Pastrami I absolutely love my cordless brad nailer and I spent $300 on my Dewalt. I own my home so I am constantly finding ways to use it. I think you’ll use it much more often when you buy a place so don’t get rid of it. I also LOVE my sliding miter saw.
Pastrami, i greatly appreciate you saying "for you" and "for the type of work you do" in your video. I was doing allot of renos, and reframing rooms and found the miter saw indispensable, but yes I did have a proper stand so I could setup measure stops. I wish I had bought a Combination Miter saw as the extra cut width of the radial arm saw would have been very handy. for the wider moldings. good video. I enjoyed it.
I have a miter saw on a stand with wheels. It shows laser lines on both sides of cut. Can’t imagine going without it but it boils down to what works for you. I had a jointer but got rid of it and don’t miss it.
I prefer a hand held planner vrs a belt sander. Brad nailer is nice for small stuff like use your scapes to make small sellable stuff. Glue and Brad to hold and keep rocking. Chop saw is one of my most used saw. I use a lot of pallet wood and to cut to size is great. I got the metabo 10". Got it on Amazon for $89 on sell. I use the Johnson level mag angel locator 2 button (digital) to fine tune all my saws for the perfect 45/90.
Pastrami. I own a Bauer 12” miter saw from Harbor freight and I love it. After a couple of very minor adjustments I’m getting perfect miter cuts. I’m also a framer so that’s why I needed the 12” saw. I even bought the Bauer saw stand on sale for $99. Just a suggestion. Great videos. Thanks for the tips!
Pastrami! I think my biggest discussion point to add is that your tools should reflect the projects you're working on. You mention it on each tool the situations it works well in, but as a purchasing guide and overall philosophy, your projects should guide your purchases
Thank you and very well. Put that was really frustrating me. I would like to also add, learn how to use the tool properly. Also, don't show brands like they made a bad product just because you didn't buy the right tool.
Pastrami 👍🏼 I totally agree with the belt sander. Nearly F’d up a high end table top trying to save some time. I find the miter saw pretty useful, but then again, I’m using it to breakdown lengths pretty often - and in the process of building a dedicated table because I HATE moving it around. Love your content (across all mediums) keep it coming!
Yep belt sanders are not for the faint hearted and need a fair amount of experience to know how and when to use a belt sander. I personally own a Festool BS75 belt sander set connected to a Festool shop vac. Powerful with with its attachment are excellent and dust is never a problem. Excellent for solid wood floors and large flattish surfaces. Coupled with a Festool Rotex as a finisher it’s excellent
The SLIDING miter saw is the bomb. Vastly more useful than a regular chop saw. I would have limited use for a chop saw, but the slider is my go-to for a vast array of work. The slider allows all sorts of functional possibilities that go beyond simple chops, plus a vastly extended range and control over depths and placement of cuts. The slider is a hole different animal. One of my early saws was a Craftsman 8-1/4" slider that is still super useful cutting all sorts of lumber (even 4x4 and 4x6) despite it's small size - because it slides. Of course it shines on trim too with a good blade. The slider is the only way to go for that style of saw.
I agree. I started with a regular miter saw and found it limited due to it's limited range. The sliding miter saw I replaced it with is much more useful.
Pastrami makes a wonderful sandwich to enjoy while taking a break during wood working. I considered a sliding compound miter saw when I updated to a 12" ... however, since I already own a radial arm saw, I opted to save some money and forgo the sliding feature. Since I have both saws built into the same bench, I find I use my miter saw often enough not to regret buying it.
Pastrami! Based on the sanding tools you don’t like, I think you might be using pressure more than paper grit to do the sanding. If you’re having to press into the Rigid hard enough to stop the belt, you need a coarser grit belt and lighter pressure. It’s a balance. Great video!
Right! They are for smoothing the edges on curves, not reshaping them. (hand rasps are great for what he was trying to do) Get real close with a band saw or jigsaw, then finish with the spindle sander.
Little late to the game here…but IMO you’re right about the miter saw. I personally have a very nice one (north of the price point you stated), and it still irritates me from time to time. Best thing I did was switch to full kerf blades for the miter saws. Made a world of difference in being able to move quickly while maintaining accuracy.
As a homeowner, I’ve used my nail guns quite a bit. Right now, I’m organizing my shop with a French cleat system for many of my tools. I use nails and glue to put the tool holders together.
Pastrami- Thank you for sharing your opinions . I appreciate that you give your reasons why you do or don't need something. Being a retired mechanic I learned early on that going cheap on tools is never a good idea. I think that cheap mitre saw may have jaded you.
Going cheap on tools may be a good idea when starting up. What breaks first is probably what you use the most so then will be replaced with a high quality tool. No need to go for high quality on tools you rarely use.
Pastrami I felt the same way about miter saws also i had the harbor freight central machinery miter saw and hated it. But i did pick up a 15 Amp Corded 12 in. Dual Bevel Sliding Miter Saw and i absolutely loved it. The cuts are nice and straight. It cuts so wide i end up using that more than my table saw. It changed my whole woodworking experience.
If you install any type of molding inside of a home, the cordless nail gun is a game changer. In the workshop I tend to use mind when building a quick jig for something, which it is way nicer to have a battery powered one vs charging the air compressor and dragging the cord across the shop.
That's why I bought mine. I put in a taller baseboard in my house and finished out some door openings and the cordless nail gun was a must. It saved so much time.
The Ryobi misfires way too often to use on pieces that you don't want to cut again, namely all crown imo. It's also harder to place the nail exactly where you want it.
Pastrami - Good video! I'm an amateur woodworker, and I agree with only 2 of these -- The belt sander and the cordless sander. The others you mentioned are used quite often in my shop! I encourage you to give the miter saw a chance, but only if you're going to also build a stand for it and use the appropriate support system for the long cuts! A properly dialed in miter saw is very convenient!
Pastrami :) I was like you, had a cheap used miter saw for about 5 seconds before I figured out it didn't do anything worth wasting that much space for. Then I found a deal on a nice sliding compound miter saw and it was life-changing. I use the heck out of it and I absolutely love what it does. I don't just use it for rough cuts, I have a sweet Diablo blade on it and use it for everything from melamine to fine trim work. Air tools can also be a game changer, but only when you have space for a decent compressor. Air nailers, air sanders, so many great tools that are cheap because you're not buying a motor AND tool, but just the tool. I totally agree about the battery operated sander, actually I'll extend that to say anything that I use for more than 5-10 minutes at a time is frustrating and near-useless as a battery-powered unit. I also agree with your statement to not buy anything until you actually need it.
Pastrami! thanks! i was thinking about buying a miter saw, but i dont have anywhere near enough space to put it, and i actually get a lot out of using my ryoba and kataba saws instead, especially for complicated cuts, the more complicated the greater the feeling of having done it well enough by hand!
Pastrami. The tool that surprised me the most was the brad nailer. I’d chalk that up to the type of work you do, but surprised it doesn’t come in handy for jigs and shop projects. Love the content man!
I just subscribed to your channel. I agree with you on buying tools when you need them. I bought a belt sander to refinish my backyard cedar deck. That and sanding interior hard wood flooring is what it's best suited for. I bought a Ryobi miter saw last year to start remodeling our house. I use it for baseboards, door trim, and flooring. If I were to buy a miter saw for woodworking I would buy a Festool. It has zero deflection and I think that is extremely important in woodworking. Thank you for your videos, you're a great help!
I have a saying I coined. "Buy them when you find them, not when you need them". If I did not follow this mantra, I would have bought a band saw I would have had to sell within a few months to buy the one I really needed. I took 2 years to buy a Laguna 14Twelve, caught it on sale and free shipping and I don't think I will ever need to upgrade. the same for my table saw, I used an old Porter Cable until I wlaked into a pawn shop and in the corner was a brand new Ridgid granite top 3512 table saw in the box. I didn't go there for that, but I bought it when I found it and that was almost 10 years ago. Still don't need an upgrade. Be patient.
Pastrami, yes get a quality miter saw and the new portable stands have extension roller built in to hold longer wood. Plus portable and fold up really small with the saw on it and can store in a small area in your shop when not in use. Love my dewalt!
Totally agree with your opinion in band sanders. Almost never use mine, for all the reasons you described! Random orbital sander is my go-to 90% of the time.
Pastrami. I got a miter saw to retrim my house and it helped hook me on woodworking. I got a good deal on a 10 inch slider. Watched tons of videos and got it square and I’ve been off to the races since.
Pastrami it is very true that the tools you use are guided by the work you do. Same goes for any set of tools in any profession, everyone told me I needed pipe wrenches as plumber, I think I used one once in five years, but I was also a med gas and hospital service plumber, so I used a whole different set of heavy tools.
Just remember that every piece of advise you get is from that person's perspective. For example, I couldn't live without my miter saw but he has a different experience and has learned to work around it. There are also some tools that I needed ONCE and bought them to do the job and now wish I didn't have them but they were a necessity at the time but some of my friends have been grateful that I bit the bullet and they could borrow it. We all end up with drawers of tools that we don't need :)
Pastrami! Very interesting your perspective on useless tools. I have all the tools you mentioned and use them frequently. But...I do a lot of home repairs, rough framing type work (currently doing a bathroom remodel). Not a lot of fine furniture woodwork. So I get your point. BTW I really enjoy the fact that you're doing this out of a garage in an apartment! The only tool I rarely use is a set of circular saw guides for cutting large sheets of plywood. I recently purchased a track saw so they will be collecting dust forever now.
