Cutting boards verticly

I have a bunch of pallet wood.   I want too cut the wood  Verticly.   The pallet Wood is about 2-3 inches thick.
What  would I need to do this.   Can I use a jigsaw,  or do I need something else like a Table Saw.   Since I'm not doing this on a regular basis at this time
I want too keep my budget on the lower end. (Under $100.00)

A table-saw does a great job of ripping lengthwise through a board.

Some circular saws have an attachment that acts like the guide on a table-saw.

how accurate do you need to be?  

Very = table saw.  

But a hand saw can do a pretty good job if you are careful to follow the guidelines.  

A jigsaw would be hard to get accurate.  It's possible if you make a lot of jigs and stuff to guide the wood and hold the weight... but that's a lot more work than I would enjoy.  It would be faster to get a hand saw or go to my local maker house.  

Do you have a local maker house in town or a tool library?  (some book libraries also lend tools so look there too).  Most mid-sized towns in Canada have something like this where someone can go and use wood tools.  Mostly for free or by donation. But sometimes you need to pay to have a safety lesson first (insurance likes that sort of thing).  

I would definitely recommend the table saw.
And you shouldn't worry so much about the initial cash outlay because the table saw is probably the most versatile tool you could have for working with wood.
Jigsaws and skill saws would be time consuming and probably dangerous.
If you have lots of time and energy you could always invest a small amount in a hand ripsaw, I have several and use them for instances exactly as you're describing , although they do take a lot of time and energy.
Most pallet wood is some kind of hardwood and probably will be a challenge under any condition.
I would put all my money on a good table saw, don't skimp, the cheap ones are more trouble than they're worth. An older Craftsman or Delta you could probably pick up for around a hundred bucks.

You're probably going to have a hard time finding one for less than $100, but I agree with others that a table saw is the tool you're looking for. It'll be efficient and accurate, and it's also the tool designed for what you're trying to do, so it'll be safer as well. Trying to rip narrow boards with a jigsaw or circular saw could get dangerous. And it'll be slow.

If you don't need it very often and aren't ripping huge things like sheets of plywood, I don't think you need to get an expensive one though. If you are only doing small rips, then a lighter table saw should be fine. If you have heavy pieces like plywood then you either want a heavier saw or you'll want to bolt your saw to the floor so it doesn't move while you maneuver the wood. I'm pretty sure they even make mini versions now specifically for people who don't need to cut large boards.

You may be able to find a used one for cheaper. As long as it isn't abused, a table saw will last for decades. Lots of folks have an initial saw and then upgrade at some point, so used saws aren't too hard to come by. You may need to replace the blade - look online or check Harbor Freight for cheaper blades ($10-$20). You don't need an expensive one unless you're doing fine woodworking. Research blades and get the right one for your job. It should say on the package what the blade is designed for.

Hi Marc,
While I am another vote for a table saw, as that is the proper tool to do what you are talking about (maybe a small bandsaw)... if this is not something you do regularly or want to do regularly, instead of buying a table saw, could you find someone with a table saw and pay them 100 to cut the wood for you?

Alternatively... in most places pallets are free or cheap... could you simply get a few more pallets and do whatever the project is with thicker wood so you don't have to cut it in the first place?

Marc Siegel wrote:… I want too cut the wood  Verticly.   The pallet Wood is about 2-3 inches thick.
What  would I need to do this.   Can I use a jigsaw,  or do I need something else like a Table Saw.   ….
I want too keep my budget on the lower end. (Under $100.00)

So if you had a 3/4” x 3” slat, are you trying to get a 3/4” x 1 1/2” piece or a 3/8” x 3” piece ?  

If you’re trying to cut the 3/4” dimension in half then you may want a bandsaw to reduce kerf.

If you’re trying to cut the 3” dimension in half then you could also consider a DIY “track saw”, even if this is as simple as using a circular saw guided along a straight-edge.

Reason being the pallet skid may not have a straight-edge. Also it can be cheap, simple, and to my mind safer, because pushing the tool over the workpiece allows the blade to be shielded from your hands and body.

I think a table saw or shop bandsaw can be more dangerous because your hands are pushing the workpiece towards an unshielded blade.

Ideas for a DIY track saw:

Handheld circular saw is what I use since I don't have a table saw, and like others mentioned ripping is the word all the pros use to describe your cut. Jigsaw I've only ever used on wood with shaped cuts, like a circle in plywood for an outhouse...and typically not much more than 1/2" thick.

Just go slow, and be mindful of hand location. Proper support of the wood is important or the blade will get bound up or catch in a bad way. What is the proper support?? It varies, you'll just have to experiment don't try to force the saw through, something is wrong if thats happening, make an adjustment before continuing.