The Bench Saw-The cannot do without Power Tool

Written by admin on October 27, 2008 – 10:07 am -

The bench or table saw is one of the most useful of all woodworking Power Tools. Its will prerform a great variety of sawing operations, perhaps more than 75% of all that are required in cabinet making.  It is probably the first large Power Tool that most people will want in their home workshop.

Today the selection of table saws number in the thousands.  Every body and his brother are manufacturing table saws.  Some are better than others but all are basically the same design.  Naturally price is a great consideration but the price will not change the basic design only the actual manufacture of the saw generally changes.  Better controls, scales for tilt and lock of the blade and adjustment to alter the depth of cut.  The fence and the mitre guage may be more accurate and easier to adjust.  Arbor bearings may by bronze or sealed ball bearings.  These and other factors enter into the value of this power tool.  Remember, you get what you pay for.   Are the most expensive table saws better?  It depends on what you intend to do with the saw.  I would suggest you look in the mid price range.  Don’t buy cheap or take out a mortgage on the house for a table saw.  Get a good one that will handle your projects.

The table saw usually comes in two sizes, 10 inch and 8 inch, the 10 inch being the most popular.

The table saw has many uses besides cutting boards to length.  Ripping, crosscutting, cutting mitres and resawing are probably the basic fundamental operations that are preformed on the table saw.  They are easily and quickly mastered.  Dadoing, shaping, grooving, rabbets, tendons, and molding are more advanced but certainly easily learned by the average woodworker.

The table saw has a table (duh), blade, fence, guide, motor and stand.  Many different blades are available to making different important cuts.  You can pay a blade that is sort of a general blade called a combination blade, that will allow you to make all the cuts,  but the blades made specifically for each type of cut, i.e.   crosscut, ripsaw cuts, hollow ground planer, a dado head, a molding head, are a few of these specialty blades.

Here is a suggestion that might be the most important item you have to do before you ever plug the Table saw into an electrical outlet.  Assemble the saw if need be and then take a big step back and take a good look at all the parts.  If you have any doubts at all how to use one of them or what the part might be for do not try it out.  Ask someone.  I know if you are like me I don’t want anyone to know that I am unsure of anything but my experience tells me that if I have any question I should STOP and investigate before I put myself or my shop in danger.  (I have repaired many holes in the wall and ceiling from flying pieces of wood that got away from me because I did not think about how to handle the saw.

That brings up an important issue.  SAFETY WHEN USING POWER TOOLS.

Any Power Tool can be dangerous but the table saw and the radial arm saw are at the top of the list when it comes to injury.  Remember, any tool that is operated by an electrical power source is very unforgiving.  It will not stop until it is jammed or the power is turned off.  It never runs out of gas.

Always take precautions when operating a Power Tool. Always operate with safety guards in place, make sure the blade is sharp and in good condition, make sure all tools or other items are clear of the table saw, never reach across the running blade, wait for the blade to come to a complete stop before removing items, do not wear gloves or loose fitting clothes, roll up your sleeves and wear eye protection.  There should always be adequate room to move around the saw.  The most important safety feature is you, never operate your table saw if you have something on your mind that will not allow you to concentrate fully on the work at hand or else you may lose a hand.

Take a look at ourTable and Bench saws here.

Tags: Bench Saws, Saws, Woodworking Table Saw, Woodworking Table Saw
Posted in Table Saws | No Comments »