by David Frane
Go to any residential construction site and chances are,
you'll find a table saw there. Many carpenters make do
with aluminum and plastic portables. But for performing a
full range of carpentry tasks, you can't beat the real thing
— a cast-iron-top contractor saw. I've got nothing against
81/4-inch tablesaws; I've had one for ten years and it's a
handy little machine. But the only thing it has over a fullsize
saw is portability. Contractor saws have the rip capacity
to handle full sheets of plywood. And they cut cleaner
because their heavy construction reduces vibration.
Finally, the 1.5-hp induction motors that power contractor
saws are a lot tougher