Hello everyone - it feels like a good time to get creative with timber @Home!

Hi all, after lots of time researching woodworking tools, techniques, project ideas online and regularly landing in this forum it felt like the right time to join. So hi to all, and thanks ahead of time for what may seem like stupid questions from a relative beginner.

I call Brisbane home and have always been relatively handy around the house, however maybe not as refined as I'd like to be in my creations ;). I.E. I can build a mean sleeper retaining wall, fence and a rough outdoor table, but keen to progress to finer furniture work starting with a plywood entertainment unit.

I plan on using this social isolation time to refine my skills and hopefully create some quality pieces from scratch.

Buying the right tools of a high quality once is my preferred approach, and its where I hope to start as at present I'm light on in that department with only a basic Ryobi mitre saw, Milwaukee 18v Circular, Cordless drills.

My first question to the more experienced: A table saw or Rail saw?
I was originally leaning towards a second hand Triton Workcentre 2000 with many around for ~$400 with accessories and saw, then noticed lots of feedback around how fiddly they are to set up accurately. So started to progress towards some of the entry level Makita, Dewalt or Milwaukee table saw's between $650-$999. The last night I found info suggesting a quality second hand track/rail saw such as Festool TS55 which seem to be available for ~ $1000 is a better option.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of these options, or are the designed to perform different tasks?

Thanks in advance, and apologies if this is in the wrong place.

Say safe and fever free

Welcome to the forum.

Hi Walshy. Welcome to the forum from across the ditch. I see from your post you're focussed on power tools, especially table saws. Could be a good idea to have a think first about what kind of projects you want to tackle and how much space you have in your shop. Take me, for example, I lean towards smaller projects (e.g. boxes) for which a band saw is a far better alternative to a table saw enabling me to re-saw timber and cut curves for which a table saw is less useful. Then of course there is the Dark Side :U (hand tools). Whatever power tools you choose, you will eventually find the need for decent planes, chisels etc. Whatever you decide, this is a good place for advice and encouragement so we look forward to seeing what you produce. Cheers, Pete

Hi Pete/woodhutt, thanks for your response and advice. My first few projects are likely to be plywood based an entertainment unit and bedside tables are the goal with 45 degree bevelled edges and exposed ply face. That is why I was leaning towards the bigger $$ power tool purchases at this stage, but definitely keen for guidance. cheers

G'Day & Welcome to a top forum...
There are quite a stack members around Brisbane and cross South East Queensland plus the rest of the country.....
You'll find a heap of helpful & knowledgeable blokes & ladies on the forum and for most very willing to assist.
Make sure you show off your handiwork as everyone loves a photo, especially WIP [Work In Progress] photos with build notes.
Enjoy the forum.
Enjoy your woodwork......
Cheers crowie

PS - May I suggest that you start a new thread in the tools section to gain a wider audience and thus more answers...

Welcome to the forum.

Regards
Keith

Thank you

Track Saw: is great if you want to break down sheet goods. Not good to rip down dimensional timber. It's a NO from me, but maybe that's the kind of projects you want to make after your initial plywood items? You certainly don't need to buy a festool track saw to get decent results. They do have a name (and a price tag to match) but there are credible alternatives in this space that will do the job - given it's not as critical a task as some others, a little leeway is likely ok.

Triton. I was handed down one that I've never spent any time getting to know well, nor to make significant items with it, but to me it's a compromise.

My final vote would be to keep the cash in your pocket and spend time getting a gumtree watch set up and buy a table saw second hand instead. You'll find a wide range of TS'es, from bargain to almost new price, but only you will know what is a good deal and in your price range - but if you were looking for up to $1k I think you'd find an OK deal. Keep an eye out here too (there was a Briz saw offered here not that long ago). There's also a wealth of reading here about sliding table saws and table saws, but again it all depends on projects - a TS is great for cutting dadoes/rabbets quickly in flat-sheet material like for your entertainment unit project, but depending on the scale of that it could be unweildy and a slider/outrigger would help.

Good luck on the hunt

Thanks poundy great advice

New Post around tool recommendations added to tools category cheers

Buy a sliding table panel saw, it will do everything you’ll ever need, and accurately, and safely.

Welcome to the forum