Table Saws buying guide

Table Saws

Table saws are large, heavy-duty saws for cutting wood, metal, plastics and other materials. They're very versatile, accurate and powerful machines for woodworking. Though all of the following models could be considered "table saws," they have specialized capabilities like cutting curves and finishing edges that classify them in a category of their own. There are bench models and heavy-duty floor models. This guide will help you pick the right machine for the job.

Follow the links in the template below to additional buying guides about miter saws, band saws, tile saws, and radial arm saws.

Types of Table Saws

Table Saws

Stable, reliable, and for heavy work.

Available in a number of sizes.

Lowe's has a great guide to all the details.

Read more below!

Band Saws

Can cut thicker wood than most.

Can also do skillful curves with a thin blade.

Lowe's and Popular Mechanics both have buying tips.

Tile Saws

Wet cut through tile, ceramic, and stone.

Radial Arm Saws

For cutting many panels.

Can cut in any direction.

Recommendations

Most of these recommendations come from the April 2005 report from ConsumerSearch . However, Taunton's 2006 Tool Guide also has recommendations for portable, contractor-style and hybrid saws.

Cabinet Table Saws

The Delta Unisaw is a cabinet table saw , the heaviest and sturdiest type of table saw.

Easy blade changing, a large safety shut-off switch, smooth cuts and great dust collection. Can handle 3-inch hardwoods with ease.

Midsize (aka Contractor and Hybrid) Table Saws

Taunton's top pick for midsize table saws was the hybrid Craftsman OR35504 .

Their second favorite by a small margin, and their readers' choice, was the contractor-style General 50-185M1 .

The Ridgid TS3650 , another contractor, was picked as the best value.

The DeWalt DW 746X is another good choice for serious beginners.

Portable Table Saws

Taunton's named the Bosch 4000-09 both best overall and the reader's choice.

Their pick for best value was the Ridgid TS3650 .

ConsumerSearch didn't list portable saws as a separate category; they included them with benchtop saws (right).

Benchtop Table Saws

ConsumerSearch has three recommendations for benchtop table saws.

One is the Bosch 4000 (pictured to the left) which can also be purchased without the stand.

The Craftsman Professional is a bit heavy to be portable.

The Delta TS200 Portable (pictured) is a lightweight in power as well as size, but is sufficient for occasional use.

Buying Table Saws

Table saws are extremely accurate and versatile tools. They're great for breaking down rough materials, machining stock to finished dimensions and precisely cutting joints. There are four main types of table saws: benchtop , contractor , cabinet saws and hybrids . Table saws are typically rated by blade size and horsepower. Portable benchtop saws generally have 8-inch blades, but some can accommodate blades up to 10 inches. Most floor models, with either open or cabinet bases, have 10-inch blades, although up to 16-inch blades are commonly used in commercial shops. Most table saws are belt-driven machines.

One extremely important component of the table saw is the fence . This is the straight piece of aluminum or steel that stays parallel with the saw blade. The fence helps keep the wood in line and guides one edge of the the wood so you get straight cuts. The wood has to be pushed firmly against the fence the keep the cut straight, so a strong, sturdy fence is a must. According to ConsumerSearch, reviewers preferred the Biesemeyer Fence over all others.

As shown above, there are several different size categories for table saws.

Benchtop saws take up less space, but don't have the power or stability for heavy-duty work.

They're susceptible to vibration, so it's recommended you build or buy a sturdy table if you're using one.

Contractor saws should be sufficient for most users.

They are more stable than benchtop saws, but still portable and have enough power to handle most jobs.
One common complaint is they have terrible dust control with their open leg design.

Hybrid saws combine some features of both contractor and cabinet saws.

They're heavier than contractor saws, which give them more stability, and give better dust control, but they're also compact and can be rolled out when needed.
Can usually easily cut boards up to 2 inches thick and feature top quality fences.

Cabinet saws are the heaviest and sturdiest of the bunch.

They usually run on 3-5hp motors and can easily handle boards up to 3" thick.
They're too heavy to move (some may weigh as much as a ton), and most reviewers say a good cabinet saw should last you a lifetime, so weigh your options carefully.

Safety Features and Other Features

Convenient blade guard and splitter . It's less tempting to leave these safety measures off if they're easy to remove and replace.

Also look for a tool-free and clear blade guard.

Easy to reach knee or hip shut-off switch , which is important especially in emergencies.

Some cabinet models also feature a magnetic switch which keeps the saw from turning itself on after a circuit trips or power outage.

Left Blade Tilt : safer than right blade tilts and reduces chance of kickback. It's also easier to make cleaner miter cuts along the length.
Power : horsepower plays a significant role here. A 2hp motor is perceptibly stronger than a 1.75hp motor. If you're cutting 3-inch hardwoods look for a 3-5hp cabinet saw.
Low Vibration : vibration can cause inaccurate cuts. Generally cast-iron is better than stamped and open steel legs. Poor motor design can also cause vibration. Cabinet saws offer the best stability of the group.

Table Saws

Recommendations

Buying Table Saws

Safety Features and Other Features

External Links