For any woodcutter or craftsman hoping to set up his workshop, the first task is choosing the perfect table saw. Whether you are a hobbyist working on small DIY projects, or a professional working on large-scale projects, it is essential to pick a reliable piece of equipment that will enable you to perform safely and efficiently.

There are different types of Table Saws, and they come in various shapes and sizes. If you sit down to shop online or physically visit the market, you will find a plethora of table saws. Therefore, to help you identify the perfect table saw for yourself, we have designed a detailed guide highlighting the benefits of every time of table saws and the most common uses of each type of table saws.

Different Types of Table Saws

The types of table saws can be broadly divided into two categories: Portable and Stationary Table Saws. Each category can be further divided according to the table saw’s size, price, accuracy, and strength.

Portable Table Saws

The first kind of table saw is the portable table saws. Compared to the stationary table saws, these are much more compact and can thus, be easily transported from one job site to another. They usually get their power from the direct-drive motor. In addition to this, they are made of very lightweight material with an average weight of 50lbs. Most hobbyists and novice workers prefer portable table saws.

The portable table saws can be further divided into four categories:

1. Benchtop Table Saws

Benchtop saws are ideal for beginners and novice users. They are small in size and, thus, can easily fit in small spaces in your homes or workshops without much effort. They have a blade attached to the table saw’s surface and are powered by an electric motor that operates with great smoothness and is excellent when dealing with small projects. The most attractive feature of these saws is their affordability and portability. They are made of lightweight materials and weigh no more than 50 pounds.

However, as mentioned above, benchtop saws are ideal for small crafts and DIY projects as they are not very powerful, and their motor does not have great durability. The operation of the motor is also not very quiet and creates considerable noise.

They have limited rip capacity and cannot cut through large pieces of wood. The small rip capacity also limits the ability of benchtop saws to perform delicate and precise cuts. Another feature that does not make them the best choice for professional use is that the little space between the rip fence and the blade makes it very hard to efficiently perform miter cuts, dado cuts, and crosscuts.

Hence, if you are a first-timer and want to start small, DIY projects at your home, benchtop saws are the perfect option.

IRONMAX ET1361US Benchtop Table Saw

Benchtop Table Saw PROs	Benchtop Table Saw CONs
Lightweight and Portable Economical Choice Powerful than Mini Table Saws Easy to Assemble and Use	Low Power Motor Limited Rip Capacity Not Very Precise

2. Compact Table Saws

Compact Saws are a step above Benchtop Saws in power and durability. Moreover, they are also larger but still weigh less than most table saws. However, the key difference is that they offer greater motor power and are more strongly built. As a result, it has better accuracy than benchtop saws and can do rip cuts and crosscuts much more efficiently. Recent models even include sliding miter tables for more precise and angled cuts.

In addition to this, they do not require much space and are very easy to set up. Like all portable table saws, they are affordable but more expensive than benchtop and mini saws.

Nonetheless, these saws are still not ideal for professional use. Moreover, although the rip capacity is greater than benchtop saws, it is still not enough for big, large-scale projects as it has trouble cutting into hardwood and lumber. Hence, these are best at dealing with in-home furniture building or small construction projects which do not involve very complex cutting.

DEWALT Compact Table Saw

Compact Table Saw PROs	Compact Table Saw CONs
Lightweight and Portable Sturdy Construction Larger Rip Capacity than other Portable Saws Easy to Assemble and Use Better Accuracy than Benchtop and Mini Saws	Does not Handle Hardwood and Lumber Efficiently Expensive Compared to Benchtop Saws

3. Jobsite Table Saws

Jobsite Table Saws are the most popular saws available in the market. They are the portable version of contractor table saws and effectively combine the features of both portable and stationary saws. These table saws are ideal for carpenters and professional use with their excellent durability and great performance. In addition to this, they can with an integrated wheeled stand which allows the table saw to be efficiently transported from one job site to another. The stands can also be folded, further adding to their portability.

