Power Saws for Dummies

Using a miter gauge on a table saw

Our woodworkers and carpenters are always on the lookout for interesting posts about their crafts, whether the topics are how-tos or tool advice. We don't visit EzineArticles.com all that often, but the staffer who turned up today's DotD suggested that it might be fertile ground for dumbassery based on the quality of several articles she perused. Without further ado, then, here's "Circular Saw Vs Table Saw – Pros and Cons," barfed up onto EA by one Ted Oliver.

Even ignoring his insistence that circular saws should be known as "Skil-Saws,"¹ Oliver has more than a few problems in his post, especially for someone who claims to run a tool company. For one, the concept is simply confusing: is he comparing them? or listing the pros and cons of one type or both? We read it, and we still can't figure it out...

Ted opens by telling us that

"Each type of saw has its pros and cons. The decision to go with either of the two should be arrived at after a comprehensive review of them for so much will depend on how one will use the tool. So when comparing a circular saw vs a table saw, there is not really a right or wrong, it comes down to convenience, speed, power and budget as to which is chosen."

We call bullshit on that, unless by "convenience" he means "capability." Try cutting an accurate compound bevel with a circular saw or, for that matter, ripping a 2-by-4 to a 1½" square. For that matter, try cutting a ¾" sheet of plywood in half with a table saw. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, which should be the focus of Oliver's article, if you ask us. What did Ted say?

Well, he nattered a bit about circular says, including

"The key advantage of the Skil-saw is its much lighter weight and portability. Some have a built in laser guide to help you make precision cuts. They also come cordless with a lithium-ion battery which makes them even more portable..."

...and then explained that table saws,

"[Are] normally found in any woodworking shop because usually nothing happens without them. Modern designs are now lightweight and can be place [sic] on a table or any other supporting surface. Due to its light weight, it can be lifted and carried to different job locations without too much difficulty.The biggest advantage of the table saw is its ability to cut multiple square pieces and angle cuts to the same exact length and angle with precision each time by simply adjusting the miter fence..."

The what? The "miter fence"? Someone who knows a table saw from a hole in the ground should be able to distinguish the fence from the miter gauge. Apparently Oliver doesn't... Combine his sketchy knowledge of the two saws with his failure to address major pros and cons (not to mention never even mentioning a power miter saw), and we're pretty sure even the beginningest of beginning woodworkers would agree that he's the Dumbass of the Day.

¹ Skil® is a company name, just like Xerox...

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