Things You Need to Know About a Table Saw
You might get baffled by the availability of too many table saws options available in the market. The weight, size, blade, and construction of everything vary from saw to saw.
So it is quite necessary to know about the essential things you need to know about a table saw. Being a DIYer, you need a simple and straightforward table saw for your woodworking needs. Whilst for professional carpentry you would need an upgraded version of a table saw.
Hence to bring you out from this Pandora box of table saws, we have illustrated some key points you must look for when you want to grab the one to fulfill your woodworking needs.
Let’s dig into it:
Types of table saws:
There are two main types of table saw:
- Portable
- Stationary
Portable table saw:
Benchtop and Jobsite table saws cover this category of table saws. They are compact, lightweight, and portable.
The hobbyists and homeowner prefer using a benchtop version of a table saw because they offer great value for money. While the professionals go with Jobsite table saws since they are more functional and powerful as compared to benchtop table saws.
Stationary table saw:
Hybrid, cabinet, and contractor table saws come under this category. They are loved by carpenters and professionals.
Features to look for in a table saw:
Whether you want a table saw for your basic or professional woodworking needs, you must particularly pay attention to these below-mentioned features.
Blade
First off, choose the right blade type if you want to chop off wood precisely and accurately. There are four types of blades available to choose from yet the standard blade comes with a 10" diameter that cuts at 90 degrees.
You might go for using a combination blade or an all-purpose blade with pointed teeth to slice the wood bluntly.
Miter gauge
Be it a clean right-angled cut or a compound cut, you need a miter gauge to hold a workpiece at a specific angle.
Motor
Typically, table saws use two types of motor configurations.
Direct-driven motor
The table saws bearing direct driven motors are more powerful and louder. Most portable table saws come with this type of motor.
Belt-driven motor
Most of the contractor table saws use belt-driven motors. For professional woodcutting, belt-driven motors are more likely to go for since they are quieter and can cut through the dense material with the breeze.
Rip fence
The rip fence ensures that the workpiece remains at its allotted position. It runs parallel to the blade and is adjustable to the right and left.
Without this fence, an amateur woodworker would fail to make a straight line cut.
Safety features
Safety is the main concern of every woodworker. So whenever you are getting a table saw for yourself, make sure that it comes with all safety equipment.
Setting the correct blade height
Once you know the table saw types and the main features to look for in a table saw, you need to set the correct blade height. Only with the right blade height, you can clear sawdust and minimize the risk of injury to your hands or fingers.
Anti-kickback pawls, sensors, blade guard, riving knife, and splitter are some extraordinary features that make an ordinary table saw outshine many other saws on the market.
Final verdict:
This is a quick guide on things you need to know about a table saw. Although every feature of a table saw needs an elaborated detail. Yet we have tried our best to throw light on to every possible feature of a table saw. So make sure that you spend your money on something that completely qualifies your needs.