Moreover, the Jobsite table saws also come with several attractive features. With a greater rip capacity, the table has more space on its surface and, thus, works on larger pieces. Powered by a strong motor, its blade can easily cut through very dense materials like hardwood and lumber. However, the thing that makes it stand out from other portable saws is that it has very high-quality safety features and a good caliber dust collection port.

Hence, although Jobsite table saws are quite expensive, they are perfect for home use and professional carpentry and construction.

DEWALT 10-Inch Jobsite Table Saw

Jobsite Table Saw PROs	Jobsite Table Saw CONs
It can be easily transported with wheeled stands Large Rip capacity Durable Can cut through very dense materials	Expensive

4. Mini Table Saws

Mini Table Saws are the most recently introduced saws and are designed to fit the needs of a hobbyist, which makes them unsuitable for professional use. However, with their 4-inch blade, a riving knife, and a standard guard system, they can still perform rip, cross, and miter cuts efficiently. This makes them ideal for people who love working on DIY projects as a hobby.

We love these miniature table saws because of their convenience and portability. They can be easily set up anywhere inside your home. Moreover, with a weight as low as 15 and very compact, you can carry them anywhere and set them up within minutes. Most of these saws also have onboard storage, which adds convenience. In addition to this, they are equipped with the standard safety features included in other table saws, including the safety switch and riving knife,

Although these are not suitable for handling large projects and the cuts performed are not accurate and precise, their small size and even smaller price tag still make them a very convenient option for beginners and hobbyists.

NovelLife Mini Hobby Table Saw

Mini Table Saw PROs	Mini Table Saw CONs
Extremely Portable and Lightweight Compact Size Easy to Set Up Affordable	Not Suitable for Professional Use Cuts are Not Very Accurate

Stationary Table Saws

The second kind of table saw is the stationary table saws. These are much heavier than portable saws, and as the name suggests, they cannot be carried from one place to another. Moreover, they are much more durable and powerful than portable saws as they can rip through large sheets of highly dense material. Their heavy-duty steel or cast iron construction further adds to their durability and stability.

Similar to the portable saws, the stationary table saws can also be further divided into categories:

1. Contractor Table Saws

Contractor Table Saws share many similarities with the Jobsite Table Saws are often confused with the Jobsite models. Originally designed to be a more convenient alternative to the Cabinet model saws, contractor table saws are the top choice of most professionals. Many amateurs and beginners also used them before introducing a much more manageable model in the shape of Jobsite table saws.

Unlike the portable models, the contractor saws come with a powerful motor and a high-quality blade that can easily cut through thick sheets, including hardwood, lumber, and glass. In addition to this, they have a much larger table area which allows them to perform hard and complex tasks within a very short period. A rip capacity of more than 50 inches also adds to its efficiency. Like other saws, these also come equipped with a dust collection port to collect the dust and prevent it from getting in your eyes. Other safety features like anti-kickback pawls and riving knives are included.

Moreover, keeping in mind the power of its motor and the accuracy of the blade, the table saw is an economical choice. However, its bulkiness works to its disadvantage as with the introduction of Jobsite models, many of its users have left cabinet saws for convenience.

SawStop 10-Inch Contractor Table Saw

Contractor Table Saw PROs	Contractor Table Saw CONs
Accurate Powerful Large Table Area and Great Rip Capacity Suitable for Professional Use Cheaper than Cabinet Saws	Bulky Outdated Not Portable

2. Cabinet Table Saws

Cabinet Table saws are the dream machine of every woodworker. They are the master of all table saws, the best available in the market. They are well built and offer very sturdy construction with a cast iron or heavy-duty steel body. The strong construction guarantees a long lifespan, durability, and reliability.

In addition to this, the saw is powered by an extremely powerful induction belt-drive motor. The motors have an average horsepower of 3-5 HP, although it is not uncommon to see ones with 5 -7HP power at industrial sites. This, however, requires a more than 240-volt circuit. Another attractive feature about the motors in the majority of the cabinet saws is that they have a very quiet operation with little to no vibration.