Pastrami!! I agree that it really depends on what your making and that using what you have until you really know that you need the new tools is a great idea. I think your spot on with the list except the miter saw. I got a really nice compound Delwalt before my table saw and was able to do a lot with it. I find that a better quality tool used is a good option then a lower quality tool new.
Pastrami :)) As a carpenter/roofer, I don't do any woodworking, but I always watch channels like yours as entertainment and as a source to expand my knowledge. For our job, I'd say that a gas chainsaw is imperative, then we use our impact drivers the most. Next one is the framing nailer, the drill driver and the router and the angle grinder. I chose carpentry and roofing over joinery because the initial investment you need is significantly lower, when you start your own business after apprenticeship.
Pastrami (really a superior deli meat). Nice video! Having a miter saw yesterday helped me pivot to a different and keep working when my table saw died. Not the most precise but still useful. Not sure how far you schedule out videos, but I’d love to see something similar about what tools you wish you spent more/ less on. There are definitely tools I’m glad I have but realize didn’t need to be as high quality as I assumed and visa-versa. Some guidance on that would probably be helpful (especially compared to all of the “10 essential tools” videos out there)
Pastrami…Totally with you on the nail gun front. Bought one to do a lap board job in my shed and never used it since. Jury is still out on my Mitre Saw. Use it a lot but like you very frustrated with dodgy angles etc. Money is the key but as I am a DIYer I can’t justify the big spends. Love you take on the cordless/corded question. A lot of what you say makes total sense. Glad you are still around to make these vids. I enjoy the watch and take the tips.
Thanks for this info. I think the most helpful aspect is your emphasis on project application. We all have different interests and goals so we need different tools. Two things: 1) buying inexpensive tools is generally a recipe for failure 2) I especially related to the sander info, from the problem with belt sanders (gouging and scratching) to the issue of battery power or corded versions. Lastly: I appreciated your willingness to recognize that YOUR preferences are yours. In each case you allowed for possibilities that might not match your own preferences. Big lesson for me: don’t just buy a tool because “everyone” has one in their shop. Good stuff. I just found you but will subscribe and keep watching!
OTOH, a belt sander is good for rough shaping of material. I build boats and there LOTS of non-square cuts, so "sneak up" on the line with the jig saw, then use the belt sander to fair the curves. I use mine a LOT (in fact, I've already burned one up).
Pastrami! I'm happy that you share what you don't need and why. Personally, I absolutely LOVE my Ryobi random orbital sander. Unfortunately, when I tried to buy a backup/second one, every single one at Home Depot would not run at the same speed as my old one. But I use it on every single project nowadays. (Of course, I still consider myself in the beginner stage even after 2 years of building big [3X8' ] and small [15"x18"] planter boxes and other gardening stuff for my wife.). I also like my Ryobi nailer - it comes in so handy for building trellises. And since I do make a lot of cuts of long wood, the miter saw is a necessity - but I do dread having to build the station for it. I have.a question: Why do you use a jig saw to cut down long pieces of thick wood instead of a circular saw?
Pastrami. I found the belt sander i inherited from my father when he passed it is so powerful it gouges everything, except it did work good on the raised wood walkway. Thank you for the honest review on the sander machine, i wont have to get one now. Im shocked you are not happy with the miter saw, i love my dewalt miter saw, always perfect cuts so easy and fast to use.
That Ryobi airstrike is one of the best tools I've ever bought. BUT...I also do a lot of carpentry along with my woodworking and I've used it to build a buttload of cabinets. I also heard from MANY people that those spindle sanders are a major PITA. - PASTRAMI :)
I agree re the Ryobi air strike. Built stairs in solid wood it proved to be indispensable. Also own a Ryobi cordless 30G pin-nailer and love it. No pipes and cords in the way.
I'm a fulltime cabinet maker who has been trying to raise my game over the past five years. The best money that I've spent over the past year is the 3M extract sander. It works twice as fast as my Makita and the paper lasts 4x longer (I'm saving lots of cash on sandpaper). Best money that I've spent in years. Thanks for your channel and advice!
In regards to the small pastrami nail gun, and mitre saw, I get that it depends on your style of woodworking. Using nails means extra work for making a nice finish, but it will hold up better if you both nail and glue pieces together. Nice you say the part about the low cost saw when talking about the mitre saw tho. Must admit for most cuts I use a circular/jigsaw instead of mitre saw. But for very precise cuts, then the dewalt mitre saws are pretty damm good.
Pastrami I've just discovered your channel & love it. You don't preach & always say what works for you may not work for me & visa versa. keep up the good work . PS I'm watching you in Australia .
Pastrami I've gone through the same thoughts about miter saws. I have a $200 one for homeowner stuff. But for woodworking for square crosscutting? use your crosscut sled or miter gauge. The table saw has way better dust collection than ANY miter saw, any day. even a $1,200 festool.
Pastrami. I love having my miter saw. I use it it for all kinds of home projects and it really saved my bacon when I built my backyard storage building. BUT, I did get a compatible portable station, which made it easy to move, kept it at the right height and gave me level surface on which to work.
I have that exact Ryobi brad nailer, and I've found it indispensable. For remodeling projects it's really handy. For other woodworking projects, I'm more of a casual DIY'er, and I made a decision to go brad nailer instead of investing way more than that amount of money on a heap of clamps. Better or worse...I don't know. A lot of times for outfitting a new shop, you make decisions and roll with them until new needs or projects demand something new.
Pastrami!!😋 Thanks for the info. Subscribed today, I'll be back. I'm just starting out. I have a few pieces that my father gave me and I've bought a couple more. I'm seriously considering more time spent woodworking and just trying to get some more ideas/knowledge. I'm a 62 yr old truck driver that wants to get off the road, and looking for some side hacks. Keep up the good work. Thanks!!
Pastrami I have my miter saw on a rolling folding stand. I use it all the time. There are some projects that would have been almost impossible without a miter saw. I rebuild the closet and installed crown molding with inside corners, outside corners, and scarf joints. I built a large 3 section bookcase where the crown molding protrudes forward at the vertical separations. It required lots of compounded miter cuts.
I've got that same cordless Ryobi nailer and use it on Pastrami. I've also got a Porter Cable air powered one. The air nailer is much nicer for shop use because it fires a nail as soon as I pull the trigger. The Ryobi takes a while to think before it actually shoots a nail. However, it's really handy to not have to drag air hose all around so I use whichever is most appropriate for the task at hand. I've actually got two (yes, two) 12" compound miter saws. I've used them both extensively and sometimes, I've used them both on the same project. It's nice to have one set to some odd-ball angle that you took a measurement from with an angle gauge, then have the other available for whatever angle the next cut calls for. Granted, a lot of the use for these is on construction projects around the house (building the garage & shed, fitting out the current bathroom addition, etc.), but I've used them a fair bit on woodworking projects, too. I really like the DeWalt 779 sliding compound saw. However, I'd suggest one of the ones with the parallelogram hinge or where the slide projects forward instead of rearward - it allows you to put it closer to the wall. As others have noted - use the tools you need for your tasks and try not to get too caught up in "shiny new toy" syndrome.
On rye.... I have most of the tools mentioned. I'm not a serious woodworker. "Wasted" is subjective. I use them a handful of times a year. I have middle-of-the-road stuff. You can tune and adjust most of them to fit my needs. Tolerances aren't a deal breaker for what I'm working on. One (several) thing I regret buying is storage stuff/systems that you think will organize and declutter your shop when it (they) just add to the clutter.
Pastrami. I use a Makita cordless sander and it seems to work fine with a 5.0Ah battery. I went completely cordless cos I was working on a portable bench in a car park (making sure to clean up my mess). But now that I have workshop space, I don't see the need to ditch the batteries and cordless tools. Perhaps one reason is cos woodworking is a hobby for me?
Pastrami - I have a Rigid miter saw with rigid rolling stand and I can’t imagine projects without it. I use it more for home projects than fine woodworking but it has been indispensable. I will say although the lateral degrees have been rock solid, I do struggle sometimes keeping it square vertically when I need it to be precise. If I could spend money on one really nice tool right now, it would probably be a band saw.
Pastrami! Many of the tools you mentioned are the ones that I purchased for one project and have never, or very rarely, used them again. And definately a corded tool is much more powerfull and will last longer. Cordless are convenient - if the battery is charged. Thanks for the video. .
Pastrami! You say you the tools you mentioned are not needed but you gave a well balanced review on each. I’m well balanced - I have a chip on both shoulders and I’m level headed - I drool out of both corners of my mouth at the same time. Keep up the good work 🌞
Ive helped frame a few houses and put up a lot of siding and you are spot on about the mitre saw, THAT is what its for. for woodworking in the shop use a skil saw and a table saw and your totally covered.
Disagree inside my shop the mitre saw gets then most use its probably the most versatile saw in the room....Having said that my favorite will always be the table saw.
