Table saws are commonly used by carpenters and come in two main types: cabinet and contractor saws. Cabinet saws are heavy and designed for accuracy and power, while contractor saws are portable and less expensive. Both have a flat surface with a slotted opening for a circular saw blade, rip fence, and miter for adjusting cuts. Cabinet saws have a fully enclosed cabinet base for better dust collection and more horsepower for deeper cuts.
Almost all carpenters today use a table saw. It is one of the most common tools in a carpentry shop. There are two main types of table saws: the cabinet saw and the contractor saw. One distinction that makes a table saw a mobile saw is the enclosed housing that contains it, hence the name. While this is the most visible difference, several other features distinguish the cabinet saw from the contractor saw.
A table saw has a flat surface with a slotted opening for a circular saw blade mounted underneath. The table allows for stability and precision when making cuts. Depending on the desired depth of cut, the saw blade is raised and lowered across the table. Guides on the saw table top adjust for cuts of varying lengths, widths or angles. Under the top of the table saw, an electric motor, along with gears or belts, drives the saw blade.
The wood is guided towards the saw blade by a rip fence on most table saws. Parallel to the saw blade, the rip fence is a metal support that provides a flat, stable surface to position the cut. Most saws also have a miter, which is capable of adjusting miter and cross cuts, which are typically cuts against the grain of the wood. The miter mounts run in parallel grooves, but the miter itself is perpendicular.
Unlike the cabinet saw, contractor saws are designed to be portable and easy to transport between job sites. An open base makes the saw lighter and generally quicker to set up. The engine is usually easy to access, if needed, for repair or replacement. Also, contractor saws tend to be less expensive than cabinet saws.
Sometimes called a cabinetmaker’s saw, the cabinet saw is normally a heavy, solid piece of woodworking equipment. The design intent was not for portability, but rather for accuracy and power. The saw blade holders and adjustments, also called the trunnion assembly, and the tabletop are independently connected to the frame. With this construction, precise adjustments of the saw blade are possible and help create more precise cuts. This is one reason why professional furniture saws are a popular choice for cabinet makers.
A fully enclosed cabinet base protects the motor and other working parts, as well as allowing for better dust collection. Motors in cabinet saws generally have more horsepower than contractor saws, which allows them to handle wood to the blade’s maximum depth of cut. Accessories, such as outlet stands and tables, attach more easily to the cabinet table saw.
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