by Janette Peel

Created on: July 06, 2009

If woodworking is your passion or your craft, it is necessary to have a well-equipped workshop. Following are some of the top power tools every woodworker should have.

Table saw

The table saw is the work horse of any woodworking shop. It is the tool that rips and crosscuts all your materials; melamine, MDF, plywood and solid timbers. Basically there are four types of table saws - the benchtop saw, contractor saw, cabinet saw and hybrid saw.

Benchtop saw

The benchtop saw can be clamped to your workbench. It is affordable, light-weight and portable making it easy to move from job to job, and because it is small, it can be easily stored in a corner or under a workbench if room is lacking. The benchtop saw is powered by a universal motor, similar to that on your router or circular saw which is designed for providing short bursts of speed. This means it is well able to handle cutting smaller pieces but will struggle cutting longer thicker lengths. Also the table is made of light weight aluminum making it prone to flexing under the weight of bigger sheets.

Contractor saw

The contractor saw has a 1.5 hp, 110 volt induction motor that drives the saw blade with 'V' belts. It is designed for more continuous use which enables it to easily cut longer lengths of board or lumber. A strong open framed metal leg base provides a solid mount for the saw. The main table surface is usually made of cast iron and its extension wings are either aluminum or open waffle-patterned cast iron making it a good stable working surface. This saw is still able to be transported and set up easily on job sites.

Cabinet saw

The cabinet saw is a heavy duty saw, with a 2-5hp, 220 volt motor and is mounted in a cabinet giving it extra weight and stability. The larger motor allows you to rip through thick lumber and sheets with ease, and can take a 10" or 12" blade. Being heavy, it becomes a more permanent fixture, and also allows better efficiency for a dust collection unit. It has larger tabletop and extended side tables and runs smooth with a minimum of vibration.

Hybrid Saw

The hybrid table saw is a combination of a cabinet saw and a contractor's saw with either a partially or fully enclose cabinet base. Its motor is smaller than the cabinet saw but repositioned from the back to the inside. This made dust extraction more efficient and reduced blade twist when tilted for bevel cuts. It offers a large table surface and good fence system.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>