I want to build at least four bookcase type utility shelving units for my shed. Currently looking for unfinished pine and a place that will cut the wood for me accurate to 1/16 inch. At one lumber yard they flat out refused to cut to size. They will only rip a large piece in two so it fits in the truck. I guess they don't want my business. Anybody know if Lowe's or The HD cuts reasonably accurate with their presumably dull saw blades? Size has to be 57 inches tall x 32 inches wide x 9.25 inches deep, seven shelves, and that's why it has to be custom made. My plan calls for putting it together with selfcutting stainless steel #2 construction screws and brass nails for the 0.125 inch plywood backing. Maybe I should go to a real lumber yard like Burton, but I'm stingy. My budget is about $300.
Lumber
- Thread starter BRZED
- Start date
- Status
I hate to say it, but if you need accurate cuts, you need to cut it your self with a decent table saw.
Either buy a good used one and possible sell it later, or look for a friend/neighbor with one. For accurate cuts to 1/16 or better you need a good 80 tooth blade. Lumberyards usually don't have finish quality blades.
Either buy a good used one and possible sell it later, or look for a friend/neighbor with one. For accurate cuts to 1/16 or better you need a good 80 tooth blade. Lumberyards usually don't have finish quality blades.
Last edited:
JHZR2
Staff member
If you do all your cuts at once at HD/Lowes, any decent person there ought to allow you to compare them for consistency.
So long as theyre all consistent, does it really matter?
So long as theyre all consistent, does it really matter?
JHZR2
Staff member
Im not sure if it is a good tool, but Skil has a $149ish unit at Lowes. I think the attachments may be undersized, but for the cost???
Id be most concerned about the lumber being relatively straight.
Id be most concerned about the lumber being relatively straight.
I have this one. It works well for what i do, and its portable and easy to store.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-15-amp...R4513/100090444
This blade
http://www.amazon.com/D1080X-Diablo-80-T...ud+saw+blade+80
I used it to make the frame for my french interior doors.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3579759/Interior_doors_finished!#Post3579759
http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-15-amp...R4513/100090444
This blade
http://www.amazon.com/D1080X-Diablo-80-T...ud+saw+blade+80
I used it to make the frame for my french interior doors.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3579759/Interior_doors_finished!#Post3579759
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
If you do all your cuts at once at HD/Lowes, any decent person there ought to allow you to compare them for consistency.
So long as theyre all consistent, does it really matter?
That's what I was thinking, As long as the same person, it would be me, has marked the wood and the same person, could be anyone, cuts the same way with the same blade, the cuts should be consistent. When I wanted to talk to the guy who does the cutting at Lowe's, it turned out their saw was down and they sent me off to another Lowe's. Buy yeah, maybe I should just get a table saw and do the cutting myself. I'd be willing to spend may $200 on a saw.
If you do all your cuts at once at HD/Lowes, any decent person there ought to allow you to compare them for consistency.
So long as theyre all consistent, does it really matter?
That's what I was thinking, As long as the same person, it would be me, has marked the wood and the same person, could be anyone, cuts the same way with the same blade, the cuts should be consistent. When I wanted to talk to the guy who does the cutting at Lowe's, it turned out their saw was down and they sent me off to another Lowe's. Buy yeah, maybe I should just get a table saw and do the cutting myself. I'd be willing to spend may $200 on a saw.
JHZR2
Staff member
Originally Posted By: spasm3
I have this one. It works well for what i do, and its portable and easy to store.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-15-amp-10-in-Heavy-
Duty-Portable-Table-Saw-with-Stand-R4513/100090444
This blade
http://www.amazon.com/D1080X-Diablo-80-T...ud+saw+blade+80
I used it to make the frame for my french interior doors.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3579759/Interior_doors_finished!#Post3579759
Those ridgid saws look awesome, just a bit $$$ (though probably a huge value).
I have this one. It works well for what i do, and its portable and easy to store.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-15-amp-10-in-Heavy-
Duty-Portable-Table-Saw-with-Stand-R4513/100090444
This blade
http://www.amazon.com/D1080X-Diablo-80-T...ud+saw+blade+80
I used it to make the frame for my french interior doors.
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3579759/Interior_doors_finished!#Post3579759
Those ridgid saws look awesome, just a bit $$$ (though probably a huge value).
If you do buy the wood, I would store it in your house for at least 3 weeks. If you cut it straight from the store, it will change dimensionally (Most likely shrink a bit) as it dries out a bit. 3 weeks in your home then cut it to size.
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: BRZED
I may go and buy a table saw, because I'll probably need it again for other projects and because having another tool never hurts. Got a recommendation for a good table saw? I don't need the best, but I want a good tool.
I have an older Bosch 4100 Table saw that is very good for a portable saw. Rigid is also good. Check your local CL for deals and buy one gently used. Those cheap skill table saws usually don't have the table that extends out to make it useful. You'll see the example on the bosch video.
Here's a video for the bosch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qm_lfT2xao
Here's a video for the ridgid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L1pJ9JDMms
I may go and buy a table saw, because I'll probably need it again for other projects and because having another tool never hurts. Got a recommendation for a good table saw? I don't need the best, but I want a good tool.
