How was your weekend? Ours was relaxing! Finally a quiet weekend at home. We didn’t do ANY home projects at all and it was great. Oh, wait. We did hang up a curtain in our Morning Room. But that doesn’t really count. Lisa will post about that later. We took it easy because I had a minor hernia repair surgery last week and I’m not supposed to exert myself for the next couple weeks. Kinda bummed, but it’s no big deal and I’m feeling fine. It’ll be nice to have a doctor’s orders to kick back anyway. Plus, Lisa has been a wonderful nurse!! So, my plans to build a router table for our dining room plans will just have to wait a little bit longer.
In the meantime, I thought this would be a good opportunity to talk about table saws. If you’re interested in doing any type of real carpentry work, you’re going to need a table saw. If you’ve never purchase one and don’t know too much about what to look for, then this post is for you. If you already have one, this should still be helpful. We’re going to be using ours during the dining room upgrade.
What You Need to Know About Table Saws
They come in a range of sizes, but can generally be classified as either a hobby, contractor, hybrid or cabinet saw. The best thing you can do before buying one is determine what exactly you’ll be using it for. I’m now on my third table saw. The first two didn’t really survive the kind of renovation work I threw at them.
Hobby saws: These small models can usually be purchased new for around $100-$200. I’ve seen decent used models go for under $50 on craigslist. They are useful for small projects that don’t demand cutting thick (more than 2″) hardwood boards like oak. They don’t have a lot of power and they don’t have a lot of precision, but they are very useful. My first table saw was the Delta Shopmaster, which is depicted above. I’ve used this model to rip oak hardwood floors (3/4″ thick) and for cutting trim down to size. It also has a small table, which makes cutting large plywood sheets very difficult since it won’t be able to rest completely on it without some sort of added support. It is light and portable however, so you can move it from one end of the house to the other with very little effort. They can also be put on a workbench or you can keep it on its legs. These are good buys and excellent for most DIYers, but you just need to know your limits with it. Models in the hobby size include names like Delta, Skil and Ryobi.
The next size up from hobby saws are the contractor models. The Hitachi above is what I currently own. Contractor table saws are usually designed for portability and often feature integrated wheels. They are slightly heavier than the hobby versions, but still light enough to be carried by one person. The motors in these models are noticeably more powerful as well and can generally cut through harder and thicker boards. They still have a smaller table top, so cutting plywood sheets are still somewhat of an issue. However, most have side tables that expand out for wide cuts. Because they are mobile, their legs can be less steady too, so throwing heavy boards on them can cause them to wobble a little. The fence on these models is firm and square enough for making furniture. In addition to Hitachi, other brands to look for are DeWalt, Porter Cable, Bosch and Makita. The cost can vary, but expect to pay between $200 to $600 for a new one.
If you’re interested in serious woodworking then consider a Hybrid table saw. No, it’s not solar or battery powered, it’s definitely no Prius. It’s a cross between a contractor saw and the next one up, which is a full sized cabinet saw. These beasts run around $1000-$2000 and are designed to take whatever you can throw at them. They are not mobile, but you can put them on castors. The tops are wide enough to lay sheets of plywood right on them. The manufacturers are a whole different crop as well. Names like Unisaw, Delta, Powermatic, Steel City, Grizzly, Jet and Saw Stop are the ones you should consider in this range. These saws have motors that are 3+ horse power (hp). The more hp, the thicker the hardwood boards you can cut. Hobby saw and contractor saw don’t often list the hp because it can be less than 1, and at that low, it’s not a selling point. Can hobby saws and contractor saws actually cut thick boards? Yes, but slowly. The motor can get bogged down and trip a breaker. Hybrid saws don’t really slow down at all. If I ever get another table saw, it WILL be a hybrid.
Wonder what kind of table saws professional carpenters and cabinet companies use? They use these behemoths, full sized cabinet saws. They can be a whopping 5hp. They’re heavy and almost never mobile. They offer a lot of blade stability due to their weight. The tops on these as well as the hybrids are usually cast steel. The same people that make the hybrids make these. Chances are if you are considering buying one of these then you know what kind of performance you’re going to get out of it. I don’t think I’ll ever NEED one of these unless I start making and selling furniture or cabinets. WANT however, now that’s a different story.
Do any of you own a table saw? Considering purchasing one? Get any project done this weekend?
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