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Professional woodworkers and home carpentry enthusiasts understand the importance of owning a cabinet saw. Their ability to make precise cuts and shape hardwood into cleanly finished and trim pieces is unmatched.
Unlike hybrid and portable saws, purchasing a cabinet saw tends to be an important long term decision. This is because they are expensive, and take up a lot of residences. This guide review helps you identify the perfect cabinet saw for you from a carefully curated list.
Comparison Chart of the Best Cabinet Table Saws
Product | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|
Grizzly G1023RL  | Best Overall | |
SawStop PCS31230TGP252  | Runner-up | |
Grizzly G0690  | Best for the Money | |
Shop Fox W1837  | Best Cabinet Saw Under $1000 | |
JET 708675PK XACTASAW  | Editor's Pick |
What is a Cabinet Table Saw?
There are three major types of table saws; portable, contractor, and cabinet. A cabinet saw is the largest of the three, with more power and a larger working surface.
They differ from the rest by having a strong enclosed base at the bottom. Cabinet saws tend to be a pretty permanent fixture, and a purchase is largely expected to outlive the person who made it.
They are best suited for making accurate cuts to long pieces of wood and large boards. These saws have a powerful motor, with most being rated between 2 and 5 horsepower
What Should I Look For When Buying a Cabinet Table Saw?
Since this is an expensive and important purchase, there are some things you need to look out for. These are the minimum requirements of a good cabinet saw. They will also determine how easy the saw is to live within your workshop.
Safety
As a general rule, the first place to look is for safety features. It does not pay to have a super-powerful saw that you cannot use safely. Look for quick-release guards and riving knives especially. Easy to reach power buttons are advised as well. Other aspects to look at include:
Power
The principal reason to get a cabinet saw is to have enough power to cut through thick pieces of hardwood. The general rule of thumb is that for motors between 1 and 2 horsepower work for wood that is up to two inches in thickness. Anything above that will require a more powerful motor.
Remember that the motor drives the blade and although you can buy better quality replacement blades, you are stuck with the motor for life.
Accuracy/Stability
Cabinet saws typically weigh hundreds of pounds and arrive in pallets. It is this weight that makes them work the way they are supposed to. What you should look out for is a saw that has good weight distribution. A lighter cabinet saw with better weight distribution performs better than a heavy one that just sits on the floor.
Stability contributes to the accuracy of the saw as well. Here, the heavier variants perform better than their lighter counterparts. Also, look out for features in the saw that are designed to reduce vibrations such as Poly-V and Poly-S belt systems.
Quick Take: Best Cabinet Table Saws
Hoping to cut right to the chase? Below are the best cabinet table saws:
Reviews of the Best Cabinet Table Saws
This is a review of the best table saws available on the market today. They are rated according to several aspects including their important features, pricing, and who is best suited to use them. These cabinet table saws are:
Best Overall:
Grizzly G1023RL
PROS
CONS
What Are People Saying?
People love the balance of features in this cabinet table saw. At 3 HP, the motor is powerful enough to handle thick pieces of lumber. It is also capable of running for many hours with few interruptions. It is incredibly accurate, although some people have found the fence that comes with the saw to be inadequate. Replacing it with a better fence fixes this problem.
What We Love About It
We love that this saw is easy to set up, calibrate, and use. The motor feeds power to the blade through a Poly-V serpentine belt. This is designed to reduce the amount of noise and vibration to allow for better accuracy when cutting. It also transfers power more efficiently in order to make the best use of the 3HP available. It has a quick blade release guard and a magnetic switch for better safety and ease of use.
Who’s This Perfect For?
This saw is perfect for woodworking professionals such as carpenters, furniture makers, house remodelers, specialty item makers. This is because of both its accuracy and versatility. This cabinet saw comes with T-slots to ensure your miter gauge does not fall off the table when it is retracted. The arbor, at 5/8 inch diameter, is log enough to accept dado blades of up to 13/16”.
Final Thoughts
This is the best cabinet table saw for a reason. The combination of features alone fits into any busy workshop’s routine with ease. This is a heavy and stable machine at 508 pounds and this contributes to accuracy. It is important to note that it does not come with leveling feet and you will have to purchase your own rolling base.