I have an older Bosch 4100 Table saw that is very good for a portable saw. Rigid is also good. Check your local CL for deals and buy one gently used. Those cheap skill table saws usually don't have the table that extends out to make it useful. You'll see the example on the bosch video.
Here's a video for the bosch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qm_lfT2xao
Here's a video for the ridgid
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L1pJ9JDMms
A lumber yard or big box supply is never going to do straight consistent cuts. Their equipment is junk and meant for rough cuts only. What you are asking is not possible.
If you have accurate plans with dimensions you could ask a cabinet shop to make the cuts. They will charge you but the cut will be right.
Best suggestion as others have posted - buy a table saw and learn to use it. A big power miter saw might also work depending on the size of the work. I build a large fireplace mantle and two sets of built in floor to ceiling shelves using a circular saw and a large power miter saw. It was 16 feet wide and perfect when completed. It was painted and caulked so I did have some leeway for slight imperfections.
If you have accurate plans with dimensions you could ask a cabinet shop to make the cuts. They will charge you but the cut will be right.
Best suggestion as others have posted - buy a table saw and learn to use it. A big power miter saw might also work depending on the size of the work. I build a large fireplace mantle and two sets of built in floor to ceiling shelves using a circular saw and a large power miter saw. It was 16 feet wide and perfect when completed. It was painted and caulked so I did have some leeway for slight imperfections.
Last edited:
you could do this with a good circular saw and a very good blade, if you have some experience. Measure accurately and use a square to keep you on the line if you aren't the most steady. Always leave the line (pencil line) I like the Red Italian made "Diablo" blades.
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
Do it yourself. My brother has built a few custom subwoofer boxes and had Home Depot cut the wood and they never lined up well at all.
I manage a lumber yard and we won't do precision cuts with rough cut saws. Find an independent cabinet maker to help you. I have access to every type of saw and still seek professional help when I want it to be right.
Agreed on not buying a low quality saw. I'd rather pay and cry once than cry all the time later. I talked to my neighbor and he said I can use his Makita table saw. He also knows a guy who has the wood I need. Hopefully I get around to this project this weekend. I'll report on the outcome. Thanks for all the suggestions.
I used to work in the Lumber department at Home depot during the 1990s and I would have no problem cutting plywood panels to within 1/16 of an inch for people. I could even do it within 1/32 of an inch. At one time I was getting so precise with my cuts, I decided to go get a thin-kurf Irwin Marathon blade off the shelf to use with the panel saw. Boss told me to quit doing that because they hired a sharpening service to sharpen and install panel saw blades. I told the boss the Irwin blades cut far more accurate and with less effort than the blades the sharpening service brought.
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
I used to work in the Lumber department at Home depot during the 1990s and I would have no problem cutting plywood panels to within 1/16 of an inch for people. I could even do it within 1/32 of an inch. At one time I was getting so precise with my cuts, I decided to go get a thin-kurf Irwin Marathon blade off the shelf to use with the panel saw. Boss told me to quit doing that because they hired a sharpening service to sharpen and install panel saw blades. I told the boss the Irwin blades cut far more accurate and with less effort than the blades the sharpening service brought.
Maybe the bosses brother ran the sharpening service... Lol
I used to work in the Lumber department at Home depot during the 1990s and I would have no problem cutting plywood panels to within 1/16 of an inch for people. I could even do it within 1/32 of an inch. At one time I was getting so precise with my cuts, I decided to go get a thin-kurf Irwin Marathon blade off the shelf to use with the panel saw. Boss told me to quit doing that because they hired a sharpening service to sharpen and install panel saw blades. I told the boss the Irwin blades cut far more accurate and with less effort than the blades the sharpening service brought.
Maybe the bosses brother ran the sharpening service... Lol
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
I used to work in the Lumber department at Home depot during the 1990s and I would have no problem cutting plywood panels to within 1/16 of an inch for people. I could even do it within 1/32 of an inch. At one time I was getting so precise with my cuts, I decided to go get a thin-kurf Irwin Marathon blade off the shelf to use with the panel saw. Boss told me to quit doing that because they hired a sharpening service to sharpen and install panel saw blades. I told the boss the Irwin blades cut far more accurate and with less effort than the blades the sharpening service brought.
I have never had much luck with Thin Kurf blades.
Tend to warp when you least want it to.
I used to work in the Lumber department at Home depot during the 1990s and I would have no problem cutting plywood panels to within 1/16 of an inch for people. I could even do it within 1/32 of an inch. At one time I was getting so precise with my cuts, I decided to go get a thin-kurf Irwin Marathon blade off the shelf to use with the panel saw. Boss told me to quit doing that because they hired a sharpening service to sharpen and install panel saw blades. I told the boss the Irwin blades cut far more accurate and with less effort than the blades the sharpening service brought.
I have never had much luck with Thin Kurf blades.
Tend to warp when you least want it to.
1/16" accuracy for shelves for a shed?? Must be a heck of a shed.
- Status
