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For example, if you want to build 2-foot-high toy boxes, you’ll want a saw with a rip capacity of at least 24 inches in order to cut sections of plywood wide enough for the sides and back. Depending on the projects you plan to undertake, make sure to choose a table saw with a rip capacity large enough to accommodate the dimension of material you’ll be working with.
#Table saw professional#
Rip capacity starts around 18 inches for entry-level bench saws and runs up to 60 inches or more for professional cabinet saws. Table saws are key to ripping wide sheets of material, but the maximum width of material that will fit between the saw blade and the fence varies, a measurement known as the rip capacity. Other table saws feature fences with embedded magnifiers that allow the user to better see the measurements on the saw when adjusting the fence. Specialty fences include micro-adjust fences that allow the user to fine-tune the measurements of the cut, and some saws come with extendable fences that either fold or slide out to accommodate larger sections of wood. The standard fence that comes with most table saws, called a T-square fence, is suitable for most cuts. The fence on a table saw is the adjustable guide that holds the material in place as you’re cutting. With a 10-inch table saw, you can make a maximum cut up to 3.5-inches deep, and with a 12-inch table saw, you can cut up to 4-inches deep. The blade is adjustable, so you can make a shallow cut just a fraction of an inch deep, as well as deeper cuts. Table saws are labeled by the size of the circular blade they accommodate the vast majority take 10-inch blades while a handful of options take 12-inch blades.
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The more powerful motors run longer under heavy use without overheating and easily cut through denser types of material, such as ironwood or Brazilian walnut. Larger bench saws and contractor saws come with 2 HP to 4 HP motors, and cabinet table saws often feature 5 HP or larger motors. Small bench saws that typically feature horsepower in the range of 3/4 HP to 1.5 HP are sufficient for light duty, such as constructing shelving, and for cutting sheet material up to about 5/8-inch thick. In short, the more horsepower a table saw motor has, the more cutting power it has. Table saws run the gamut in quality and price, so consider the guidance below when shopping for table saws. They’re usually moved with a hand-truck as they don’t come with rollers. Hybrid table saws come with enclosed cabinets, mimicking the look of cabinet saws, but they weigh less, averaging 275 to 325 pounds.
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You can expect to pay a little more for this type of table saw than, say, a contractor version (which makes sense, as it is sometimes described as a “souped-up contractor saw”). It offers at least as much power as a contractor saw, but without requiring a dedicated 220-volt circuit. Hybrid Table Saw: The hybrid table saw is a combination of the cabinet and contractor types.Often found in professional or industrial workshop settings and in trade schools, these heavy saws (often more than 600 pounds) can cut through multiple types of wood, including plywood, hardwood, and even pressure-treated lumber. The motor is fully enclosed in a cabinet below the table, and the table surface is extendable to support large sheets of material. Cabinet Table Saw: Packing more power than other table saws (and often requiring a dedicated 220-volt electric circuit, more powerful than an ordinary 110-volt household circuit), cabinet table saws are the priciest option.They’re heavier than bench saws (90 to 150 pounds), generally capable of cutting sheet material up to 24 inches in width or wider, and vary in price depending on quality and power. Contractor table saws are used by serious DIYers and pros who want cutting power right on site rather than in a workshop. Contractor Table Saw: Also called a jobsite table saw, these models are designed to be portable, and usually come with a rolling stand.Because they’re on the small side, bench table saws are limited by the width of the material they can cut-usually about 18 to 20 inches (see Rip Capacity below). More affordable than larger table saws, a bench saw is a good option for cutting sheet material, such as plywood and oriented strand board (OSB), or plastic and aluminum paneling. Bench Table Saw: Designed to be bolted to a workbench or attached to a stand, a bench table saw is compact and relatively lightweight, averaging 45 to 60 pounds.While all table saws function in a similar manner-a flat, tabletop surface supports the material being cut as you manually feed it into the saw blade-they differ in design, power, and best use.