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Bending Wood Molding in Your Wood Shop


Make Wooden Trim Conform Using Steam or Back-Cutting

© 2008 by Kelly Smith all rights reserved

DeWalt Track Saw

Choose the correct saw for the job, whether You’re framing a basement, miter cutting baseboard, or hand cutting tight dovetail joints. There's a tool for any carpentry task, from simple hand saws to track saws.

When you consider a saw for a particular DIY project, chances are you think of your circular saw (generically referred to as a Skil saw), or a crosscut hand saw. But the fact of the matter is that there exists a wide range of saws, each developed for a specific task.

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When You Use any Saw, Follow Wood Shop Safety Rules

Recall the basic safety rules you learned in your high school wood shop or metal shop class:

  • Keep jewelry to a minimum.
  • Always wear goggles or safety glasses. Side guards are available for prescription glasses.
  • Tie back your hair if it’s long.
  • Don’t wear a tie or loose clothing.

Let’s Begin with the Basics: Hand Saws

Long before power saws became so widespread, the most common ones were hand saws. Not that their time is past; in many situations they are the wisest choice. Here’s a few that all woodworkers should have in the shop:

  • The Hand Saw: Also called a panel saw, this was the work horse in the early days of carpentry and residential construction. The two basic models are the rip saw (which is used to cut with the grain), and the crosscut saw (used for cutting against the grain). Interestingly, sawyers of yesteryear also used this hand saw as a music instrument; they called it a musical or singing saw.
  • The Hack Saw: This one is used for cutting both metal and plastic PVC pipe, although it actually comes in handy for a lot of other purposes. Most electricians use their hack saws to cut rigid metallic conduit.
  • The Back Saw: Used in conjunction with a miter box to cut miters in window casings and door trim. It may also be used for cutting baseboard.
  • The Coping Saw: This one looks a bit like a short hack saw having a very small blade, just about 1/8” from the tip of the teeth to the ridge. It’s very useful for cutting in tight places and cutting curves. It’s also used when cutting and installing baseboard.
  • The Dovetail Saw: Used for hand-cutting dovetail joints. Its has a metal cap spine on the back to keep it rigid.

Table Saws are for Tough Tasks

Table saws are just large circular saws (usually 10” blades) mounted to a metal table with some embellishments. They allow you to make very precise cuts on both thin and thick lumber as well as plywood.

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To control your cutting precision, these saws employ both a rip fence and a miter gauge (or crosscut fence). There are three common types of table saws:

  • The Benchtop Table Saw: This saw is the smallest of all three. It’s been engineered that way to allow portability. This lets building contractors to easily deliver precision cutting to the job site. It’s also ideal for small home shops. When working with large stock, you can use a combination of rollers, table extensions, and outriggers. Very handy.
  • The Contractor Table Saw: The contractor table saw has a bigger table surface and is heavier than the benchtop model so it’s not practical to move around much. However, the weight lends it stability. It’s mounted to a sturdy base.
  • The Cabinet Table Saw: This one is a bit more sophisticated and stable than your contractor table saw. Additionally, it’s more powerful, so it requires a 220V dedicated electrical circuit. Most feature an anti-kickback device.

Portable Power Saws

Portable power saws are used for their convenience and special purposes. Here are a few to keep handy:

  • The Compound Miter Saw: The miter saw, also called a chop saw, comes in handy for job site production work becfause of the precise miter cuts they make. These tasks are likely likely to be installing baseboard, crown molding, and window and door trim.
  • The Circular Saw: The circular saw (Skil saw) has largely replaced your hand saw for residential wood framingresidential wood framing. Think of it as a quick ’n dirty table saw with a handle.
  • The Track Saw: This one is in a class of it’s own. DeWalt track saw out and it’s rumored that Makita is about to launch one. But it’s not a new concept; Festool has had one out for many years. The basic drawback is the price. Expensive. But for building contractors, journeyman carpenters, and small remodeling companies, it will pay for itself. What is it? It’s basically a high end circular saw with a rail. This allows you to make accurate cuts on the job site that would otherwise necessitate taking the material back to the shop.
  • The Jigsaw: The jigsaw has a blade that goes up and down rather than in a circular motion. It’s the best choice for cutting arcs or other shapes, which makes it popular with arts and crafts folks.
  • The RotoZip: Not technically a saw, it offers sawing performance in special circumstances. It’s referred to a a rotary tool, and it’s basically a Dremel tool on steroids. As time goes on, more and more bits and accessories are introduced. This is definitely one to keep on your workbench.

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© 2007-2009 Kelly Smith All rights reserved.