The tough and efficient table saw’s primary function is to cut wide sheets of wood and boards down to a manageable size. It yields straight, smooth and accurate cuts in lumber, wood-based sheet materials and even some types of plastic. So from building to remodeling your home, or making furniture or cabinets, the table saw is up to the task.

Get it straight and square

Most notable features of table saws:

• Highly accurate and straight cuts
• Fence allows for straight cuts. For example: 90 degrees
• Adjustable settings make it possible to perform various styles of cuts
• Blade height adjusts up and down to create a groove cut or to cut through the work piece
• Blade bevel allows for a multitude of cuts. For example: 45 degree and 33.6 degree cuts

Canadian Tire offers two different types of table saws:

Portable benchtop table saw:

• Typically the lightest weight and most versatile for varying work surfaces
• Used more for indoor workshop environments where portability is not a requirement, but space efficiency is

Contractor table saw:

• Greater portability than a benchtop saw
• Table can be accessorized with left, right or rear extension tables to provide stability for larger cutting applications
• Greater versatility for ripping and crosscuts than a benchtop saw

Blade Tooth Count

Blades come in varying tooth counts. It is important to understand the difference between blades, based on their tooth count, and to know which ones are readily available. Carbide-tipped blades have become a standard, however, there are also steel and high-speed steel blades that can be used for more specific applications.

The following is a general guideline for common carbide-tipped blades:

• 24 Tooth: Commonly a ripping-type blade where long cuts are being made. For example: ripping a sheet of plywood. Not recommended for crosscutting applications.
• 40 Tooth: Considered to be more of a ripping-type blade, than a crosscutting blade. Its increased tooth count does offer the option of rough crosscutting.
• 60 Tooth: A better blade than a 40-tooth blade. A 60-tooth blade offers a cleaner rip cut and also provides acceptable crosscutting capabilities.
• 80 Tooth: A superior blade for both ripping and crosscutting. 80-tooth blades offer less tear-through than 20, 40 and 60-tooth blades.
• 100 Tooth: Considered specialty blades and should be used for specific applications

Blade Sizes

The most common blade sizes for table saws are:

• 8 inch: Ideal for crafts and other applications involving thinner wood stock.
• 10 inch: Best choice for bevel cuts into thicker wood stock, as it provides the extra cutting depth.

Accessories

• Extension Table: Designed to be mounted to the side of the table saw. Provides a larger and more stable work surface.
• Sliding Mitre Table: Slides in the mitre slot and offers a more stable surface for creating mitre cuts in oversized wood stock.
• Dado Blade: Cuts wide and straight slots in a single pass.
• Mobile Base: Gives a stationary saw mobility. Is typically equipped with casters that lock when saw is in use.