Buying a table saw is one of the most important investment decisions a carpenter or carpenter can make.
To make the right decision, you really have to be specific about what your options are.
Types of table saws:
Virtually all table saws fall into one of the following classifications:
- ‘workplace’ gold laptop table saws
- contractor table saws
- cabinet table saws
- ‘hybrid’ table saws
Anyone looking to buy a table saw needs to understand what these categories mean and what you can expect to get from the saws in each category.
Portable Table Saws:
Portable table saws were developed for easy portability.
This is often beneficial to artisans along with other people who spend considerable time on site. However, portable table saws manage to perform the same main functions as heavier table saws, but at a lower level. Instead of having a large induction motor like in other group saws, these saws are generally powered by a compact universal motor. This can mean that these saws have less power and can be louder.
Progress made in recent years towards portable / workplace saws has ensured that they are much better and more desirable to serious woodworkers.
That being said, portable table saws lack enough power to cut through thick, hard woods and tend to be improperly designed to deliver the true precision that exceptional woodworking requires.
Cabinet, hybrid, and contractor saws provide better options for the seasoned carpenter and extreme hobbyist, so now we’ll take a closer look at them.
Table saw for contractors:
Originally, contractor saws were designed to be light enough to carry from site to site, on the go. Most have an open base and weigh around 250-350 pounds. They can also be priced within the pocket range of your enthusiastic hobbyist.
Contractor table saws may be suitable for simple joinery and carpentry tasks and for simple furniture making. Tons of contractor table saws 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 help a contractor’s table saw’s ability and allow it to complete some sophisticated woodworking projects.
Table saw for cabinet:
Table Saws for Cabinets – Named for the fully enclosed “cabinet” base platform. These types of saws represent the other end of the scope compared to the contractor saw. They are designed to meet the capacity and durability requirements of experienced carpenters and carpenters.
Cabinet table saws are much more solid and robust in their entire structure compared to contractor saws. They have been created with larger trunnions, shaft 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 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 pounds. However, even with the higher cost, power needs, and weight of the machine, cabinet saws have become the ultimate desired saw for certified carpenters / carpenters and serious enthusiasts alike.
Hybrid table saws:
Lately, companies have identified that there is an apparent difference between profitable contractor saws and high-end cabinet saws. The result is a completely 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 within the range for a keen beginner hobbyist.
Some hybrid saws have a more cabinet-style base, and other types have a small, closed base and legs. In each case, the base is closed, housing the motor inside.
Hybrid saws have more powerful trunnions and shaft bearings and in most cases have a stronger drive belt and gear system compared to contractor saws. Hybrid saw trunnions are often attached to the base of the saw, making detailed blade placement with the miter groove less painful and more enjoyable.
The fact is, hybrid table saws are a scaled down adaptation of a cabinet saw. They are lighter and designed with less powerful engines. They’re not really in the same class as the top cabinet saws, however hybrids have proven to be stable and well-made and can offer several positives for an enthusiastic hobbyist.
Choosing the best table saw for your needs:
The type of saw that best suits your needs is based on:
- Whatever carpentry you do
- The time you spend working wood
- Your budget and
- Your own work area, as well as the type of access you will have to your work area (for example, think twice about having to move a large cabinet saw to a smaller basement or basement)
If you just spend just a few hours a week in your workshop, building small cabinets and working on modest craft-type projects, while a cabinet saw might be wonderful to have, it’s beyond what you’ll need.
With that said, if you’re running a good job shop and therefore demanding a saw that can run for several hours without hesitation, a low-end contractor saw could slow you down and you end up frustrated.
Hybrid saws offer you flexible options for both dedicated hobbyists and small-scale specialty shops.
In addition to the type of saw you need, the particular characteristics of the saw are equally important.
Increasingly inexpensive contractor saws offer you several of the capabilities you can find in a great cabinet saw.
But don’t forget that while the saws in 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:
- The polishing and finishing of the upper part and the extension wings.
- The fence system
- The weight and positions of the stumps.
- The characteristics that strengthen the power of the blade.
When you buy a table saw, you are making a large investment, which means it is worth careful consideration. So read the reviews, go through the specs, and check out the good and bad points of any saw you are considering.
