Should I Buy a Table Saw or a Mitre Saw?

Forming the decision of whether to buy a miter saw or a table saw goes beyond a personal preference. That decision for purchase should be based upon the usage of the tools and the future projects that are going to be performed. Understanding the differences of the two types of saws will go a long way in making that decision.

History
1. At one point in time all table saws were heavy, bulky and nowhere near the portable units of today. Table saws are primarily used to rip boards or plywood into a useful piece of material. The worktable, that supports the material, has undergone many changes along with the power capacity of the motor used for rotating the fixed blade. Today's table saws worktables are constructed from aluminum alloys that are stable in all temperatures. Old cast iron tables would rust in heavy humidity and warp in cold weather. Motor power has increased significantly in the fixed blade cutting device which allows for the ripping of thick boards and large pieces of plywood.
     
Significance

2. Miter saws were at one time all hand powered. The angle of the blade in very inexpensive units was designated by groves cut into a wooden box. The saw was a simple handsaw that cut the board or piece of trim at a single angled cut. These angles were predetermined by grooves cut into the sides of the wooden miter box. The angles were generally set at 30, 45 and 90 degrees. The precision of the cut on a piece of trim was poor at the very best.
    
 Function

3. Miter saws of today allow for a full range of single or compound angled cuts. These saws are also electric motor driven and have a built in blade stop brake for when the cut is completed. Some miter saws even employ the use of a laser light to precisely line the board cut up with the blade. This eliminates any sighting problems that may occur for complicated angled cutting.
     
Types

4. The table saw is useful for cutting large panels of plywood or making smaller boards from a wider piece of material. The miter saw can then be used for cutting perfect right-angled joints or complicated angles on the smaller boards.
     
Features

5. In the construction of home cabinets the table saw would be useful for cutting down to size large pieces of plywood that would form the sides of the cabinets. The miter saw can then be used for cutting to length the trim and door material for a precise fit. Both of these power saws work in concert, together, by performing two distinctly different tasks.
     
Considerations

6. Table saws are constructed to be run continuously for ripping, cutting, wood material. Miter saws are to be used intermittently, on and off, for cutting angles on the ends of trim and cabinet or furniture boards. The question should not be which type of saw to buy. But rather, what is the project you want to construct and what types of table saw and miter saw should you purchase to compliment the end product.
     
Benefits

7. The decision of what types of table saw and miter saw can be a bit daunting. Many home stores will allow you to try the saws and see which features best suit your needs. Below are two resources that can go a long way in helping you to decide just which types of these two distinctly different tools you will need for the home wood working workshop.