How to do DIY Projects Without Owning a Table Saw
I feel like owning a table saw is something that scares a lot of people and can be a barrier to entry for doing DIY. It may surprise you, but the first chunk of projects in my DIY journey I completed without a table saw. Today I want to talk about how you can do DIY projects without owning a table saw because it is possible!
How to do DIY Projects Without Owning a Table Saw | Circular Saw + Cutting Guides
In my opinion, you need to have three tools in order to succeed without a table saw. The first of these tools is a circular saw. You can either use a circular saw by itself without anything else, or you can also use a circular saw with cutting guides. I have two different cutting guides I like to use with my circular saw: the Kreg Rip Cut and the Kreg Circular Saw Cutting Guide. The Kreg Rip Cut is going to help you get the same cut over and over again at the same length, similar to what you would be doing with a table saw. I do it all the time. The Circular Saw Cutting Guide is much longer. It can go up to eight feet long, which will fit a standard size plywood sheet, and you can then cut straight lines along that. I used it when I was making the wall of closets back in 2021 and was doing multiple cuts to build the insides of the boxes for those closets.
How to do DIY Projects Without Owning a Table Saw | Miter Saw
The second tool I think you need in place of a table saw is a miter saw. This is a standard DIY tool I think everyone should have access to. Whether you're renting it or buying it, you don't have to buy an expensive one. They come in a variety of price ranges and are super helpful when it comes to cutting down longer pieces while making them workable. The other great thing about a miter saw is you can change the edge and angle of your cut, which is what a miter cut is. You can do up to a 45 degree angle, and you can also change the direction in which the cut goes.
How to do DIY Projects Without Owning a Table Saw | Router and Router Table
The last tool you need if you don't have a table saw is a router and a router table. This tool is going to allow you to cut notches into wood you would similarly do with a table saw. When using a table saw, you don't cut all the way through the piece of wood, but you're creating a notch in the wood. With a router and a router table you can have the same effect on the wood without having a big table saw. Obviously table saws come in different sizes and you can get smaller ones that are more portable; however, they are still expensive and you're only getting one tool. In my mind, you can spend the same amount of money and get three tools as opposed to just buying one tool with one specific use, it's a no brainer!
Stay tuned for more projects using all of these tools in the future.
