Good brands for saws? Lowe's or Home Depot?

[fuzzybabybunny]

So I'm going to be installing floating engineered wood floors around the house. Ripping out the old carpet and the wall skirt things, trimming the door casings, etc.

Never done home improvement before. Never owned power tools before.

So:

Lowe's or Home Depot? Which is better?

What are good brands for miter saws, jigsaws, dovetail saws, and coping saws? I can't get something too expensive here. Is a budget of $300 for the miter and jigsaw combined good enough?

Thinking about installing the Home Legend engineered click lock Santos Mahogany hardwood flooring.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Go to the HD/Lowes Tool Rental department and see if renting tools would be better. While in there, check what brands they use in case you do decide to buy (they won't rent junk).

 

[rudeguy]

This is where I chime in and say how much I love Makita and everyone else chimes in and says to get Dewalt.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Originally posted by: rudeguy
This is where I chime in and say how much I love Makita and everyone chimes in and says to get Dewalt.

I always say Milwaukee, Makita, and Bosch, but to fit his budget he'll (most likely) be getting DeWalt. FWIW, DeWalt's power tools are much better than their cordless tools.

 

[mshan]

Quick-Step Uniclick is supposed to have the best joint, but I think most of their stuff is laminate.

I think you are going to spend at least $3 / sq. ft. for any at least pretty good quality engineered hardwood flooring.

Pretty good FAQ: http://www.hoskinghardwood.com...omer_Expectations.aspx

 

[dartworth]

The Rigid brand @ HD is good for homeowners...so is Craftsman

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser

Originally posted by: rudeguy
This is where I chime in and say how much I love Makita and everyone chimes in and says to get Dewalt.

I always say Milwaukee, Makita, and Bosch, but to fit his budget he'll (most likely) be getting DeWalt. FWIW, DeWalt's power tools are much better than their cordless tools.

Actually for jigsaws at Home Depot it looks like Bosch is the cheapest.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Originally posted by: AnonymouseUser

Originally posted by: rudeguy
This is where I chime in and say how much I love Makita and everyone chimes in and says to get Dewalt.

I always say Milwaukee, Makita, and Bosch, but to fit his budget he'll (most likely) be getting DeWalt. FWIW, DeWalt's power tools are much better than their cordless tools.

Actually for jigsaws at Home Depot it looks like Bosch is the cheapest.

This is cheaper than the cheapest Bosch. Make sure you check the "In-Store" or "All Products" option.

EDIT >> Link doesn't work, hd.com sucks. Try this.

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: dartworth
The Rigid brand @ HD is good for homeowners...so is Craftsman

I have a Ridgid and it's great. TS2424 or something like that. Had it for 7-8 years and have no complaints.

 

[Vette73]

Are going to keep the tool and us eit again?

If not then find a cheap miter saw on craigslist.

If yes then get a good middle price 10" fropm anybody including the 2 you named and sears.


Lastly get a new blade with a high number of teeth. The more teeth = slower cuts but with less tearing. If you are doing framing then use the blade that comes with the saw or a low teeth number blade for fast cuts.

I wopuld not use a jigsaw as it will not work as well and rip out would be much worse. You could use a 10" table saw as well but a miter saw does better, IMO, for flooring.

 

[Howard]

Bosch jigsaws own me.

 

[DrPizza]

Do all your cutting outside - the dust from some of those engineered floors is horrible. (And, it will be dusty because as someone said, use a higher number of teeth on the blade.)

 

[Sluggo]

Refurb Hitachi stuff

I haven't bought from them, but they seem to have good prices for refurb tools.

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Actually for jigsaws at Home Depot it looks like Bosch is the cheapest.

We have a Bosch jigsaw at work and it has the worst blade changer of any I've ever used. I'm always paranoid I'm going to break it.

The Craftsman my Dad has is super easy. You just push up on the collar and the blade pops off. It's a much nicer saw than the Bosch.

 

[Greenman]

There are three tools that will make installing floating floor easy. A good jig saw (I like Bosch), a power hand saw like this one http://www.toolking.com/bosch_1640vsr.aspx and a small table saw. You can get by without the table saw but it does make things easier. The power hand saw allows you to trim off the bottom of the door jambs and trim so you can slide the flooring under them. It makes the job much easier and finish is flawless. Well worth the hundred bucks.