Runner-Up:
SawStop PCS31230TGP252
PROS
CONS
What Are People Saying?
People are praising the Sawstop safety feature. In a country where a saw accident happens every 9 minutes and there are at least 10 amputations every day, it pays to have a saw that tries to minimize this risk.
The saw carries a small electrical signal which changes when it comes into contact with human flesh. This causes an aluminum brake to stop the blade and the machine powers down completely. Angular momentum drives the saw beneath the table to remove the risk of further injury. All this takes about 5 milliseconds.
What We Love About It
We love the duct collection on this machine. This saw comes with an industry-leading dust collection when the motor is in use. The 4-inch duct collection port works excellently, and together with other accessories available, work to eliminate most of the produced small debris. In fact, the manufacturer claims that the saw will remove up to 99% of the dust!
Who’s This Perfect For?
This saw is perfect for house remodelers, furniture makers, and for making specialty carpentry. The saw features reduced noise and vibration production during, meaning you can make delicate cuts with more accuracy. This saw also accepts dado blades for wider cuts. This versatility is an excellent addition to any workshop.
Final Thoughts
This saw makes very good points on ease of use, value addition, and safety. You get a choice of two motors and the accuracy of the T-Glide fence system. The fence is made from high-quality thick gauge steel and comes with sure lockdown which prevents deflection.
The safety and dust collection systems are excellent features to have as well. The SawStop safety system does misread wood with moisture in it as human flesh, and this could slow you down significantly if you are working with green wood for long hours.
Best for the Money:
Grizzly G0690
PROS
CONS
What Are People Saying?
People love the sturdy build that comes with this saw. The table is made from cast iron and is heavy and well balanced. It is large with a sizeable 29½” ripping capacity. The trunnions are also heavy and well made. The handwheels are also made from heavy-duty cast iron. This table is meant to last for a long time.
What We Love About It
We love that everything on this saw feels well-made and premium. You get a host of useful features on saw that is reasonably priced. The quick-release spreader guard is responsive and the riving knife does a great job of protecting you from kickbacks and injury. T-square Camlock fence is incredibly accurate and the miter gauge feels sturdy.
Who’s This Perfect For?
This saw is perfect for anyone looking for a high-quality cabinet saw, on a budget. The table is large enough to accommodate large pieces of wood and comes with extension wings. You also get versatility since the saw comes with standard and dado inserts. This cabinet table saw also comes with a 4-inch dust port that hooks up to most standard vacuum cleaners.
Final Thoughts
This is the best value for money cabinet table saw in the market today. Apart from all the qualities listed, it also comes with a blade guard, a quick-release riving knife, and a quick-release splitter assembly for protection. It is important to note that the blade guard makes changing the blade and removing stuck wood a bit of a task.
Best Cabinet Table Saw Under $1000:
Shop Fox W1837
PROS
CONS
What Are People Saying?
The biggest talking point among people who have purchased this saw is the ease of assembly. The saw comes in separate parts and in different crates. Sometimes, the parts do not all arrive on the same day.
The assembly process is however easy, and almost all the tools required actually come with the package. The instructions are easy to follow and out if the box, the saw requires very minimal setting. The easy assembly extends to the blade guard as well.
What We Love About It
We love that this saw is set up for precision. Essentially, this is a hybrid table saw and that means it weighs significantly less than a full cabinet saw.
This lack of weight does not affect the stability of the precision-ground cast iron table or the lift-off fence. The fence locks at the front and the rear for increased precision even under kickback from cut wood.
Who’s This Perfect For?
This is the perfect saw for contractors and home remodelers. This is because you get all the benefits of a cabinet saw, with a lot more mobility. It comes with a foot-operated mobility base and indubitably weighs less. It also comes with anti-kickback pawls which are important for site work. They give you added protection from injury when working with different types of wood.
Final Thoughts
Although it functions just like one, this is not a true cabinet saw. This is important information to note, especially if you are a purist. You do, however, get all the benefits of a cabinet saw.
