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Table Saw Comparison Guide  If I had to choose only one machine to put in my shop it would be a table saw. It is often described as the centerpiece of a woodworker’s shop. Although it is mostly used for simply ripping and crosscutting stock it has almost endless other uses. With different set ups, blades, and jigs you can do all sorts of cuts to include different types of joints, bevels, dadoes, molding, and even circles. Table saws are designated according to their blade size which most commonly include a 8", 9", 10", 12", or 14" blade. 8" and 10" blades are the most common. There are also three different types of saws from smallest and least expensive to largest: Benchtop or portable, contactors, and cabinetmaker’s or stationary saws. As a general rule all should be able to cut through a 2-by-4 at both 90 and 45 degrees. The main factor in deciding which type of saw to buy should be based on what your own personal needs are. Are you looking to make small hobby projects from softwood or will you be doing fine cabinetmaking with hardwoods that will require more horsepower? Will you need to be able to split 4-by-8 sheets of plywood in half? Another factor is the size of your shop. Are you limited on space and need to free up room for other equipment? Do you need to be able to move your saw to different job sites? Budget is another major question you need to be asking yourself. Will it be worth your while to get a high priced stationary saw if you only plan to use it 3-4 times a year? Would an inexpensive benchtop saw be worthwhile if you work in your shop daily and make repeated cuts on it?
Lets take a look at the characteristics of the three different types of
saws and decide which is right for you. Benchtop Table SawThe benchtop table saw was designed with the small hobby or portable shop in mind. They weigh anywhere from about 30-60 lbs. And can easily be moved by one person or stored under a workbench to provide more space.Usually it has an 8" or 10" blade capacity. If you mainly build small projects that use softwoods that is seldom more than an inch thick this may be all you need. These can cut through hardwoods, however due to the limited power it could take two or more passes. Prices range from around $200 to $500. If you are planning to build furniture or do cabinetry work this is probably not a good choice for you. However if this is sufficient enough for what you plan to regularly build read on to find out more about what to look out for before you buy. For a table saw comparison of benchtop saws click here.
Keep in mind that if later you decide to upgrade to a larger saw you
can always keep this one on a different set-up to save time when
changing operations. Contractor's Table SawContractor’s saws are probably the most common type found in most home workshops. This type of saw is a step up from the benchtop saw and can handle more rugged workloads.They weigh anywhere from around 125 to 300lbs and sit on an open stand. Two people should be able to lift this and with the help of a pickup truck be able to load and unload it at different job sites. The extra weight as compared to the benchtop also gives you more stability to make more accurate cuts. The blade capacity is usually a 9" or 10" blade and most have the horsepower to cut through hardwoods in a single pass. This type of saw is also upgradeable. The stock motor can be upgraded to a more powerful motor if need be. An extension fence can be added to extend your rip capacity. It also accepts different types of blades for dado cuts and molding. In most cases the contractor’s saw is sufficient enough to handle most carpentry work and some occasional small cabinetry or furniture work. The price of a contractor’s saw range around $350-$800 If you have enough room for full-size saw but are under the budget for a stationary saw this is probably the saw for you. Read on to find out more about what specifics to look for before you buy. For a table saw comparison of contractor's saws click here.
If your work consists of mostly fine cabinetry and furniture work check
out the stationary saw. Stationary Table SawThe big daddy of them all is the stationary saw (sometimes known as a cabinetmaker’s saw). Because of its heft and precision machining this type of saw is almost always found in professional furniture and cabinet shops.Stationary saws weigh around 275 to 600 lbs and are not meant to be moved, hence the name. However, the extra weight means more stability and more accurate cuts. The blade capacity is 10", 12", and 14" blades providing the deeper cuts than the other types of saws. The horse power on most stationary saws is anywhere from 2 to 5 times the power in a benchtop or contractor’s saw. With the right blades attached it can cut through nearly any type of hardwood with ease and accuracy. The stationary saw is a major investment though, with prices ranging from nearly $750 to upwards of $4,000. However if you were to purchase a contractor’s saw and decided you need to make a bunch of upgrades to accomplish the work you wanted, you could end up spending nearly the same amount and still not have as good a saw as a good quality stationary saw. If you plan on doing a lot of cabinetry work, have sufficient room in your shop, and can afford the investment read on to find out what to look for before buying.
For a table saw comparison of stationary saws click
here. A good saw can be reduced to a lower quality one if you aren’t using good blades. Looking for a deal?Check out some of the table saws and accessories being auctioned off right now. To see all of the items up for bid click on the link near the bottom labeled "Veiw all XXX items on eBay." Save Yourself Some Money and HeadacheBefore you buy it would be nice to test out all the top machinery and tools, so you have a better idea of which lives up to the manufacturer’s hype. I don’t have near the space or the money to test out all the available tools and I doubt you do either. You do have other options though.Woodworking magazines often have tool review articles where they shop test the top names in the industry and provide you the information. The magazine I personally subscribe to and trust is WOOD magazine. They offer some of the most complete plans and tool reviews of any other woodworking magazine. You could get a subscription and wait for the tools you are looking for to be reviewed, but that could take months before they do another review on your specific tool. WOOD magazine now offers an online solution to this problem in their online store. You can download the past tool reviews and plans anytime for a small fee that can save you hundreds, even thousands of dollars, by choosing the right tool the first time. Here are some of the reviews and articles you can get that are related to tablesaws.
WOOD
magazine puts 11 table saws that range in price from $500 to $700
through a series of shop tests. |
Saw
Blade Review
