Home Touch

There are two basic types of large saws: miter and table. The miter saw consists of a large, often twelve inches, blade that you lower onto the wood you are cutting, making cross cuts (cuts across the grain). Sometimes these saws have tubes so you can slide the blade back and forth a short way. The table saw is a table with a blade (seven or ten inches) in the middle. You can rip a large piece of wood (saw with the grain), such as a sheet of plywood, the long way through a table saw.

The miter saw is good for short cuts. It is also one of the most portable of large tools, so it can be taken to a job site and used to cut wood to the correct length (e.g., for fence posts, framing, or flooring). It makes cuts of any angle, which is why it is the tool of choice for cutting angles on crown molding.

Miter saws with tubes are more expensive and more flexible in the jobs they can handle because of the longer cut they make. Homeowners may be satisfied with a ten inch blade saw without the tubes; this is the least expensive alternative. Serious woodworkers will want the larger blade and the possibility of the longer cut.

The table saw accomplishes long cuts. The blade can also be tilted to change the angle of the cut. Additionally, table saws have fences which can be adjusted and help you to guide the wood so your cut is where you want it to be.

Table saws come in a variety of sizes, from a small “bench top” saw that can sit on a workbench to very large and heavy floor models. The better saws have solid steel tables (not pressed metal) so the cuts are accurate, but of course you pay for this feature. For most homeowners, a bench top model will be sufficient.

Large saws consist of sharp blades spun about by motors, and they are therefore inherently dangerous. It is possible these are the most dangerous tools in a shop. Not only do you have the danger of the spinning blade itself, but particularly on a table saw, wood can get jammed in one way or another and come flying back at you. Along with standard safety procedures such as using safety glasses and hearing protection, as well as following manual instructions, you should only use these saws when you are alert and in a reasonably good mood.

If you have ever tried to rip a piece of plywood with a hand-held circular saw or tried to cut a 45 degree angle with a handsaw in a miter box, you will definitely appreciate the accuracy you can accomplish with the miter saw and table saw.