Best Table Saws

Buying guide for Best table saws

A table saw is the centerpiece of any home workshop, and it’s often the very first power tool to be cranked up at the start of any woodworking task. They’re essential for the necessary task of sizing wood for each project – whether narrowing the width of boards, cutting plywood sheets, or tackling specialized cuts like grooves, slots, and tenons. Because of their important role in DIY and professional construction, choosing the right table saw is critically important.

Ripping long boards on a benchtop table saw’s small table can be a challenge. Support the board by setting up a sawhorse at either end of the table saw, making sure the height of the sawhorse is the same as the height of the table. This will keep the board supported, straight, and under control before, during, and after the cut.

Types of table saws

Table saws come in a number of sizes, but most fall within four main types: portable table saws, contractor saws, cabinet saws, and hybrid saws.

Portable saws

Often called benchtop, job site, or worksite saws, portable table saws are typically made of lightweight materials, such as an aluminum table top, so that they’re easy to move from place to place. Sometimes they’ll have wheels attached to make shifting them around even easier. The motors on portable saws are also much smaller than on other types of table saws, and are typically less powerful.

Because of their lighter build – ranging from 60 to 100 pounds – and less powerful motor, portable table saws generally suffer from greater vibration, less stability, and much less cutting power than other types of table saws.

Because of the way the saw is constructed, parts like the fence often can’t be swapped for aftermarket parts.

However, these saws can be plugged into any 110 volt outlet, and are priced between $250 and $600. It’s a tradeoff many professionals and hobbyists alike don’t mind making, so they have the tool they need to complete basic crosscutting or ripping tasks, no matter where they are.

Pros:

• Very portable.
• Operates on standard 100 volt outlets.
• Extremely affordable.
   

Cons:

• Less stability.
• More vibration.
• The blade will probably stall when trying to cut thicker softwoods and any hardwoods.

Contractor table saws

Contractor saws weigh quite a bit more than portable saws, averaging between 150 and 350 pounds, but are still somewhat portable. They have a heavier, cast iron table top, and a motor that is usually more powerful than a jobsite saw. Even so, they’re within prices affordable for more committed hobbyists. Contractor saws can range between $800 and $2,000. They’re good for basic cutting tasks, as well as making home furniture and cabinetry work.

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

Cabinet saws are the prime choice for professional woodworkers. A more powerful induction motor, usually 3 to 5 HP, is enclosed in a cabinet, as part of a super-sturdy overall construction. This type of table saw is ideal for making smooth, straight cuts through hardwoods without worrying about excessive vibration. All that power and stability comes at a price, though. Low-end cabinet saws start around $2,300 and can go past $5,000 for industrial table saws.

Pros:

• Very stable.

• Has enough horsepower and torque to easily make smooth, straight cuts, even in thicker hardwood boards.
   

Cons:

• Very expensive.

• Generally anchored to the workshop floor (or certainly very hard to move).

• Draws much more power than smaller table saws, so a dedicated electrical circuit needs to be installed.

Hybrid saws

Finally, hybrid saws combine the lighter weight of the contractor saw with the more powerful motor and sturdier construction of the cabinet saw, at a price that’s easier for the occasional woodworker to stomach. They can run about $1,200 or so, and weigh in at under 300 pounds. Their motors are generally in the 1.5 to 1.75 HP range and can be used with standard 110V outlets.

Pros:

• Combines many of the best features of high-end table saws with the desirable lighter weight and lower price of portable saws.

• Light enough to shift around the shop.
   

Cons:

• Cutting hardwoods may be iffy for less powerful hybrid models, so you need to get to know your hybrid table saw’s particular quirks, and test how well it performs under load.

Our team reviews table saws suitable for different needs, including home use and professional woodworking.

Table saws come with gate guards and safety-stop features to minimize the likelihood of injury. We consider the safety features of every table saw to find models that are low-risk and secure.

A table saw may be built specifically for certain cutting tasks. Our team notes the best uses for each table saw we review.

A table saw is a significant investment, so we look at products from trusted brands that have a strong track record of quality craftsmanship.

We look for table saws with long ripping and cross-cutting capabilities that make for a versatile woodworking tool.

Many modern table saws come with a dust port that lets you attach a vacuum tube for easy cleanup at the end of your project. We take note of these models.

Our researchers look at both portable and stationary table saws to find options that would suit various needs, both professional and domestic.

We appreciate table saws with extra safety features that make changing the blades easy and safe.

Our team looks for table saws with easy portability and advanced functions that make them versatile and useful for multiple types of projects.

We look for table saws that are accurate and powerful for creating the best results with any project.

Getting to know your table saw

Safety

As with any large, bladed power tool, safety is paramount.

All table saws come with gate guards that help protect your hands from touching the blade. They also have safety stop features to minimize injury if your fingers do come in contact with the blade.

Some include pusher tools that enable you to continue guiding a board smoothly for a complete cut while keeping your hand away from the blade. Don’t remove or alter the safety features of your table saw.

Always wear safety glasses, and make sure you’re completely alert when working with a table saw.

If you have no experience with table saws, consider getting professional instruction, such as taking an extension course.

This way you can gain some practical hands-on experience, learn how to safely operate the saw, and get an even better idea of which type of table saw you’d ultimately like to purchase.

Types of cuts

• Ripping: This is the term used for making long cuts down the length of a board, along the grain. This is done to adjust the width of a board.

• Crosscutting: This is a cut made across the grain of a board – such as when sawing a board in half, or just trimming a couple of inches off the end – to adjust its length.

• Dado cutting: This is a specialty cut that creates a trench, groove or notch (also called a rabbet) in a board. This type of cut is used most often in making furniture. Dado sets, which include special blades and inserts, make it easy to accomplish these specialty cuts, but it is possible to accomplish some dado cuts using a basic table saw setup.

Table saw blades can also make angled cuts with just a few simple changes to the blade setting or the miter gauge.

Taking care of your table saw

To get the longest life out of your table saw – whether it’s a small benchtop or a full-size monster of a cabinet saw – follow a few important steps.

• Check the drive belt: Check the drive belt on your saw’s motor for wear. Replace it when heavy wear becomes evident.

• Check the blades frequently: Check the blades frequently and change them if they begin missing too many teeth.

• Make sure the wood you’re cutting doesn’t have any metal in it: Used boards may have old nails embedded in them. Those pieces of metal will damage a spinning saw blade and could injure you.

• Use the table saw only for jobs that it’s intended to handle: A benchtop saw isn’t designed for nor really capable of cutting through hardwoods, particularly thick boards. Even if you accomplish that task without the blade stalling or losing teeth, you’ll shorten the life of the motor.

• Clean up sawdust and scraps: Not only does it keep your workshop looking good, but keeping the blade and table free of debris will make your next cutting job that much easier.
  
  You should perform periodic, in-depth maintenance by cleaning sawdust and resin buildup from around the blade and interior areas of the table saw. Steel wool works well to remove resin, and any moving parts should be lubricated appropriately.
  
  Fortunately, table saws need very little maintenance relative to the amount of use they get. They really are the workhorses of the woodworking world.

Removing the drive belt and motor from the back of contractor saws can make periodic deep-cleaning and lubrication of your table saw a lot easier.