Whether you are working in the woodworking industry or up for DIY projects, you will need power saws to cut any angle or to rip any wood.
Each one may have different principles for cutting wood, and the uses overlap in several areas. You need to know the ins and outs of those to take your carpentry skills to the next level.
Do you only need a table saw for cutting any type, or do you have to have a chop saw to get your desired angled cuts? It may be puzzling to choose one saw over the other. So, a chop saw vs table saw comparison guide, can help you to go for an option that will be right for you.
What is a Table Saw?
A table saw is a power tool consisting of a circular saw that is mounted under a table surface with a blade protruding above the table that helps the material, usually wood being cut. The table saw offers a continual cutting apparatus letting users feed workpieces into the blade in a controlled, measured, and accurate way. Here, the term “table saw” most probably indicates its table shape.
The saw assembly is mounted on an arbor that is run by an electric motor. Here, the saw is fixed, and the wood moves in a parallel way. It holds the saw in place and allows the user to adjust cutting depths and angles. A table saw setup provides a convenient way of cutting wood fast and accurately.
Where Do We Use Table Saws?
A table saw makes our regular wood cutting very easy by ripping large panels or sheets.
Actually, for its grip and features, it is a better option than other saws when you are going for cutting plywood, Aluminium Acrylic, Polymer, PVC sheets, and more. You can use it for –
- Suitable for cutting larger pieces.
- Ideal for rip cuts
- Can cut perpendicular across the timber
- Can do beveled cuts
- Cut a wide board to make the window, wainscoting, etc.
- To build furniture, deck, and cabinets.
What is a Chop Saw?
If you want to be in the carpentry industry or simply do DIY things, a chop saw will be one of the most important things you will need. A chop saw is a powerful tool specifically designed to cross-cut trim and lumber at different angles by positioning a mounted blade onto a board.
It performs at high speed by rotating a revolving steel saw comb. The blade slices through the wood located on the support table as you press the handle down. It consists of a powered circular saw that can be set at a variety of angles and lowered onto a board positioned against a backstop. Here, the blade moves, and the wood is fixed.
Many users sometimes get confused between a chop saw and a miter saw. A miter saw is commonly referred to as a chop saws.
Where Do We Use Chop Saw?
If you wish to make the wood shorter, you need to do the cross-cutting. That is where the chop saw stands out. Any woodworker, professional or casual, needs to do crosscuts in practice routinely. That is why you will see several people who work in carpentry have at least one chop saw. Moreover, you should have a chop saw for –
- Precise angled or beveled cuts
- Accurate cross cuts
- Crosscuts on the longboards
- Long narrow pieces according to the width of the blade.
- To make door frames, picture frames, window casing
- Cut crown molding or base molding
Chop Saw Vs Table Saw: A Detailed Comparison
Before going any further, take a look at the quick comparison –
| Features | Table Saw | Chop Saw |
| Versatility | Multi-functional saw for all types of cuts | Specialty tool for beveled cuts, trimming, and angular cuts |
| Types of cuts | Ripping, crosscuts, angular cuts | Crosscuts, miter, bevel, and compound cuts |
| Configuration | Fixed blade position- Moving the wood | Moving blade – Fixed wood |
| Accuracy | Good | Precise |
| Work | Rip plywood, build cabinets and furniture | Framing, trim work, base or crown molding, |
| Safety | Accident-prone | Relatively safe |
Precise Cuts
A chop saw is an ideal option for precision miter cuts and bevel cuts of wood or other softer materials like plastic. You may say that table saws can do the same cuts that miter saws can, but then the chances of making a mistake go up.
However, a table saw can use additional accessories to make precise crosscuts and miter cuts. It has the option of checking the measurement of wood being cut on a ruler that is placed either between the fence and the blade or the blade and the side of the bench.
The ability to keep the wood that you’re cutting pressed against the fence makes it excellent for cutting straight lines with a high degree of precision. Set up the cut you want to make and simply push the wood into the saw. The tool ensures making exactly the same cut every time.
Safety
Since power tools can be risky, you need to follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions explicitly. However, more injuries occur using table saws than miter saws.
There is a report from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission and says that – in the years 2007-2008, around 79,500 injuries were from table saws, and about 13,600 were from miter saws.
The blade catches on the wood or pulls the user’s hand into the blade or throws the wood back in their face and so on – the majority of table saws injuries are a result of kickback. You need to be very careful while working with a table saw. The swift-spinning blade can be dangerous if you become careless while working.
