The Saw Authority

These are generally lightweight so that they can be moved easily, made of aluminium. Typically they are known as either jobsite, benchtop, portable table saws or worksite saws. You will see examples which have wheels attached for ease of mobility – useful on the jobsite. The motors tend to be smaller and less powerful because they are portable, and their overall weight might onlybe 60 to 100 pounds.

All this leads to the possibility of vibration issues, reduced stability and less cutting power than the other types of table saw.

But portable table saws will still do the job and they work off any 110 volt outlet. Price range is anywhere from $250 to $600.

That gets you a saw you can use anywhere, and move easily to the next job.

So Whats Good?

Very portable.

Operates on standard 100 volt outlets.

Extremely affordable.

Not So Good?

Less stability.

More vibration.

The blade may stall cutting thick softwoods.

If you lift a contractor saw you will find they are a lot heavier than a portable saw – even though you can still move them around. Expect them to weigh anything from 150-300 pounts.

Construction wise they have a pretty powerful motor and a cast iron table top compared to the aluminium of the portable saws. They are not massively expensive though and you can pick pick up a saw for anything from $800 to $2,500.

They can do all you need including the basic cuts and anything you are likely to need doing at home. Probably better if you don’t intend carting the contractor saw around too much, and solidly made and reliable. Being sturdy they have minimal vibration and tend to last a good long time. You just need to be wary of rust.

Pros:

Much more stable than benchtop saws, but still portable.

Moderately priced.

Can cut through thicker woods and some hardwoods.

Cons:

Will have trouble cutting through thick hardwoods.

Cabinet saws

If you are a pro woodworker a cabinet saw is going to be your choice. The Cabinet saws have a powerful induction motor which is safely concealed in the casing of the saw which is a strong construction. The motor of a cabinet saw is usually about 3-5 HP.

The Cabinet Saws have a price tag on them though, ranging anything from $2,400 to $5,500 for the more serious types. You are not going to be wanting to move it around though. Once you set it up the cabinet saw will stay in place. The Cabinet saw will be able to handle big jobs and be reliable.

Pros:

Stable.

Enough horsepower and torque for smooth, straight cuts, even in thicker hardwood boards.

Cons:

Cost a lot

Not mobile

Uses a lot of power so needs it own circuit.

Hybrid saws

The Hybrid saw is exactly what it sounds like, a mixture of the light weight of a contractor saw and the better motor and better construction of a cabinet saw.

The are expensive but not too expensive and most hobby woodworkers would manage the cost.

They come in at about $1500 and weigh less than 300 lbs and can be used with a standard 110V.

Pros:

Mixes up and combines the virtues of the bigger and smaller saws.

The Hybrid saw is sturdy and reliable but still portable around the workshop if need be.

Cons:

Some hybrid saws are not so great for hardwood cutting. Check out reviews before you buy.

Ripping

When you make a long cut with the grain down the length of a board this is known as ripping, You would do this to make a board thinner.

Crosscutting

It does what it sound like – when you want to cut a piece of wood in half or even cut a bit off the end, you make a cut across the grain.

Dado cutting

If you want to make a groove, a notch – known as a rabbet – or a trench you make this specialty cut. Its most often used on table saws for the making of furniture. You can get specialty blades and inserts – Dado sets – which make this easier. However you can do pretty much anything you want even with a standard table saw.

Another thins you can do is do angled cut by changing the angle of the blade – or if you ant to do something like a miter cut you can set the miter gauge up to do so.

• What do you need to do to keep you table saw working?Like anything you want to last you will need to take care of your table saw. Its not too difficult but you do need to do a few simple things to get the most out of it.

  Check the drive belt

  Look for wear on the drive belt of you table saw and obviously when it looks like its wearing out replace it.

   

  Keep an eye on the blades of your table saw. 

  You will probably notice when the blades on your table saw are getting worn, cuts won’t be as clean, there might be some smoke coming off the cut and the teeth may be getting clogged up or even teeth might be missing. If any of these are the case, replace the blade or have it professionally sharpened.

  Check for nails, screws and barbed wire in the wood you are cutting.

  If you are using old wood which has been salvaged  there can be nails, screws or wire deep in the wood. If you cut through a piece of metal it will damage the blade and maybe even fly out and hit you.

  Use your table saw for the work its meant to do. Right tool right job.

  There are some things that a table saw is not meant to be used for such as cutting through hardwoods. You may get the job done with a lot of pushing and shoving -but you will be damaging the motor and making a problem for yourself in the future.

  Keep the saw clean

  Sometimes there can be a build up of resin around the blade and the saw – the saw will work much better if it stays there. Wire wool can clean it. There is less risk to your safety and better function of the table saw if you keep the area clean and the table free of debris.

  Keep moving parts lubricated

  Use a spray or an oil gun to keep the gears and pivot points moving feely – but be sure to remove  any dust which will mix with the oil.

  If you need more information about table saws check out our info page HERE.