
Mastering Table Saws: Everything You Need to Know for Precision and Safety
Woodworking requires precision, creativity and the right tools. Most chippies learn their craft with hand saws and soon move on to band, circular and jigsaws when mastering varied cuts. But when cutting large timber planks into furniture pieces or smaller plywood boards into picture frames, then opt for table saws. These powerful woodworking tools are essential in small and large woodworking shops for precise rip cuts, crosscuts, mitre and bevel cuts. They’re favoured for their versatility and stability, and the range of accessories that extends their use.
Anatomy of Table Saws

To understand how an innovative table saw works, let’s get acquainted with the basic parts. While designs and shapes differ, all table saws consist of several common parts:
- Tabletop and extension wings – flat, durable, cast iron tables can properly support the workpiece. To increase the working surface, extension wings bolt onto the left and right. Stationary saws have cast iron extension wings to reduce vibrations, while portable saws go with stamped steel.
- Rip fence – this is a protective cutting guide, often on the right side of the blade. The fence can slide on adjustable rails on either end.
- Blade guard – a vital feature that covers exposed portions of the blade, essentially preventing operator contact and helping minimise dust.
- Riving knife – another safety feature located behind the blade to prevent wood binding and kickback while cutting.
- Mitre gauge – use a mitre gauge to make angled mitre cuts when joining two pieces together.
- Blade angle and height adjustment – this adjusts the blade in height and perpendicular to the table for cuts in pieces of varied thickness and allows for angles required in bevel cuts.
- Motor – more powerful motors can cut through thicker wood. Power ratings are stated in watts or horsepower. Portable saws for daily professional use average 2kW, while larger stationary saws can have motors nearing 7.5hp.
Common Types
Table saws can be grouped into two categories – portable and stationary. Portable saws are smaller, lighter and have motors averaging 2hp. Benchtop saws are the most compact portable variant, aimed at light-duty work with plywood and softer woods, are constructed of thinner and lighter metals and are relatively affordable. Step up to compact saws with direct drive motors, cast-iron tables and foldable legs for more versatility and power. Or choose the more rugged build and powerful motors of ‘jobsite’ or ‘contractor’ variants for heavy-duty use with higher precision. Most also come with foldaway legs with integrated rollers, dust extraction systems, and separate storage.
Stationary versions of contractor saws have bigger and more powerful belt-driven induction motors, sturdier open stands or full enclosures, and better dust collection. For serious performance, and if money is no issue, cabinet saws feature the most robust build, ample use of thick metals, and the power, size and durability to take on any piece of wood. Motors average 5hp or more, meaning they can cut through thicker hardwoods, plastics or metals when fitted with the corresponding blade.
Why have a Table Saw?
Table saws are larger, more powerful and more precise versions of handheld circular and mitre saws. As such, they excel at two types of cuts – rips and crosscuts. Rips are achieved when cutting along the grain and length of solid boards to a specified width. Cutting across the grain shortens the length of the boards, to make a crosscut. Here extension wings allow for boards of varying sizes, while fences ensure precision.
Saw versatility also extends to complicated cuts. Gauges, slots and fences are useful for mitre, bevel, taper, groove and dado cuts and with high adjustability, this cutting powerhouse can produce accurate tenon cuts, and bridal and box joints. Choose a well-rounded and fully-featured saw if you need:
- Precision – this is one of the main reasons to go with table saws. The fixed blade and flat work surface ensures stability and cuts to exacting measurements found in cabinetry work, furniture making and joinery.
- Versatility – adjustable blade heights and angles deliver a variety of cuts in boards and workpieces of different thicknesses.
- Speed – efficient and powerful motors spin blades at high speeds, ensuring shorter work times and higher turnarounds.
- Safety – blade guards, riving knives and emergency stop switches are just a few safety features common to all table saws to keep hands and fingers safe.
What to Look For?

Choosing industrial-grade woodworking tools like drill presses and table saws can be difficult if you don’t know what to look for. Besides the right type of saw for the setting and your work needs, motors, blade sizes, and added features like extension wings factor into the end price. For DIY and hobbyist uses, portable saws with 1-2hp direct-drive motors are more than capable of ripping into plywood and thinner softwood planks. More power also ensures more adjustability and precision, as seen in portable and stationary saws with motors averaging between 2 and 5hp.
Blades determine the depth of the cut and range between 7.25 and 12 inches. The cutting depth and rip capacity (the distance between the blade and the rip fence) determine the size of the boards and wood you can work with. Lastly, consider how extra features such as extension wings, fence adjustability, and efficient dust extraction affect overall workflow and ease of use.