How To Buy Your First Table Saw
Article by Bill Miller
Buying your first table saw can be very confusing. Table Saws come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and are designed for a wide range of applications.
Here are some tips on choosing your first table saw.
Fence: The fence is the slidng part of the table saw. This is used when you feed the wood onto the saw. Commonly, the quality of the fence will be the deciding factor as to how much the table saw cost. Always look for a fence that runs parallel to the blade. Most contractor saws have medium quality fences, but not all. For common cutting applications, a middle of the road fence will be more than enough. Medium quality fences are okay for beginners and weekend handy men, but will lack the quality that a cabinet maker needs. You have plenty of choices in third party fences so don’t loose sleep over it.
Tilt: A table saws tilts. Table saws tilt right or left. In the past, table saws only came with a right tilt with the exception of some professional models. Now days, you can get right or left tilting table saws. Right tilts are easier cutting long edges and preferred by many. Right tilt saws are still the most common and come with more accessories than left tilt table saws.
Miter gauge: Table saws are sold with mitre guages. There are two slots machined into the tabletop where the mitre guage fits into. This is where you guide the wood. Just as with the rip fence, most of the mitre guages that come with the saw are of average quality. You can buy better mitre guages than what come with the table saw. Try inserting the mitre guage into the slots and check to see how snug they are. Do not choose one with a loose fit. You want one that fits snug.
Size of Motor: The most common size for a table saw motor is either a 1 1/2 or 2 horsepower motor. The big professional cabinet saws will have up to a 5 horse motor. For most applications, the 1 1/2 or 2 horsepower motor on the contractor saw is powerful enough. To get the most out of your contractor saw, go slowly and use a sharp blade. I prefer carbide tipped blades.
Saw blade: 10 inch blade models are the most popular, however, many of the most expensive cabinet saws have a 12-inch blade. The quality and type of blade is more important than the size. Table saw blades come in a wide variety shape and types. Daddo blades and combination blades are the two most popular and the ones you should start out with until you become familiar with other types of blades and their uses. It’s very important that you keep your blades clean.
Tabletop: The tabletop is probably the most important part of the saw. As with most anything, you’ll find a wide difference of quality among tabletops. Don’t scrimp on the table top, it pays to buy a high quality tabletop. Make sure the tabletop is as flat as possible if you want trouble free operation. Not all tabletops are flat and the ones that aren’t make it difficult to make precision cuts. You can reduce your chances of future problems by going with a tabletop from a reputable table saw manufacturer.
About the Author
Bill Miller has a long history in the constructon and real estate field. He is considered an expert in his field and writes articles on construction and tool reviews. This is his current article on how to choose your first table saw.