Stationary Table Saws Guide
	Part 1, Introduction
	Part 2, The Winners: Best Overall & Best Value
	Part 3, Pros & Cons of All Manufactures

The Players
Check out the pros and cons of all 12 table saws reviewed.

Bridgewood TSC-10CL $550
This is the least expensive left-tilt saw in the pack.

PROS
The arbor tilts left, away from the fence. If you want a good, relatively inexpensive saw that you can upgrade later with a second cast-iron wing, this would be a good candidate.The fence is tubular steel with aluminum-extrusion faces containing T-slots.The fence can be adjusted vertically so its faces are perfectly square to the surface of the table.There’s a plastic dust fitting with a 4-in. port inside the case.

CONS
You get one solid, cast-iron wing on the left side but only a wooden table on the right. (You can buy a second cast-iron wing for $70.) The miter gauge has a short bar.The fence is the same type as on the Woodtek 109-349 (see page 48). It’s okay, but has minor shortcomings.This saw is only available with short rails.

Delta 36-431 $850
This is Delta’s top-of-the-line contractor’s saw.

PROS
This saw can be run on a 15- or 20-amp circuit quite easily, without fear of overloading.The Biesemeyer fence is taller, longer and stouter than the similarly designed fences on the Jet, General International and Powermatic models we tested.The fence’s cursor and rule are exceptionally easy to read.

This saw is also available (for the same price) with a Unifence. It has a sliding-aluminum face that can be adjusted forward or backward and positioned high or low for different cutting applications.

In addition, you can adjust the 45- and 90-degree stops right on top of the table. Changing blades is a snap.You get one wrench to put on the arbor, and another to put on the arbor nut. The throat opening is very large.That's great for big hands.The switch is very easy to find, and the motor has a thermal-overload button.

CONS
It tilts to the right.This is a fine saw, but it doesn’t have any of the three key features we prefer: left tilt, good dust collection, or two cast-iron wings.The right wing is a tableboard, but you can replace it with a solid, cast-iron wing for $80.The faces on the fence aren't easy to replace.

DEWALT DW746X $900
This hybrid saw combines features of both contractor’s and cabinet saws.

PROS
This saw isn't merely an upgraded contractor's saw, but a fresh start. It tilts to the left. The motor doesn't hang out the back, so the saw can be tucked up against a wall. The blade is surrounded by a shroud, so dust collection is very good. There's lots of room around the front handwheel.The handwheel's screw is a much finer pitch than on most other saws, so it's easier to fine-tune the height of the blade. That's perfect for dado cuts.

You can replace the stamped-steel wings with cast-iron wings, but they’re DeWalt makes a sliding table ($450) to replace the saw’s left wing. The table enables you to crosscut sheet stock much easier and has a precision miter gauge.

CONS
Nothing stands out as a sore point.We wish the saw had a magnetic switch and, like most other models, a blade guard that’s easier to dismount. The dust port can clog with offcuts because it’s only 2-1/2 in. in diameter. Unlike all the other saws, the motor mounts on a custom frame, so you have to replace the motor with a DeWalt model if it ever gives trouble.

General International 50-185L-M1 $650
This saw is available as either a left or right tilt.

PROS
Go for the left-tilt model.This is a basic contractor’s saw with an impressive motor. It delivers 2 hp while drawing only 15 amps, so it’s unlikely to pop a breaker.The saw has two cast-iron wings. Both wings are milled square on the outer side, unlike most other saws. These square sides make it easier to attach a tableboard and extend the saw’s working surface. A plastic dust fitting with a 4-in. port is included.

Most saws have lightweight aluminum miter gauges, but this saw comes with a heavy, cast-iron miter gauge that’s ground square on the face and bottom. It also has a generously sized handle.

CONS
There’s not much to dislike, only some minor annoyances.The switch is angled, so you can’t bump it off with your knee in an emergency, but you can remount it on a right-angle plate.The fence doesn’t have easily removable faces. The cursor line is so thin that it’s hard to see, and the numerals on the tape are rather small.

General International 50-200S-M1 $900
Inside the cabinet base of this hybrid saw there’s a contractor-style mechanism.

