Popular Woodworking 2000-02 № 113, страница 33

Your table saw is the most important tool in your shop. If you can afford it, buy a cabinet saw. They have more power for cutting thicker or denser woods, better fences, heavy-duty trunnions and are more stable than contractor-style saws. A cabinet saw will make your woodworking more pleasurable, and its usefulness will likely outlive you.

Stability

Cabinet saws are more stable because they have a heavy-duty motor and blade-mounting system attached to the solid cabinet base, which also reduces vibration. This mount

ing system improves the accuracy of the blade and results in a better cut.

Power

More power will always perform better — if your house or shop is wired for it. Almost all cabinet saws require 220-volt power, and many can be purchased to use three-phase power (almost always a necessity with a 5 hp motor). Decide what type of power you can supply and narrow your search that way first. The difference between a 3 hp or 5 hp saw is the ability to cut thicker, harder woods with less resistance. If you don't rip ¹⁰/4 white oak every

day, a 3 hp machine should meet your needs. If money isn't a large concern, choose the most horsepower your wiring can support.

Fence

The Biesemeyer-style fence is standard on most quality cabinet saws. The label might not say it's a Biesemeyer, but many manufacturers have cloned Delta's Biesemeyer system, and they work just as well. JET, Powermatic and General all have Biesemeyer-style fences that are rock solid, lock with a cam motion against the front rail and align themselves square to the blade. The locking mechanism attaches