The table saw is the heart of most woodworking shops. This is true whether it's professional shop, or a basement hobby shop. In general, no project regardless of size is done without one. It is often one of the first pieces of equipment to be used.
The uses for them range from rough cutting lumber to creating moldings. Many complex joinery techniques can be accomplished with these tools, provided the user is experienced with the machine.
Table saws are available in many models, and range in cost from a hundred dollars, for the home owner with only an occasional need for one, to many thousands of dollars, geared towards high production shops.
In the United States alone, there are over six million units in use, and over eighty thousand units sold per year. The after market accessories for the table saw is also a huge business. There are many devices that increase the capabilities and safety of the saw.
Table saw safety is an important part of woodworking. Read and follow the safety precautions that come with the saw. Use common sense, and good judgment. If it doesn't feel right, don't do it. Find another way. And always, with any thru cut, use an anti kickback device. A kickback can occur at any time and be fatal.
Due to the amount of use of these machines get, they account for a very high percentage of the injuries in a wood shop. Most often, this is operator error, not mechanical failure.
It may be surprising to note that the majority of injuries happen to professional wood workers. When you consider the fact that they are using the machines on a daily basis, often for hours at a time, this is understandable. Due to the amount of time spent using this machine, they become very comfortable with them. This can lead to over confidence. They are usually in a little more of a hurry to get things accomplished, as their livelihood depends on production. This in itself accounts for many accidents.
Another large factor in this statistic is the fact that most professionals do not use the guards supplied with the machines. They are considered inconvenient, and they do require a little extra time.
Saw Stop is a saw manufacturer which has designed a saw that all but eliminates table saw accidents. It uses a cartridge that senses finger contact with the blade and stops the blade in milliseconds. It also drops the blade below the surface of the table, rendering it harmless. The cartridge and blade must be replaced after an incident, but considering the cost of the average table saw injury is in the neighborhood of forty five thousand dollars, it kind of becomes a mute point.
This saw manufacture has won many safety awards, in addition to making top quality machines. The cost of the machine is higher than most saws in the same size range, but again when considering the cost of an accident, it is money well spent.
Table saws come in many sizes and configurations. Size is determined by the diameter of the blade. A common size is ten inches. Some saws are designed for occasional use, while others are designed for continuous duty. Considering the size of the market, and the various requirements needed by different types of end users, it has evolved into a very large and competitive market.
The smallest models in the group, which often have an eight inch blade, are aimed at homeowners. These saws are not powerful or accurate machines. They are typically very loud, and have very small table tops. The only real plus to these units is the portability and low price. I don't recommend them.
Many people wanting to get involved in woodworking are tempted to buy these saws, due to the low price, and uncertainty that they will continue with woodworking as a hobby. This is a problem in that the saws don't perform well and lead the user to believe that woodworking is best left to the "pros". Poor quality tools lead to poor quality results. Spending a little more for a better quality saw can result in a much more satisfying, and safer experience.
The next level of saws in the group would be the contractor's saws. Many are available with stands that fold and are fitted with wheels to make them very portable. They are generally larger than those in the previous group, have a more powerful motor, as well having a higher level of quality. They are primarily designed to be used on job sites, by carpenters and contractors.
Some contractor's saws are very large, powerful machines. They are too big to move easily, but are comparable to cabinet saws in quality and performance.
There is a new type of saw recently being offered to the market place. They are called "hybrid" saws. The idea behind them is to offer a saw that looks like a cabinet saw, but cost much less. These are a scaled down version of cabinet saws. The have smaller motors, typically 1 3/4 H.P., and are lower quality throughout. The castings are lighter, resulting in more vibration. While I've never used these saws myself, I have inspected them for others thinking of buying one. I've watched sales people try to steer people away from buying them, as they feel buyers are being misled.
The next group would be cabinet saws. The Delta Unisaw and the Powermatic 66 are the most popular of this group. They are available with right tilt or left tilt blades. There is a long debate as to which is better or safer. This only becomes an issue when making miter cuts. For this purpose, left tilting blades are safer as the cutoff doesn't get stuck between the blade and the rip fence, thereby reducing the chance of kick back.
These saws generally start at 3 H.P. motors, and are offered with 5 H.P. motors as well. They are capable of very fine work. The accuracy built into them is done with cabinet and furniture makers in mind. Instead of one or two drive belts, they have three. The castings are very heavy, to eliminate vibration. When properly tuned, they are a pleasure to work with. The accuracy is something that you can depend on.
As with all tools, consider the expected use, and buy the best quality you can afford, with that use in mind.
No comments:
Post a Comment