PROS
If it was a left tilt, we’d consider this saw an Editors’ Choice. It’s similar to the Jet JWCS-10A, but in addition you get two cast-iron wings, a magnetic switch, and a cast-iron miter gauge.The miter gauges on both General International saws fit exceptionally well in the slots.

The motor hangs inside the saw, not out the back.The cabinet base takes up less space than a contractor’s saw and is better at collecting dust.The outer edge of the right wing is milled flat so it’s easier to attach a tableboard and enlarge the working surface.

CONS
This is a right-tilt saw. Minor complaints include fence faces that aren’t easy to replace, a faint cursor line that could be more distinct, and a rule with small numerals (but it can be replaced).

Grizzly G1022 PRO Z $625
This is a brand-new model in Grizzly’s contractor’s saw series. We actually tested the G1022 PRO ($550), which is similar in all respects except that it has ribbed wings.

PROS
This 2-hp saw has a stout fence. The fence is extra long front-to-back and has a very wide locking bar for extra stability. It’s the only saw that comes with a Link Belt. This is a special segmented motor belt that cuts down on vibration and improves the transfer of power (see Sources, page 102).

CONS
It’s a right-tilt saw.There are no locking knobs on the handwheels for elevating and tilting the blade. The motor draws 24 amps and is liable to pop a breaker under a full load.The fence is quite heavy to lift off the saw. There’s no dust fitting. This saw is only available with a 30-in.-wide cutting capacity, but you can upgrade in. for $150.

Grizzly G1023 S110 $800
This is a true cabinet-style saw with a 120-volt motor.

PROS
This 2-hp cabinet saw stands head and shoulders above the crowd of contractor’s saws.The big difference isn’t power, but the mechanism under the table. Like all cabinet saws, this machine is built like a tank. That means less vibration is passed on from the motor and blade to the tabletop. (See AW #95, page 43 for a look inside different types of stationary saws.) It’s also easier to align the blade and miter slot on a cabinet-style saw than on any contractor’s saw.

You get two massive cast-iron wings, an enclosed base to trap dust, a magnetic switch with an easy-to-reach "off" button and the same large fence as on the G1022 Pro Z (see page 45). This saw has more features we like than any other model (see chart, page 50), plus a cast-iron miter gauge with a bar that can be fine-tuned to fit the miter slot.

CONS
It tilts right. For all its power, the 24-amp motor is the Achilles’ heel of this saw. Under a heavy load, it’s too easy to pop a breaker on a 20-amp circuit.You don’t get any warning, because the three belts don’t slip first. (The amp load can be cut in half by rewiring the motor to 240 volts.)

The short-rail version of this saw has less capacity left and right of the blade than most other models. The fence is very heavy. To fully enclose the base for dust collection you’ll need a motor-cabinet door, an extra $30.

Jet JWTS-10CW2 $900
This is Jet’s top contractor’s saw. (The long-rail version is shown here.)

PROS
This saw comes with two cast-iron wings and a very nice fence.The cursor is easy to read. The fence can be adjusted vertically so its faces are perfectly square to the surface of the table.The bottom of the base is closed off by a plastic dust fitting with a 4-in. port.

The 1-1/2-hp motor draws 18 amps, nicely matched to a 20-amp circuit.We had success running this saw hard, without popping a breaker.

CONS
It’s a right-tilt.The front rail has an upper and lower scale, but the cursor only reads the lower one. It’s a safe saw, but it doesn’t have any of the four extra safety features we liked (see page 40)

Jet JWCS-10A $1,000
This hybrid saw has a contractor’s-saw mechanism tucked inside a cabinet base. (The long-rail version is shown here.)

PROS
A saw with a cabinet base has better dust collection than one with an open base.With the motor tucked inside, the saw takes up less room.A cabinet base is also sturdier than an open base.

The 1-3/4-hp motor is slightly more powerful than the 1-1/2-hp motor on the Jet JWTS-10CW2 contractor’s saw and has a thermal overload button (most saws don’t).The fence has easily replaceable faces, vertical adjustment, and a good cursor and rule.