On the other hand, miter saw injuries are more often caused by inadvertently crossing a hand or an arm in front of the moving blade.
Easy Cuts And Ease Of Use
Everybody wants to get their project done in the easiest way possible. Table saw makes the work more enjoyable and quick at the same time. As previously mentioned, it ensures straight and accurate cuts.
It can make crosscuts and rips with ease which makes it popular among novice contractors. You can stand comfortably while cutting wood, which makes it easy to use.
Portability
Some table saws might come with wheeled stands to roll them from site to site, but most table saws are considered stationary and have solid steel legs or built into a cabinet, making them unwieldy and difficult to move.
The design of the table saw is meant to be set up in a workshop. So, you have to do all your wood cutting in that particular place. If you need to carry a tool to the work site, this is difficult with a table saw.
In contrast, miter saws are generally in the 50- to 60-pound range and can be carried anywhere you want.
Versatility
While a chop saw is severely limited by the width of what you cut and unsupported on both sides, a table saw can make virtually any cut a chop saw can make—with a lower level of precision. Since the chop saw is controlled by lowering the spinning blade, it can only cut the same width of the blade. The wider blades are required for cutting wider material.
However, there can be a miter saw with a sliding arm, and it comes with a handle that can be pulled outward to make longer cuts.
In contrast, the blade is stationary on the table saw, and the wood is fed into the blade. So, you can cut longer wood.
Likewise, the height of the timber is limited by the height of the chop saw.
The table saw, on the other hand, doesn’t have the same depth limitations.
Though if the timber starts to get on the thicker side, it may get tough, and you’ll have to adjust the blade height to make sure it goes all the way through. This is not the case with a miter saw, which you can lower down each time to ensure your cuts go all the way through.
It’s crucial to understand that while a table saw is more multi-functional, making complex cuts on it needs advanced carpentry knowledge and skill. Novices should not attempt to make beveled cuts on a table saw because of the risk of injury.
Angled Cuts
Chop saw is a staple for the trim carpentry industry for cutting complex angles necessary for installing trim and crown. It makes cutting the angle a snap. When you want to join the corners of a picture frame, you need to cut them at a 45° angle.
It is hard to cut angles with a table saw for feeding it through the spinning blade.
Again, chop saws are recommended for cutting bevels. Its head can be tilted laterally to create sloped edges. The beveled cuts are quite common for seamless transitions when installing trim in corners.
However, you can use a table saw for cutting bevels, but it needs advanced carpentry techniques. Here, the blade can be adjusted from below the table.
Cutting Different Types of Woods
Different saws are compatible with cutting only a particular type of wood. As such, chop saws can’t be used for large woods. But table saw can be used for a diverse range of cuts. Again, you can cut all types of wood, whether it be a softer type or a hard type, because of its power and speed.
Keeping The Working Area Clean And Maintenance
Table saws also help you keep your working area clean by collecting up the sawdust. They are easier to maintain than other saws, and you can use them for years with proper maintenance and care.
Expense
Table saws are comparatively more expensive than circular or chop saws. It makes them inaccessible to some people.
Which One To Choose – Table Saw Or Chop Saw?
The work requirements normally denote which tool will cater to your needs. So, important decisions should be taken at the outset. You need to think about the place, portability, price, precision, and so on. You need to think if you want the exact cross cuts in dimensional lumber or ripping along the length of the work.
Who Should Buy A Table Saw?
Are you a beginner looking forward to buying your first power saw? You should start by getting a table saw. They are more versatile and far more appropriate for people who are just learning how to properly do carpentry or woodworking.
Why Should Buy A Chop Saw?
For precise miter and bevel cuts, you need to invest in a miter saw. Objects like furniture rails, frames, edging, etc., are all precise jobs and will be benefited from the miter saw’s accuracy and speed. Moreover, you will need a miter saw for doing a very complex project.
What are cross-cutting and rip-cutting?
There are two fundamental methods of cutting wood: cross-cutting and rip-cutting. Cross-cutting is the way when you cut through the grain of the wood and rip cutting is about when you cut through or parallel with the grain of the wood.
Conclusion
Did you find your winner at the chop saw vs table saw battle?
Choose wisely, or your wrong approach can lead to subpar work. Having the right device for the task is essential for both hobbyists and experts to produce quality work. Let me know which one is your favorite brand for either chop saw, or table saw.