Recordpower - Woodworking tools

Table Saw Buyer's Guide

With the ability to rip and cross cut solid timber as well as re-sizing sheet material quickly and accurately, a good quality table saw is essential for most keen woodworkers and is likely to be the starting point for many projects.

Author: Record Power

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Choosing the Right Table Saw
Table saws vary in size, quality and cost, so knowing what the saw will be used for is an important factor in choosing a suitable machine. If its purpose will be the machining of solid timber for furniture and cabinet work then a good depth of cut, solid rip fence, powerful motor and heavy cast table should be prioritised. If cutting mainly sheet material, the rip capacity from blade to fence, a good quality sliding carriage with suitable support and generous stroke will be the most important features. If the sheet material will be mainly veneered, a machine with a scoring blade to minimise chipping will be invaluable.

Deciding What to Spend
The accuracy and performance a good table saw offers really makes this machine the heart of many workshops so it is essential to choose with care to not only ensure best value for money but also that the table saw will perform as expected. If the right machine is beyond budget, it is often better to wait and buy later rather than try to struggle with an inadequate model.

Key Aspects of Table Saw Construction
There are many elements that contribute to the accuracy, capacity and longevity of a table saw. The following is an essential guide to what to look out for when choosing a machine.

Rip Fence & Rails

Mitre Fences and Slots

A sturdy, accurate and easily adjustable rip fence is essential for accurate rip cutting. It should also be adjustable to allow precise alignment with the blade and table. It should be possible to set the fence to extend just past the centre of the blade to avoid binding of the timber against the fence which can result in kickback.

Record Power table saws feature a highly accurate mitre fence system which uses the sliding beam to securely hold and move the mitre fence towards the blade. The traditional method of using a table slot to move the fence is inherently flawed, as the slot itself must be wide enough to allow easy travel, making the mitre fence a loose fit and therefore introducing the potential for inaccuracy. The Record Power system eliminates inaccuracy and table friction and means the fence can be moved close to the blade for maximum support of the timber.

Record Power Rip
Fence & Rails
Our rip fences use sturdy extrusions mounted on a heavy iron casting for solid support. Cam action or brass screws provide quick, simple and solid locking mechanisms with micro-adjustment as standard. The fence rails are industrial style solid steel bars with adjustable bolt mountings as found on industrial machines.

Others’ Rip Fences
and Rails
Many of our competitors use aluminium extrusions for the fence rail rather than solid steel bars. These provide minimal support and are prone to flexing which greatly reduces accuracy. They are often clamped directly to the table, leaving crude shimming as the only option for adjustment.

Record Power Mitre
Fences and Slots
The mitre fences are secured to sliding beams to ensure unsurpassed accuracy - This system is used in industrial panel saws for accurate cutting of sheets.

Others’ Mitre
Fences and Slots
Traditional slots introduce inaccuracy which is often not helped by the quality of mitre fence provided – often plastic or cheap alloy, insubstantial and difficult to use.

Sliding Beams and Squaring Frames

Tables

All Record Power table saws feature sliding beams for accurate cross cutting. It is important that beams have good, wide support and be easily adjustable to ensure alignment with the blade. When larger sheets need to be handled regularly, a squaring frame with adequate support is invaluable and makes sizing sheets accurately an easy job.

The table is the main support and datum for your work so it needs to be smooth, flat and sturdy. Unless you need a portable saw for site use, the ideal material for a table is cast iron which retains its accuracy and provides a solid base for your projects.

Record Power Beams
All Record Power beams offer adjustment to ensure accuracy to the blade and give excellent support for the stroke requirements of each machine. The bearings are high quality to give smooth action, resulting in a superior cut.

Others’ Beams
Some competitors offer beams with poor quality bearings that do not hold their accuracy and provide bumpy action. Adjustments can rely on crude methods such as shimming and access to adjustments can be difficult.

Record Power Tables
All Record Power table saws feature generous cast iron tables which are surface ground to provide a flat, smooth and accurate surface for your work. Optional table extensions are available to increase the capacity to the right of the blade if required.

Others’ Tables
Some of our competitors offer tables that look like cast iron but are in fact cast aluminium which is simply not as robust or strong. Those that do offer cast iron tables often omit the expensive and time consuming process of surface grinding, resulting in an inferior table surface.
Ensure that any extension tables provide adequate rigidity and accuracy – Foldaway or quick change tables may look appealing but it is very difficult to offer these features without compromises in the rigidity of the extension and poor surface alignment.

Blade Rise, Fall and Tilt

Weight

To use a table saw safely, accurately and to its full capacity it is important to be able to adjust the height and angle of the blade quickly and easily.

Weight of construction is important as it is with any machine. The heavier the machine, the more stable it is when in use and the less it will be affected by vibration. Weight also provides a good indication of the quality of components used during manufacture. Unless you need a portable machine for site-use, a heavy machine is better for supporting large sheets and heavy timbers.

Record Power Rise,
Fall and Tilt
All Record Power table saws feature separate handles and mechanisms for accurate and easy rise, fall and tilt of the blade. The mechanisms are driven by thick steel bars with rolled acme threads for rapid, smooth and easy adjustment with minimal fuss. Each handle can be locked firmly in place with ease.

Others’ Rise, Fall and Tilt
A common cost-saving ploy is to combine the rise, fall and tilt into a single mechanism where you often have to push the rise and fall handle into a rack to tilt the blade. Not only can this be awkward and difficult but is also difficult to retain pressure whilst adjusting. Some machines even have the tilt mechanism lock on the opposite side of the machine, making access difficult and dangerous as the operator is forced to lean over the top of the blade. It is not uncommon to see plastic racks and / or pinions - These do not provide the strength or longevity of the Record Power system.

Internal Construction and Trunnions

It is critical for the motor and saw unit to have rigid support - Only with sufficient support can the blade be accurately and securely positioned.

Record Power Internal Construction and Trunnions
All Record Power table saws feature heavy cast iron saw units to house the blade, drive mechanism and motors – this provides strength, rigidity and dampens vibration. The saw units are supported by substantial cast iron trunnions which are machined for accurate and smooth operation when tilting. Trunnions are mounted to the frame to further isolate the table from vibration and provide strong support, as found in industrial panel saws.

Others’ Internal Construction and Trunnions
The internals are without a doubt the most differentiating factor of table saws, yet due to their nature are also the most easily overlooked. Many manufacturers take full advantage of this by skimping on internal construction. Alloy castings simply screwed to the table, steel pressings and even bent pins welded to a steel saw housing and hung from a thin steel bracket are just some of the common poor quality alternatives to the heavy duty Record Power approach, giving little support, highly inadequate torsion resistance and compromised accuracy.