Somehow these discussions never get old to me - someone in a forum offers a dollar amount, a list of intended uses and a tool. Then the forum members give their opinions on which tools fit the bill.

A recent visitor to WoodNet gave these parameters:
“I’m looking into adding a table saw and have it narrowed down to a Ridged ts3650 $550, Jet JWTS-10 $553 and a Delta 36-979 $450 w/o fence.”

Here’s the WoodNet tally (as near as I can tell):
Rigid - 4
Jet - 2
Circular Saw + Guide Rail - 2
budget more money - 2
Delta - 1

Your mileage will vary!

This cheap table saw question is so eternal that it got its own FAQ from Art Mulder on the legendary rec.woodworking newsgroup… Here’s Mulder’s main tip:

“buy used, especially if you’re just getting started.”

I would add to this that if you can only spend 300-500 that you’re looking closely at the EZ Guide system.

Here’s the WoodNet thread: newbie table saw question

Here’s Mr. Mulder’s “Which Cheap Table Saw Should I Buy!?“

An interesting discussion arose recently in the WoodNet.net forum recently: can you claim tool value depreciation on your taxes? Upon researching I found that the short answer is - unless you’re turning a profit with those tools 3 years out of 5 you can’t. The long answer is… talk to your CPA

The discussion on the board is great though, and reading through it will give you insight into how various woodworkers are thinking about business and their love of wood.

Check out: So who is depreciating tools?

For as many people there are who hold up the “3 years of profit out of 5″ as a rule of thumb there are just as many who point out that you don’t have to show that profit, just be able to prove in court (potentially) that you have the intent to turn a profit.

Proof of intent includes stuff like letterhead, a separate business bank account, a business plan that leads to profit, etcetera. My non-professional impression is that it comes down to your willingness to build thorough business infrastructure for yourself and your willingness to go to court to prove that you’re running a for-profit business and not just trying to dodge taxes.

Here are the resources and articles that lead me to that impression:
Protect Your Business Losses by Incorporating
IRS Publication 535 Business Expenses
Hobby Loss Rule (a forum discussion…)
Hobby Loss Deductions (from an “aggressive” CPA)

What experience have you had with claiming tool-related business losses?

So. You’ve decided that your wood shop needs a band saw. Its use in resawing, scroll work and joinery are arguably unparalleled, so congratulations on your decision!

Your duty to yourself as a consumer is education. This guide seeks to give you all the important information you need so that you can make the band saw decision that’s right for you.

1) The All Important Application Analysis
First of all you need to have a clear understanding for yourself of how you’ll be using your band saw.
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One of woodworking’s biggest bummers has to be a table saw with blade wheel and tilt gears that are so caked with sawdust that they become difficult to turn. Especially if you’re a hobbyist who has been waiting all week to get into the wood shop to work on a project.

The problem that most woodworkers have stems from the use of “wet” or sticky grease that most table saw manufacturers use in the factory. They slather this grease on thick and it works beautifully for a time - until your blade wheel only turns with a hammer.
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Now that you’ve invested in an air compressor to run all of your air tools you’re going to have to learn how to keep it up and running. Because the standard handyman’s air compressors don’t typically require daily upkeep, it’s easy to forget about them and neglect their upkeep. This can be a costly oversight so it’s vital for you to keep an eye on the following maintenance tips.

Maintenance Tip 1: Read and Follow Your Air Compressor’s Manual
Nothing stops an air compressor faster than an owner who doesn’t read the owner’s manual. There’s going to be some simple tips in there for you that will help you to get a nice long life out of your air compressor - simple stuff for you to do that you would never have thought to do unless you read it. Plus, if you don’t follow the rules in your air compressor manual there’s a chance that you’ll void your warranty. That in itself should be enough of an incentive to read the “flipping” manual.
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The Radial Arm Saw is perhaps one of the most controversial tools around these days, with diehard users who make the RAS sound like a religion more than a tool… and with woodworkers who are just as quick to tell you how dangerous the RAS can be.

