Welcome back, old friend

Eight months after moving, and I’m still setting up my shop. But I finally took care of something that I’ve really missed, and I am a happy guy.

I’ve lived without a table saw for months, now. All my other major tools are, if not in the spots they’ll eventually be in permanently, at least functional. Not so with my table saw. The main reason is that it’s not only taken a long time to get the infrastructure in place – framing, drywall, ceiling, electrical – so a lot of stuff simply had to take a back seat, and the saw was one of them. Also, because my basement shop has some in-the-way steel columns, I wanted to take my time deciding on the best spot for it.

And you’re wondering how I’ve gotten anything done without it. Well, when I first started serious woodworking ages ago, like many of you I built up my shop gradually. My first major machine was a nice big bandsaw, and I used it for all of my cutting, both ripping and crosscut. It became so natural that when I got other machines I skipped a table saw and opted for a jointer, then planer, etc., first.

Of course, I eventually got one and have loved it ever since. (I’m on my third or fourth one now.) For a couple decades I’ve gotten used to doing most of my cutting on a table saw, reserving the band saw for curved cuts, resawing and the like. So, when this big move came along my plan was to set it up first, but then all that other stuff got in the way and I became reacquainted to just how versatile my band saw is. Yeah, I wanted my table saw back, but the band saw was getting it done.

But my shop build is almost complete and it was finally time, so earlier this week I set it up, got it thoroughly cleaned, tuned it up and running. Even treated it to a new blade. Then I reattached my router table extension and got that up and running, followed by my outfeed/assembly table.

It’s sure great to have my table saw back. But I love my band saw, and I will never be without what I consider to be the most versatile tool in the woodshop.