Pastrami, youre right about the miter saw. I couldnt find a way to incorporate it into my work flow bc I just dont have the space for a dedicated miter station so its usually easier for me to rough saw with a circular saw and get it accurate off my table saw. I had a Hitachi and it was accurate when I spent the time to set it up for its temporary use but it was just not worth it to me. Having limited space any larger tool I feel strongly should be used at least every project to justify the space requirement.
Pastrami! Been watching for awhile and I seldom comment, but I love your work and your channel. I've been moving out of the industry but as a cabinet installer the Brad nailer was priceless and for how often we had huge worksites to move around, cordless was the way to go. I also used my makita beltsander both in and out of the shop a lot. Certain laminate countertops required the finesse of the sander to get it scribed in where a planer would often end up ripping too much material. In the shop we used it often for larger pieces that needed to be joined and laminated to hide said joints. Could it be done with an orbital? Absolutely, but the best tool is the one you have and I had it. Every aspect is going to be different depending on where in the industry one works, which is why I love seeing where you come from on these opinions. For me the tool everyone said I needed collecting dust in the shop is the reciprocating saw. I can see times it might come in handy, but I never think of it until after the fact
I actually just got a belt sander so I thought it was funny when he said it was his least favorite tool. It saved the day on my latest furniture build where I had a few joints that were out of alignment. I do agree with him that there's a learning curve because it's very easy to gouge the piece. I'm still happy I have it especially for leveling panels that don't fit in the planer.
Pastrami - Im a Ryobi fan, I have other corded tools and I’ll keep the Makita battery drill just because my wife bought it for me as my first cordless drill, but I’ve been A long time Ryobi fan. Even my weed eater and blower uses the same batteries- and I’m a some times builder. I live in a 1963 Stream Line Trailer full time. So I don’t do a lot of work anymore- so space is limited-
Pastrami.. I am a carpenter and I love my 12" Dewalt compound miter saw with bench and just installed 8" crown using it, although I couldn't cut it upright on a 45° I had to lay it flat and cut it at 31.6° miter and 33.9° bevel .. not a problem... I use it for every thing.
Pastrami:. I have to agree, I have four miter saws, only one on a dedicated table, which is the one I use the most, but almost always for rough lumber cut to length. I find that the table it's mounted to, is used way more often than the saw itself. It's really more of a convenience than a necessity. Keep up the good work!!!
Pastrami! I really like how you emphasize how these are your opinions for your usage and even mention some usages that these tools might make sense. I really like my miter saw and probably could not live with out it. And yes I have a table I built for it. But I certainly agree with your comments on miter saws. It makes sense that for someone that does what you do in your shop maybe does not make sense to have one. And you hit it on the head why I do have one. Just as you said, I tend to cut longer pieces down. Which I feel would be too difficult on table saw with cross cut sled.
I have that Ridgid tablesaw model you have in your shop. Bought mine about 10 years ago when they first started selling them with riving knives. It was a really nice tool - except for the power switch. The switch was horrible. It was literally the opposite of a safety switch. It was really easy to bump it and turn the saw on accidentally. It happened so much that I just expected it and took the danger into account. Then it failed, and I replaced it with a proper safety switch. It is no longer soft-start but is much safer.
Pastrami, while I agree with the first 4 tools and I haven't purchased any of the 4 ,I do use my mitre saw a lot and find it really useful however I did have a low end saw and realised it was as you said not well built and inaccurate I later purchased a mid spec sliding saw and it is much much better.i do alot of fencing and simple garden planters and my mitre saw does everything I need for my applications, great series of videos thanks.
I do not have a permanent stationed miter saw. Mine is on a very nice Bosch stand with wheels. It's easy to roll out. Perhaps the biggest advantage of using it is when a precise length is needed. I always error, or at least try to, cutting the board a smidgen too long. I can then take off a wee bit as needed by lowering the saw blade with it off, push the board up against the blade, raise the blade, and then make a cut. This will only take a little at a time. The stand can easily be set up with a stop block when cutting numerous pieces of wood to the same length.
Pastrami on rye. I am a weekend woodworker. I agree with everything you said. I have the Rigid sander thing as well but as I do mostly hand tool work I only use it once in a while. I have not had technical failures, but you are right it does not true up even close the right angle. But I do use it a lot on smaller projects and templates. The trigger grip on my miter saw broke. I figured I would take it into the repair shop when I need it again. That was 10 years ago. If it is long sticks that need to me cut I find it faster to cross cut with a hand saw! Hate sanding.
Pastrami, I guess being a cabinet maker and home remodeler who works in my factory and on the site I've found just about every use for every tool. I love my battery powered tools for on site work. I absolutely hate dragging a hose and compressor around a rough jobsite and cordage. But have dedicated shop tools. I have a large slide compound miter saw on a cart for onsite work but two dedicated radial arm saws in the shop. Just about what we all feel comfortable with to get our work done.
Ouch. I just bought the exact same brad mailer, at least I've use the first sleeve and am on my second ;) I have a Makita combination drop saw and love it, but your point about how awkward they are without a proper station is very true. I loved the video though. Best point - don't buy it unless you need it. I sometimes fall into the trap of buying a tool for the wrong reasons. After all I tell mrs G - "Every new job needs a new tool" right?
Pastrami, I have a corded Harbor Freight mitre saw. You're right, they're a pain to put away then drag back out for use without a stand. But i did use it a lot building decks, pergolas, trellis in the backyard.
Pastrami- I had to get a belt sander for getting varnish and other grime off of pine furniture from 1996! The varnish was gumming up the sanding pad. The one tool for me is the Krieg pocket hole jig. I tend not get my pockets hole to either grab or they go through my other piece. I’ve checked at nausea the correct setting to screw size but when I screw it in it sucks.
The convenience of the Ryobi 18 ga. nailer can 't be overestimated. Cons are that it is much heavier than an air powered nailer and it doesn't fire as fast, but dragging around a compressor and dealing with air hoses every time you move to the next few feet of baseboard, sucks! When doing trim work this added convenience makes it worth it. I also like it for small tabletop assemblies when gluing up stuff. Also will help with a future project o f mine, which consists of putting 1/4" plywood over OSB stair treads. Brads will help maintain position while gluing and rolling plywood down on adhesive.
20 years ago, I picked up a Harbor Freight sliding miter-box saw to cut baseboards for a remodeling project. That saw cost about $100 and with a manual and the ability to order replacement parts. Like yours, mine wasn't really square, but it was adjustable. After fiddling with it a bit, I was able to get it completely accurate. And I purchased a Ryobi saw stand to make it into a workstation. Since then I have used it to cut everything from dimensional lumber to furniture parts. I haven't even had to replace the motor brushes yet.
I bought a Ryobi 18gage nail gun or Brad gun or trim gun, whatever you want to call it and I have loved it and used it a lot. If I’m building furniture I, like you, probably would not use it. But on all the small projects that I make I like that I can glue, tack it together with some nails and keep going. I used to have to stop once I glued it and clamped part of a project together and wait for the glue to dry. Not anymore. Definitely helps with efficiency.
I have a cordless makita sander with 5.o battery I think it's great imo Sliding miter saw must have if your doing flooring , and that's about it. And your comment about accuracy comes down to brand & model. * enjoy your videos, they are helpful
Pastrami. I have had a Hitachi radial arm saw (Not a drop saw ) with a 7 1/2 inch blade for 30 years. I bought this after a work colleague told me he built the timber frame and trim for a new home for himself. versatile for cross cutting wide timber either square or at an angle, rebates without a router or jigs. I have several nail guns including staple guns, all pneumatic. Renovating home's you can use a small pin t nail to fit architraves, requiring very small filling. Fixing or repairing fences or making timber frames for walls, the only substitute are self drill screws.
Pastrami, Spencley! I use a decent quality deswalt miter saw (with a couple of separate out rollers) to cut longer stuff down, and also more often to cut stuff on the smaller projects I mess with. Is it a necessary tool? Nope, got along for decades without one when I was more into building small boats, but in old age the SO wants picture frames, and other nit-noys where it comes in handy. Keep up the good videos, and thanks!
Pastrami. I find your comments about the Brad nailer interesting. I used to clamp everything or use screws. Screws are a lot of work and difficult to hide and I always found clamping to be a mixed bag. I don't have a lot of clamps to do large pieces and I was finding my pieces tended to shift a little during drying due to the lubricating effect of the wet glue. I'd go out the next morning and my joint was permanently glued 1/16" crooked etc. Brad nails changed my life. You get the clamping force plus alignment in 1/4 second and so easy to conceal. That being said, I originally bought it for a ton of trim/finishing work I was doing. Using it for wood projects was an afterthought. I also love my dual bevel miter saw. But I only really pull it out on large projects like building a deck or framing work. Occasionally trim work if I want my saw right in the work area. Otherwise I have a radial arm saw that I use for 99% of my small projects.
Pastrami - Miter saws. I have a Bosch 12" with the Gravity Lift stand. It's a great saw that I seldom use. 😀 A saw that I do use a lot is a Dewalt 20V battery power miter saw. It's light and accurate. I use it when I want to make a single cut in my shop and use it for offsite jobs. My shop is small so the big miter saw and job site table saw are always folded up. The battery powered saw is always ready to go so that's why it gets used a lot.
