What to Look for in a Table Saw

Buying a table saw can be a big decision. Firstly, a table is a sizeable investment compared to most of your other tools in the workshop. Table saws have a long life, so you will want to happy with your choice because there is a good chance you will have it for the rest of your life. They also take up a fair amount of space in your workshop, so you want your table to be a hard-working unit that you enjoy using.

There are many brands on the market, but Timbecon chooses to stock Sherwood table saws. The UK-based company is well-known for its high quality cutting tools and machines. They invest heavily in R&D and provide tools for drilling, milling, sawing, threading, countersinking and reaming.

1. Power

Before you make your purchase, think about your requirements for power. A hobbyist with small project pieces won’t need the same level of power that a commercial workshop will need. For example, a 2-inch thick piece of hardwood should be fine on a 1.5 to 2 horsepower table saw but if the hardwood is any thicker, then a 3.5 to 5 horsepower motor is required.

2. Safety Features

Look at the safety features available on the table saw before you purchase. Being able to operate the on/off switch with your knee, hip or foot allows you to keep both hands on your piece which may save a finger but also save your work from unfortunate slips.

Being able to adjust the height of your table saw is not just important for short or tall people. An easily adjustable table allows you to change the height with every project. Working at the ideal height means you are less at risk of back, neck and repetitive strain injuries.

If you haven’t used a table saw regularly, then the safest option is to go with one that has a left blade tilt rather than right. Bevel and angle cuts require the saw to be angled from its usual 90-degree position.

A No-Volt Release (NVR) switch makes sure your table saw doesn’t automatically startup when the power is restored following an outage. A serious injury could occur if you were working or leaning against your table saw and it started without warning.

Kickback can cause injuries but you can minimise these with a table saw that uses a riving knife instead of a splitter as the splitter can be removed from the machine. The 10in Standard Cabinet Saw boasts a quick release riving knife system.

3. Dust Collection

Having a table saw that collects the dust isn’t just a nice feature for keeping the workshop clean. Dust extractors reduce the quantity of sawdust in the air which helps with air quality. The less wood dust in the air, the less you are breathing in. The Sherwood models have different dust extractors depending on the type of saw.

The Sherwood 10in Contractor Saw has a dust port built into the top part of the base to ensure maximum dust extraction.

The Sherwood 10in Hybrid Saw provides a 4in dust outlet at the rear of the cabinet base.

The Sherwood 10in Standard Cabinet Saw has a 4in dust outlet built into the rear of the cabinet base.

4. Portability

If you need to move your table saw from job to job, you may need one that can be easily transported in the back of a ute or trailer. The 10in Worksite Saw makes it easy to move your saw table around or when it’s not in use, fold up the stand and store out of the way so you have more room in a tight workshop.

5. Easy to Use

If you are a hobbyist who is only going to use your table saw on the odd occasion, you are at risk of not becoming familiar with it, simply because you don’t use it enough. Even if you do use it regularly then stop, it's easy to forget how to use it between projects. Before you purchase your table saw, check that you are going to be able to change the blades easy enough, calibrate your machine and use it to complete your projects.

Choosing the Right Vice

Make the right choice in a vice and it will soon become your second set of strong, sturdy hands. Depending on the type of work you do, you may need just one vice or various purpose-built vices.

Choose the Correct Vice for Your Workshop

To ensure your vice becomes a valued piece of equipment in your workshop that lasts the distance, you need to choose one that best meets your needs. A machinist will choose a different vice to a woodworker. If it’s general household work that you need a vice for, then you will need a basic, all-round vice.

Quick Action Bench Vice

The Quick Action Bench Vice is a good all-rounder. Thousands of these vices appear in home workshops and schools throughout Australia. The handles are made from a solid 17mm steel bar, so they don’t bend. The peg is height adjustable to allow for it to be used in conjunction with bench dogs to clamp work above the benchtop. The cast iron jaws are tapered to allow you to clamp anything that is slightly out of square. Both jaws have holes pre-cast so you can attach wooden sub-faces to prevent timber from being marked. Jigs can also be fixed to hold odd-shaped material. The vice is available in three sizes – 175mm, 230mm and 265mm.

Front Vice Screws

This vice type is most commonly used for woodworking jobs. The solid cast iron plate is mounted underneath the bench so that the edge of the bench acts as one clamping face and another jaw is mounted on the vice front. Timber is ideal for use in the clamp jaws to protect the gripped item.

The clamp uses three posts (two guides and a screw) for smooth adjustment and even clamping pressure. The brackets are made from solid cast iron with a powder coating to ensure a long-life.

The Baladonia vice is available in two sizes – small and large. The small vice has a clamping capacity of 210mm while the large can clamp up to 330mm (both sizes are minus the wooden jaw thickness).

Cross Slide Vice

Another Baladonia vice made of solid cast iron construction, the cross slide vice is ideal for fine adjustment when making mortice joints and positioning work for drilling with pin-point accuracy. Designed to hold pieces up to 100mm wide, it has a sliding mechanism and adjusts in both directions to ensure parallelism with an integral stop for production work. The jaw faces can be replaced with wooden faces to ensure the jaws don’t mar your piece.

Shoulder Vice

The shoulder vice provides flexibility for clamping out of square and tapered pieces. The threaded section and adjustment knuckle are morticed into the vice shoulder while the pivoting jaw mount is located on the ball-end.

Tail Vice

The tail vice and mount kit reduce sagging over time with the weight of the material. Many tail vices are sold without a mount kit but the extra mounting brackets are good for reducing the sagging. A tail vice is ideal for holding narrow boards horizontally and clamping wide or long pieces with an open end holding it in place while working on it. The vice screw is made from bright steel bar with a deep-cut thread for positive clamping pressure. It has a maximum travel of 330mm.