Edit: For installing base a chop saw is almost a must. Ryobi seems to be the best of the low end tools, and would probably get the job done for you. I don't have any first hand experience with them because I can't afford to use cheap tools.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Well, I ended up getting a couple of Ridgids (Home Depot's house brand I assume?)

Jigsaw: figured this would be better for making cuts that aren't straight
http://www.homedepot.com/webap...&N=10000003+90401+1600

Circular Saw
http://www.homedepot.com/webap...&N=10000003+90401+1600

Hand Miter Saw

Did I screw up? I got the Ridgids in large part because of their lifetime warranty.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Originally posted by: Greenman
There are three tools that will make installing floating floor easy. A good jig saw (I like Bosch), a power hand saw like this one http://www.toolking.com/bosch_1640vsr.aspx and a small table saw. You can get by without the table saw but it does make things easier. The power hand saw allows you to trim off the bottom of the door jambs and trim so you can slide the flooring under them. It makes the job much easier and finish is flawless. Well worth the hundred bucks.

Edit: For installing base a chop saw is almost a must. Ryobi seems to be the best of the low end tools, and would probably get the job done for you. I don't have any first hand experience with them because I can't afford to use cheap tools.

Damn, I didn't even know a power hand saw even existed. Should I return the miter saw?

 

[Greenman]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny

Originally posted by: Greenman
There are three tools that will make installing floating floor easy. A good jig saw (I like Bosch), a power hand saw like this one http://www.toolking.com/bosch_1640vsr.aspx and a small table saw. You can get by without the table saw but it does make things easier. The power hand saw allows you to trim off the bottom of the door jambs and trim so you can slide the flooring under them. It makes the job much easier and finish is flawless. Well worth the hundred bucks.

Edit: For installing base a chop saw is almost a must. Ryobi seems to be the best of the low end tools, and would probably get the job done for you. I don't have any first hand experience with them because I can't afford to use cheap tools.

Damn, I didn't even know a power hand saw even existed. Should I return the miter saw?

You will need a miter saw for the baseboard, so keep it. The power hand saw is a dream for trimming off door jambs and such, it's much easier to slid the flooring under them than to try and fit around them.

 

[richardycc]

all you really need are a good jigsaw and a miter saw, a sliding miter saw if you can afford it..and a Bosch 1640VS for the door jamb, but looks like thats done already.

 

[ManyBeers]

I have installed several floating floors and have never used a jigsaw.
Why do you need a jigsaw?

 

[Greenman]

Originally posted by: ManyBeers
I have installed several floating floors and have never used a jigsaw.
Why do you need a jigsaw?

Because it's an easy way to cut the material. Chop saws work, but as you cut down into the surface it dulls the blade very rapidly. A jig saw also allows you to cut right where you're working. Overall it's a bit quicker.

 

[skyking]

I'm just about done with our house, we have been remodeling it all summer long. I used a cordless Makita with the original blade, after I'd already built a couple of decks with it.
I used our neighbor's table saw to rip some half sheet starters once, but that was only a convenience. I could have done the job with any circular saw with a fine blade. Figure on wasting a few pieces until you get the hang of measuring and subtracting the engineered edge from your numbers.
Plunge cut any heat registers.
Cut from the backside.
I used the flooring that has the pad on the back, this saves time and is much easier to do IMO.
Take the time to clean that stuff off, the sawdust sticks to the material quite well due to static electricity.
Take the time to figure out the layout so as to minimize any skinny pieces or awkward joints in doorways, etc.
Use a piece of ruled paper to figure out if it is better to start with a full or half piece. Measure the room and divide by the net width for each piece, and then lay it out on the ruled paper. it can save huge hassles by arriving at a side doorway or a jog with the proper layout.

 

[foghorn67]

Seriously, for homeowners that just do the projects that come up, almost any of the decent brand names will not let you down. Nothing wrong with spending more for stuff like Milwaukee or Makita...but Ryobi and Craftsman will fit your needs.

 

[Kelemvor]

To trim off my door jams I used one of the things where the small disk blade thing spins around real fast. Can use to cut through anything. Can't think of what it's called though...

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
To trim off my door jams I used one of the things where the small disk blade thing spins around real fast. Can use to cut through anything. Can't think of what it's called though...

Dremel?