When you take a look at table saws & miter saws at a glance, you will not be able to find any major differences. But when you deep dive and focus on them, you will discover many differences. To make your life easy, Tools Detail thought of writing this article on the table saw vs miter saw differences. It is up to you to take a look at the differences and then decide what the best option available out there for you to consider.
What is a Table Saw?
In the first part of the table saw vs miter saw comparison, let’s take a look at what table saws are all about. Table saws are flat tables containing saw blades incorporated into the tables, as seen in the diagram below. This circular blade will have a slit that allows it to extend through into the table. Under the table is a motor that can lift the blade up or down the top of the table to facilitate cutting.
You set the bit of wood that has to be cut just on the table to begin. You should gently press the wooden piece onto the spin blade each time the blade is switched on to make the cut. Until the item is chopped, you would continue to manipulate and drive it via the saw.
Table saws aren’t the best for making accurate cuts because of how they operate. Instead, they work far ideal for general work on smaller bits of wood as well as for general cutting, particularly through huge amounts of wood.
Table saws play an essential component of most workshops, both expert and novice. They are utilized for common cutting tasks, particularly for cutting through big chunks of wood. The board will be effectively sliced through by the saw blade, while the table would offer the necessary support for cutting.
Although table saws may be fixed or portable, they aren’t the most mobile of tools. The majority of table saws would be permanent, although certain occupations, like carpentry, use mobile table saws so they may bring one to the work site.
What is a Miter Saw?
In the next part of the article, let’s figure out what a miter saw is. Then you can be fully aware of the differences between the table saw and miter saw. A miter saw may first seem to be precisely like such a table saw. A miter saw often sits on top of a table and also comes with a blade that faces upward.
Despite having a similar appearance to a table saw, a miter saw is quite different. In actuality, the only similarities between a miter saw and a table saw are the upward-facing blade and the ability to cut through wood.
A miter saw is not integrated into a table as a table saw is. It is only a machine that you may set down on a table in its position. The swing arm of a miter saw is the most distinctive feature. To create the desired cut, you may swing its arm upward or downward.
A miter saw’s function is substantially different from that of a table saw, notwithstanding their closeness. Miter saws were designed to correctly cut angles and serrated blades. It’s simple to create exact angles in your cuts thanks to the blade’s swing-mounted design.
What are the differences between a Table Saw and a Miter Saw
As the next part of our table saw vs miter saw review, let’s do a one on one comparison in between table saws and miter saws.
Portability
Portability is one of the most important factors that you will need to consider in the table saw vs miter saw a comparison. Almost all table saws remain fairly big and cumbersome, despite the fact that some are mobile. Using a table saw to cut huge pieces of timber in a single direction is simple but moving table saws from one place to another may be difficult.
Miter saws are made expressly to be portable. You may place the miter saw within the back of the vehicle and transport it to go to and from the work sites since it is not physically linked to a table.
Price
The majority of comparable products have a similar price. For table saws & miter saws, this is not true. Table saws cost far more than others. Most table saws cost at least $1,200, but a nice miter saw may be had for only a few hundred dollars.
Cutting Angle
The cutting angles are without a doubt the most important difference between the two saw kinds. Table saws are intended for common, straight cuts, on the other hand. For instance, they are excellent for cutting timber; in contrast, miter saws are perfect for fine cuts at various angles.
If all you need a saw for is general cutting, a table saw will do. But if you want to cut exact angles that need accuracy and precision, you’ll need a miter saw.
Benefits of Miter Saws
Miter Saws are portable
Most table saws were considered fixed and are fastened to cabinets or heavy legs made out of steel, which makes them a bit awkward, and challenging to move. However, some table saws come on wheeled stands that enable the user to transport them from location to location. Most miter saws weigh between 50 and 60 pounds, making them light enough to be transported or put into the trunk of a vehicle or a pickup truck. The miter saw may be made immovable by bolting it to a countertop that cannot be moved if you plan to complete all of your woodworking tasks in a workshop.
Blade breath would determine the cutting length
A miter saw cannot perform a cut longer than that of the length of the blade because it is controlled by lowering a rotating blade. The blade widths for miter saws are eight inches, ten inches, and twelve inches. Broader materials, including siding boards and substantial crown molding, need wider blades to be cut. The miter saw with a sliding arm is an exception to the blade-width rule because it has a handle that can be moved outward whereas the blade is whirling to create larger cuts. The blade of a table saw, on either hand, is stationary or the timber is fed to the blade, allowing it to cut whatever length of the board.
