I recently purchased a very nice 3hp cabinet saw… for panels mainly because I’m going to do a kitchen. I’m happy to have it, but not crazy about it.
This is my second shop… new house under construction now, shop 75% up.
My first shop was more or less dedicated to solid lumber furniture. Did not have a TS.
With a band saw, jointer and planer, there was little I could not do.
I will still rip all solid lumber on the BS, joint and plane. There may now be occasion to rip narrow stock on the TS for convenience. An example being, nipping off shaped edges for smaller trim moldings, etc.
All in all, all my dimensioning was always done, and will continue to be done, starting with the BS, then jointer then planning.
A jointed squared-up piece of stock is going to be more true than anything I can get from a TS. Stresses released after ripping (on either machine) will likely result in jointing anyway. BS ripping (just as straight but with saw marks) releases the same stress. Jointer trues the piece while removing saw marks. So we all cut our pieces a bit oversized anyway to compensate.
So-called glue edges from TS ripping/combo blades never did anything for me because in all likelihood after that rip the jointer will need to perform anyway… though I do have two Forrest blades… I have them for quality/longevity reasons... panels and such.
I have a cheap Jet 18”, 1.5 hp BS. Nothing to brag about. Though underpowered, I like the saw. With a 1” blade I can rip 1.5” stock as fast as I can lean into it with no fear whatsoever. I could care less about the smoothness of the cut.
Actually I could go on and on about the virtues of the BS, but in my shop it is the heart. The TS is a nice addition, and as I said I like it. It will help. But it is not the heart.
(I know there are, but I will ask anyway) Are there other BS-heart shops out there?