Pastrami I inherited a miter saw, and used it a lot. I've even upgraded to a new one, but I have to agree, once I built some sleds for the table saw, the miter saw is losing it's effectiveness. I still have need for mine, but I do all sorts of home projects and chopping down 2x4s sure is nice with one. For me. I wouldn't say anyone NEEDS any tool.
Did you buy the cordless sander when you were still doing your woodworking in the parking lot of your apartment? In that case I could see having a cordless sander. If where you work is in a parking lot or in your back yard or somewhere outdoors where it may not be convenient to have access to plug something in then having battery operated cordless tools can be very useful.
Pastrami! Have to agree with you on the Belt Sander! I inherited a Craftsman and on my first project wound up using a 1/4 sheet pad sander instead... They can get away from you and constantly having to re-adjust the belt... Hoping to purchase a CORDED dual action sander soon...
As a gardener, my shitty mitre saw is great for cutting up Hazel for firewood. Since hazel grows straight, it's the perfect size and shape for processing. Most awkward branches can be cut by moving the saw 45 degrees. Hazel can be coppiced / cut to the base, and it regenerates, it's a decent firewood.
Pastrami, miter saw and nailers are good for cabinet installs and trim carpentry which is most of my work. The tool I regret is getting a table saw without a good fence. The dewalt has the best fence on a job site saw. I'm glad I upgraded.
Hi there, regarding the mitre saw issue, I would suggest you try the Festool Capex mitre saw. There is virtually no slack or play in any of this tool's functions and the angles are spot on. I have used most other popular brands and nothing else comes close. Of course I am speaking as a joiner of 45 years experience building just about everything from houses, recording studios, restaurants , film scenery, instructing students at university etc and i would never want to be without this tool. I particularly agree with you about tools you don't need, especially when space is tight. I now work out of my home workshop and find many of the issues you have been talking about. Even with the blessing of a double garage it's real easy to run out of space. All of my machines are benchtop ones mounted on individual homebuilt mobile units. I feel the same way as you about battery power tools but as you say being out on site is a whole different ball game. Thankfully i'm retired now so it's not an issue any more and I love working from home in my own space, constrained only by the limitations of my wallet. Finally, the only times I have regretted buying tools has been when they were cheap and nasty ones. I understand why we sometimes do it but it has always turned out to be a mistake for me. Good luck with all you do....
I agree with the belt sander kind of...you can do very large surfaces with variable speed belt sander. I initially bought it for a hardwood floor I was sanding to get into places the floor sander couldn't. But now I prop it on its side and made a si.ple jig and I have a tool to remove alot of material intentionally.
Pastrami- I purchased a really cheep miter saw on Black Friday several, years ago. (23.00 + tax) I set it up with a machinist square when I want an accurate cut. Works fine. I also made a set of 90 degree clamps for clamping squares and picture frames . Also workd fine.
Pastrami. You brought up some interesting points that I haven't considered, I'm still in the process of getting tools and such so this was very helpful
Pastrami As a maker myself I've learned the hard way what tools I need and what tools are waste of money I wish I saw this video years ago but it's very informative for new woodworkers kudos.
@@SpencleyDesignCo I would have to say compound miter saw I hardly ever use it unless I'm doing long pieces for trim work around my own home and that only goes so far until I was finished with the house.
Pastrami. Love my miter saw. Dewault 12” double pivot. Nice pretty dang accurate.Had a cheap one was very frustrating .I have same oscillating sander 2 yrs old now no issues knock wood lol has never bogged down like yours. I would be pissed off if that happened . Not to many regrets on tools I research with in my budget. Mostly use belt sander for shaping wheel barrow handles and the like or massive knock down’s on ruff wood but not so much now after Laguna plainer purchased. I’m just a hobbyist ,do things for family and neighbors and myself of course. Enjoy your channel.
What we did with the miter saw, is when we go the tool chest we put the miter saw on the tool chest to give it support. But I find that if there’s a table saw or miter saw are kinda, must haves in a workshop, either one thing that you were cool $30,000 as an operator if you know what you’re doing, and the tools to net you the highest profit margin should always be the most important in your shop.
Pastrami!! I totally see your point on the mitre saw here's my take. When I first started wood working and didn't know what I was doing I used my mitre saw a ton. The problem I ran into was without a stop block it was tough to get exact or repeatable cuts and repeatedly measuring and marking was time consuming an inaccurate. That's about the time I found how awesome a table saw sled can be, I found myself doing almost all my cross cuts on the table saw and the mitre saw sat and collected dust. I found two downsides to the table saw and sled, first it was awkward on longer boards and second since I also use my table saw for ripping it usually has a ripping or combo blade on it which made a lot of my cross cuts not super clean. Recently I built a mitre saw station with stop blocks and once again I find my mitre saw to be super useful. Since it dedicated to just cross cuts I can keep a 60 or 80 tooth blade on it so it cuts much cleaner with the stop blocks making accurate and repeatable cuts becomes fast and accurate. To me without a mitre station a mitre saw is only good for rough work where accuracy is not super important.
Totally agree on the belt sander, using a random orbital sander with good paper was life changing. My belt sander hasn't seen the light of day since. I'd also say the old style pad sander which I once bought should also be on your list.
Pastrami. Great video! I nervously watched and was relieved that I have not purchased any of the top five - except the miter saw which I use all the time. That said, I rarely use a miter saw for woodworking. That's why table saws and routers were invented. I use my miter saw for DYI projects when I need to trim really fast and get back to watching TV. For example, this past weekend I used my miter saw to trim down wall socket covers near the floor molding. I admit using a miter saw to cut the molding and a friend's nail gun to install the molding. But, the wall socket covers no longer fit and needed to be trimmed.
Pastrami - the tool I really regret buying is the Bora Saw Plate and 55" clamp guide. The two pieces of the guide don't fit together well causing the saw plate to bind in several places as you attempt to move it through the cut. Total waist of money. BTW I love my 18V cordless Bosch sander. It has plenty of power and with a 4AH battery I can get through most jobs with ease.
Pastrami When you buy your house, which I assume will be a fixer upper, you will want a good miter saw. You may also want good nailer. Otherwise, I think you have some good advice here. I try to get tools with multiple purposes like a circular saw with a guide to use instead of a table saw.
I bought my old Makita belt sander for only $8 from a thrift store, it's a tool I don't use often however. But it's there when I need it for larger surfaces. For the medium to small size surfaces, out comes the angle grinder,
I bought cheap miter saw for building a deck. I regretted it when I discovered it needed to be trued nearly every other cut as there was a 1-1.5 degree drift in any direction after each cut. It is now used for framing only and I use a another saw for trim work.
Portable Belt Sander is a way of life for cabinetry installation. It is good for scribing the edge of material to have finish panels get tight to the wall. However I would never finish anything with a belt sander
Pastrami! Regarding a miter saw. I also have a small shop. However I love my DeWalt miter saw! I have a folding DeWalt stand that allows for repeated cuts via the adjustable stops. To save room, the stand folds up and I use a Pulley system to raise it to the ceiling of my shop. Granted there is some set up and break down time involved, but with a bit of planning, I can make most of my cuts in one session, then move on to other steps in the process.
I saw get it SAW a Makita orbital sander on your video pic and I agree with that particular one, it was $69 on clearance at home Depot. Well since then I bought a $19 (hyper tough) and a $29 (Bauer) and both have done about twice as much work as the Makita witch lasted about a little more than 2months before having issues that required servicing from the manufacturer the other 2 are still in good operation with the only issue being the pad on the HT from Walmart.
Support the Show: rebrand.ly/txql2ur
Get Project Plans: rebrand.ly/66hppxg
I’m hungry for a pastrami sandwich!
Pastrami I absolutely love my cordless brad nailer and I spent $300 on my Dewalt. I own my home so I am constantly finding ways to use it. I think you’ll use it much more often when you buy a place so don’t get rid of it. I also LOVE my sliding miter saw.
Thanks for watching and supporting the channel!
Pastrami, i greatly appreciate you saying "for you" and "for the type of work you do" in your video. I was doing allot of renos, and reframing rooms and found the miter saw indispensable, but yes I did have a proper stand so I could setup measure stops. I wish I had bought a Combination Miter saw as the extra cut width of the radial arm saw would have been very handy. for the wider moldings. good video. I enjoyed it.
I have a miter saw on a stand with wheels. It shows laser lines on both sides of cut. Can’t imagine going without it but it boils down to what works for you. I had a jointer but got rid of it and don’t miss it.
I prefer a hand held planner vrs a belt sander.
Brad nailer is nice for small stuff like use your scapes to make small sellable stuff. Glue and Brad to hold and keep rocking.
Chop saw is one of my most used saw. I use a lot of pallet wood and to cut to size is great. I got the metabo 10". Got it on Amazon for $89 on sell. I use the Johnson level mag angel locator 2 button (digital) to fine tune all my saws for the perfect 45/90.
Pastrami. I own a Bauer 12” miter saw from Harbor freight and I love it. After a couple of very minor adjustments I’m getting perfect miter cuts. I’m also a framer so that’s why I needed the 12” saw. I even bought the Bauer saw stand on sale for $99. Just a suggestion. Great videos. Thanks for the tips!
