There are 3 basic kinds of table saws; cabinet, contractor, benchtop.
A contractor saw looks like a table saw because it is a table saw.
"Faustino Dina" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
>
> I was looking pictures of both devices but they look pretty similar...
>
> --
> Faustino Dina
> --------------------------------------------------------
> If my email address starts with two 'f'
> drop the first 'f' when mailing me.
>
>
On Mon, 1 Dec 2003 08:50:04 -0600, "Faustino Dina"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Hi,
>
>I was looking pictures of both devices but they look pretty similar...
Howdy,
The difference is principally in the weight (and thus, perhaps, in
accuracy)... Those designated as "Table Saws" (or sometimes cabinet
saws, or saw benches) are typically heavier in construction with such
things as cast iron tables.
HTH,
--
Kenneth
If you email... Please remove the "SPAMLESS."
Kenneth answers:
>>
>>I was looking pictures of both devices but they look pretty similar...
>
>Howdy,
>
>The difference is principally in the weight (and thus, perhaps, in
>accuracy)... Those designated as "Table Saws" (or sometimes cabinet
>saws, or saw benches) are typically heavier in construction with such
>things as cast iron tables.
Not so. Both contractor's saws and cabinet saws are table saws. They are just
different models of the overall type. There are now the hybrid types, from Jet
and DeWalt, and it isn't stretching a point too far to say that benchtop saws
are also table saws.
A table saw is nothing but a circular saw with a table.
Charlie Self
"I have as much authority as the Pope, I just don't have as many people who
believe it." George Carlin
since you're obviously not from around these parts, we'll let this go. This
once.
--
There are no stupid questions.
There are a LOT of inquisitive idiots.
"Faustino Dina" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
>
> I was looking pictures of both devices but they look pretty similar...
>
> --
> Faustino Dina
> --------------------------------------------------------
> If my email address starts with two 'f'
> drop the first 'f' when mailing me.
>
>
As one of the other fellows said, there are basically four types of
modern saws today. The cabinet saw, the contractor's saw and the
portable, or benchtop saw and finally, the hybrid saw.
The portable would include saws like the Dewalt, Makita, Bosch and
Delta portables. These are the "New" generation of worksite saws that
were designed to be carried to job sites.
The "contractor" saw is heavier as others have said and was originally
meant to be moved from job site to job site. They usually have a 1 and
1/2 hp motor that is mounted on a steel mount that is placed outside
the saw cabinet. The trunnion, etc, is mounted to the bottom of the
saw table itself.
The cabinet saw is described as the other fellas said. But in
addition, the trunnion, etc, is not mounted on the bottom of the saw
table...it is mounted to the cabinet itself. This is supposed to
reduce the vibration.
And finally, the new "hybrid" saws.... They attempt to be a cross
between a cabinet saw and a contractors saw. The motor is mounted
inside the cabinet, but the trunnion is still mounted on the bottom of
the table.
But ALL of them are still "table saws".
Terry
Well,if they do, I am insulted! Normally a contractors saw is open
base-lighter so they can pick it up and put it in the back of a pickup
truck. A cabinet saw is MUCH heavier, has an enclosed base and is
usully much more polished & refined with a GOOD fence. Not not all
enclosed base saws are cabinet saws but offhand I cannot think of a
single cabinet saw that has an open base. Mabe someone else does?
On Mon, 1 Dec 2003 08:50:04 -0600, "Faustino Dina"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Hi,
>
>I was looking pictures of both devices but they look pretty similar...
Lawrence Ramsey responds:
>Well,if they do, I am insulted! Normally a contractors saw is open
>base-lighter so they can pick it up and put it in the back of a pickup
>truck.
Operative word is "they." Contractor's saws range in weight froma bout 230
pounds to 280 pounds. Helpers needed.
>A cabinet saw is MUCH heavier, has an enclosed base and is
>usully much more polished & refined with a GOOD fence.
A good contractor's saw will also be polished and refined, with a good fence,
sometimes the same fence or a shorter-railed version of it that is on the
company's cabinet saw. It will differ in lighter (not light) weight: cabinet
saws typically weigh from 400 pounds to over 525 pounds, most have closed bases
versus open stands on the contractor's saws, and most also use 3 belts to
transfer power to the blade from an internally located motor, while the
contractor's saw has a single belt (some models had a flex shaft and some
models may still have direct drive, two things to be avoided in any full-scale
table saw).
Charlie Self
"I have as much authority as the Pope, I just don't have as many people who
believe it." George Carlin
Lawrence A. Ramsey wrote:
> my Mini-Max S45 18" bandsaw but the motor was a hoss. Sorry, maybe I
I'd think for something like that you'd want more than one hoss power.
--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
Heck, Charlie, I have always loaded a Delta Contrcator's saw by
myself- for over 30 years and I am fifty. Course I also move a Jet 17"
drill press by myself and it was a mite difficult to put the head on
but after that, no problem. I did have to ask someone to help me load
my Mini-Max S45 18" bandsaw but the motor was a hoss. Sorry, maybe I
forgot most folks don't want to do that. Oh well----.
\\On 01 Dec 2003 15:19:45 GMT, [email protected] (Charlie
Self) wrote:
>Lawrence Ramsey responds:
>
>>Well,if they do, I am insulted! Normally a contractors saw is open
>>base-lighter so they can pick it up and put it in the back of a pickup
>>truck.
>
>Operative word is "they." Contractor's saws range in weight froma bout 230
>pounds to 280 pounds. Helpers needed.
>
>>A cabinet saw is MUCH heavier, has an enclosed base and is
>>usully much more polished & refined with a GOOD fence.
