This is a story about a long standing desire of mine to own a table saw and procrastination, or it's a story about change, or prehaps it's just another story about myself.
As a child I would make woodworking projects and use my parent's table saw. I learned early on how useful it was for making accurate cuts and always figured that one day I would buy one.
For many years I was not particularly sedentary and I didn't look at them seriously but coveted them when walking through Sears Stores or other tool havens. Then for awhile I lived at my Mother's and could use hers. In fact about thirteen years ago I started to build a set of armoires with the table as my bedroom lacked a closet and I thought one would be nice for my large television and it's assorted electronic accessories.
Literally right after I had begun to assemble two large carcasses for the armoires in late June, Claire came to a Catholic singles group meeting for a second visit after a three month absence. I'd known I wanted to get to know her after the first visit but hadn't wanted to seem too forward or predatory. A whirlwind of daily dates ensued and soon we were planning a wedding and looking for a home. The unfinished armoire carcasses moved into our new basement occupying half a room down there.
There was a lot that needed to be done on the house and at times there was talk of buying one. Some can be had quite inexpensively but in general with tools I've found you get what you pay for and I would feel like we shouldn't spend the money on one until we remodeled the attic or "needed one." There was plenty to do with work and Amelia. Life seemed full enough without a woodworking hobby. But kept thinking I would get one.
There are four kinds of table saws and each has it's pros and cons. Portable ones take up little space but lack table surface--so they are not as useful for large cabinet panels. Contractor Saws are heavier, have larger tables, take up a lot more space and make better cuts. You can't haul one around for the many projects you are working on. You go to the saw, it does not come with you. As the saw gets bigger, heavier, and more accurate it becomes more expensive. Cabinet Saws are terribly expensive and terribly heavy. They are incredibly accurate in a craftsman's hands. They are the woodworker's holy grail. In between Cabinet saws and Contractor's saws lies the fourth category called a Hybrid Saw that tries to cut out a compromise.
As I've grown older I have found myself less enthused about spending my time working on a house. Where once it was, "I could make something of a place and build equity"; the emphasis has shifted to if I can just maintain this place". I wear trifocals and struggle to see things in shadow, above my head, and up close.
While working on my attic remodeling project I bought air nailers, a compressor, several drills, two circular saws, a reciprocating saw, two rotary tools, a more powerful router, numerous hand tools, etc.
So we have been living upstairs for about a year and a half. There is some window and door trim to finish. The search for someone to custom make replacement windows in the style of the originals continues. I'd also like to rehang the double doors that I hired a carpenter to install as they close a little too far apart to lock shut. But I can see an end to it all.
One of the last big tasks as I saw it to the attic project was to give it a nice oak staircase. I made it a goal to complete it this summer. Summer ends this week and I am one tread short of complete--if you don't count staining and varnishing.
I'm not sure I will ever be tempted to buy a table saw again--unless the price of kitchen cabinets keeps going up, because they at least 40 years old and careworn.
