Want to invest in proper woodworking power tools but not sure which wood saw is perfect for you? Do you choose a table saw or a miter saw? Learn about the pros and cons of a table saw and miter saw to decide which is best for your woodworking project and your needs.
Table saws and miter saws are two types of saws popular in most workshops. Although they both lean on different principles of cutting wood, their applications overlap in several areas — which is why it is not always clear to know which one is right for you.
How big are the pieces of wood?
Can you estimate the sizes of wood you want to cut in the future? A table saw has a flat table that supports the wood as it is cut. With a miter saw, however, the user places a strip of wood on a slim base at the front of the saw and then manually lowers the rotating blade to be able to cut the wood. On the other hand, with a table saw, the user operates and pushes the wood him- or herself. Therefore, table saws are generally better at cutting large pieces of wood.
How portable should the saw be?
Most miter saws weigh no more than 30 kilos and can be loaded into the back of a van or even the trunk of a large car. While some table saws come with wheels at the bottom that allow the user to roll them from place to place, most table saws are considered stationary and are not made to be portable. So if you intend to use the saw in different locations, it is better to choose a miter saw instead of a table saw.
Do you want to saw bevels?
In addition to beveling the end of a piece of wood, the head of a miter saw can also be tilted sideways to simultaneously cut a bevel instead of a flat edge. Thus, miter saws are better suited for cutting bevels and rounded shapes. The blade on a table saw can also be adjusted from under the table to cut rounded shapes, but cutting bevels is a lot more challenging on a table saw.
How precise should the saw be?
A miter saw is more accurate than a table saw because the wood is held firmly against the back of the saw throughout the cut. With a table saw, the wood is constantly moving, and if the user varies the pressure on the wood as they push it into the blade, this can cause slightly spiked areas on the cutting edge of the plank. So if you want to perform very accurate sawing, it is recommended to choose a miter saw instead of a table saw.
What is the budget?
You can buy a miter saw for less than 150 euros, while a table saw from a good brand such as a Dewalt table saw will easily cost more than 500 euros. If you’re working with a low budget, it is better to choose a miter saw from a good brand rather than a less sturdy table saw. Regardless of whether you choose a table saw or miter saw, it is crucial that you select one from a good brand. Think, for example, of Dewalt, Makita, Bosch, Festool, Metabo and Hikoki.
