I recently received a Cut Hub workstation, and if you’re not familiar with these, you’re not alone. Cut Hub is a small family business located in the Bitterroot Valley in western Montana that makes what I think are the nicest production saw stands to date.
The company started in 2018, with the goal to produce a workstation that improved precision, efficiency, and jobsite safety, while standing up to the rigors of construction and still being lightweight and portable. The company has largely achieved all this for building professionals, but there’s no getting around the fact that it is a very expensive system. Options range from about $1,800 for the Starter Setup (table saw stand plus outfeed table with side supports) to around $5,000 for a Pro Setup, which includes three material support tables configured around table-saw and miter-saw mounting kits, side supports for the outfeed tables, and a unique sliding stop for repetitive cuts (this is the setup I tested and describe in this review). There are numerous ways the system can be customized, and prices vary accordingly. I think general contractors and builders who are keenly focused on improving jobsite safety and increasing productivity will find good value in a Cut Hub workstation.
The table saw setup is great. There aren't a whole lot of other systems out there to compare it with. With the side supports, the outfeed table is large yet surprisingly light. With its adjustable legs and simple, sturdy connections, it is extremely easy to set up, move around the site, break down, and transport. The outfeed table proved exceptional for cutting long and large material, allowing one individual to rip a full sheet of plywood easily and safely.
Initially, I was concerned by the size of the mounting kit for the table saw, as it seemed too small for our SawStop Jobsite Saw. But we weren’t confined to using the Cut Hub table-saw mounting kit; we could remove this part from the outfeed table and use the SawStop with its own stand. Because the Cut Hub legs are adjustable, it proved easy to raise the outfeed table to match our table saw’s height. (The tables adjust from 32 to 38 inches in height.) I have also used the Cut Hub as an outfeed table for my planer.
The miter saw setup is big and sturdy but very light (each section weighs about 40 pounds). Just like the table saw unit, the breakdown and setups are quick, and the entire assembly is light enough that moving it around the site isn’t an issue.
Cut Hub easily has the most robust sliding stop out there for making repetitive cuts. The operation is smooth, and it locks down with no chance of slipping. We used this to great effect on a job where we were fabricating site-built trusses and making a lot of repeat cuts at specific angles.
I think the Cut Hub really shines for increasing the productivity of non-skilled employees. Most of the laborers who work with us and don’t have deep experience with cutting tools are more comfortable using a miter saw than a circular saw, for instance. Having solid support for long material and plenty of real estate on the side tables makes a miter saw that much friendlier and safer to use and helps shorten a new carpenter’s learning curve. If needed, the stop can be set up by a more experienced worker and the workstation turned over to a novice, say, to reliably cut stud lengths with precision.
One initial cause for concern was we had more play than we wanted between the miter saw table holding our 12-inch DeWalt sliding saw and the support wings. For the price on this tool, I didn’t expect that kind of play at all. I suspect it wouldn’t have been an issue with a lighter saw. I was able to shorten the span between the wings and my saw by ignoring the detents and tightening the cam locks that hold the wings in place. This helped reduce the movement. The only negative to this solution was that by ignoring the detents, you end up throwing the measurements on the built-in tape off. This isn’t a big deal as we are inclined to check measurement with our own tapes anyway when precision is a must, but it is a small hitch that we have to keep in mind.
I feel the Cut Hub is the ultimate solution for setting up shop anywhere. Once our crew was trained on setting it up, we quickly and easily moved it from shop to field and back again. The system worked equally well in the shop as in field and brings a level of performance we’ve rarely had in the field before this. If you’re a contractor that is hyper-focused on improving the efficiency and quality of unskilled labor or improving job site safety, or believes in investing in top-of-the-line equipment, then this workstation is right for you.
