Articles and News about table saws for woodworkers.
From sliding table saws to fixed table circular
saws. A round up.
To
decide which of the different table saws on
the market is the right one for you depends
on some basic questions. This article would
like show what to look for when you look into
the table saws market. Some key points distinguish
good table saws - because not simple horse
power or size is what matters.
So
let's have a look into table saws:
Type
of table saws: Fixed base vs. sliding table
saws
 A
fixed based table saw allows is the most common
type of table saw. The table (mounted fixed
to the blade) got a fine grove to the left
side of the blade where the crosscut angle
can be moved. This way cross cuts are being
done easily. To the left side of the blade
the guide fence for rip cuts is attached. A
rip cut is nothing else but a parallel cut
along the board sides, to cut the wood equal
in width. Table saws
with a sliding table allow the user to move the whole table part - left of
the saw blade - backwards and forwards. As the entire table is guided on guidebush
rollers even panels of size can be cut easily. Compared to fixed base table
saws - the sliding table allows to do cross cuts on wider board width.
Table
saws blade size and cutting capacity
Most
of the time table saws are categorized by the
blade diameter. If you hear somebody talking
about 10" table saws - it means that the
saws blade diameter is 10". Depending
on the saw you look at a 10" blade you
will get a certain amount of depth of cut.
The Delta 2000 Series 10" contractors
saw for example, will allow you a depth of
cut of up to 3 1/8" in the 90° blade
position. If the blade is angled down to 45° you
will still get 2 1/8" depth of cut. Whatever
kind of table saws you are looking at check
maximum depth of cut, not just the blade diameter.As
we are into cutting capacity of table saws
already, make sure you check the maximum board
width for your rip cuts. In other words: How
much cutting capacity do I have on the right
hand side of the blade, still properly guided
by the rip fence. With the Delta saw you get
e.g. 30" capacity - which is a lot amongst
today's table saws.
Table
Saws Things to look at: Rip Fence
 One
of the most important things concerning table
saws is the quality of the rip fence. Having
seen many different once over the years, I
like the Biesemeyer rip fence best. A solid
construction with a firm fit along every position
of the rail, a fine pointer to read easily
and a perfect parallel alignment to the blade,
this is what table saws need to have.
If
you already have a good table saw - check with
your dealer if you can attach the Biesemyer
Rip Fence to it- it is worth it.
Things
to look at: Miter Gage
 Whatever
kind of table saw you are looking into make
sure that it comes with a precision miter
gage. All your cross cutting will depend
on this vital part of your saw. A good miter
gage should have stops at 45° and 90° and
swing to both sides.
Things
to look at: Motor Power
Notice
that I put horse power at the end of my list
of important things on saws. The reason
is quite simple. Most tables saws come with
plenty of horse power because it is easy to
put a big motor underneath a table and call
the result a table saw. Make sure that you
focus on precision, cutting depth and width
and fences before you look for power of a
saw.
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