i have been doing all my building with hand tools and am looking to buy a saw to make things a little easier on me - which would be more useful? it would be used exclusively for making cbgs - would these $125 or so jobs at lowes, etc. do the job?

Views: 1995

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

IMVHO - Band saw. Table saw is GREAT for ripping tho but for me, the blade is too thick for what I do and I can't do curves/odd shapes.

-WY
To be honest, I'd have to say both. Table saws are great for long, straight cutting. Bandsaws are great for cutting curves. Neither can do the job the other can do well. I would not, however, buy new. Older 8" table saws are available quite frequently used (older usually means a nice, heavy cast iron table - better than aluminum), and often have motors separate from the arbor - handy if you don't want to scrap a saw if the motor goes bad. Where bandsaws are concerned, I wouldn't recommend the smaller benctop units - not really big enough to do much. You can cut small things on a big bandsaw, but you can't cut big stuff on a small bandsaw. A full size 14" throat may seem like overkill, but you'll most likely never wish a bandsaw were smaller (unless you're moving it). If you must only have one, a small table saw will be the most useful for stock prep and other tasks.
Band saw - you can buy boards that are already square and are the thickness you want. I do well with a bench top bandsaw/belt sander set up.

The bench top band saw is sufficient for CBGs, but can struggle with various guitar tasks.
My vote goes to the bandsaw. Very versatile for a lot of cutting operations. Bigger the better, but I just have a little, portable 3-wheeler that gets the job done for most of my needs.
I would say both. This site has reconditioned and free shipping http://cpooutlets.com/
Band saw!!!

And if you can afford it, get a 12" one instead of a 10" one. I can't count the number of times I have tried to make a cut and needed the additional throat size.
Yep. My Ryobi 9" does 90% of my cuts but has issue when I make heels. The neck extends >9" form the heel cut so i have to fudge.

-WY

Skeesix said:
The bench top band saw is sufficient for CBGs, but can struggle with various guitar tasks.
I second the votes for Band saw.... but, I would rather see you buy a bigger (floor) model used than a bench top band saw.... It is more versatile.... You can do some light resawing.... do end cuts for length and then drop down in blade size to cut shapes.

a bench top blades tend to wander too much in hardwoods over 1/4 inch thick..... just my opinion....

sooner or later you will add a table saw and a scroll saw to your shop.... each one has it's use and shouldn't be used for other tasks..... (trying to shape can with a table saw can cost you a finger.... ripping with bandsaw with not give you the control you need).


hope that helps....

Wichita Sam
I have a table saw. I've used it to square up and good straight cuts. And turning wood into flying shrapnel..live and learn.. LOL ( if your working with very small cuts turn the saw off and push the final inch threw.) I can see where a band saw could come in handy when making compound tapered cuts. I used a hand held jig saw. Not as sturdy but do able. I guess it depends on what your planning on doing. Like apples and oranges. Or in this case, hammers and screwdrivers...lol Both great tools but you can't use one to replace the other.

My guess would be the table saw. Straight cuts are important and if you ever want to laminate wood together to make a neck then it's very important to have good straight cuts. Or if you ever get wood that you can cut down into usable pieces. ( old tables, throw a way furniture. free is always good. ) Tapered cuts can still be made with hand tools. Or hand held power tools.

My best advice? Cheep tools are expensive to use. You get what you pay for. Case in point. I have a Dewalt drill. Not the top of the line but not a cheep one. It's outlasted, is easier to use, smoother feel and more torque than any Black and Decker I've ever owned.
Buy used and buy both. Craigslist, pawnshops etc. You can do it with the same money if you shop around.
Just gonna get one? Bandsaw ... no doubt. You can make decently straight cuts w/ a bandsaw, but you can't cut shapes with a table saw.


Matt
I may be the lone vote for table saw, but that would be my vote. I have a hand held jigsaw that does anything I need in terms of curved cuts. And I have a table saw. The table saw does all I need to get the neck in shape for a CBG. Which if your dealing with hard words like oak it is important to have something that can cut precisely and not buckle under the hardness of the wood. I'll never forget my first time drilling a hole into my first oak neck on my drill press and the wood grabbing the bit and bending it about 20 degrees askew from where i wanted the hole. Anyway, my two cents . . . . —B
I usually do all my hobby work late at night and don't ever fire up my table saw for CBG projects. I bought a nice quiet refurbished bandsaw a few months ago and use the heck out of it - it's very handy and I find myself moving through projects much quicker than I was able to only using hand tools. As a first big sawing tool I would definitely recommend the band saw with a selection of blades - thicker ones for long straight cuts and narrow ones for the curves.

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 21. 11 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

How to Get Your Own Music on Spotify

Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies

CB Bass Guitar

Started by Mi Rankin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Justin Stanchfield Jan 27. 5 Replies

Latest Activity

A.D.EKER commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
Thumbnail

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

"i See Your ready to Blow away the GRAND STADIUM ! tree strings more of DAR DELIGHT !! Shine Girl !…"
1 hour ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you for the kind comments Doug! Glad you liked the Picture !"
1 hour ago
BrianQ. commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
5 hours ago
BrianQ. liked Dar Stellabotta's video
5 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Project Punch!

" Thank ya again Keith!"
8 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Punch Project!

" Thank Ya Keith!"
8 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on AGP #'s photo
Thumbnail

AGP #527 - ''Led-Zep 2''

"This build really strung you along Alan! Reminded me of all my fishing line experiments; a lot of…"
9 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Diggin’ the slow blues. I like that last pic Andries! Look at all those cool guitars. Yeah!!!"
9 hours ago
Dar Stellabotta posted a video

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

This video is the unboxing and the demonstration of a beautiful, six stringer built by Louie Lamanna. Join Louie and I June 15 at the second annual Pittsburg...
11 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter to you too Andries! The passion is definitely in full swing. Turns out I’m…"
11 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter Doug ! the Passion is in full swing !"
12 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Ricky D's photo
12 hours ago

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->