Thread: table saw vs panel saw

I don't think you want a panel saw.

Panel saws are designed for handling sheet materials like ply and chipboard. They have a large sliding table and usually have a scoring blade that's designed for clean cuts on melamine and laminates. They have a large footprint and need a lot of room around them to operate. You'll find these mostly in places making boxes like kitchen cupboards.

Table saw is a pretty general term, but you're probably referring to a cabinet or contractor type saw. This would be the most common type of saw that a woodworker working with solid timber would have. It would be more like an improved version of your Triton than a panel saw would be.

Thanks for that.

Yes its a cabinet makers saw I'm looking at but I do want to be able to handle sheets for making the vanities etc - I like the idea of the cabinet saw with an extension to handle the odd sheet.

People who handle a lot of large sheets make outriggers or extension tables for the saw. You can buy a cabinet saw with a sliding table that operates similar to a panel saw but they have a reduced capacity, so it's a compromise.

I usually break large sheets up with a hand held circular saw first but I don't use them a lot.

I'd say it works like this:

...we all want a panel saw. Few of us have a factory sized shed to work one in, so settle for a table saw.

Removable outriggers are often one of the first add-ons...

I don't know about that. I don't really feel any great want for a panel saw. It's a fairly specialised machine optimised for handling sheet materials. I think a decent cabinet saw is a better all-round workhorse for the jack of all trades.

But if one was on offer, I'd find room for it

Maybe want is too strong a word... I'd like most of the gizmos that 'Tim the Toolman' comes up with, (VROOM! VROOM!) but I ain't gonna rush out and buy them.

Originally Posted by silentC

But if one was on offer, I'd find room for it

Prezactly.

OK so if we all want a panel saw are there any circumstances where a cabinet saw is better? I've not built my she yet and we are on 120 acres.

Oh, and then there's the small issue of price..... What would I pay for a good cabinet saw vs a panel saw?

If you're working on relatively small pieces (ie. aren't cutting up big sheets) then a cabinet saw lets you get up much more close and personal. Every joinery I've been in that has a panel saw also has a tablesaw or two.

A TS really is more practical in a home workshop.

Not that I've really looked around, but it appears to me that as the panel saw is more specialised and larger, so is the price tag. Easily another 0 on the end compared to a similar quality TS.

I have a table saw with a sliding table, but it does not have a scribing blade. To get really fine cuts I can score one side, flip the panel then complete the cut. When not in use the table can be folded down out of the way. A drawback is the rail does not fold out the way and can be a real nuisance when trying to move stuff around a small workshop (2 car garage).

If I could get the money back and start again, I think I would be getting the Festool saw and rails for panels and have the TS by itself, without the slider. It would cost more that way but the results would be better and more flexible. A panel saw is out of the question size-wise, but also it would be a waste. If I get to the point where I want to cut a large quantity and do it well it would be cheaper to get someone in the business to do it for me. They would get the materials cheaper and the cutting would be high quality.

A good cabinet saw will cost you around $2,000-3,000 - a good panel saw is more like $10,000+. One of the reasons is that a panel saw is intended for industrial applications and they're usually big heavy duty things made in Europe, whereas a cabinet saw is more aimed at the small custom furniture maker or hobbyist and you can get good cheap ones from SEA.

OK, sounds like cabinet saw is the go and I can get an extension.

So how does one determine the quality of these things and how much does accuracy vary by price?

What determines the price?

" What determines the price?"

The depth of your pockets...

Seriously set yourself a budget, real cabinet saw's start with the TSC10HB($1500ish there are some cheaper)... and end up at about the Sawstop or powermatic PM2000($5000+). You need to consider do you want just a saw, as there are good combo machines available prices range from $5k upwards(sky's the limit)they can have up to 5 machines in 1.

If I was to upgrade my saw(tsc10hb orange flavoured)I would go for a Sawstop, they have the best safety device(other than yourself)on a table saw period and they are a very good quality saw to start with.

We have a business here in Brisbane called "Wood n' You" where you can get your panels cut to spec or do them yourself. (It's onthe southside for those of you on the north side0
Maybe there are businesses like this in other cities. Saves lots of money that you can spend on other toys.