If you do not have a table saw yet, you can use other tools like a circular saw, track saw, band saw, jigsaw, miter saw, hand saw, or router for your woodworking projects.
Stephen Kao, a retired mechanical engineering technician and skilled DIY enthusiast from Dublin, Ireland, shares alternative tool recommendations for those without access to a table saw.
“Get at least a straight-edged saw guide, with good clamps and a set of 4 work stands or saw horses, and you can make straight cuts with a portable circular saw…Other handy power tools will be a jigsaw, drill, and impact/powered screwdriver.”
Owning a table saw can feel overwhelming for beginners because of its high cost, large size, and safety concerns. However, not having one does not need to stop you from starting your first woodworking project. Here, I’ve compiled seven table saw alternatives for new DIYers.
| Cut Type | Table Saw Alternative |
| Rip Cut | Circular Saw Track Saw Band Saw Jig Saw Handsaw |
| Cross Cut | Circular Saw Track Saw Band Saw Jig Saw Miter Saw Handsaw |
| Bevel Cut | Circular Saw Track Saw Band Saw Jig Saw Miter Saw Handsaw |
| Miter Cut | Circular Saw Track Saw Jig Saw Miter Saw |
| Dado, Groove, Rabbet | Router |
| Tenons | Band Saw Handsaw Router |
| Half Lap | Router |
| Box Joint | Router |
| Spline | Router |
Pro Tip: Even though hand tools don’t perfectly replicate the stability of a table saw, they are both more versatile and more affordable options. Sawhorses are your key to keeping everything steady.
Per Stephen, “Stands and saw-horses are multi-usable in a carpentry scenario. They make handy temporary tables when required, too…4 stands are to support the workpiece and the cut-off piece so that nothing falls away and damages the last few inches of the cut, keeping everything on the same level throughout.”
Circular Saw
A circular saw can work well as a table saw alternative, but it may need more setup and skill to achieve perfectly straight cuts. It is a great tool for making rip cuts when you do not have a table saw.
A circular saw can work exceptionally well for cutting sheet materials like plywood and MDF. You can use a circular saw freehand, but it is best to use a guide for the most precise cuts.
A guide will help you follow a straight path as you move the saw along your workpiece. The Kreg Rip-Cut, for example, lets you make the same cut repeatedly like a table saw would. You can also use a circular saw guide to improve accuracy when cutting with a circular saw.
This guide is longer, up to eight feet, which makes it ideal for cutting straight lines across a full sheet of plywood.
For cross-cutting, you can use a square as a guide. Place the lipped edge of the square along the straight edge of the wood. Position the square beside the circular saw to help keep its cutting path straight.
A circular saw can also handle angle cuts. With a speed square as a guide and some practice, you can make 90-degree and 45-degree miter cuts. It is also a good choice for long beveled rip cuts.
Track Saw
A track saw is a versatile tool for making various cuts. It operates like a circular saw but follows a track to offer the precision of a table saw with the convenience of a portable tool. With its plunge-style design, a track saw can deliver accurate rip cuts, crosscuts, miter cuts, and bevel cuts.
This cutting tool is great for making large cuts in tight spaces. You can cut a full 4×8 sheet of plywood in a small room or garage without needing extra space for infeed and outfeed, making it a real space saver in your workshop.
A track saw performs most tasks a table saw would, but moving between work sites is much easier and safer. Price-wise, a track saw usually costs more than a circular saw but is often still more affordable than a table saw.
Band Saw
A band saw is another great option for various cuts, making it a solid alternative to a table saw. Although woodworkers often prefer table saws for crosscuts and rip cuts, they can also use bandsaws to handle these cuts well. With a vertical blade and adjustable fences, a bandsaw can make precise cuts.
A band saw can also make bevel cuts thanks to its tilting table, which allows for precise adjustments at different angles. It can also make compound cuts, curved and irregular cuts, and resawing. The band saw is also versatile enough to cut both single and double tenons.
In terms of safety, a bandsaw applies cutting force downward onto the table, so even if the wood warps and pinches the blade, it will not cause kickback, unlike with a table saw. However, a table saw provides smoother cuts, while this tool often leaves a rough edge. This means you will likely need to sand it down for a smoother finish.
Jigsaw
Thanks to its thinner blade, a jigsaw excels at cutting curves and can also handle straight cuts, making it a useful alternative to a table saw. However, jigsaws are most effective on softwood up to 1-1/2 inches thick and hardwood up to 3/4 inch thick. The blades can bend when cutting through thicker materials.
A jigsaw can make rip cuts but is less precise than the other cutting tools. However, you can improve accuracy by using a guide. It can also handle crosscuts, though it is less accurate than other saws. Using a speed square can help, or you can reserve it for projects where precision is not crucial to the final result.
A jigsaw can make miter cuts, but it is not as accurate as other tools designed for that purpose. Using a speed square can help improve precision. It also has a tiltable baseplate for bevel cuts, but its accuracy is lower than that of tools like a circular, miter, or band saw.
Miter Saw
A miter saw is an excellent alternative to a table saw for precise crosscuts and angled cuts, though it works on a smaller scale. Typically, a miter saw can handle crosscuts of up to 6 to 8 inches, much smaller than a table saw can manage.
While table saws excel at cutting large pieces and handling the full length or width of boards, woodworkers often choose a miter saw for highly precise cuts in woodworking projects.
This cutting tool is absolutely the best option for those who need precision miter cuts and beveled cuts. The tool is not restricted to preset angles, so you can adjust it to nearly any angle required for your project.
Handsaw
If you are working with smaller boards and have few cuts to make, a handsaw is a great alternative to a table saw. A handsaw can make rip cuts, cross cuts, miter cuts, and bevel cuts, especially when used with a miter box.
However, when you cut manually with a handsaw, it is less precise, as your skill level affects accuracy. Additionally, using a handsaw requires more effort, but it gets the job done.
You can even make tenons using a handsaw combined with other hand tools. Woodworkers find it easy to cut tenons with a handsaw, and many still use this method, even if they have power tools. However, it takes more time and requires patience and practice to achieve precise cuts.
Router
A router is a great alternative if you do not have a table saw. This tool allows you to make notches in wood just as you would with a table saw. From cutting dados and grooves to rabbets, a router can handle these tasks effectively using the right bits.
A router is an excellent substitute for a table saw when making half-lap, box joint, and spline cuts. With the right bit and setup, it can create precise notches, interlocking joints, and grooves for splines. Although it may take extra setup time, a router is versatile and perfect for joinery in smaller workshops.
When to Call a Pro
If you are a new DIYer, finding the right tool for your project is essential, and table saw alternatives can offer the flexibility you need. Whether you’re looking for a circular saw, jigsaw, or handsaw, these options provide effective ways to cut wood without the need for a large, stationary tool.
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Read more table saw articles:
- How to Use a Table Saw for Beginners
- What is a Table Saw?
- 6 Types of Table Saws: What’s the Difference?
- The Parts of a Table Saw
Main Photo Credit: Freepik
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