Table Saw Reviews

Everyone who is in the market for a table saw is interested in finding reliable reviews to help them make their purchase decision.  While this is especially true for those interested in higher priced cabinet saws, hybrid saws, contractor saws, and portable table saws, even people  looking for a low end benchtop table saw want to get some guidance before they buy.  The Internet has supplanted woodworking magazines like Woodworker’s Journal and Fine Homebuilding as the principal source for both expert & user reviews but most of those publications have online sites.  Unfortunately many require a subscription fee before you can read reviews, so an old fashioned trip to the public library is something you might want to consider.  Since not all reviews are created equal, let’s look at some broad categories of reviews you’ll find on the net.

Category Reviews

If you’re a newcomer to the wonderful world of table saws you’ll need to start out by focusing on reviews that explain the different types of table saws and what each is designed to do.  Many of these category reviews include the top ten models in the given category.  For example, a review of portable table saws often features descriptions of the top ten models and ends with a rating of the best portable table saw out there.

Single Product Reviews

Although they can be a little more difficult to find, you can enter a model number of a table saw you’re interested in and you might come up with something.  While you can get model information from a manufacturer’s website, if you want a source with a higher credibility rating you’re going to want to get the opinion of someone who has actually used the saw.

User (Shill) Reviews

Many an internet user is totally unaware of the fact that today the net is filled with reviews written by people who are paid to do so.  While not all of these reviews are out and out attempts to deceive the reader, like the paid shills in the bygone era of travelling carnivals, they should be read with a bit of healthy skepticism.

You can still get quality information about a saw’s features and specifications from this kind of review.  What you often won’t find is a detailed discussion of the “cons” of the table saw being reviewed.  This is especially true in reviews appearing on woodworking equipment ecommerce sites.

After all, if your business sells only Makita, Sawstop, and Powermatic table saws, how likely are you to point out the shortcomings of any of their products.  One of the better sources of ratings of table saws is Amazon.com.  Anyone who has ever looked at saws online at Amazon knows they have many user reviews of the most popular saws.

Expert (Geek) Reviews

Although you would think that a real expert woodworker would be one of the best sources of table saw reviews, some of them get so technical they can only be read by other experts.  “Geeks” are everywhere these days, even with woodworking equipment.  When some of these reviewers get into comparison tests of the performance benefits of different trunnion design the mind of a novice can glaze over pretty quickly. (By thw way, in woodworking, they are the assembly that holds a saw's arbor to the underside of the saw table.)

Video Reviews

If you’re already started searching reviews you know that when you can see more photos of the saw and its accessories, it’s easier to understand the reviews.  We have many video reviews of table saws, both the very high end cabinet saws, and the mid range portable table saws.  Seeing a saw in operation is a terrific way to learn about table saws in general as well as about the performance features of a particular saw.

Finally, many feel nothing can match the “touch and feel” approach so you should definitely consider visiting a major home improvement center like Home Depot or Lowes to actually see a saw.  Even better, many retail outlets of fine woodworking equipment have models on display and frequently hold demonstrations.