How to Get into Woodworking Without a Table Saw

Think you need a table saw to get into woodworking? You don’t! Start building today with this list of tools you can use instead.

Image of hands putting blade into a table saw that is in grayscale and blurry to simulate that it's not there

Don’t have a table saw? No problem! There are plenty of other tools you can use instead to build beautiful woodworking projects. In this article, we will discuss the best ways to get the job done without a table saw. Stay tuned, and you’ll be on your way to creating amazing pieces in no time!

What is a Table Saw?
What are the Reasons for Not Owning a Table Saw?
Types of Cuts
How to Rip Cut Without a Table Saw
How to Crosscut Without a Table Saw
How to Make Miter Cuts Without a Table Saw
How to Make Bevel Cuts Without a Table Saw
How to Make Dados, Grooves, and Rabbets Without a Table Saw
How to Make Joinery Cuts Without a Table Saw
Chart: Cuts and Alternate Tools You Can Use

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What is a Table Saw?

A table saw is a power tool used to cut wood. It consists of a circular blade mounted beneath a flat work surface called the table within an opening called the throat plate. The cutting depth and angle can be adjusted by raising, lowering, or tilting the blade.

A rip fence is frequently used with a table saw to help guide the material while it’s being cut. The operator stands in front of the machine and pushes the workpiece along the fence towards the blade to make a cut.

One advantage of a table saw over other saws is its large work surface, allowing it to accommodate materials such as plywood sheets.

However, a table saw is large and bulky, making it less portable than other saws. Because of its size and weight, you’ll likely need a dedicated space for one in your workshop or garage.

What are the Reasons for Not Owning a Table Saw?

Though a table saw is a useful tool for many projects, not everyone owns one for several reasons, including size, cost, and safety concerns.

Table saws can take up a lot of room, so they may not fit into your workshop if space is limited.

The cost of a table saw can range anywhere from $250 to more than $3,000, which is an investment that some woodworkers are not ready to make.

Finally, table saws can be extremely dangerous. Every year, thousands of people are injured by them, and many of these injuries are severe.

Related: 21 Table Saw Safety Rules (& Mistakes to Avoid)

No matter the reason, you can use plenty of other tools instead of a table saw to build woodworking projects.

Before deciding which tool to use, you’ll need to determine the types of cuts necessary for your project. Let’s look at those next.

Types of Cuts

Knowing the types of cuts you need to make is key when searching for a table saw alternative. With that in mind, let’s review the cuts that can be made with a table saw and then explore other ways to make those same cuts. Or, if you already have some tools on hand, check out the chart below to see if they’ll work for your project.

Rip Cut

To make a rip cut, set your saw blade to 90 degrees, then cut along the length of your workpiece.

Rip cuts are often used to make a board narrower or to break down plywood sheets to the dimensions needed for building cabinets or furniture.

Related: How to Make DIY Cabinet Doors

Bevel Cut

To make a bevel cut, adjust your saw blade to an angle other than 90 degrees, then cut along the length of your workpiece.

Bevels are frequently used to make french cleats, a hanging system ideal for organizing tools or attaching wall-mounted cabinets.

Related: How to Make a French Cleat

Crosscut

To make a crosscut, set your blade to 90 degrees, then cut across the width of your workpiece. Crosscuts are frequently used to cut boards to their required length.

Miter Cut

To make a miter cut, set your saw blade to an angle other than 90 degrees, then cut across the width of your workpiece. Miter cuts are often used to cut molding, trim, and picture frame parts to their desired length.

Dados, Grooves, and Rabbets

A table saw can be fitted with a dado blade, which is usually multiple blades stacked together that act as one wide blade. Dado blades are primarily used in woodworking to cut dados, grooves, and rabbets, which carve out a small space where you can join two pieces of material together.

Dados aremade across the width of workpieces.
Grooves are made along the length of workpieces.
Rabbets are made along the edge of workpieces.

How to Rip Cut Without a Table Saw

If you don’t have a table saw, there are several options to make accurate rip cuts.

Circular Saw

A circular saw is an effective way to make rip cuts without a table saw. They’re best suited for ripping sheet goods, such as plywood and MDF.

Related: Table Saw vs Circular Saw (Which Should You Buy?)

You can use a circular saw freehand, but for the most accurate result, it’s best to use it with a guide.

Using a guide will provide you with a straight line to follow as you move the saw along the length of your workpiece.

You can use anything from a long, straight board or a store-bought straight edge, such as the Kreg Straightedge Guide or the BORA Straight Cut Guide.

Related: Kreg Straight Edge Guide (How to Use and Review)

You can also use an accessory like the Kreg Rip-Cut which attaches to your saw and follows the edge of your workpiece.

The advantage is you can set the guide once and make repeatable cuts. But the drawback is the edge of your workpiece needs to be straight to begin with; otherwise, the cut will be inaccurate. Also, it’s limited to making cuts up to 24 inches wide.

Rip cutting a piece of plywood using a circular saw and Kreg Rip-Cut

Track Saw

Another option for making rip cuts is a track saw which is essentially a circular saw that rides along a guide rail. The advantage is the guide rail keeps your saw on course and ensures straight, precise cuts.

The drawback is they can be expensive and the guide rails can be cumbersome to store in your shop.

Band Saw

A band saw is also a good option for making rip cuts. Because of their small work surface; however, they’re best suited for making rip cuts on boards rather than sheet goods.

The drawback to using a band saw is the blade can sometimes wander, resulting in an inaccurate cut. Another downside is that band saw blades leave the edge of your workpiece rougher than a table saw or circular saw, so you’ll need to do some sanding to smooth it.

Jigsaw

Another tool that can make rip cuts is a jigsaw. Using a jigsaw won’t be as precise as using a circular saw or track saw, so only consider it when accuracy isn’t as important.

One way to improve accuracy is to use a guide like the Kreg Straightedge Guide, which will ensure your saw follows your cut line. However, a jigsaw’s blade can flex from top to bottom, resulting in the edge of the cut not being square.

How to Crosscut Without a Table Saw

Crosscuts are often made with a table saw using a miter gauge or crosscut sled, but there are other tools you can use to make accurate crosscuts.

Handsaw and Miter Box

The simplest way to make crosscuts is with a handsaw and miter box.

A miter box is an easy-to-use tool that consists of a base and two grooved sides. The workpiece rests in the bottom of the box and the grooves guide the handsaw as the workpiece is being cut.

Miter boxes are ideal for people with limited space or tight budgets and for anyone hesitant to use power tools.

Miter Saw

Another option for making crosscuts is a miter saw. Miter saws have a blade on a pivoting arm that can be rotated right to left and tilted top to bottom.

My go-to tool for making crosscuts is a miter saw. When I need several boards cut to the same length, I use a stop block to ensure consistency. A stop block clamps to your saw’s fence and ensures all of your workpieces are cut to the same length.