CONS
The cabinet-style base is an excellent improvement over an open base, but this saw doesn’t have two other important features we’re looking for. First, it’s a right tilt. Second, you get a tableboard rather than a cast-iron wing on the right side of the saw, although you can buy an extra cast-iron wing for $100.The switch is not magnetic, and there’s no more room around the front handwheel than on a contractor’s saw.

Powermatic 64A $900
This is Powermatic’s top-of-the-line contractor’s saw.

PROS
It tilts to the left.This is one of only two saws we tested that both tilt to the left and have two cast-iron wings as standard equipment (the other is the General International 50-185L-M1). The fence is easy to read, can be adjusted perfectly vertical to the table, and has easily replaceable faces.The guard totally encloses the blade on a 45-degree cut, unlike any other saw. The base has a plastic dust fitting with a 4-in. port.

CONS
We had one pet peeve with this fine saw: the blade guard. Not only can’t you see through it, but changing blades can be awkward. Most guards flip entirely out of the way, but this one has a rigid bar that remains cantilevered over the blade.You gain access to the blade by lifting two independent metal wings, which can interfere with your wrench and blade-jamming stick.A narrow throat opening further restricts the amount of room you’ve got. The miter gauge has a short bar.

Ridgid TS 3612 $600
It looks like just another contractor’s saw, but there are significant differences.This saw is distinguished by its good safety features.

PROS
The blade tilts to the left. It’s the onlysaw with a blade guard that requires no tools to mount or dismount.The saw comes with a built-in money-saving mobile base.The motor is highly unlikely to pop a breaker even on a 15-amp circuit.

The all-aluminum-extrusion fence works very smoothly.You get a wider rip capacity than on any other saw with short rails.There’s a scale on the left side of the blade.You can adjust the 45-and 90-degree stops for the blade by turning screws in the top of the saw.

CONS
The motor is among the least powerful we tested, but it’s perfectly adequate for most jobs.The front-elevation handwheel doesn’t have a locking knob. This saw comes with two open-style ribbed wings, which can leak pencils and pinch fingers. Neither solid wings or longer rails are available.The trunnions are made of lighter weight aluminum, rather than heavier cast iron.There’s no dust fitting.

Woodtek 109-349 $500
This is a no-frills contractor’s saw.

PROS
This 2-hp saw comes with two cast-iron wings and a steel fence with aluminum-extrusion faces. Both faces have T-slots.The fence can be adjusted vertically so its faces are perfectly square to the surface of the table.You get a plastic dust fitting with a 4-in. port inside the case.

CONS
It’s a right-tilt.The motor draws 24 amps and is liable to pop a breaker under a full load.The fence performs well but has a few drawbacks. It lifts off the table and drops back down when you lock down the knob.The cursor has a magnifying window that distorts the rule on either side of the cursor line.The fence’s T-slots are a bit too narrow to accept standard fasteners. The miter gauge has a short bar.This only available with short rails.

Too New To Test
A New Hybrid Saw from Jet Coming your way in mid-October is a brand-new hybrid 120-volt, 1-3/4-hp saw, the Jet SuperSaw ($850 with 30-in. rails). It was not ready for us to test, but this saw is definitely worth a closer look. Unlike any of the saws we tested, it has all three key features we’re looking for: left tilt, two cast-iron wings and an enclosed base for better dust collection (the motor is tucked under the table). It’s built to handle an integral sliding table, a $350 accessory. The fence is an aluminum extrusion with T-slots on the top and sides. The motor mounts on a standard frame. You get a large, non-magnetic switch that can be slid anywhere you want along the front rail.
New Sears Craftsman Saws Sears Craftsman is revamping their entire line of saws, which are due out in 2003. We weren’t able to test these new models.
Ryobi’s Updated Benchtop Saw The Ryobi BT3000 is the only bench-top saw with an integral sliding table. The entire saw is being redesigned for the first time in 10 years. The new model, the BT3100 (at right), is due out this fall, and will sell for $300.

You Should Also Know About...
240-volt Saws You can enter the much wider world of cabinet saws if your shop is wired for 240 volts. Cabinet saws that run on 240 volts have much more power, run smoother and are easier to align than contractor’s saws or hybrid saws. They cost from $900 to $2,000, with quite a few less than $1,200. (For a complete listing, visit our Web site at www.americanwoodworker.com.)