Professional woodworkers and carpenters sometimes decide to go for a smaller workspace. And it could be for so many reasons. Let’s not try to guess those reasons for now.
So, having a smaller space to work means they need to decide their essential tools on the basis of how much area it takes to store those. Also, looking at most of the cabinet table saws that are made for serious commercial uses, the weight and dimension are often on the heavier side. And this makes it quite challenging to find the best cabinet table saw for small shop specifically.
But, guess what? We have successfully done our experiment and shortlisted around 5 options with their complete reviews that you can consider for your limited working area. Keep On Reading…
Our Top Picks
- SawStop 10-Inch PCS31230-PFA30 Professional Cabinet Saw (Best Table Saw for Dado Cuts with Precision).
- SawStop PCS31230-TGP252 3-HP Professional Cabinet Saw (Best Table saw for Professional Uses with Excellent Built-in).
- Delta 36-L552 5 HP Unisaw Cabinet Saw (Best Workshop Table Saw with High Power & Biesemeyer Fence).
- JET 708675PK XACTASAW Deluxe 3-Horsepower Cabinet Saw (Best Value Cabinet Table Saw for Complex Jobs).
- Shop Fox W1819 3 HP 10-Inch Table Saw (Best Budget Cabinet Table Saw with Riving Knife).
Quick Overview
- 1 Comparing & Reviewing 5 Best Cabinet Table Saw for Small Shop
- 2 Factors To Consider the Best Cabinet Table Saw for Small Shop:
- 3 Wrapping Up
Comparing & Reviewing 5 Best Cabinet Table Saw for Small Shop
Let’s explore each of the cabinet saw options to help you figure out the best choice for your workspace.
SawStop 10-Inch PCS31230-PFA30 Professional Cabinet Saw
Top Specs:
- 30-Inch fence assembly.
- 3 HP motor.
- Cast-iron made table.
- 10” blade diameter.
- 8” dado blade diameter.
- 430 pounds.
Our Analysis:
If you are looking for the best table saw that accept dado blades, weighs only 430 pounds, and comes with other fascinating small-shop-friendly cabinet table saw features then SawStop PCS31230-OFA30 can be an ideal pick.
It’s relatively easier to make precise measurements with this best budget table saw dado cut pick that comes with an aluminum fence assembly. It may seem expensive compared to other options but when you consider the features and performance the price seems justified.
Also, the built quality of the arbor, as well as trunnion, is up to the mark. You get stable, strong as well as precise performance overall.
There’s a gas position elevation mechanism. And it helps you to easily adjust and get smooth results. It is the best table saw for dado blades that also includes a patented safety system. So that you can avoid any injury due to the spin of the blade coming in contact with the skin.
There are also dust collection, power paddle, mobile base, and some other value-adding features that make it a solid choice out of all the options. Especially for those who need a serious heavy-duty trunnion cabinet table saw for their workshop.
- The dado cuts are excellent.
- Convenient one-foot operation.
- Safety from blade available
- Great finish.
- Very powerful for desirable cuts.
- A bit pricey
SawStop PCS31230-TGP252 3-HP Professional Cabinet Saw
Top Specs:
- 3HP motor power.
- 10 inches diameter of the blade.
- 52-inch-long fence.
- Included extension table.
- 495 pounds almost.
Our Analysis:
SawStop PCS31230-TGP252 is by far the best commercial table saw option that comes with not just a phenomenal built-in quality but also some on-point extras you would love to have.
The price tag isn’t very cheap. But for the quality and features, it’s definitely reasonable. Especially when you consider safety to be one of the most critical factors for a highly effective cabinet table saw.
It comes with a T-Glide fence system. With the performance of this fence, it’s safe to say that SawStop PCS31230-TGP252 exceeds the expectation in terms of accuracy. Not to mention the impressive well-calibrated form right out of the box.
Also, where most heavy-duty cabinet table saw will weigh more than 600 pounds, this beast is less than that.
But still fabulous enough at providing all the right precision in performance you need as a professional. This is why it’s one of the best cabinet table saws for small shop owners. The dust collection does not disappoint as well.
- Great quality fence system.
- Comparatively lightweight.
- Very safe to use.
- Precise cuts.
- High-quality built-in.
- Workpieces with moisture can be tricky to handle.
Delta 36-L552 5 HP Unisaw Cabinet Saw
Top Specs:
- 10 inches diameter baled.
- 5 HP motor power.
- 52-inch long Biesemeyer fence.
- Cast iron base.
- 650 pounds in weight
Our Analysis:
The Delta 36-L552 is a massive 5HP motor cabinet saw that is by far the most powerful as well as heavy one on this list with a weight of 650 pounds.
This one comes with precise cuts ability. Plus, the capability to prevent vibration-related issues. Something that really becomes an annoying hindrance when working with highly powered motor cabinet saws.
The Delta 36-L552 comes with single-cast trunnion systems. And this is why it can control those vibrations so much better compared to other similar power cabinet saws out there.
With the cast iron base, you also get fantastic stability. As well as a foothold that is pretty reliable while using.
- Strongly made.
- Control vibration effectively.
- Precise in cuts.
- Easy to use.
- Very powerful.
- The extension table’s quality could have been better.
JET 708675PK XACTASAW Deluxe 3-Horsepower Cabinet Saw
Top Specs:
- 3HP motor power.
- 10 inches blade diameter.
- 50 inches long fence.
- 510 pounds.
- Includes handwheel controls.