Pastrami! I think my biggest discussion point to add is that your tools should reflect the projects you're working on. You mention it on each tool the situations it works well in, but as a purchasing guide and overall philosophy, your projects should guide your purchases
I couldn’t agree more! When you NEED a tool for a project, you already KNOW it 😀. But we are all guilty of buying new tools because they’re shiny 🤣
@@SpencleyDesignCo i thought the reciprocating saw would be on this list
@@woodwizard259 Pastrami! nope, it’s a multi-use tool, bedroom attachments😂🎉😂🎉
Thank you and very well. Put that was really frustrating me. I would like to also add, learn how to use the tool properly. Also, don't show brands like they made a bad product just because you didn't buy the right tool.
@@SpencleyDesignCo what are you talking about… you’re a crow, I’m not a crow….. ooo shiny. I need it. Lol 😂
Pastrami. Thanks! You have just saved me £90 on a cordless RO palm sander. I was thinking it would be a nice addon to the corded version!
Pastrami 👍🏼
I totally agree with the belt sander. Nearly F’d up a high end table top trying to save some time. I find the miter saw pretty useful, but then again, I’m using it to breakdown lengths pretty often - and in the process of building a dedicated table because I HATE moving it around. Love your content (across all mediums) keep it coming!
Thanks so much, Michael! I’ve also ruined a table top with a belt sander haha
Yep belt sanders are not for the faint hearted and need a fair amount of experience to know how and when to use a belt sander. I personally own a Festool BS75 belt sander set connected to a Festool shop vac. Powerful with with its attachment are excellent and dust is never a problem. Excellent for solid wood floors and large flattish surfaces. Coupled with a Festool Rotex as a finisher it’s excellent
Thanks!
The SLIDING miter saw is the bomb. Vastly more useful than a regular chop saw. I would have limited use for a chop saw, but the slider is my go-to for a vast array of work. The slider allows all sorts of functional possibilities that go beyond simple chops, plus a vastly extended range and control over depths and placement of cuts. The slider is a hole different animal.
One of my early saws was a Craftsman 8-1/4" slider that is still super useful cutting all sorts of lumber (even 4x4 and 4x6) despite it's small size - because it slides. Of course it shines on trim too with a good blade. The slider is the only way to go for that style of saw.
I agree. I started with a regular miter saw and found it limited due to it's limited range. The sliding miter saw I replaced it with is much more useful.
Pastrami makes a wonderful sandwich to enjoy while taking a break during wood working. I considered a sliding compound miter saw when I updated to a 12" ... however, since I already own a radial arm saw, I opted to save some money and forgo the sliding feature. Since I have both saws built into the same bench, I find I use my miter saw often enough not to regret buying it.
Pastrami! Based on the sanding tools you don’t like, I think you might be using pressure more than paper grit to do the sanding. If you’re having to press into the Rigid hard enough to stop the belt, you need a coarser grit belt and lighter pressure. It’s a balance.
Great video!
Right! They are for smoothing the edges on curves, not reshaping them. (hand rasps are great for what he was trying to do)
Get real close with a band saw or jigsaw, then finish with the spindle sander.
Little late to the game here…but IMO you’re right about the miter saw. I personally have a very nice one (north of the price point you stated), and it still irritates me from time to time. Best thing I did was switch to full kerf blades for the miter saws. Made a world of difference in being able to move quickly while maintaining accuracy.
As a homeowner, I’ve used my nail guns quite a bit. Right now, I’m organizing my shop with a French cleat system for many of my tools. I use nails and glue to put the tool holders together.
Pastrami- Thank you for sharing your opinions . I appreciate that you give your reasons why you do or don't need something. Being a retired mechanic I learned early on that going cheap on tools is never a good idea. I think that cheap mitre saw may have jaded you.
A friend of mine once told me "Buy CHEAP, buy TWICE", I totally agree with his comment,
Going cheap on tools may be a good idea when starting up. What breaks first is probably what you use the most so then will be replaced with a high quality tool. No need to go for high quality on tools you rarely use.
Pastrami
I felt the same way about miter saws also i had the harbor freight central machinery miter saw and hated it. But i did pick up a 15 Amp Corded 12 in. Dual Bevel Sliding Miter Saw and i absolutely loved it. The cuts are nice and straight. It cuts so wide i end up using that more than my table saw. It changed my whole woodworking experience.
If you install any type of molding inside of a home, the cordless nail gun is a game changer. In the workshop I tend to use mind when building a quick jig for something, which it is way nicer to have a battery powered one vs charging the air compressor and dragging the cord across the shop.
That's why I bought mine. I put in a taller baseboard in my house and finished out some door openings and the cordless nail gun was a must. It saved so much time.
!!!
The Ryobi misfires way too often to use on pieces that you don't want to cut again, namely all crown imo. It's also harder to place the nail exactly where you want it.
Pastrami - Good video! I'm an amateur woodworker, and I agree with only 2 of these -- The belt sander and the cordless sander. The others you mentioned are used quite often in my shop! I encourage you to give the miter saw a chance, but only if you're going to also build a stand for it and use the appropriate support system for the long cuts! A properly dialed in miter saw is very convenient!
Thanks for the feedback Russ
Pastrami :) I was like you, had a cheap used miter saw for about 5 seconds before I figured out it didn't do anything worth wasting that much space for. Then I found a deal on a nice sliding compound miter saw and it was life-changing. I use the heck out of it and I absolutely love what it does. I don't just use it for rough cuts, I have a sweet Diablo blade on it and use it for everything from melamine to fine trim work.
Air tools can also be a game changer, but only when you have space for a decent compressor. Air nailers, air sanders, so many great tools that are cheap because you're not buying a motor AND tool, but just the tool.
I totally agree about the battery operated sander, actually I'll extend that to say anything that I use for more than 5-10 minutes at a time is frustrating and near-useless as a battery-powered unit.
I also agree with your statement to not buy anything until you actually need it.
Seems like we are both on the same page 😀
Pastrami!
thanks! i was thinking about buying a miter saw, but i dont have anywhere near enough space to put it, and i actually get a lot out of using my ryoba and kataba saws instead, especially for complicated cuts, the more complicated the greater the feeling of having done it well enough by hand!
Pastrami.
The tool that surprised me the most was the brad nailer. I’d chalk that up to the type of work you do, but surprised it doesn’t come in handy for jigs and shop projects.
Love the content man!
Thanks, Zack! Yeah for what I build, it doesn’t doesn’t come into play. Once I get into home improvements I’ll use it a ton!
Pin nailer would be useful for his type of work
I just subscribed to your channel. I agree with you on buying tools when you need them. I bought a belt sander to refinish my backyard cedar deck. That and sanding interior hard wood flooring is what it's best suited for. I bought a Ryobi miter saw last year to start remodeling our house. I use it for baseboards, door trim, and flooring. If I were to buy a miter saw for woodworking I would buy a Festool. It has zero deflection and I think that is extremely important in woodworking. Thank you for your videos, you're a great help!
Thanks for the support!
I have a saying I coined. "Buy them when you find them, not when you need them". If I did not follow this mantra, I would have bought a band saw I would have had to sell within a few months to buy the one I really needed. I took 2 years to buy a Laguna 14Twelve, caught it on sale and free shipping and I don't think I will ever need to upgrade. the same for my table saw, I used an old Porter Cable until I wlaked into a pawn shop and in the corner was a brand new Ridgid granite top 3512 table saw in the box. I didn't go there for that, but I bought it when I found it and that was almost 10 years ago. Still don't need an upgrade. Be patient.
Gotta love free shipping!
Pastrami, yes get a quality miter saw and the new portable stands have extension roller built in to hold longer wood. Plus portable and fold up really small with the saw on it and can store in a small area in your shop when not in use. Love my dewalt!
Totally agree with your opinion in band sanders. Almost never use mine, for all the reasons you described! Random orbital sander is my go-to 90% of the time.
Pastrami. I got a miter saw to retrim my house and it helped hook me on woodworking. I got a good deal on a 10 inch slider. Watched tons of videos and got it square and I’ve been off to the races since.
Glad you’re enjoying it!
Pastrami it is very true that the tools you use are guided by the work you do. Same goes for any set of tools in any profession, everyone told me I needed pipe wrenches as plumber, I think I used one once in five years, but I was also a med gas and hospital service plumber, so I used a whole different set of heavy tools.
Extra pastrami. As a woodworking newbie, all of your "you don't need this tool" advice is incredibly helpful. Can't thank you enough.
I’m glad to hear it was helpful, Ken!
Just remember that every piece of advise you get is from that person's perspective. For example, I couldn't live without my miter saw but he has a different experience and has learned to work around it. There are also some tools that I needed ONCE and bought them to do the job and now wish I didn't have them but they were a necessity at the time but some of my friends have been grateful that I bit the bullet and they could borrow it. We all end up with drawers of tools that we don't need :)
Pastrami! Very interesting your perspective on useless tools. I have all the tools you mentioned and use them frequently. But...I do a lot of home repairs, rough framing type work (currently doing a bathroom remodel). Not a lot of fine furniture woodwork. So I get your point. BTW I really enjoy the fact that you're doing this out of a garage in an apartment! The only tool I rarely use is a set of circular saw guides for cutting large sheets of plywood. I recently purchased a track saw so they will be collecting dust forever now.