You can easily cut bevels
A miter saw’s head may be adjusted laterally to simultaneously cut a bevel and an angle off the edge of a board, producing a slanted edge rather than a flat edge. In order to place trim in corners with a smooth transition, beveled cuts are often employed in trim construction. In the same way that cutting angles is more difficult on a table saw, cutting added layers is also more difficult. However, the blade of a table saw may be changed from under the table and cut on a bevel. It takes expert carpentry skills to cut bevels on a table saw; beginners in woodworking will have greater luck using a miter saw.
You can easily cut angles
You can easily cut angles with the help of a miter saw. The word “miter” implies connecting two parts at a 90° angle, like the manner the corners of a picture frame meet. A miter saw’s head may be turned from side to side and can cut any required degree angle. As a result, miter saws are a need in the trim carpentry sector because they can cut the intricate angles required for fitting trim and crown molding. With a table saw, cutting angles is more challenging because the operator must keep the wood firm while passing it through the rotating blade at the proper angle. You need to keep this in mind during your table saw vs miter saw comparison as well.
Benefits of Table Saws
You can cut large pieces of wood easily
A table saw has a flat surface that holds the wood while it is being cut. It is a great instrument for cutting huge materials since the operator controls or pushes the wood, putting it into a revolving saw blade in the middle of the table. A strip of wood, such as a trim board or siding plank, is placed on a small base at the front of a miter saw, and the operator lowers the spinning blade manually through a handle housed in a movable head to slice off the end of the strip.
Table Saws are flexible
Large chunks of wood cannot be cut with a miter saw, but almost any cut can be made with a table saw—albeit with less accuracy. It’s possible to buy a number of table saw accessories, including a miter gauge in order to make cutting angles easier, but it’s crucial to realize that although a table saw is highly adaptable, cutting intricate shapes on it takes significant carpentry abilities. Novice woodworkers should refrain from using a table saw to create angled or beveled cuts since doing so enhance their chance of being hurt.
Uses of Miter Saw
Table saws are capable of fewer cut types than miter saws. They carry out combination cuts, bevel cuts, angled cuts, and straight cuts. Miter saws are a popular option for many woodworkers due to their multiple settings. Crown molding and concealed seams are created by craftsmen using bevel cuts. They utilize angled cuts to generate edges that join together during exact angles and straight cuts for simple scaling cuts that keep the square end of the wood. This is a prominent difference to note in the table saw vs miter saw a comparison.
Miter saws need not finish rip cuts as table saws do. This tool cannot be used to drive wood through. However, the miter saw makes exact, measured cuts by positioning the blade. Before dragging the blade thru the wood surface, you adjust the machine’s handles to achieve the angle or bevel you require.
Uses of Table Saw
With a table saw, you can cut in one of two ways. A rip cut is made when you slice a bit of wood against the grain. A cross-cut is when you cut the wood in half while cutting against the grain. You ought to be able to perform this second sort of cut on a small bit of timber regardless of the table saw and miter saw models that you use. A table saw’s capacity to handle significantly longer and broader materials are what gives it value.
A table saw can handle longer cuts even if it requires more space than a miter saw. The greatest table saws or miter saws include additional shelves on each side of the blade, and when cutting even bigger sheets or boards, you may utilize external supports. Table saws for the home and shop often have bigger surfaces than table saws for workbenches. The work surface is strengthened by their sturdy bases, which in many instances link to your dust control system to help clear the air.
Final Words – Table Saw Vs Miter Saw
The answer to the question of how to select table saw vs miter saw for their workplaces relies on the goals of starting woodworkers. If you’re thinking about it, the machine you choose should deal with a particular problem. Those that are starting from scratch with their shops may wish to begin with a miter saw. These adaptable tools may be used for a variety of applications and perform many of the most popular cuts.
Your choice of solution for table saw vs miter saw will rely on the area where you will get the most advantage if you want to add to an already current collection of power tools. Although a work site table saw increases your setup’s adaptability, it best serves individuals who really need to spend some time moving supplies. Many furniture makers prefer the extra pressure that comes with a fixed saw since many jobs they work on at home don’t call for this amount of mobility.