Types of Table Saws

Differences between portable, contractor, hybrid and cabinet saws

• Portable table saw. Also called benchtop saws, reviews recommend this type both for transporting to jobsites and for easy storage. Portable saws are either light enough to carry, or based on wheeled, folding stands. The small tables make it tricky to cut plywood, and most portable table saws use noisy universal motors - making them much like a circular saw mounted upside down on a table.

• Contractor table saw. This type of table saw has open, fixed legs. Since the motor hangs out the back, it takes up more space than a portable or benchtop table saw, but the table is often larger, so it's easier to cut sheet stock. Contractor saws are still reasonably portable, but usually it takes two people to move one.

• Hybrid table saw. Hybrid saws are in between contractor and cabinet table saws. They run on ordinary household current but with a heavier enclosed base for good dust control and better precision. Many hybrid saws can be moved to the side of the workshop between uses.

• Cabinet saw. This is the heaviest, sturdiest and most precise type of table saw, with more powerful motors that require a 220 electrical outlet. It's the best type for cutting sheet stock because of the guide rails and large table (often with big extension wings). Cabinet saws are apt to have the best safety features and dust control. Woodworkers with enough space (and money) usually make a cabinet saw the centerpiece of the workshop, though a few cabinet saws have mobile bases.

In choosing a table saw, be sure to consider the available electrical power. Because of their heavy-duty motors, cabinet saws run only on 240-volt power. Most hybrid and contractor saws can run on either 240- or 120-volt power, with 240 being more efficient. Experts warn that a 1.5- to 2-horsepower motor with 18 to 24 amps should be the only draw on a 20-amp circuit, and even then, some saws will keep tripping the circuit breaker. Portable saws and benchtop saws use 120-volt power, so they're especially useful for job sites or home workshops.

Available space is another big consideration in selecting a table saw. Most cabinet saws are stationary, designed to be located in the middle of the workshop. Reviews say to allow at least eight feet of clearance on the infeed, outfeed and left side of the saw to handle 4x8 sheet stock. Hybrid saws on mobile bases can be moved against a wall when not needed, and of course, portable table saws take the least space of all. The DeWalt DW745 (*est. $370) can even be hung on a wall between uses.