>
>A good contractor's saw will also be polished and refined, with a good fence,
>sometimes the same fence or a shorter-railed version of it that is on the
>company's cabinet saw. It will differ in lighter (not light) weight: cabinet
>saws typically weigh from 400 pounds to over 525 pounds, most have closed bases
>versus open stands on the contractor's saws, and most also use 3 belts to
>transfer power to the blade from an internally located motor, while the
>contractor's saw has a single belt (some models had a flex shaft and some
>models may still have direct drive, two things to be avoided in any full-scale
>table saw).
>
>Charlie Self
>
>"I have as much authority as the Pope, I just don't have as many people who
>believe it." George Carlin
>
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As far as function goes they are the same but the construction is different.
in, of course the base, but also in the way the motor is attached to the
trunnion's, and the weight and make up of those essential parts. Then there
is the motors and horse power.
In the past, and not all that long ago, a contractors saw was meant to be
hauled from site to site and handled by every ham handed apprentice on the
site. The cabinet saw was found in high end cabinet shops custom woodworking
shops and was built for extreme accuracy and long hours of running. Also
much better dust collection then the contractors saw.
In those days, to get the contractors saw to give the accuracy of a cabinet
saw it took an investment in upgrades that usually cost as much as the saw
itself.
Because of the upsurge in popularity of woodworking as a past time good
contractors saw now come equipped to provide accuracy that rivals the
cabinet saw. It's motor is still smaller then that of a cabinet saw, usually
1 1/2 to 2 HP Vs 3 + HP but that just means you have to be a bit more
patient when cutting thick or heavy stock. Dust collection is still a
problem for the contractor saws but there are aftermarket things to help in
that area. The inner workings haven't changed much and the trunnions and
such are still lighter and attached differently in the contractors saw and
the lack of vibration dampening cast iron in the contractors saw can mean
more, well, vibration.
While a cabinet saw could be expected to long outlive a contractor saw in a
commercial shop, in a home shop, the contractor's saw provides good accuracy
and, since the usage is far less demanding, a long useful life.
--
Mike G.
[email protected]
Heirloom Woods
www.heirloom-woods.net
"Faustino Dina" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
>
> I was looking pictures of both devices but they look pretty similar...
>
> --
> Faustino Dina
> --------------------------------------------------------
> If my email address starts with two 'f'
> drop the first 'f' when mailing me.
>
>
Mon, Dec 1, 2003, 10:54am [email protected] (Mike=A0G) claims:
<snip> In the past, and not all that long ago, a contractors saw was
meant to be hauled from site to site <snip>
And, when did this change? And, what do they use instead?
JOAT
People think that professional soldiers think a lot about fighting, but
serious professional soldiers think a lot more about food and a warm
place to sleep, because these are two things that are generally hard to
get, whereas fighting tends to turn up all the time.
- General Friit
Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT
Web Page Update 30 Nov 2003.
Some tunes I like.
http://community-2.webtv.net/Jakofalltrades/SOMETUNESILIKE/
JOAT asks:
>Mon, Dec 1, 2003, 10:54am [email protected] (Mike=A0G) claims:
><snip> In the past, and not all that long ago, a contractors saw was
>meant to be hauled from site to site <snip>
>
> And, when did this change? And, what do they use instead?
It hasn't changed, but I did note not too long ago, one of the testers on Tools
of the Trade or Fine Homebuilding complained about the DeWalt (I think) bench
top saw being too heavy at 65 pounds. So, figure...Lawrence says he loaded
contractor's saws by himself. I have too, more often than I like to recall, but
it was absolutely never a pleasant experience. Grunt, haul, sweat, grunt, haul,
lift, shove and then spend 15 minutes tying the sucker down.
To me, 65 pounds sounds reasonable, not overweight, when compared to 250 or
more, but it's kind of a "To each his own" deal.
Charlie Self
"I have as much authority as the Pope, I just don't have as many people who
believe it." George Carlin
Tue, Dec 2, 2003, 12:35am (EST+5) [email protected]
(Charlie=A0Self) says:
It hasn't changed <snip>
I know, but I'd like to know where he got his information.
<> too heavy at 65 pounds. <snip>
The guy's a weenie then. I remember as a kid more than once
carrying a 100 lb sack of feed on each shoulder. Or a two bales of
straw with each hand, and the twine digging in. I could sometimes carry
two bales of hay with each hand too, if they were bailed light, usually
they were heavy enough it was only one with each hand. And, every once
in awhile, someone would adjust the bailer, so the bales were so heavy,
you could only carry one at a time. So, I figure lifting 65 lbs on and
off a truck should be no prob. And, even if he has to carry it a few
feet, it's still only 65 lbs, and he can use both hands on it.
JOAT
People think that professional soldiers think a lot about fighting, but
serious professional soldiers think a lot more about food and a warm
place to sleep, because these are two things that are generally hard to
get, whereas fighting tends to turn up all the time.
- General Friit
Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT
Web Page Update 1 Dec 2003.
Some tunes I like.
http://community-2.webtv.net/Jakofalltrades/SOMETUNESILIKE/
T. wrote:
> <> too heavy at 65 pounds. <snip>
>
> The guy's a weenie then. I remember as a kid more than once
> carrying a 100 lb sack of feed on each shoulder. Or a two bales of
Age doesn't help either. I used to pick up a 258 pound entertainment
center, balance it on my shoulder, and carry it out to the customer's car.
About seven years later, if I managed to lift such a thing, I'd destroy
both of my knees in the process, and probably my back.
--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/