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For wood projects that require detail and accuracy, excellent saws such as radial arm saws or table saws are needed. However, choosing one of them is not an easy thing.
To answer the above question, you should read this article because we will give you every necessary information about them, which help you in choosing the most suitable saw. Let’s read this post.
Table of Contents
What is a radial arm saw?
Different from the table saw, the radial arm saw has its blade-slinging from the top and mounted on a horizontal arm. When pushed, it can slide forward; when pulled, it can slide backwards. During the rotation of its blade rotates, it cuts through everything in its path.
Thanks to this unique design, it can make cross cuts, rip wood along the grain with ease, or you can make mitre and bevel cuts, plus more unusual stuff like drum sanding and routing if you have all needed configuring.
Although it requires more skill to use than a table saw, although it is being replaced by sliding compound mitre saws, it is still commonly used.
What is the table saw?
A table saw also has a circular blade which is mounted below the workbench and can either be lifting up or taking down. There are a fence and a mitre gauge groove in the top of table saws with the supporting of table-saw Jigs and accessories, it can make perfect cuts according to your requirements.
The tables saw is the heart of may wood workshop because it is very easy to understand and use, which you can do almost things from rip wood boards to cut cross, mitre, or bevel cuts.
Although it is a dangerous machine, it is safer and safer day by day. In some modern table saws, when it detects contact with a conductive material like the human body, it will stop immediately due to its automatic braking systems.
What Make Them Outstanding?
Radial Arm Saw
- Wonderful crossing-cuts
Radial arm saws have lots of fortes, especially is cutting cross. From cutting board to more extensive stock, radial arm saws all make perfect crossing-cuts easily. The only thing that you need to remember is to adjust it properly.
- Versatile tool
With radial arm saws, you not only cut wood but also do other things such as routing, drum sanding, surface planning of your boards, and so on. However, there are loads of packaged accessories that you have to know to avoid the confusion.
- Easy cutting heavy pieces
In case you use the table saw, you have to push the wood at the blade if you have to cut a large board. On the other hand, it goes more comfortable with a radial arm saw because you need only to sit on one spot, pull the saw towards you, and cut.
- Less necessary space
Last but not least, compared to table saws, radial arm saws need less space.
Table Saw
- Wonderful for ripping
Table saws are very famous with their ability to cut through wood boards with ease and comfortability. Compared to radial arm saws, table saws required fewer operator skills and saw adjustments.
- Easy usage
Most users feel natural when using table saws because of their easy usage. That is the reason why table saws are more and more popular.
- The accurate
They become more and more common not only because of the easy usage but also the precision they offer. Although a table saw consist of other accessories, it also provides a fixed blade. Thanks to the saw’s fence and mitre that are parallel and perpendicular to the edge, it reaches the level of precision that B could hardly have.
- Less noisy
If the motor of radial arm saws above the board, the motor of table saws are hidden under the workbench, so it is not difficult to understand why table saws make less noise when working.
- Safer
They are all known to be the dangerous machines; however, compared to radial arm saws, table saws have more safety. Table saws are improving and developing day by day, promises to be safer over time from time to time.
What Need To Be Improved?
Radial Arm Saw
- Safety risk
Due to the exposed and moving blade, radial arm saws have more dangers than table saws.
- The replacement from the users
Although most woodworkers still use their radial arm saws competently and consistently, more and more people turn over compound mitre saws due to their precision and ease of use.
- More expensive
Nowadays, radial arm saws are cheaper than the original one a lot. In contrast, it is still quite high compared to the common ground, especially table saws.
- Less versatile
We all know radial arm saws are handy, but actually, they are less versatile than table saws.
Table Saw
- Forced to push boards through it
Cutting large pieces though is a strength of radial arm saws whereas it is a weakness of table saws because you have to feedstock to a table saw to cut them.
- More necessary space
If you have a lot of work space, this will not affect you, but if you have to work in the limited workspace, this will undoubtedly cause many difficulties for you. It is not only fixed but also quite large, so you have to consider cleary before buying.
- Kickbacks
Although a table saw payments are dangerous, you can prevent it by using a right parallel fence, feather-boards, and never tilt the blade towards the wall or use a broken or bent blade.
Which is Better?
Both saws have their abilities and weaknesses, but table saws are quite highly recommended. They have more advantages than the other, so it can require almost user’s requirements.
On the other hand, if you do not have a comprehensive workspace, you should not buy it because it will bring you some unexpected inconveniences.
To sum up, every decision is based on your requirements, budget, intended use. We hope this article will be useful to you.
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