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Alternatives to table Saws for Segmented turning

Todd Trebuna

Todd Trebuna

Joined
Feb 14, 2020
Messages
10
Likes
4
Location
Lagrange. Kentucky
Good morning, recently I sold my table saw, to purchase a Sawstop. As fate would have it, I really like my work flow without the table saw in my small garage shop. I think I might end up purchasing the Jobsite model, but in the meantime, I thought I would reach out to inquire if anybody is using something different than a table saw for segmented turning. Any special considerations or issues that you have encountered? Do you use Jigs for bandsw work or Miter saw work? Do any of you use Hobbyist (such as a tablesaw built for model making) equipment? If so, how do you like it?
 
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Robert D Evans

Joined
Jan 31, 2020
Messages
172
Likes
115
Location
Hoschton, GA
I don't think the bandsaw is going to give you accurate enough cuts for segmented work. Too much blade flex and the cuts aren't smooth enough. I have cut some with the CMS and it takes some fiddling to get them right. You will need to create a zero clearance fence with stop blocks for your segments. Otherwise you'll be hunting segments all over the shop.

The best way I have found is with a wedgie sled on the table saw. You don't need a giant saw for this. The most strenuous part is ripping 3 foot boards into strips. One of those jobsite saws that is well set up should work just fine. The jobsite saw can be used on a workbench and put on a shelf out of the way when done.

With any method other than the wedgie sled, more often than not, I will have to glue the rings in halves, sand the mating joints on the disc sander and then glue the two halves together.
 
GRJensen

GRJensen

Joined
Nov 4, 2011
Messages
244
Likes
376
Location
Bay Settlement, WI
Actually, I teach a class at our tech college where we use a bandsaw to cut segments. With a decent quality blade and a variant of the wedgie sled, you can get acceptable results.
 
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robo hippy

Joined
Aug 14, 2007
Messages
3,193
Likes
932
Location
Eugene, OR
Malcolm Tibbets used the Festool miter saw. You need a hold down to keep the piece from creeping, and you make the cut on the down chop, stop the blade, then lift it out of the cut. I would expect that any quality chop saw, with a sharp blade, could work using the same method.

robo hippy
 
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