Selecting the Best Cabinet Saw (Commercial Table Saw)
For professional woodworkers, your business is only as good as your equipment. You will likely find through trial and error just what products and companies you enjoy working with and fit well in your shop.
We hope that by providing unbiased reviews of some of the most popular saws on the market, we are able to help you select the right commercial table saw for your woodworking operation.
Why every woodworking business needs a commercial table saw
Your commercial table saw or cabinet saw as it is often referred to as, will be the most used piece of equipment in your shop.
If you are a small scale millworks company, repair shop, maker space or another business that rely’s on your tools to make a living, you already know that having the right equipment makes a large difference.
The increased horsepower that these commercial cabinet saws have mean cleaner, faster cuts through even the densest, thickest wood. Another benefit of heavy duty saws such as these is just how stable they are. Cabinet saws are not designed for contractors that need their saw on the job, these are heavy duty pieces of equipment that are suitable for manufacturing and millworking facilities.
Commercial sized table saws allow you to:
- Cut dense, thick wood. You won’t have any problem cutting dense stock
- Have large work surfaces that include infeed and outfeed tables. Because these machines are designed for millworks companies, there is plenty of room to maneuver your cabinet, table or other project.
- Accurate cuts. The sheer size and power of these machines means faster, more accurate cuts with fewer deviations.
What features should your new table saw offer?
Knowing what specs you’ll need in your table saw will help make an informed decision on what equipment to put in your shop.
- Horsepower. Most full sized cabinet saws or commercial saw lines start at 3HP and some saws such as Powermatic’s line run all the way up to 7.5 HP. This extra power isn’t needed for the average DIYer, but comes in handy in manufacturing facilities.
- Dimensions. The sizes are fairly comparable from brand to brand. Just make sure you have room in your shop for this beast.
- Enclosed base. There are a handful of retailers that will market their hybrid saws as cabinet saws…don’t be fooled. If your saw stands on legs, it’s a hybrid. There are great hybrid saws on the market…but they’re not cabinet saws.
Enclosed Base = Could be a cabinet saw/ commercial saw
Legs = NOT a cabinet saw/commercial saw
- Brand name. There are a few brands to avoid. If you buy any of the products that we represent, you’ll be doing just fine.
Laguna - Fusion F3 Table Saw
Laguna has long been one of our favorite names when it comes to commercial saws. The Fusion F3 sets the standard when it comes to commercial table saws or cabinet saws.
Both 36″ and 52″ rip options are available and all saws come with built-in dust collection.
In our opinion, the Laguna is only paralleled by the SawStop and we would be promoting this saw even if it sold at twice the price it does. A very strong saw from a very reputable company.
The F3 is available up to 5 HP.
- Great name brand and warranty
- Competitively priced
- Easy to clean and adjust
- Built in dust collection
- Slightly smaller than other saws.
- No infeed or outfeed table option
Jet - 3HP Deluxe Table Saw with 50" Rip Capacity
Jet has a strong name and has been making professional caliber woodworking products for over 30 years.
While the 50″ rip capacity and the 3 horsepower are strong metrics for a cabinet saw, I find that the lack of an infeed and outfeed table add-on makes this saw less popular with millworking companies that may need the extra size if they work with bed frames, book shelver or dinner tables. Regardless, Jet is still a strong brand and this is a quality saw.
- Sturdy, low vibration
- Strong warranty and name brand
- 3 HP & 50″ rip is enough for any professional woodworker
- No infeed or outfeed table option
- Priced a bit higher than the competing Laguna saw
Powermatic - Table Saw 5HP, 50" RIP, Model PM2000B
Powermatic specializes in building heavy-duty machines for the professional woodworker. Because of this, they offer more options of heavy duty cabinet saws.
Their 5HP model is possibly the heaviest, most powerful cabinet saw on the market. This saw offers unparalleled stability and power.
- Very sturdy, low vibration
- Strong warranty and name brand
- 5 HP & 50″ RIP
- Easily adjustable
- Priced above the comparable Laguna saw.
Leave a Reply