Elegant Entry Divider - Wood Tools

Although each of the table saws in
this test is considered r "hybrid."
you need only compare the Photos
at the bottom of this page to see
that these saws are hardly cast fronr
a single mold. But a closer look
reveals that these saws are similar on
nrany important counts (see the
Illusnailon on page 74).
Ccbinel-llke Boses
The first similariry lies in the bases,
or cabinets, that support these saws
and house the inner workings.
Granted, there are r\,vo distinct sryles
represented here, but in each case,
the cabinet is an integral part ofthe
saw (and not just a bolt-together
stand like that on a contractor'.s saw).
This design makes for a sturdier
saw and goes a long way toward
-."';P.
}'rary
lL .\
T-= ''Trunnion, bolt
.l to cobinet
dampening vibration and noise. In
most cases, manufacturers also use
the cabinet as an irnportant part of
the dust collection system by
building hoppers into the cabinet to
direct dust toward a dust port.The
one exception in this group is the
DeWalt.This particuiar saw has an
open cabinet and uses a shroud
around the blade to direct dust
toward a 2t/4" dust port (see the
Photo on page 79).
Molors
In terms of power, the motors on
these saws are comparable to contractor'.s
saws - at or slightly below
2 hp.And just like contractor's saws,
hybrids rypically use a single belt to
transfer power fronr the motor to
the arbor (compared to as rrany as
CRAFTSMAN
TRUNNION
three on a cabinet saw).'[he location
of the motor, however - inside the
cabinet and supported by the trunnions
- is pure cabinet saw design.
This allows for shorter belts and
greater power transfer than the contractor
design oft-ers. Attaching the
nlotor to a more solid structure further
diminishes noise and vibration.
Trunnions
Most of these hybrid saws use the
same trunnions (the assemblies that
hold the blade arbor in position
under the tabletop and also provide
the tilting action of the blade) as
their contractor brethren. The trunnions
are bolted to the tabletop and
are snraller than the trunnions used
on cabinet saws.
Craftsman, however, nudged its
saw one step closer to cabinet saw
quality wich a set of rttassive trunnions
that bolt to the cabinet rather
than the tabletop (Illustration, Ieft).
This configuration offers a
couple of advantages, including
better vibration dampening and
easier adjustment. As a result, we'd
expect this saw to maintain an accurate
setup more reliably than those
with contractor-rype trunnrons.
Blode tilt
The most significant cabinet-saw
characteristic that these saws borrow
is a left-tilting blade. Many woodworkers
feel that left-tilting blades
are more user-friendly than righttilt
blades. In the past, left-tilt blades
were available onJy on cabinet saws.
.l-ltyhrid Sows Reviewed
Crqftsmon
Internqfionol
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