accurate flip/table/bench saw

[wildewood]

hello

can I get some advise on a cheap (ish) saw for cutting wood smooth accurate cuts for long bow staves / parquet / table tops where wood meets wood with no gap or join visable type thing - I can't cut straight by hand & need a small saw (limited space & money) apart from the really expensive makita/dewalt/bosch saws are there any others - I saw the evolution rage 6 on my web wondering anyone know this (what looks like a chop saw to me) any help would be great cheers S

 

[rafezetter]

If you honestly want perfect no gap joints, you probably won't find it with an evolution. I've had 3 mitre saws, all similar money to a rage, and none have produced zero gap joints even with some time spent fettling and adjusting, and not even with a superior blade, because the frame itself had flaws, small ones, but a cut flipped over showed them up.

Those saws that flip to be a small site saw or a mitre saw are also probably not that suited for similar reasons at the lower end of the market - I have one of those too but it's an OLD elu (made when such machines were simply made better) and while the mitre cuts a lovely flush joint - I didn't trust the tablesaw arrangement for anything other than rough cutting before handplaning before I got a "proper" table saw.

Have a look in buying advice for possible alternatives, but I think in all honesty, you'll be better off buying a good quality site saw (movable as opposed to a floor standing) and making a crosscut jig for the parquet end grain cuts.

However, even then "no visible gap" joints are not a forgone conclusion so some hand plane finishing may be a good skill for you to learn - Jointing long joints and shooting end grain.

"no visible gap" joints direct from a machine only usually come with a hefty price tag.