Table-Saw Basics

The table saw is one of the most versatile and useful tools in any workshop. It's basically a circular saw mounted upside down in a table.

The benchtop table saw is perfect for smaller woodworking projects. It has all of the accessories of a regular-size table saw and 2.5 horsepower.

The contractor's table saw is sturdier and heavier than the benchtop model. It has a larger table for working with larger projects.

The cabinet table saw is the largest and most versatile type of table saw. It has a large cast-iron table with a blade in the middle and a hole cut out to fit a router on one side of the blade. It also has a large outfeed table for catching large pieces of wood as they pass through the blade.

To make a cut using any kind of table saw, set the blade to the height of the work piece. Don't set it much higher than the work piece — doing so could result in injury. Feed the work piece through the blade, aligning it with the rip fence and pushing it through with a push-stick.