- Includes extension table.
Our Analysis:
If having a large amount of woodworking job that demands complex work is a regular scene in your workshop, then JET 708675PK XACTASAW is the one you should go for.
This one comes with very solid craftsmanship that can stand up to really tough and demanding working conditions. Because of the heavy-duty cast iron made table as well as trunnion, there’s hardly any vibration issue you’ll feel when cutting.
Also, the dimension does allow you to work on quite large workpieces. Having enough room to maneuver the piece that demands complex cuts is also something it assures.
The construction of provided handwheel controls also uses heavy-duty cast iron. Also, thanks to the part, it makes very precise cuts with easy to conduct adjustments.
To make the precision parts even on-point, the JET 708675PK XACTASAW also includes a fabulous miter gauge integrated into it. As well as a T-square fence that is of industrial grade.
- The stability is superior.
- Uses heavy gauge cast iron for excellent built-in quality.
- Complicating angled cuts are precise.
- Comes with enough room for huge pieces.
- Blade design with left tilt for added accuracy.
- Lack of blade stop system for safety.
Shop Fox W1819 3 HP 10-Inch Table Saw
Top Specs:
- 5-inch-long fence.
- Includes wings/extension table.
- 3HP motor power.
- 10 inches blade diameter.
- 457 Pounds weight
- Includes riving knife.
Our Analysis:
Now if you need the best table saw for beginner woodworker, then safety should be your number one concern. Basically, to avoid injuries due to lack of expertise with tools that are meant for heavy-duty projects.
And the Shop Fox W1819 can be an optimal choice for such concerns. As it comes with not one but many safety-focused features.
It’s definitely appropriate for not just basic DIYers but also professional woodworkers with the really supreme cutting performance overall. And the cherry on the cake part is its pricing. Very affordable compared to all the other options on this list.
Now for the safety mechanism, the Shop Fox W1819 uses a blade guard, anti-kickback pawl, a dust system, and most importantly a riving knife. Then there’s also the magnetic mechanism on the control switch. As well as protection from thermal overload.
You can safely trust the movement thanks to the blade guard. It is made of high-quality crystal polycarbonate.
There is also a T-slot miter gauge, the fabulous flipping system as well as an extended fence to deal with huge wood chunks without any interruption or lack of accuracy.
- Avoids kickback smoothly.
- Very easy to use.
- Well-made blade guard.
- Flip stop of miter gauge works great.
- Excellent for chamfer cuts as well as the bevel.
- Overarm designed dust collection is more preferable.
Factors To Consider the Best Cabinet Table Saw for Small Shop:
Cabinet table saws that would fit in your small workshop means you need to worry about the overall weight as well as its dimension. But those are not the only things to consider. You must keep in mind a few more other things when purchasing an option appropriate for your projects. Here are the main ones:
The Overall Weight
Just like what we said earlier, weight is the main concern when it comes to cabinet table saw that is usually on heavier side and workshops that are comparatively smaller in space. Now you should go for the ones that have a weight ranging between 450 to 650 pounds. Because more than that, it’ll become quite hard to move around and work with.
On a side note, if you need the tool for mainly small-scale projects, then looking for the best hybrid table saw under $1000 can also be a great alternative move to try.
Energy
The main reason why professionals love cabinet table saw is often because of the immense power this type can provide for heavy-duty large projects. So, we are guessing you are looking for the same.
Try to go for the option that can at least provide 3HP if you will be handling moderately high-scale projects on a regular basis. If you consider the ability to handle bulky workpieces as one of the main requirements, then a cabinet table saw with 5HP will be even better.
Stable Performance for Precision
One of the most annoying things to face when working on bigger projects is the vibration that makes the whole process very hard and effort demanding.
So, it’ll be smart of you to look for the added stability function in your cabinet table saw. The good ones are capable to prevent such vibration and keep things stable. And that also means your cuts will be more precise.
Also, the more weight your cabinet table saw will have, the better would be its ability to reduce vibration. So before going for the least weighted option, make sure you are ready to expect a lack of stability. Better find the right balance.
Safety Features
Additional safety mechanisms such as kill-switch, automatic blade stops, anti-kickback system, dust collection, and so on are important as well. Especially if you are not a seasoned user of heavy-duty cabinet saws, handling can be hard and cause accidents.
Price
Looking for the best table saw under 1000 dollars isn’t the same as finding a cabinet saw on a similar budget.
Because even if many brands market taglines such as the best cabinet table saw under 1000 dollars, you should know that this thing generally comes with quite upgraded features compared to a regular table saw. And so, the cost cannot be similar, but higher.
That is why a thousand-dollars-worth table saw might work great for you. But the same budget cabinet saw can fail you horribly.
The induction motor for long run times, heavy construction for more durability as well as rip capacity increment capability are not something you get in regular table saws. But would expect to have in a quality cabinet saw. Hence the price will be around three thousand dollars quite normally.
So, when you decide on availing the so-called best cabinet table saw under 500 dollars, know that the price tag will surely leave out some key features.
Wrapping Up
Which one from the list do you consider is the best cabinet table saw for small shop? For us, it has to be the SawStop PCS31230-TGP252 3-HP Professional Cabinet Saw. The construction plus its performance is highly suitable for professional and commercial uses.
No matter which one you chose to go for, make sure to take enough time and consider your own list of requirements as well. By the end of the day, that thing will live in your shop. So it must be qualified enough to fit into your workspace. Good Luck!
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