Table Saw Information

Updated June 2010

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In this report

Table Saw Links

Table saw alternatives

Circular saws are a good alternative to table saws, especially those equipped with a good edge guide. Taunton's 2009 and 2010 tool guides don't cover edge guides, but the 2008 guide provides a review that's still useful, recommending the Festool guide rail system (*Est. $560). Surveyed readers of Fine Homebuilding and Fine Woodworking also rank the Festool guide rails at the top. Three other guides also get good recommendations in the 2008 Taunton Tool Guide. See our separate report on circular saws for more information.

Though the most affordable table saws use 10-inch blades, a 12-inch miter saw costs less than a table saw and can speed up cross-cuts. We have a separate report on miter saws.

Using a table saw

Woodworking teacher Marc Adams discusses table saws in the March 2010 Popular Mechanics article "Woodworking Essentials: Table Saws."

The BobVila.com video "How to Use a Table Saw" explains table saw parts, as well as the basics of using a saw. Bob Vila demonstrates an older table saw that uses a splitter and pawl rather than a riving knife, but this video is still a good introduction to table saws.

Wikipedia explains some table saw terms, including dado.

The article "Tablesaw Tune-up" by the editors of American Furniture Design describes how to tune your table saw for both safety and optimum performance. Additional articles on how to improve a table saw are also available on this site.

Table saw safety

A video at FineWoodworking.com, "Fight Kickback with a Riving Knife," demonstrates how a riving knife works.

A video at Popular Mechanics discusses safety tips for using an inexpensive benchtop table saw, demonstrating them with a Craftsman saw.

Wikipedia has a good article explaining riving knives.

Ray Girling explains table saw kickback in a detailed, well-illustrated article.

Because table saws are considered a dangerous power tool, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff is participating in voluntary standard activities for Stationary and Fixed Electric Tools (ANSI/UL 987), which require manufacturers to build riving knives into table saw models placed on the market after January 2008, and to equip all table saws with riving knives by 2010. The CPSC also encourages manufacturers to incorporate flesh-sensing blade brakes.

Although a table saw with a riving knife is best, another safety option is to equip an existing table saw with a third-party splitter. One example is the Shark Guard (*Est. $150), which fits several table saw makes and models. We found a review at DuckWorksMagazine.com.

SawStop technology and lawsuits against table saw manufacturers

FineWoodworking.com details the Carlos Osorio table saw lawsuit against Ryobi. In March 2010, Orsorio was awarded $1.5 million for injuries he sustained while using a Ryobi BTS15 benchtop saw.

Popular Woodworking's blog also discusses the Orsorio case, with several articles on table saw injuries and the implications of the lawsuit.

Inc. magazine has a good article discussing the history of SawStop's proprietary safety technology: "He Took On the Whole Power-Tool Industry -- Why Wasn't Anyone Else Interested in Building a Safer Saw?"

An article at OregonLive.com also covers SawStop and its impact on the power tool industry: "Saw-safety Invention Pits Oregon Firm Against Giant Manufacturers"

A useful summary of the 2003 analysis of table saw accidents by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, complete with colorful pie charts, can be found at TableSawAccidents.com.

ProToolReviews.com writer Everett Snyder discusses lawsuits against table saw manufacturers in the article "Why a Safer Table Saw May Not Be Good for America."

Table saw accessories

A magnetic featherboard (*Est. $32) can greatly improve table saw safety.

The Taunton 2010 Tool Guide tests thin-kerf blades, concluding that they enable an underpowered table saw to cut wood as thick as 2.5 inches with ease and also leave a relatively clean edge (that might need a pass or two, however, with a jointer). The author, Roland Johnson, recommends this type of blade for portable and contractor saws, saying he plans to use it on a 3-horsepower cabinet saw.

Table saw performance can be improved by upgrading to a better blade, replacing inferior parts with aftermarket accessories or by building extra stands and extensions. Typical upgrades include replacing the fence and/or miter gauge, as well as replacing a 30-inch rail with one designed for longer ripping. Other upgrades include filing rough edges, shimming fences, building crosscut sleds and dust control covers or even making new surfaces for tables.

Many table saw accessories are designed for specific tasks. These include the tenoning jig, spline-mitering jig, various tapering jigs, the crosscut sled, the dado blade (actually comprised of six blades), custom molding heads and many others. Some table saws include a router table as one of the wings. Many experts recommend buying a zero-clearance throat plate. Popular Woodworking editors recommend upgrading the V-belt on a contractor saw by replacing it with a Powertwist (or link) belt, to reduce vibration.

The May 2007 issue of Wood Magazine reviews aftermarket table saw accessories in an article that can be downloaded for a fee at WoodStore.net.

Fine Homebuilding contributing editor Gary Katz discusses safety in the article "Avoiding Accidents on the Tablesaw."

Table saw manufacturers

Note: TechTronic Industries Company Limited (TTI) owns One World Industries, which makes Ridgid and the budget brand, Ryobi -- though Ridgid is owned by Emerson. Black & Decker owns DeWalt, which had earlier acquired Delta and Porter-Cable. Firestone is the Black & Decker budget brand. Bosch also makes Skil tools as its budget brand.