Buying a table saw is one of the most important investment decisions a woodworker or joiner can make.
To make the right decision, you really need to be specific about what your options are.
Types of table saws:
Virtually all table saws fall into one of the following classifications:
- ‘Workplace’ Prayed laptop table saws
- contractor table saws
- office table saws
- ‘hybrid’ table saws
For anyone looking to buy a table saw, you need to understand what these categories mean and what you can expect to get from saws in each category.
Portable table saws:
Portable table saws were developed to be easily transported by you.
This is often beneficial to the artisans along with others who spend considerable time on site. However, portable table saws manage to perform the same main functions as heavier table saws, but on a lower level. Instead of having a large induction motor like saws from other groups, these saws are often powered by a compact universal motor. This may mean that these saws have less power and may be hazel in color.
The progress made in recent years in portable/job saws has ensured that they are much better and more desirable to serious woodworkers.
That said, portable table saws lack the power to cut through thick, hard woods and tend to be inappropriately designed to deliver the true precision that exceptional woodworking demands.
Contractor, hybrid, and cabinet saws provide better options for the experienced woodworker and the extreme hobbyist, so we’ll take a closer look at them now.
Contractor Table Saws:
Contractor’s saws were originally intended to be light enough to be carried from site to site, on the go. Most have an open bottom and weigh between 250 and 350 pounds. They may also be priced within the pocket range of your hobbyist enthusiast.
Contractor table saws can be suitable for simple joinery and carpentry tasks and simple furniture making. Tons of table saw contractors now feature premium fence systems. Making use of the highest quality saw blade and using blades suitable for a certain type of cut will certainly improve the ability of a contractor table saw and allow you to complete some sophisticated woodworking projects.
Cabinet Table Saws:
Cabinet Table Saws: They got their name because of the fully enclosed ‘cabinet’ type base platform. These types of saws represent the other end of the scope compared to the contractor’s saw. They are intended to meet the capacity and durability requirements of experienced woodworkers and joiners.
Cabinet table saws are much more substantial and robust in their integral structure compared to contractor saws. They have been created with larger journals, axle assemblies, gears, and much more cast iron and steel. They are loaded with more powerful beefier motors compared to contractor table saws. This means the cabinet saw is perfect for cutting through thick, hard wood with ease, all day long!
There is very little wear vibration in the positioning and setting of the saws.
The cabinet table saw is much more expensive than a contractor table saw.
They are not transportable, weighing more than six hundred kilos. However, even with the higher cost, power needs and size of the machine, cabinet saws have become the saw of choice for certified woodworkers/carpenters and serious enthusiasts alike.
Hybrid table saws:
Lately, companies have identified that there is an apparent gap in class between profitable contractor saws and high-end cabinet saws. It has resulted in a new group of saws: the ‘hybrid’ saw.
The hybrid table saw includes several of the most needed cabinet saw capabilities at a price that may still be in range for a beginning enthusiastic hobbyist.
Some hybrid saws have a more cabinet-style base and other types have a small, enclosed base and legs. In each case, the base is closed, housing the motor inside.
Hybrid saws have more powerful trunnion and shaft bearings and in most cases have a stronger gear and belt drive system compared to contractor saws. The trunnions of hybrid saws are often attached to the base of the saw, making detailed placement of the miter-groove blade less painful and more enjoyable.
The fact is that hybrid table saws are a scaled-down adaptation of a cabinet saw. They are lighter and designed with less powerful motors. They are not really in the same class as the top cabinet saws, however the hybrids have proven to be stable and well made and can offer several positives to a hobbyist enthusiast.
Choosing the best table saw for your needs:
The type of saw that best suits your needs is based on:
- Any carpentry work you do
- The time you spend working with wood
- your budget and
- Your own work area, as well as the type of access you’ll have to your work area (for example, think twice about moving a large cabinet saw to a smaller basement or cellar)
If you’re just spending a few hours a week in your shop, building small cabinets and working on modest craft-type projects, while a cabinet saw might be wonderful, it’s beyond what you’ll need.
That said, if you’re running a good shop and demand a saw that can run for several hours without hesitation, a lower-end contractor’s saw could slow you down and leave you frustrated.
Hybrid saws offer you flexible options for both dedicated hobbyists and small-scale specialist workshops.
In addition to the type of saw you need, the particular features of the saw are equally important.
More and more affordable contractor saws offer you many of the capabilities you’d find in a great cabinet saw.
But don’t forget that while the saws within the cabinet saw category share specific characteristics, they are not all produced to the same level of quality. Consider the component level of a saw, which includes the standard of:
- Grinding and finishing of the upper and extension wings.
- The fence system
- The weight and the positions of the stumps.
- The features that make the power of the blade stronger
When you buy a table saw, you’re making a big investment, which means it’s worth careful consideration. So read the reviews, look at the specs, and check out the good and bad points of any saw you’re considering.