Pastrami!! I agree that it really depends on what your making and that using what you have until you really know that you need the new tools is a great idea. I think your spot on with the list except the miter saw. I got a really nice compound Delwalt before my table saw and was able to do a lot with it. I find that a better quality tool used is a good option then a lower quality tool new.
Thanks for watching kinu!
Pastrami :))
As a carpenter/roofer, I don't do any woodworking, but I always watch channels like yours as entertainment and as a source to expand my knowledge. For our job, I'd say that a gas chainsaw is imperative, then we use our impact drivers the most. Next one is the framing nailer, the drill driver and the router and the angle grinder. I chose carpentry and roofing over joinery because the initial investment you need is significantly lower, when you start your own business after apprenticeship.
Pastrami (really a superior deli meat). Nice video! Having a miter saw yesterday helped me pivot to a different and keep working when my table saw died. Not the most precise but still useful.
Not sure how far you schedule out videos, but I’d love to see something similar about what tools you wish you spent more/ less on. There are definitely tools I’m glad I have but realize didn’t need to be as high quality as I assumed and visa-versa. Some guidance on that would probably be helpful (especially compared to all of the “10 essential tools” videos out there)
That is A FANTASTIC idea! I'm putting that on my idea list for video production and you are getting the credit. Thanks Patrick!
@@SpencleyDesignCo Thanks! Keep up the good work. I’m really learning a lot
I appreciate the support! I’ve got A LOT of older videos for you to learn from while you wait for my next one 😀
What about the gabagool?
Pastrami…Totally with you on the nail gun front. Bought one to do a lap board job in my shed and never used it since. Jury is still out on my Mitre Saw. Use it a lot but like you very frustrated with dodgy angles etc. Money is the key but as I am a DIYer I can’t justify the big spends. Love you take on the cordless/corded question. A lot of what you say makes total sense. Glad you are still around to make these vids. I enjoy the watch and take the tips.
Thanks for this info. I think the most helpful aspect is your emphasis on project application. We all have different interests and goals so we need different tools. Two things: 1) buying inexpensive tools is generally a recipe for failure 2) I especially related to the sander info, from the problem with belt sanders (gouging and scratching) to the issue of battery power or corded versions. Lastly: I appreciated your willingness to recognize that YOUR preferences are yours. In each case you allowed for possibilities that might not match your own preferences. Big lesson for me: don’t just buy a tool because “everyone” has one in their shop.
Good stuff. I just found you but will subscribe and keep watching!
I couldn’t agree more! Thanks for the support, Bruce!
OTOH, a belt sander is good for rough shaping of material. I build boats and there LOTS of non-square cuts, so "sneak up" on the line with the jig saw, then use the belt sander to fair the curves. I use mine a LOT (in fact, I've already burned one up).
Pastrami! I'm happy that you share what you don't need and why. Personally, I absolutely LOVE my Ryobi random orbital sander. Unfortunately, when I tried to buy a backup/second one, every single one at Home Depot would not run at the same speed as my old one. But I use it on every single project nowadays. (Of course, I still consider myself in the beginner stage even after 2 years of building big [3X8' ] and small [15"x18"] planter boxes and other gardening stuff for my wife.). I also like my Ryobi nailer - it comes in so handy for building trellises. And since I do make a lot of cuts of long wood, the miter saw is a necessity - but I do dread having to build the station for it. I have.a question: Why do you use a jig saw to cut down long pieces of thick wood instead of a circular saw?
Pastrami. I found the belt sander i inherited from my father when he passed it is so powerful it gouges everything, except it did work good on the raised wood walkway. Thank you for the honest review on the sander machine, i wont have to get one now. Im shocked you are not happy with the miter saw, i love my dewalt miter saw, always perfect cuts so easy and fast to use.
That Ryobi airstrike is one of the best tools I've ever bought. BUT...I also do a lot of carpentry along with my woodworking and I've used it to build a buttload of cabinets. I also heard from MANY people that those spindle sanders are a major PITA. - PASTRAMI :)
I like the ryobi nailer better than my ridgid one. That sander is awful though haha
I agree re the Ryobi air strike. Built stairs in solid wood it proved to be indispensable. Also own a Ryobi cordless 30G pin-nailer and love it. No pipes and cords in the way.
I'm a fulltime cabinet maker who has been trying to raise my game over the past five years. The best money that I've spent over the past year is the 3M extract sander. It works twice as fast as my Makita and the paper lasts 4x longer (I'm saving lots of cash on sandpaper). Best money that I've spent in years. Thanks for your channel and advice!
In regards to the small pastrami nail gun, and mitre saw, I get that it depends on your style of woodworking. Using nails means extra work for making a nice finish, but it will hold up better if you both nail and glue pieces together. Nice you say the part about the low cost saw when talking about the mitre saw tho. Must admit for most cuts I use a circular/jigsaw instead of mitre saw. But for very precise cuts, then the dewalt mitre saws are pretty damm good.
Pastrami I've just discovered your channel & love it. You don't preach & always say what works for you may not work for me & visa versa. keep up the good work . PS I'm watching you in Australia .
Pastrami
I've gone through the same thoughts about miter saws. I have a $200 one for homeowner stuff.
But for woodworking for square crosscutting? use your crosscut sled or miter gauge. The table saw has way better dust collection than ANY miter saw, any day. even a $1,200 festool.
I couldn’t agree more! Plus, the table saw is a lot easier to get good camera shots compared to the miter saw
Pastrami. I love having my miter saw. I use it it for all kinds of home projects and it really saved my bacon when I built my backyard storage building. BUT, I did get a compatible portable station, which made it easy to move, kept it at the right height and gave me level surface on which to work.
There are many similar projects in Woodglut's plans.
I’ll check them out next time I’m getting a root canal 🦷
@@SpencleyDesignCo Awesome plans Jane
@@SpencleyDesignCo Awesome to hear that !
I have that exact Ryobi brad nailer, and I've found it indispensable. For remodeling projects it's really handy. For other woodworking projects, I'm more of a casual DIY'er, and I made a decision to go brad nailer instead of investing way more than that amount of money on a heap of clamps. Better or worse...I don't know. A lot of times for outfitting a new shop, you make decisions and roll with them until new needs or projects demand something new.
Pastrami!!😋
Thanks for the info. Subscribed today, I'll be back. I'm just starting out.
I have a few pieces that my father gave me and I've bought a couple more. I'm seriously considering more time spent woodworking and just trying to get some more ideas/knowledge. I'm a 62 yr old truck driver that wants to get off the road, and looking for some side hacks. Keep up the good work. Thanks!!
Pastrami I have my miter saw on a rolling folding stand. I use it all the time. There are some projects that would have been almost impossible without a miter saw. I rebuild the closet and installed crown molding with inside corners, outside corners, and scarf joints. I built a large 3 section bookcase where the crown molding protrudes forward at the vertical separations. It required lots of compounded miter cuts.
I've got that same cordless Ryobi nailer and use it on Pastrami. I've also got a Porter Cable air powered one. The air nailer is much nicer for shop use because it fires a nail as soon as I pull the trigger. The Ryobi takes a while to think before it actually shoots a nail. However, it's really handy to not have to drag air hose all around so I use whichever is most appropriate for the task at hand.
I've actually got two (yes, two) 12" compound miter saws. I've used them both extensively and sometimes, I've used them both on the same project. It's nice to have one set to some odd-ball angle that you took a measurement from with an angle gauge, then have the other available for whatever angle the next cut calls for. Granted, a lot of the use for these is on construction projects around the house (building the garage & shed, fitting out the current bathroom addition, etc.), but I've used them a fair bit on woodworking projects, too. I really like the DeWalt 779 sliding compound saw. However, I'd suggest one of the ones with the parallelogram hinge or where the slide projects forward instead of rearward - it allows you to put it closer to the wall.
As others have noted - use the tools you need for your tasks and try not to get too caught up in "shiny new toy" syndrome.
On rye....
I have most of the tools mentioned. I'm not a serious woodworker. "Wasted" is subjective. I use them a handful of times a year. I have middle-of-the-road stuff. You can tune and adjust most of them to fit my needs. Tolerances aren't a deal breaker for what I'm working on.
One (several) thing I regret buying is storage stuff/systems that you think will organize and declutter your shop when it (they) just add to the clutter.
Pastrami. I use a Makita cordless sander and it seems to work fine with a 5.0Ah battery. I went completely cordless cos I was working on a portable bench in a car park (making sure to clean up my mess). But now that I have workshop space, I don't see the need to ditch the batteries and cordless tools. Perhaps one reason is cos woodworking is a hobby for me?
Pastrami - I have a Rigid miter saw with rigid rolling stand and I can’t imagine projects without it. I use it more for home projects than fine woodworking but it has been indispensable. I will say although the lateral degrees have been rock solid, I do struggle sometimes keeping it square vertically when I need it to be precise. If I could spend money on one really nice tool right now, it would probably be a band saw.
