Benchtop Table Saws
© 2008 by Kelly Smith all rights reserved
This article outlines the characteristics and what to look for in the benchtop table saw. This is a
portable, highly accurate, and affordable power tool.
It's been about 200 years ago, approximately, when the cabinetmaker and carpenter’s job of
woodcrafting took a radical new turn. Instead of sawing wood with a straight line of teeth grinding
backwards and forward, a contraption called the circular saw blade made its entrance and woodworking
hasn’t been quite the same since.
Wood Cutting Saws
Cutting timber was now continuous and quicker than ever. The benchtop table saw was not far away. In
fact, the original table saws were a bit mastadonian when compared to the usual home-shop table saws
found on today’s market.
Nowadays you'll find saws sold inside catalogs, at home improvement centers, and
even in local department stores.
The Versatile Benchtop Table Saw
For the homeowner or hobbyist handyman who is looking for a reliable table saw within the reach of his
bank account, or a pro who has a deadline staring him in the face, there is one type of table saw that makes
the grade. The benchtop table saw.
This Workhorse has Some Great Characteristics
Undoubtably, these smaller saws have been engineered to be very portable, however their decreased
size hides an eye-grabbing capacity. Manufacturers construct benchtop machines running with ten inch
blades. These are close to the same size as the ones on full-blown cabinet table saws.
This substantial capacity, combined it with the portability and surprisingly low price, and high
degree of accuracy, makes it one of the best power tools in your arsenal.
Light-Weight Powerhouse
The weight of this table saw is one of its top selling points. A carpenter can carry it easily around
his job site, pick it up from the bed of his pick-up, or scoot it off his garage work bench when it’s time
to use another benchtop tool.
Many models are in the range of 35 to 75 pounds. It's the clever combination of materials that keep
these table saws lightweight. Their tabletops and their motor support brackets, or trunnions, usually
are made out from cast aluminum.
They have bent steel support braces in most of the inexpensive models. The table saw bases are usually
durable plastic.
Benchtop Table Saw Sizing
These saws lightweight but they are compact also. The numbers on the average table top are about at
19 inches deep by 20 inches wide, however the most popular contractor-grade models start at about 22
by 38 inches.
To max out tabletop real estate without sacrificing maneuverability, some use
table saw extensions
of approximately 6 inches area on the right hand side of the saw.
It slides back from the blade which brings the total width to about 40 inches. This provides
increased support when crosscutting, and also, it takes the ripping limit to just over 24 inches. As
you know, this is the center point of a standard sheet of plywood. Imagine the possibilities…
Benchtop Table Saw Pricing
The price tag on today’s saws are already very low because of the industry’s competitive nature but
usually you can do better. If you’re not in desperate need of a brand new model, keep an eye on the sales
at your home improvement center. Or wait for a father’s day sale or holiday sale.
Best Brands
There are many high-quality brands on the market. Some of the best ones are made by Ryobi, Jet,
Delta, Bosch, Skil, Hitachi, and Dewalt.
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