Starting workshop saw choice

[Vect]

Hello! I've finally got enough space to start doing some woodworking. I've been wanting to take it up as a hobby for years and now that I've got the space I can make a start.

I don't have a garage or shed, which is a problem, but I will be moving again in March and one of my requirements is that I get a decent garage I can start a workshop in. Right now I plan to do most of the messy work in the back patio/lawn or down the side of the house. With the rest going on in my living room/kitchen (easy clean laminate floors). With this in mind, I'm a bit stuck as to which type of saw I should get. I'm wary that I've got the "new boy keenness" and want to go out and buy everything, so I was hoping for some advice from people who have done this themselves.

I have quite a bit of money to spend, but I need it to go as far as possible. I really have to justify every £ is going to pay for itself in raw material/blood+sweat+tears saved.

The options as I see them are based around what kind of cuts I'll be required to make:

Cross cuts (Circular/Mitre/Jigsaw/Table saw)
Ripping (Circular/Jigsaw/Table saw)
Mitre (Circular/Mitre/Jigsaw/Table saw)
Bevel (Circular/Mitre)
Plunge (Circular/Mitre)

My first project is going to be a kingsize bed frame (previous tenant left a kingsize mattress, which we have guest sleep on, but we have no frame). The timber I need is all sold in the right size, so I don't have to do any ripping. But I have no idea about future projects, I think I'll be building a desk in the future (post-move probably) in which case I'll need to rip plywood sheets (they do it at B&Q, so maybe not). What is your experience of ripping? Do you do it alot?

My bed project requires me to do a lot of cross cutting, and some long shallow angles on the headboard. Part of me is saying just get a circular saw, the other part is saying get a mitre, it's more accurate and when you start your workshop, its a better investment. I'm really not sure. Thoughts?

I also plan on making a few display boxes (containing bottles of whisky/vodka) for gifts etc. The mitre would make short work of this as they don't need strong joints (Butt will do), but when it comes to cut the window in the front, a plunge cut with a circular saw would be easier. I suppose I could find a way to mount the glass without requiring that.

Since I'll have my own man-cave/garage to play with come march, would I be better off not bothering with a mitre, getting a circular, then buying a table saw when i'm in my new place? Or are table saws a bit too much for a hobbist?

Thanks for reading this longer than anticipated post, I'm looking forward to your replies.

V

 

[J_SAMa]

hi vect,
id definitely get a circular saw first, and the second saw i will get will be a jigsaw
with a proper guide rail system or cutting jig, a circular saw is capable of doing almost all types of straight cuts (curved cuts can only be done with a jigsaw or bandsaw).
miter saws are much more accurate than circular saws when doing cross cuts, but you cant cut boards with them.
whats your budget? im not sure what you mean by "quite a bit of money" if you have about 100 pounds, get the bosch gks 190. its not compatible with any guide rail systems. if you have a little more to spend, i recommend the gks 65 gce, which is compatible with the bosch fsn series guide rail system. if you really have like 400 pounds or something, get the gks 65 gce and a jigsaw (such as gst 140)
i wouldnt recommend any festool saws. they are admittedly good. but they are more for tradies than for diyers like us...
FYI the bosch gks 190 cuts up to 70mm deep and the gks 65 gce cuts up to 65mm deep. if you are going to cut lumbers larger than that, i think its better if you just get a miter saw
sam

 

[mbartlett99]

Think I disagree. I started with the same logic and bought a good jigsaw and circular saw but after getting a good mitre saw and table saw hardly use the portables. The static machines are just so much more accurate and powerful. The guide rail circular saw is great for panels but thats all I'd ever use it for and even then in the future I might just rough cut them by hand and then shove it through the table saw.

Just my tuppence worth.

 

[Vect]

As an update, I already had a Bosch 55A Circular saw on order, which is now too late to cancel. This will see me through my Bed frame project with some effort. I'll come back to the issue after I move, although I think a Mitre saw and Circular saw may be the best combo. Depending on how my hobby develops, I could always invest in a jig saw, the hobby ones don't seem to expensive.

Thanks for your help!