Apart from the powerful motor, the cabinet saws offer a great rip capacity of more than 50 inches and have sharp blades which can easily cut through any material, including hardwood, plywood, and lumber. Components like the beveled blade, miter gauge, and riving knife add to the accuracy and precision of the cuts. However, the only downside is their large size and heavyweight. They can weigh as heavy as 600lbs and thus are very immobile.

Nonetheless, the table saws are a must-have for every woodworker and can be found in most construction factories and professional carpentry workshops. Thus, if you have the budget and wish to work with a highly efficient saw, cabinet saws should be your pick!

SAWSTOP 10-Inch Professional Cabinet Saw

Cabinet Table Saw PROs	Cabinet Table Saw CONs
Extremely Powerful Largest Rip Capacity Excellent durability Accurate and Precise Can through very dense materials	Expensive Very Heavy Difficult to set up

3. Hybrid Table Saws

Hybrid table saws are a combination of contractor saws and cabinet saws. They are more powerful than contractor saws but still less than cabinet table saws. In short, they offer the durability and reliability of cabinet table saws at a more affordable price and thus, compete with the contractor saws in the market. Another similarity they share with contractor saws is their motor size. The difference, however, is that the hybrid saw motors have a trunnions style and are inboard belt-driven, while the contractor saw motors are outboard and hinged.

Moreover, hybrid saws users also have to compromise on rip capacity as it is a lot less than what a cabinet saw offers. However, what we love about hybrid saws is their open-leg design which improves their dust collection and ensures that you are working in a safe and dust-free environment. They also offer additional features like a miter gauge and sliding table for accuracy and precision. Moreover, the vibration-free operation adds to the accuracy of this saw.

Hence, hybrid saws are a reliable option for those who cannot afford a cabinet table saw but still wish to have a high-quality saw with impressive features. They are also suitable for large construction projects.

Grizzly G0771Z Hybrid Table Saw

Hybrid Table Saw PROs	Hybrid Table Saw CONs
Very Accurate Vibration Less Operation Cheaper than Cabinet Saws Powerful Can Handle Large Projects	Rip Capacity is Not Very Large

4. Sliding Table Saws

Another type of stationary table saw is the sliding table saws. These are less common than the other three and are known as the ‘European Table Saws.’ The only difference between a cabinet table saw and a sliding table saw is that while the cabinet saws have a stationary table on the side of the blade, these have a sliding table on the left side of the blade.

This allows you to not only use the workpiece to cut at different angles more comfortably but also move the table together with the workpiece. This is very helpful if you are working on furniture pieces and require smoother movement for detailed and cleaner cuts.

In addition to this, the sliding table saw allows you to stand in a much safer position. The user will be required off to the side of the blade, which will reduce the risk of kickback. Thus, even though they are much more expensive than cabinet saws, they offer more or less the same performance.

Grizzly Sliding Table Saw

Sliding Table Saw PROs	Sliding Table Saw CONs
Very Accurate No vibration during operation Cheaper than cabinet saws Powerful Can Handle Large Projects	Rip Capacity is Not Very Large Very Expensive

Conclusion

In conclusion, each table saw has its distinct features and pros and cons. While portable table saws like mini table saws and Jobsite table saws are much more suitable for beginners and hobbyists, stationary table saws like cabinet, contractor, and hybrid table saws are ideal for professional use and major construction and building projects. Thus, before purchasing a table saw for yourself, you must identify your requirements and what kind of projects you will be working on.

In addition to this, you must also recognize what your top priority is and what you are willing to compromise on. For example, cabinet table saws have excellent performance and are highly efficient, but at the same time, they are also very expensive. Thus, if efficiency and accuracy are your priority, you must compromise on price. In the end, all that matters are your requirements, and we are sure after reading this guide you will be able to identify which type of table saws satisfies your requirements and suits you the best.