Which Saw To Buy???

[Sycamore3House]

I want to buy myself an electric saw. I don't know which one. My main job is renovating my cut string staircase. But I also want to make storage for underneath the stairs using the timber from the awful staircase I have at the moment. and hopefully if I am still enthusiastic more jobs.
I find using a jigsaw awkward. Do I buy a bench chop saw or would a compound mitre saw be more useful. Not really sure what the benefits of each are? I have priced up the cost of hiring but I don't want to be rushed when I start and would rather take my time so I think investing in something would be better.
Any help appreciated.

[woofgang]

whats your budget?

[Sycamore3House]

Probably about £100 -£120

[jomifl]

This may sound a daft question but what exactly are you going to use it for?

[Sycamore3House]

Cutting wood as precisely as possible. With some angles.

[jomifl]

How much, how thick, along the grain or across it, cutting profiles? A cheap chop saw will cut narrow planks with angles and bevels quickly and cleanly. It won't cut a narrower plank but a circular saw and a jigsaw will. In order of usefulness for the jobs I do I would order them thus, circular saw, jigsaw, chop saw. However I have other tools such as planes and routers to do the tricky bits that cannot easily be done with a saw.

[Sycamore3House]

Jomifl you have answered what I need. Because I can't afford to buy the lot but as I get more interested I will invest so to speak. I will buy a cheap chop saw and go from there. I have researched what I need to do with regards to measuring, fixings etc so I am nearly ready to go. It may be finished by Christmas not saying which one though.

[The Builder]

Just from my own experience, Sycamore...........

Hand held saws (circular/jigsaw) can be quite unwieldy for accurate cutting if you're not terrible experienced. Also potentially dangerous.

I only use a jigsaw for fancy shapes etc, although a lot of tradesmen use one instead of a circular saw. I use a circular mainly for cutting large boards on a bench or supports.

I do as much as I can with hand saws, also I use a table saw all the time. This is a cheap one, but a good make..........

http://www.screwfix.com/p/scheppach-hs80-210mm-table-saw-240v/44937

Ideal for "running down" a piece of timber from, say, 150mm to 50mm or whatever. Set up the guide fence and poke it down through the blade with the pushstick. Set the timber at right-angles for cross-cut..... or at an angle for angled cuts. You can usually tilt the table to 45 degrees for mitres etc.

For kitchen fitting/skirtings/architraves, most people use a chop saw that can handle mitres and bevels. I don't know how much of that you plan to do.

For general work, I set up a simple bench on site, with a steel vice clamped to it. The table saw sits on the bench. With that and ordinary panel saws, I can do most things.

[Sycamore3House]

Thanks The Builder that one looks good never thought of screwfix for tools. My Dad had an ancient version of one of these. Sadly my Dad's saw got nicked overnight from his store & he has since passed away so hence I begrudge now having to pay for any carpentry work considering how much time I spent with him on various jobs. So I will teach myself. I know what it should look like & it will look right.