Types of bench saws

A bench saw is probably the most used power tool in a carpenter and woodworker's shop it is the most important thing and the only one, perhaps that a woodworker can't live without.

Most commonly known as a table saw, it is a powerful and versatile woodworking tool, the most rudimentary bench saws where made with just a circular saw blade on top of a table and it is typically powered by an electric motor.

Let's have a look at some of the most common types of bench saws to see if anyone fits your needs.

The table bench saw: The most typical bench saw, it can be used to make most cuts and rips, there exits a wide array of choices of different brands, sizes, power, and they can come with different features, like dust collection, fences, stands, etc. You have portable bench saws, contractor bench saws, cabinet bench saws, and many others. With so many choices it can be difficult for a beginner woodworker to choose one, especially when one takes into account that this is the centerpiece of your shop. Think it out before you decide because a table bench saw will be your best companion.

Some nice cabinet table saws come from Grizzly and Unisaw, while my favourite portable ones are the Makita and Bosch table saws.

The mitre saw bench: If you have to work frequently with crosscuts and miters, a traditional table saw may not be enough, or even if it is you can save a lot of time with a miter saw. The best ones in my opinion are compounding and sliding miter bench saws, with these features you will have a lot more versatility and will be able to make much more accurate cuts, most modersn 10" miter saws include these characteristics, so it shouldn't be a problem, the most advanced ones even include some sort of indication as to the position of the cut, such as a laser guide, while nice it's not a must and in some cases it can rise up the price.

In my opinion a very good miter saw is the Bosch one, you might want to include a Ryobi stand, a very nice combination.

The tractor saw bench: Who said I was only into woodworking? I'm a power tool freak and what is more powerful that a tractor driven circular saw benches, this of course is used for logging and that's great you don't have to worry about all those fancy accessories, I just want to cut, and this thing is powerful.