Table Saws
Table Saw Selection Guide
Table saws are characterized by a circular motorized blade that can be
raised or lowered through a slit in a flat metal table. A fence
that moves left and right, parallel to the blade, slides on rails mounted
on the front and rear of the table. The fence can be locked into
position a certain distance from the blade. This allows boards to
be cut straight, and enables them to be rip cut at a consistent width.
The table saw works well for long, straight cuts and is also very good at rip cuts. If you add a jig to the saw, you can use it to cut dovetail joints and other complicated cuts. You can also manipulate the blade height to cut grooves.
The saw's controls are located on the metal or plastic base on which the table sits. The blade can be raised, lowered, or tilted through the use of hand cranks. These cranks work by twisting and pivoting the trunion, which is a metal casting located inside the base. The trunion holds the motor and the blade, as well as the belt that connects them, allowing them to work as one.
Table saws come in several varieties, the lightest of which is the
portable table saw. This small, portable saw can be easily carried
between job sites. Because it has no legs, it must be used on a
workbench or other standing surface.
A contractor's saw can be moved from place to place but requires two people to lift it. Contractor's saws are much heavier than the portable variety, and they include integral cabinets and legs that enable them to stand in place.
Cabinet saws are the heaviest and most solid of the table saws. A cabinet saw stands on an enclosed base that houses its motor and trunion. This type of table saw is not portable.
Hybrid saws are a cross between contractor's saws and cabinet saws, as they combine the smaller table and legs of the former with the enclosed base of the latter.
Table Saw Safety
Table saws, with their sharp, rotating blades and sawdust production, can
be hazardous to their users. With this in mind, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published these
table saw hazard solutions, and the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that table saw users
limit their exposure to wood dust. NIOSH has published an article
about controlling wood dust from table saws, in which they
propose that a local exhaust hood be placed directly above the rotating
table saw blade.
Table Saw Manufacturers
- Porter-Cable
Compare table saws, contractor saws, and accessories offered by this well-known power tool maker.
www.PorterCable.com - Powermatic
Browse the cabinet saws and contractor saws offered by this industrial woodworking machinery manufacturer.
www.Powermatic.com - Shopsmith
This Ohio-based firm offers multi-purpose power shop tools as well as specialized power woodworking tools and accessories.
www.Shopsmith.com - Sears - Table Saws
A wide range of homeowner and professional grade Craftsman table saw models are available from this nationwide retailer.
www.Sears.com
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