I wish I could have known about the different types of table saws available before purchasing my saw.
I had to spend a lot of time before finalizing the right table saw for my current woodworking project. It’s pretty normal for most of purchasers nowadays.
While the table saws are categorized from a different dimensions, the maximum of the table saw we reviewed is a portable table saw, to a certain extent. Another type is flooding the market is the stationary table saw. Still, you may ask why I should buy a certain saw or which one fits my project most.
To answer all of these, I attempted to cover everything about the types of table saws with the following info content.
8 Different Types of Table Saws
The best way to find the answer is to get introduced to the types of table saws. This information aims to tell you which saw fits your business most and why. Let’s get the ball rolling!
Portable Table Saw
The portable table saws tend to be smaller, lighter and less weight than their counterparts. They are engineered to transport to places you need to go to for your projects. The portable table saws are divided into three types – compact, Jobsite and benchtop table saw. This is one of the types of table saws that mostly beginners mostly take.
Benchtop Table Saw
If you like to get light-duty woodworking, you don’t need to waste higher ripping capacity, do you? Benchtop saws are intended for those who need to complete some light-obligation work. They are compact to a great extent, lighter and highly affordable too.
The saw is assembled on the table or bench. This portable type table saw comes without a stand or wheels, yet they are fit to move around by anyone because of the less weight. They are made of extremely lightweight materials like plastic, aluminium or similar materials to keep them easily moving around.
They come with lower ripping capacity and smaller tables. Yet, it can get any material cut according to the plan. Nevertheless, you can manage some compressed woods or softer woods without working with full-size material sheets. These little saws will adapt to the situation.
Compact Table Saw
Featuring almost all the same characteristics, the compact table saw is one step more advanced than the previous one. It is larger than its other portable types. A universal motor, direct drive, lightweight construction and a drive belt empower it.
The addition of stands and the even working surface of solid cast iron made the saw highly popular among carpenters and woodworkers. Some compact saw models look like full-size table saws, yet their tables and tear limit are much smaller.
Jobsite Table Saw
This sort of table saw is applauded for extreme convenience along with its compact and ergonomic design. They tend to be more vigorous and tough than benchtops or compact table saws. The convenience attracts the temporary workers when they look for a portable table saw and, therefore, alluded to by some carpenters and woodworkers as “contractual worker table saws”.
They come with direct-drive engines; however, they are all the more impressive and sturdier, which makes them appropriate for heavy-duty applications. Beyond that, they accompany better fences and arrangement alterations, 24” tear limits, and some even accompany expansion tables.
The good thing about the Jobsite saw is the stand. The stand is made of a smart design that is easy to customize for moving around. You can also fold them to pack, which takes up minimal garage space. Beyond that, the stand is equipped with heavy-duty wheels for extended portability. A job site saw that features a dust port, riving knife, and onboard storage space, among others, is considered as the worth-investing job site saw.
Stationary Table Saw
The stationary table saw is further three types of – namely cabinet, contractor and hybrid table saw. These stationary saws are sturdier, heavier and fit for heavy-duty application. Even though such saws are not for portability, they are engineered to be mounted to a mobile base for moving around conveniently.
They use a belt drive to connect the saw with the motor and come with a solid cast iron table and a liberal option to change the top granite or aluminium tabletop. The table usually comes in 27 x 20 inches. They also allow an extension table that usually measures 10 x 12 inches. Let’s get learning about all of them in detail.
Contractor Table Saw
An ideal contractor table saw is made for professionals and their all-out woodworking projects. Featuring a drive belt and powerful induction motor, they used to be the go-to table for heavy-duty craftsmanship. Initially, it was an alternative to a cabinet table saw featuring portability. Later, due to the introduction of a powerful motor, it lost portability and therefore the status with 200-300 pounds weight.
Though the onboard motor adds massive weight to the saw, it dramatically lessens the vibration. It lacked a proper dust management system with a poor dust port. The new mechanism resolved this fuss by introducing an improved dust port. Thus, introducing new and improved mechanisms, the saw proceeded with lives as fixed saws in the workshops of specialists and aficionados.
Hybrid Table Saw
There is a lot of confusion online regarding what a hybrid table saw is. People also struggle to categorize precisely. The old contractor saw comes with tremendously detachable engines, and the new contractor saw comes with almost similar features. However, have an inboard belt drive acceptance engine. They are typically alluded to as hybrid saws. In short, it is the blending mechanism of a heavy-duty cabinet saw and a contractor saw.
They tend to have a stand with wide legs. However, there are a few models which have full walled in areas, which further expands the disarray and makes it considerably hard for purchasers to differentiate between hybrid saws with full fenced-in areas and modern cabinet saws. The likenesses are generally shallow.
There are two types of hybrid tune-ups for categorizing the right hybrid table saw models. They end up in cabinet-mounted tune-up and in the table-mounted tune-up. However, a good selection of a hybrid saw will bring prosperity in business.
Cabinet Table Saw
Coming with superior features and mechanisms, the cabinet table saw became the kind of most powerful and practical saw in the family. Looking almost similar to the cabinet-enclosed saw, the saw shares many features, more convenience and practicalities. Built from solid materials to be robust and durable to withstand any challenging project. They are extremely heavy, precise and bulky. And the good thing is they have been made for decades.
Apart from the mechanism and building materials, the fence is the tool that makes the craftsman do the best job with the saw. it is added for accurate and precision cutting in any challenging situation. Once you learn to use it, there will be no scope to make a mistake in the cutting line. Along with the fence, it features a powerful motor that will stop you cut anything. The motor tends to range from 3 to 5hp.
The larger working surface and an extension table will offer you the huge space you need to cut any larger piece. The weight sometimes exceeds 500 pounds which shrinks the easiness of portability. However, try a mobile base to move the saw around. The reasons why most of the specialized schools, shops and craftsmen belong to this saw.
Table Saw Guide
Summing Up
And that’s all about the table saw types. I have tried meticulously covering all the different types of table saws to help you with the information you need when shopping.
If you like to claim the right one before kicking off the project, you have no choice but to go through the piece. As I believe without efficient knowledge of the types of table saws, you can’t stop struggling to make the best choice.