Pastrami! Many of the tools you mentioned are the ones that I purchased for one project and have never, or very rarely, used them again. And definately a corded tool is much more powerfull and will last longer. Cordless are convenient - if the battery is charged. Thanks for the video.
.
Pastrami! You say you the tools you mentioned are not needed but you gave a well balanced review on each. I’m well balanced - I have a chip on both shoulders and I’m level headed - I drool out of both corners of my mouth at the same time. Keep up the good work 🌞
Ive helped frame a few houses and put up a lot of siding and you are spot on about the mitre saw, THAT is what its for. for woodworking in the shop use a skil saw and a table saw and your totally covered.
Disagree inside my shop the mitre saw gets then most use its probably the most versatile saw in the room....Having said that my favorite will always be the table saw.
Pastrami, youre right about the miter saw. I couldnt find a way to incorporate it into my work flow bc I just dont have the space for a dedicated miter station so its usually easier for me to rough saw with a circular saw and get it accurate off my table saw. I had a Hitachi and it was accurate when I spent the time to set it up for its temporary use but it was just not worth it to me. Having limited space any larger tool I feel strongly should be used at least every project to justify the space requirement.
Pastrami! Been watching for awhile and I seldom comment, but I love your work and your channel. I've been moving out of the industry but as a cabinet installer the Brad nailer was priceless and for how often we had huge worksites to move around, cordless was the way to go. I also used my makita beltsander both in and out of the shop a lot. Certain laminate countertops required the finesse of the sander to get it scribed in where a planer would often end up ripping too much material. In the shop we used it often for larger pieces that needed to be joined and laminated to hide said joints. Could it be done with an orbital? Absolutely, but the best tool is the one you have and I had it. Every aspect is going to be different depending on where in the industry one works, which is why I love seeing where you come from on these opinions. For me the tool everyone said I needed collecting dust in the shop is the reciprocating saw. I can see times it might come in handy, but I never think of it until after the fact
I actually just got a belt sander so I thought it was funny when he said it was his least favorite tool. It saved the day on my latest furniture build where I had a few joints that were out of alignment. I do agree with him that there's a learning curve because it's very easy to gouge the piece. I'm still happy I have it especially for leveling panels that don't fit in the planer.
Pastrami - Im a Ryobi fan, I have other corded tools and I’ll keep the Makita battery drill just because my wife bought it for me as my first cordless drill, but I’ve been A long time Ryobi fan. Even my weed eater and blower uses the same batteries- and I’m a some times builder. I live in a 1963 Stream Line Trailer full time. So I don’t do a lot of work anymore- so space is limited-
Pastrami.. I am a carpenter and I love my 12" Dewalt compound miter saw with bench and just installed 8" crown using it, although I couldn't cut it upright on a 45° I had to lay it flat and cut it at 31.6° miter and 33.9° bevel .. not a problem... I use it for every thing.
Pastrami:. I have to agree, I have four miter saws, only one on a dedicated table, which is the one I use the most, but almost always for rough lumber cut to length. I find that the table it's mounted to, is used way more often than the saw itself. It's really more of a convenience than a necessity. Keep up the good work!!!
Thanks so much daniel!
Pastrami! I really like how you emphasize how these are your opinions for your usage and even mention some usages that these tools might make sense. I really like my miter saw and probably could not live with out it. And yes I have a table I built for it. But I certainly agree with your comments on miter saws. It makes sense that for someone that does what you do in your shop maybe does not make sense to have one. And you hit it on the head why I do have one. Just as you said, I tend to cut longer pieces down. Which I feel would be too difficult on table saw with cross cut sled.
I have that Ridgid tablesaw model you have in your shop. Bought mine about 10 years ago when they first started selling them with riving knives. It was a really nice tool - except for the power switch. The switch was horrible. It was literally the opposite of a safety switch. It was really easy to bump it and turn the saw on accidentally. It happened so much that I just expected it and took the danger into account. Then it failed, and I replaced it with a proper safety switch. It is no longer soft-start but is much safer.
Pastrami, while I agree with the first 4 tools and I haven't purchased any of the 4 ,I do use my mitre saw a lot and find it really useful however I did have a low end saw and realised it was as you said not well built and inaccurate I later purchased a mid spec sliding saw and it is much much better.i do alot of fencing and simple garden planters and my mitre saw does everything I need for my applications, great series of videos thanks.
I do not have a permanent stationed miter saw. Mine is on a very nice Bosch stand with wheels. It's easy to roll out. Perhaps the biggest advantage of using it is when a precise length is needed. I always error, or at least try to, cutting the board a smidgen too long. I can then take off a wee bit as needed by lowering the saw blade with it off, push the board up against the blade, raise the blade, and then make a cut. This will only take a little at a time. The stand can easily be set up with a stop block when cutting numerous pieces of wood to the same length.
Pastrami on rye. I am a weekend woodworker. I agree with everything you said. I have the Rigid sander thing as well but as I do mostly hand tool work I only use it once in a while. I have not had technical failures, but you are right it does not true up even close the right angle. But I do use it a lot on smaller projects and templates.
The trigger grip on my miter saw broke. I figured I would take it into the repair shop when I need it again. That was 10 years ago. If it is long sticks that need to me cut I find it faster to cross cut with a hand saw! Hate sanding.
Sanding sucks!
Pastrami, I guess being a cabinet maker and home remodeler who works in my factory and on the site I've found just about every use for every tool. I love my battery powered tools for on site work. I absolutely hate dragging a hose and compressor around a rough jobsite and cordage. But have dedicated shop tools. I have a large slide compound miter saw on a cart for onsite work but two dedicated radial arm saws in the shop. Just about what we all feel comfortable with to get our work done.
Thanks for watching Justin
Ouch. I just bought the exact same brad mailer, at least I've use the first sleeve and am on my second ;) I have a Makita combination drop saw and love it, but your point about how awkward they are without a proper station is very true. I loved the video though. Best point - don't buy it unless you need it. I sometimes fall into the trap of buying a tool for the wrong reasons. After all I tell mrs G - "Every new job needs a new tool" right?
If you need the tool, go for it 😀
Try the Dewalt cordless sander! Great dust collection and plenty of power. But you should probably have 2-3 batteries. I love mine!
Pastrami, I have a corded Harbor Freight mitre saw. You're right, they're a pain to put away then drag back out for use without a stand. But i did use it a lot building decks, pergolas, trellis in the backyard.
Pastrami- I had to get a belt sander for getting varnish and other grime off of pine furniture from 1996! The varnish was gumming up the sanding pad.
The one tool for me is the Krieg pocket hole jig. I tend not get my pockets hole to either grab or they go through my other piece. I’ve checked at nausea the correct setting to screw size but when I screw it in it sucks.
The convenience of the Ryobi 18 ga. nailer can 't be overestimated. Cons are that it is much heavier than an air powered nailer and it doesn't fire as fast, but dragging around a compressor and dealing with air hoses every time you move to the next few feet of baseboard, sucks! When doing trim work this added convenience makes it worth it. I also like it for small tabletop assemblies when gluing up stuff. Also will help with a future project o f mine, which consists of putting 1/4" plywood over OSB stair treads. Brads will help maintain position while gluing and rolling plywood down on adhesive.
20 years ago, I picked up a Harbor Freight sliding miter-box saw to cut baseboards for a remodeling project. That saw cost about $100 and with a manual and the ability to order replacement parts. Like yours, mine wasn't really square, but it was adjustable. After fiddling with it a bit, I was able to get it completely accurate. And I purchased a Ryobi saw stand to make it into a workstation. Since then I have used it to cut everything from dimensional lumber to furniture parts. I haven't even had to replace the motor brushes yet.
I bought a Ryobi 18gage nail gun or Brad gun or trim gun, whatever you want to call it and I have loved it and used it a lot.
If I’m building furniture I, like you, probably would not use it.
But on all the small projects that I make I like that I can glue, tack it together with some nails and keep going.
I used to have to stop once I glued it and clamped part of a project together and wait for the glue to dry.
Not anymore.
Definitely helps with efficiency.
I have a cordless makita sander with 5.o battery I think it's great imo
Sliding miter saw must have if your doing flooring , and that's about it. And your comment about accuracy comes down to brand & model.
* enjoy your videos, they are helpful
Pastrami. I have had a Hitachi radial arm saw (Not a drop saw ) with a 7 1/2 inch blade for 30 years. I bought this after a work colleague told me he built the timber frame and trim for a new home for himself. versatile for cross cutting wide timber either square or at an angle, rebates without a router or jigs. I have several nail guns including staple guns, all pneumatic. Renovating home's you can use a small pin t nail to fit architraves, requiring very small filling. Fixing or repairing fences or making timber frames for walls, the only substitute are self drill screws.
Pastrami, Spencley! I use a decent quality deswalt miter saw (with a couple of separate out rollers) to cut longer stuff down, and also more often to cut stuff on the smaller projects I mess with. Is it a necessary tool? Nope, got along for decades without one when I was more into building small boats, but in old age the SO wants picture frames, and other nit-noys where it comes in handy. Keep up the good videos, and thanks!
