Popular Woodworking 2000-02 № 113, страница 5
Out on a Limb Choose Wisely Job-site machines don't always measure up in the woodshop. While I've never spent much time on a new home building site, I do recall the days when carpenters and finish carpenters would show up hauling a trailer that had some serious machinery strapped to its stake bed sides. Particularly, a big old radial arm saw and a "contractor-style" table saw. Where I grew up in the Midwest, they'd set up these machines in the garage as soon as it was under roof to keep them out of the elements. These tools passed for "portable" machines then. Portable enough for a couple burly guys to hump off the back of the trailer and drag them in place. They ran on 110-volt power, standard fare for a construction site. The contractor-style table saw was quickly adopted by the home woodworker as a less expensive alternative to the cabinet saw, but still featured a 10" blade, a horse-and-a-half motor, sturdy rip fence and reasonably sized cast iron top. It's the kind of saw I bought when I started 20 years ago (and just recently retired when I finally upgraded to a cabinet saw). I had noticed a contractor saw in one of the books written by veteran woodworker Tage Frid and figured it had to be good enough for me. Today, you won't find a building site with a radial arm or contractor saw in sight. They've given way to a new breed of machine that's much more portable. The compound miter saw and benchtop table saw. In the case of the compound miter saw, its features are superior in nearly every way to the radial arm saw. The new breed of benchtop table saw has many advantages over the contractor saw — if you're working on a job site. These past few years, many woodworkers have once again adopted these job-site machines in their home wood-shops just as their brethren did a generation earlier. While I applaud the arrival of new miter saws, the table saws are another story. In most cases, I think it's a mistake. I have a theory when it comes to buying machines that's pretty straightforward. If you don't have to pick it up and move it during the course of a day's work, it ought to have two key ingredients: cast iron and an induction motor. Benchtop table saws with aluminum tops and universal motors should be the exclusive domain of job-site carpenters. That's what they're made for. But I've yet to encounter one of these saws that could be classified as a wise investment for home woodworking. One of the problems is the universal motor. This motor is lightweight and powerful, but it is built to run for short periods of time because it generates a lot of heat —a motor's worst enemy. Universal motors are also much noisier and have a shorter lifespan than induction motors. Bottom line: these motors are good for tools you turn on for short periods of time (such as routers) but not those that you run all day. Also, saws with aluminum tops vibrate more than those with cast iron tops. The place where the motor and table are attached is more susceptible to stress and twisting in a benchtop saw than in a contractor saw. Finally, the fences on bench-top saws are rarely sufficient for quality woodworking. I'm not a tool snob, believe me. I just want a machine that delivers the goods until I give out rather than vice versa. I want a machine that will stay in reasonable adjustment, that can be pushed when called on without begging or babying. The table saw, band saw, jointer and planer are the cornerstones of a well-equipped woodshop. Among these machines, the prices difference between an average benchtop with a universal motor vs. a cast iron model sporting an induction motor is just a few hundred dollars. Invest the extra money because you'll almost certainly get it back the day you decide to sell it. Invest, even if it means delaying your next purchase for a year. You'll be glad you did, I promise. PW CONTACT INFORMATION Steve Shanesy Editor & Publisher Specialties: Projects, techniques, article and project selection (513) 531-2690 ext.238 steves@fwpubs.com David Thiel Senior Editor Specialties: Projects, new products and tools, tricks of the trade (513) 531-2690 ext.255 davidt@fwpubs.com Christopher Schwarz Managing Editor Specialties: Author liaison, website, projects, photography. (513) 531-2690 ext.407 Jim Stuard Associate Editor Specialties: Projects, carving,turning, project illustrations (513) 531-2690 ext.348 jims@fwpubs.com Amy Schneider Art Director Specialties: Magazine and cover design, photo direction (513) 531-2690 ext.471 amys@fwpubs.com Got Questions or Problems With Your Subscription? To report problems with your subscription visit our website at popwood.com, call our subscription offices at 515-280-1721, or write to Popular Woodworking,P.O. Box 5369, Harlan, IA 51593. Our Privacy Promise toYou We make portions of our customer list available to carefully screened companies that offer products and services we believe you may enjoy. If you do not want to receive those offers and/or information, please let us know by contacting us at: List Manager, F & W Publications, 1507 Dana Ave., Cincinnati,OH 45207 SAFETY NOTE Safety is your responsibility. Manufacturers place safety devices on their equipment for a reason. In many photos you see in Popular Woodworking, these have been removed to provide clarity. In some cases we'll use an awkward body position so you can better see what's being demonstrated. Don't copy us.Think about each procedure you're going to perform beforehand. Safety First! 10 Popular Woodworking February 2000 |
