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Reply to "power tools advice"

All three have their strengths and have some overlap, and each can do some things that the other 2 cannot.  It really comes down to what kind of uses and projects you think you might be doing frequently and/or most often.

 

I have a 12" bandsaw that I use a bit for cutting some wood for model building - mainly cut off and few ripping operations.  Most of the wood that I use for model building is already O scale or dimensional that I can use it directly - I've ripped wood to use in building, but it's something I don't bother with these days unless really necessary.  Of the three, this one permits cutting fairly complex curves and with a bevel at the same time - think roadbed from homasote..... So, useful for ripping and cut-off, and curves and with bevels up to 45 degrees

 

I don't have a table saw and for a few select uses I wish I did.  I do have a 10" radial arm saw which I think may be the most dangerous power tool about other than my chainsaw.  Some of the things I've used it for scare me now looking back - milling freight car roof and dadoing bolster strips......  But, like a table saw, I can put a dado blade in or even router cutters into the radial.  I "borrowed" the 12" table saw at work to rip a section out the center of some Northeastern reefer roof sections - not sure I would try it on the radial saw; could do it.  Pretty sure that I could not get it as perfectly done with the bandsaw, but I could do it adequately.  You can cut circles on a table saw, but an "s" curve will take a bandsaw.

 

I've never needed a chop saw although the next time I do a complicated patterned hardwood floor in my house, I'll get one if only to save me from going up & down the steps to the radial saw; that last floor just about wore my knees out custom cutting every board.  On thing, it seems to me that ripping a length of anything would be difficult with a chop saw.

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800-980-OGRR (6477)
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