[curiousgeorge]

Router, I agree with Scott on the Makita LS1013. It was my first major purchase also and I found one at a pawn shop for $260 (like new) and it is a great tool.

 

[curiousgeorge]

Router I agree with you 100% about being scared of a table saw but you can get hurt with any tool if not used properly and proper set-up is a must for any tool to be used safely, especially the table saw. You can get acceptable miter cuts with a good, properly set-up, table saw but, as the name implies, you will get more accurate miter cuts with a miter saw (again, properly set-up). With my 10" Makita I can get up to a 16" wide cut by cutting half the board, flipping it over and cutting the other half. The only problem is you can't do rip cuts with the miter. For that you need a table saw or circular saw with a guide.

Why not just get another router and a slide compound? You can't have too many tools.

 

[curiousgeorge]

Excuse me Router but I made a mistake on my previous post. I can actually get more like a 22-24" cut with my 10" Makita, although I have never had occasion to do so.
The width of rip would depend on the travel of the slide on your saw. Not knowing the travel on a 15" saw, I couldn't say, but that may well be.