Reviews say to consider the following features when shopping for a table saw. Several surveys show that around 50% of all workshop accidents involve a table saw, so safety features are especially important.

  • Match power and capacity to your needs. Buying more power than you need is not only expensive, but can also mean more powerful kickback. If you plan to rip hardwoods three or more inches thick, experts recommend a 3- to 5-hp motor, and therefore a cabinet saw. For ripping hardwood two inches thick or less, 1.5- to 2-hp motors are adequate. A larger table takes more space, but makes cutting plywood easier. Make sure the arbor is big enough to take a dado blade.
  • A riving knife is better than a splitter for preventing kickback, and the blade guard should be convenient to take off and replace in seconds. Experts say true riving knives are much better than splitters for preventing kickback, a common cause of table saw accidents. However, it's better to equip a table saw with an after-market splitter than to go without one at all. It's crucial that the blade guard be easy to detach or flip out of the way, because inconvenient blade guards usually get left off the saw, exposing the user to danger.
  • A switch that turns off with the knee or hip in an emergency is another important safety feature. Be sure the switch is mounted where you usually stand. Reviews note that if the saw doesn't come with such a switch, it is possible to make a kick-switch.
  • Consider a saw with flesh-sensor technology. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has been urging manufacturers to use this technology since 2001, because they've found that most table saw accidents aren't caused by kickback, so a riving knife isn't enough to prevent serious damage.
  • A magnetic switch prevents accidental turn-ons. Usually available only on cabinet saws, a magnetic switch keeps a saw from accidentally turning back on when the power is restored after an outage.
  • Dust collection is an important safety feature to protect the lungs. Contractor saws, with their open stands, usually provide the worst dust control, though the best models provide shrouds around the blade with ports for dust hoses. Table saws with closed bases vary in dust-control performance. The best have shrouds around the blade and a slanting chute toward the main dust port.
  • A left blade-tilt is safer than a right tilt. Most experts now agree that a left blade-tilt arrangement is safer than a right tilt, reducing the risk of kickback. Also, experts warn that small offcuts can become trapped between the blade, table and fence on a right-tilt saw, flying out at the operator. In addition, reviews note that left-tilt saws make it easier to make clean miter cuts along the length of a panel.
  • Granite and cast iron are better than regular steel for minimizing vibration and staying flat. Granite table tops are the latest idea, for greater weight and stability. Cast iron comes in various grades but usually translates into greater stability, while stamped or open steel creates more vibration.
  • Poly-V belts make for smoother running. Workbench magazine explains that Poly-V belts make for smoother running than wedge belts, which in turn are better than regular V-belts.
  • Blade alignment should be accurate and easy to adjust. American Woodworker editors point out that it's usually easier to align the blade on a cabinet saw than on one of the other three types of table saws. Other adjustments need to be checked periodically. This is called "tuning the table saw" and is an art in itself.
  • The front wheel should work easily to maneuver the blade. Test the handwheels that raise and tilt the blade in the housing. Does it take several dozen revolutions or just a few to raise the blade a few inches or tilt it ten degrees? Also, the wheels and levers should work without heavy friction and should be easy to lubricate. 
  • Buying a table saw with the best safety features is not a substitute for learning safe procedures. Be sure to study table saw safety guides carefully and always use both hearing and eye protection.
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