If you’re curious about the radial arm saw and are just beginning your research there’s a quick way to tell if the RAS is a good fit for your personality.

Quick Test: Is the Radial Arm Saw Right for Your Personality?
Are you a “learn as you go” kind of person who likes to open the box on a new “toy” and figure things out as you go along or do you carefully read the manual - perhaps more than once - before getting started?
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As a woodworker you’ve likely not given much thought regarding the two primary types of motors used to power your electric woodworking tools.

The differences in performance - and the number of zeroes on a price tag - should have your attention.

As in all considerations regarding power tools your ultimate decision should be based on your projected USAGE. If you’re a newbie just getting started then it might not be time to invest in the cast iron induction-powered table saw.

If you’re running a professional shop then all six of your table saws probably have induction motors.

Your duty to yourself as a consumer is to make educated decisions. In that interest here are some of the differences between induction and universal motors… without getting too technical and without taking a “one motor is better in all situations” stance.
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Every time you turn on any of your power tools you run the risk of catastrophic harm to your body. This sobering fact is always close to mind in the best woodworkers and other power tool using trades people, and it’s part of what keeps them safe. Furthermore, the safest people in the power tool using community know and follow the seven rules of power tool safety outlined for you below.

This article is not intended to replace the importance of reading the safety instructions in the manual that comes with every power tool… Be careful and be safe.

1) You Are The Most Dangerous Power Tool
Power tool users debate at great length about which is actually the most dangerous power tool. There’s widespread agreement however that the number one most dangerous power tool is the operator himself, as there are very few cases of any power tools leaping out to attack randomly. Remember that every time you turn on a power tool it’s you who are responsible for having the same number of fingers when you turn it off. This may seem like an obvious statement but it’s the arrogant, cocky and negligent power tool users who end up forgetting this cardinal truth.
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If you’re in the market for a nail gun then you’ve either been watching too many B horror flicks or you’ve decided that an upcoming project is going to have too many nails for you to hammer in by hand. Choosing the right nail gun for you needs is your next task now that you’ve decided to buy one, and going to the hardware store or shopping online will be a much better experience for you if you go prepared with a little bit of knowledge.

Today we’ll look at the basic types of nail guns, the different applications available, the different power types, the different triggers available and finally some of the basic features that will make your projects easier. Education is the fastest way to get the true handyman’s satisfaction of having the right tool for the job.

Why Are You Buying a Nail Gun?
Your first task as you set out to make your first nail gun purchase is to know the type of project you’re buying it for. There are nail guns for almost every nailing project imaginable. It’s up to you to imagine the breadth of your use. Birdhouse production for your wife’s craft-fair booth? Putting up a garage? Putting up 100 garages a year? To make sure you’re spending your money wisely know your application before you read the rest of this article.
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You’re probably shopping for an air compressor because you’ve heard about the power of air tools over electric tools. If it’s not more torque and higher RPMs you’re looking for then maybe it’s the easy interchange between tools - almost as simple as plugging the tool into an outlet. Either way you’re convinced that you need an air compressor but you’re not quite sure where to start. This article will give you some of the basics about air compressors and then guide you through to selection by asking you five questions.

Here are some of the key attributes you’ll be paying attention to when you start shopping for your air compressor:

Horsepower:
Air compressors, as their name implies, compress air. This takes an engine and engines have horsepower. The horsepower of the engine you’re considering has direct impact on all the other aspects of your compressor’s performance. Horsepower is often inflated, and you should be paying closer attention to the engine’s rated amperage for an idea of how powerful it is.

PSI:
PSI stands for pounds for square inch. Of course as you remember from high school physics class PSI is a measurement of pressure. To be exact, how many pounds of pressure is applied per square inch. The PSI rating is one of the crucial ratings in the air compressor to understand as air tools have a minimum amount of PSI required to run. Typically that’s 90 PSI, but it depends from tool to tool.
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