to cut long boards, would you use TS or MS?

[James Baker SD]

I am getting close to building a tall built in bookcase where the ceilings are about 9 feet high. I don't know if I will use solid lumber for the vertical elements or plywood and try to veneer them.

Question though is assuming I have ripped the verticals down to about 12" depth, would you recommend trying to cut them to length using a table saw and some kind of sled or a sliding miter saw? Thanks.

James

[Steve Kolbe]

If you already have both tools, I'd go with the Sliding Miter Saw with a good blade!

[Michael Simpson Virgina]

Yep if you have it a sliding miter. IF you can stretchit (IE your saw will do more than 12") Create a zero clearence back stop. This will keep tearout to a minimum.

[scott spencer]

My TS is more accurate than my CMS so the majority of the time I lean towards my TS, but for very long lengths the miter saw is the right tool for the job.

[David Nelson1]

CMS for sure

[Paul Ryan]

I have a nice sled that I built shortly after I got the new table saw. But I hardly use it. I use the sliding miter saw for everything that will fit. The sled is used for anything over 12". The miter saw is too easy and quick to use.

[Bill White]

That's the reason I hang on to the old and trusty RAS.
Bill

[Chip Lindley]

This is what RASs do best! But in leiu of that, your SCMS should do the job. It's only drawback is width of cut. Take time to set it up for a perfect 90deg. cut. And use a good cutoff blade. General purpose blades will only butcher your bookcase stock.

[Troy Turner]

I'm with the SCMS on this one. Even with a good sled and hold downs, that's a lot of wood hanging off that could turn this way or that and mess up your cut.

[Myk Rian]

I've crosscut long boards on my TS, with my miter extended to its full length for support. SCMS or RAS is the tool of choice.

[Gary Muto]

I use my table saw because it's more accurate. It has better blade selection too. Table saw and a simple sled would be my recommendation.

[Rich Engelhardt]

How about - neither?

Perfect task for the TS55EQ track saw or the EZ.

[Mike Harrison]

+1 for the RAS or Miter saw.

[glenn bradley]

I would use an SCMS or circ-saw and shop made guide and I almost never use either. ;-) I have a few sleds and could do it that way but moving the cutter past a large piece of material like that, instead of vice versa, almost always allows better control, safety and results.

[Don Frambach]

I use a guided circular saw for these cuts. In my opinion it's much easier to clamp a guide to a long board and cut it with a circular saw that to wrestle with a long board in a table saw (even in a sled). I used to use a shop built guide with my circular saw. Since I purchased a Festool, I use their system with works great for me.

[Rick Markham]

How about - neither?

Perfect task for the TS55EQ track saw or the EZ.

That's exactly what I bought mine for! Accurate sheet goods break down is just the icing on the cake. I got tired of wrestling around long stock on the table saw, none of the sliders had the capacity I have needed in the past, and I have no room for the RAS. :D

[Gary Muto]

I'll change my vote to option 3, circular saw with a guide.

[James Baker SD]

Can you get the same quality of cut (splinter free, etc) as you would get with a table saw or sliding miter saw?

James

[Don Frambach]

Can you get the same quality of cut (splinter free, etc) as you would get with a table saw or sliding miter saw?

James

I am very impressed by the cut quality of my Festool circular saw.

Don

[Darius Ferlas]

For this kind of job I use my circular saw with a Freud 40T blade. I apply masking tape centered on the cut line on both sides of the board. That virtually eliminates chipping.

[Paul McGaha]

I use a SCMS for most all of my cross cutting. I use a sled on the table saw for whats beyond the capacity of the SCMS (I think it's good for about 10 or 12 inches).

PHM