Pastrami. I find your comments about the Brad nailer interesting. I used to clamp everything or use screws. Screws are a lot of work and difficult to hide and I always found clamping to be a mixed bag. I don't have a lot of clamps to do large pieces and I was finding my pieces tended to shift a little during drying due to the lubricating effect of the wet glue. I'd go out the next morning and my joint was permanently glued 1/16" crooked etc. Brad nails changed my life. You get the clamping force plus alignment in 1/4 second and so easy to conceal. That being said, I originally bought it for a ton of trim/finishing work I was doing. Using it for wood projects was an afterthought.
I also love my dual bevel miter saw. But I only really pull it out on large projects like building a deck or framing work. Occasionally trim work if I want my saw right in the work area. Otherwise I have a radial arm saw that I use for 99% of my small projects.
Pastrami - Miter saws. I have a Bosch 12" with the Gravity Lift stand. It's a great saw that I seldom use. 😀
A saw that I do use a lot is a Dewalt 20V battery power miter saw. It's light and accurate. I use it when I want to make a single cut in my shop and use it for offsite jobs.
My shop is small so the big miter saw and job site table saw are always folded up. The battery powered saw is always ready to go so that's why it gets used a lot.
Pastrami
I inherited a miter saw, and used it a lot. I've even upgraded to a new one, but I have to agree, once I built some sleds for the table saw, the miter saw is losing it's effectiveness.
I still have need for mine, but I do all sorts of home projects and chopping down 2x4s sure is nice with one. For me. I wouldn't say anyone NEEDS any tool.
Did you buy the cordless sander when you were still doing your woodworking in the parking lot of your apartment? In that case I could see having a cordless sander. If where you work is in a parking lot or in your back yard or somewhere outdoors where it may not be convenient to have access to plug something in then having battery operated cordless tools can be very useful.
Pastrami! Have to agree with you on the Belt Sander! I inherited a Craftsman and on my first project wound up using a 1/4 sheet pad sander instead... They can get away from you and constantly having to re-adjust the belt... Hoping to purchase a CORDED dual action sander soon...
I got the festool Rotex and love it!
As a gardener, my shitty mitre saw is great for cutting up Hazel for firewood. Since hazel grows straight, it's the perfect size and shape for processing. Most awkward branches can be cut by moving the saw 45 degrees. Hazel can be coppiced / cut to the base, and it regenerates, it's a decent firewood.
Pastrami, miter saw and nailers are good for cabinet installs and trim carpentry which is most of my work. The tool I regret is getting a table saw without a good fence. The dewalt has the best fence on a job site saw. I'm glad I upgraded.
Pastrami! I love you channel. Very informational for someone looking to get started in a small shop area. Thanks!
Hi there, regarding the mitre saw issue, I would suggest you try the Festool Capex mitre saw. There is virtually no slack or play in any of this tool's functions and the angles are spot on. I have used most other popular brands and nothing else comes close. Of course I am speaking as a joiner of 45 years experience building just about everything from houses, recording studios, restaurants , film scenery, instructing students at university etc and i would never want to be without this tool. I particularly agree with you about tools you don't need, especially when space is tight. I now work out of my home workshop and find many of the issues you have been talking about. Even with the blessing of a double garage it's real easy to run out of space. All of my machines are benchtop ones mounted on individual homebuilt mobile units. I feel the same way as you about battery power tools but as you say being out on site is a whole different ball game. Thankfully i'm retired now so it's not an issue any more and I love working from home in my own space, constrained only by the limitations of my wallet. Finally, the only times I have regretted buying tools has been when they were cheap and nasty ones. I understand why we sometimes do it but it has always turned out to be a mistake for me. Good luck with all you do....
I agree with the belt sander kind of...you can do very large surfaces with variable speed belt sander. I initially bought it for a hardwood floor I was sanding to get into places the floor sander couldn't. But now I prop it on its side and made a si.ple jig and I have a tool to remove alot of material intentionally.
Pastrami- I purchased a really cheep miter saw on Black Friday several, years ago. (23.00 + tax) I set it up with a machinist square when I want an accurate cut. Works fine. I also made a set of 90 degree clamps for clamping squares and picture frames . Also workd fine.
Nice!
Hey, pastrami.
For my career as a woodworker the mitre saw helpes me out alot, espacially for laying floors. Good video love to watch them.
Thanks for watching!
Pastrami. You brought up some interesting points that I haven't considered, I'm still in the process of getting tools and such so this was very helpful
Pastrami As a maker myself I've learned the hard way what tools I need and what tools are waste of money I wish I saw this video years ago but it's very informative for new woodworkers kudos.
Thanks, John! What tool do you think was the biggest mistake for you?
@@SpencleyDesignCo I would have to say compound miter saw I hardly ever use it unless I'm doing long pieces for trim work around my own home and that only goes so far until I was finished with the house.
I’m the same way. I never use mine…but that’s also because it’s the worst saw I’ve ever touched 🤣 ruclips.net/video/YdOR8KwOeRg/видео.html
Pastrami. Love my miter saw. Dewault 12” double pivot. Nice pretty dang accurate.Had a cheap one was very frustrating .I have same oscillating sander 2 yrs old now no issues knock wood lol has never bogged down like yours. I would be pissed off if that happened . Not to many regrets on tools I research with in my budget. Mostly use belt sander for shaping wheel barrow handles and the like or massive knock down’s on ruff wood but not so much now after Laguna plainer purchased. I’m just a hobbyist ,do things for family and neighbors and myself of course. Enjoy your channel.
What we did with the miter saw, is when we go the tool chest we put the miter saw on the tool chest to give it support. But I find that if there’s a table saw or miter saw are kinda, must haves in a workshop, either one thing that you were cool $30,000 as an operator if you know what you’re doing, and the tools to net you the highest profit margin should always be the most important in your shop.
Pastrami!! I totally see your point on the mitre saw here's my take. When I first started wood working and didn't know what I was doing I used my mitre saw a ton. The problem I ran into was without a stop block it was tough to get exact or repeatable cuts and repeatedly measuring and marking was time consuming an inaccurate. That's about the time I found how awesome a table saw sled can be, I found myself doing almost all my cross cuts on the table saw and the mitre saw sat and collected dust. I found two downsides to the table saw and sled, first it was awkward on longer boards and second since I also use my table saw for ripping it usually has a ripping or combo blade on it which made a lot of my cross cuts not super clean. Recently I built a mitre saw station with stop blocks and once again I find my mitre saw to be super useful. Since it dedicated to just cross cuts I can keep a 60 or 80 tooth blade on it so it cuts much cleaner with the stop blocks making accurate and repeatable cuts becomes fast and accurate. To me without a mitre station a mitre saw is only good for rough work where accuracy is not super important.
Totally agree on the belt sander, using a random orbital sander with good paper was life changing. My belt sander hasn't seen the light of day since. I'd also say the old style pad sander which I once bought should also be on your list.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Seth!
Thanks so much for watching, Seth!
Pastrami. Great video! I nervously watched and was relieved that I have not purchased any of the top five - except the miter saw which I use all the time. That said, I rarely use a miter saw for woodworking. That's why table saws and routers were invented. I use my miter saw for DYI projects when I need to trim really fast and get back to watching TV. For example, this past weekend I used my miter saw to trim down wall socket covers near the floor molding. I admit using a miter saw to cut the molding and a friend's nail gun to install the molding. But, the wall socket covers no longer fit and needed to be trimmed.
Pastrami! Love you and your videos!! I get inspired watching you!!! Hope you keep ‘em coming!!❤
Pastrami - the tool I really regret buying is the Bora Saw Plate and 55" clamp guide. The two pieces of the guide don't fit together well causing the saw plate to bind in several places as you attempt to move it through the cut. Total waist of money. BTW I love my 18V cordless Bosch sander. It has plenty of power and with a 4AH battery I can get through most jobs with ease.
Pastrami When you buy your house, which I assume will be a fixer upper, you will want a good miter saw. You may also want good nailer. Otherwise, I think you have some good advice here. I try to get tools with multiple purposes like a circular saw with a guide to use instead of a table saw.
I bought my old Makita belt sander for only $8 from a thrift store, it's a tool I don't use often however. But it's there when I need it for larger surfaces. For the medium to small size surfaces, out comes the angle grinder,
I bought cheap miter saw for building a deck. I regretted it when I discovered it needed to be trued nearly every other cut as there was a 1-1.5 degree drift in any direction after each cut. It is now used for framing only and I use a another saw for trim work.
Portable Belt Sander is a way of life for cabinetry installation. It is good for scribing the edge of material to have finish panels get tight to the wall.
However I would never finish anything with a belt sander
Pastrami! Regarding a miter saw. I also have a small shop. However I love my DeWalt miter saw! I have a folding DeWalt stand that allows for repeated cuts via the adjustable stops. To save room, the stand folds up and I use a Pulley system to raise it to the ceiling of my shop. Granted there is some set up and break down time involved, but with a bit of planning, I can make most of my cuts in one session, then move on to other steps in the process.
I saw get it SAW a Makita orbital sander on your video pic and I agree with that particular one, it was $69 on clearance at home Depot. Well since then I bought a $19 (hyper tough) and a $29 (Bauer) and both have done about twice as much work as the Makita witch lasted about a little more than 2months before having issues that required servicing from the manufacturer the other 2 are still in good operation with the only issue being the pad on the HT from Walmart.