Some really cool Christmas gifts

Usually I get Christmas presents like clothes of the wrong size/not my style, stuff really just for my wife, and seemingly random stuff...

This year, my uncle did something really cool: he sent me a Lowes gift card in the mail. The very day that it came we also went to their house and he gave me a ton of woodworking tools

I now have a bandsaw, a jointer, a planer and a drill press. I know I'm going to need a table saw and a miter saw.

So this brings up my 2 part question/discussion:

1. I don't have a ton of room, but do want a nice table saw. Suggestions? So far I've looked at used on craigslist, HF (decent reviews, but some complaints), or some other brand (looking for suggestions).

2. What are some good starter projects to learn to use the tools? Kind of like building a welding cart/table to learn to use a welder.

I got this Craftsman 10" Portable Table Saw about 4 years ago. It still takes up a lot of real estate, even with the legs folded up, but it ain't that bad. I managed to store it in a fairly well equipped 1 car garage, and still park a car in it.

If you get a miter saw, I'd recommend one that can do compound cuts, and a sliding compound saw if you can swing it. I've got an old 10" Makita, that's just a plain miter saw. You've got to get creative with some of the cuts you do with it, and its got a pretty limited capacity, can't quite cut a 45 on a 2x6 with it. Even so I've used it 10x more than I've used the table saw, so I'd be investing in a good miter saw before I worried about a table saw.

As far as projects go, I've not done anything too crafty. I've done a couple bed head boards, a desk, work bench, ceder planter boxes, and used the table saw for ripping larger pieces for countless other projects, and the miter saw for tons more other things that needed cut.

• Lee

Thanks Lee. I ended up finding woodworkingtalk forum and did some reading. I think I'm going to just look for something used on craigslist for the table saw. Good tip on the miter saw too. I was kind of confused as to why not to get a compound sliding saw; your suggestion agrees. Space isn't a huge issue for me (my wife would argue this). I have storage space and can move cars for work space. Maybe shelves for these tools would eb the best first project...

<-- Retired shop teacher

Get the largest table saw you can find/afford.
The Craftsman saw I have will let me set the fence for a 24" cut so I can rip a 4'x8' sheet of plywood down the middle. The compound sliding miter saw is also an essential piece of equipment. The one I have is just a 7 1/2" blade but it has been able to do everything I want.

EDIT: Get a way to put your machines on rollers. My shop area is only 12' x 20' so having stuff on rollers is mandatory.

I inherited my grandfather's Craftsman table saw. he had casters on one end, and a caster on a wood handle that picks up the other end to move it. I like it because since one end has no wheels it stays put while you are using it.