The motor is capable of an admirable 2HP of power and the belt system is designed to be quiet. The versatility of allowing dado blades and the lightweight design make it the perfect on-site cabinet saw for long jobs.
Editor's Pick:
Jet 708675PK XACTASAW
PROS
CONS
What Are People Saying?
Most of the people who have previously bought this saw have praised the build quality. The heavy cast iron construction is sturdy and will last a lifetime. This saw also ranks very low on vibration thanks to the Poly-V belt transmission which efficiently transports power for better efficiency, and lower noise as well.
What We Love About It
We love the table on this saw. It is made of cast iron as well and offers one of the largest rip capacities in its class. It measures 29 inches by 42 inches and works with an accurate 50-inch fence. The heavy-duty trunnion system works magnificently with the rest of the blade set-up to give you a level cutting surface. The trunnion also contributes to the low vibration setup.
Who’s This Perfect For?
This saw is perfect for people with a busy workshop. The 3HP motor is powerful enough to cut through any type of wood including pressure-treated lumber. It is also designed to work for long hours thanks to the efficient belt design. This is a quality that is necessary in a workshop cabinet saw. This saw comes with a push-button to release the arbor lock. This set-up allows for quick blade changes.
Final Thoughts
Everything about this saw is designed to fit seamlessly into a busy workshop setup. It has excellent dust collection which benefits both your health and working environment. The 50-inch commercial fence II will consistently give you better accuracy for a long time.
The sealed storage drawer inside the cabinet is a nice and convenient addition. It is important to note that you may have to buy an extension cord since the 4-foot power cord may not be enough for some workshop spaces.
Aspects to Consider Before Buying
When reading through this review, it should become clear that other than the qualities of the saw, there are other factors to consider before making your purchase. These include the following:
Space available
The space in your workshop will dictate come into play when planning your cabinet saw purchase. These saws are generally large and heavy and occupy quite a bit of space. They cannot be randomly assembled and disassembled for storage.
This is a tedious and time-consuming process that interferes with the accuracy and setting on the blade. If the space you are working with is not large enough to accommodate the saw and leave room for working with the wood, you may have to consider a smaller cabinet saw or hybrid saw under $1000 instead.
Table size
The purpose of a cabinet saw is to work with large and thick pieces of wood. They are meant to save on time while providing better accuracy. It, therefore, makes sense to look for the largest table and extensions available. It gives you better space to maneuver when working with larger pieces of wood. It also affords you enough space to make intricate cuts to smaller pieces.
Dust removal and Safety
Having an efficient dust removal system is paramount in a cabinet saw. Working with one produces a lot of dust and debris, which could be dangerous for your respiratory system. Make sure the dust port is large enough and can connect to a standard vacuum cleaner. This removes the need to purchase additional equipment.
Cautions/Considerations
Picking the right cabinet saw is a delicate and important affair. There are certain features in a saw that are key to the saw working as it should. These include:
Safety
There are more than 10 saw related accidents in the US every day. This is why you should look for a saw that comes with the safety features included. A blade guard with a riving knife and anti-kickback pawls are advised. Some saw manufacturers have included better safety measures in their products such as saws that stop the blade immediately it comes into contact with human flesh.
Power
There are several motor options available. Pick the motor that’s best suited for the demands of your shop, especially since cabinet saws are permanent purchases. Include an allowance for expansion and an increase in your workload in the future.
A 3HP saw will be able to handle the rigors of most woodworking shops with ease. Look for low vibration belt systems as well. These reduce the amount of noise pollution produced by the machine, allowing you to use it safely for longer.
Build quality
The machine should be made from quality parts. Look for a cast iron base and heavy sturdy trunnions. The fence should be well made and accurate. It should also have a lock to ensure better control during the cut and T-fences are advised. Make sure the table is strong and remains flat even after drawing the extensions.
Conclusion
This review covers everything you will need to know before buying a cabinet saw. The list of saws that have been profiled was compiled after exhaustive research to make sure all the bases are covered and different needs have been taken into account. When working with power tools, always make sure you wear all the necessary protective clothing especially for your ears and eyes. Make sure you have a hard hat on as well.