, you may pick up the right deal on some really nice used stuff for what you can sell the unisaw for. the saw itself is not cheap, plus you have a rather expensive fence/guard system which is a big ticket add-on. your better places to help realize the best money would be a commercial shop where insurance/osha does inspections and requires such safety features. John Q Public is less apt to pay you for something they willl more than likely lnever use.

keep us posted

[fatdaddypreacher]

P S i didn't mean to imply that truss rods run parallel to the top of the neck. before cutting the slot, i attach 1/4" plywood strips to the side of the neck blank at an angle. the top edge of the strips are flush with the top of the neck at the body end of the neck, and the strips are 1/8" proud on the nut end of lthe neck. this gives an angled channel for the rod which is deeper at the body end. measurements may vary for different people. this may not be vintage correct, but it works well for the necks i have built.

[landsharkey]

Originally Posted by Jim Engen

What do you think i could get for this? Unfortunately it is 3 phase. 2hp

Hard to say if you can't run it to demonstrate - maybe $500? I'd find a different motor or phase convertor and keep it. As others have suggested a good table saw is an essential tool in many shops. I have a decent jointer but would rather grab a handdplane for most tasks (unless doing several pieces).

[fatdaddypreacher]

Used delta unisaw table saw - Yakaz For sale

maybe you can find one similar here and get an idea.

[dougk]

You NEED a table saw.

[Ole'Lefty]

My default tablesaw blade is the Freud "Glue-Line Rip." My happiness with that blade is not unique to me. I am fussy about alignment-Between the two I get an LP quality bookmatch straight from the saw. I have one on my Shopsmith and one on my Ridgid TS 3650. That Ridgid is a great buy in a contractors' saw-I set it up 6 years ago and the blade and fence are still dead-on square-I check verticality with a Beall Digital cube. I upgraded the miter gauge with one of the Incra models-by choice, not necessity.

The blade handles cross-cutting with ease, which surprised me given how dedicated that blade seems.

When the "Barnaby-Mood" is present, then I do final jointing with a 606 flatside Bedrock.