Which is Better, a Miter Saw or a Table Saw?

I often hear the question from beginning woodworkers:  “I have a limited budget, what should I buy first, a miter saw, or a table saw”?  This question seems to imply that they do the same thing and that there are comparable prices between them.  The problem is that they don’t do all of the same things and the prices are not comparable.  A quality table saw is far more expensive and more useful than a miter saw. There is nothing that a miter saw can do that can’t be done with a table saw. Miter saws only do crosscut and cannot do rip cuts or handle plywood. Let’s take a closer look:

Miter Saws

First,  price.  If we are deciding between a table saw that is in the same price range of miter saw, these saws are not really something one wants to build their shop around.  For example, here is a very nice $600.00 DeWalt miter saw from Rockler that we can use to compare to table saws:  DeWalt Miter Saw,  Rockler . Here is a summary of what Rockler has posted on their website about the capabilities of this saw:

“A 15A, 3,800 RPM motor delivers abundant power to cut through thick dimensional lumber. Cut capacities are very generous: 6-3/4” of vertical baseboard capacity, 7-1/2” of nested crown capacity, 13-7/8” of horizontal capacity. The miters can be adjusted up to 60° to the right and 50° to the left. The head can also be angled to make bevel cuts of up to 49° right or left with positive stops at 0°, 22.5°, 33.9°, 45°, and 49°.”

Portable Table Saws

Shopping around, the only table saws in that price range are the portable variety.  Portable saws have small motors and aluminum tops to make them light enough to transport. The small motors make it difficult for these machines to handle most hardwood and sheet goods. They lack the power to rip thick hardwoods and aren’t really designed to provide the accuracy that fine woodworking demands. Considering that the majority of quality woodworking is done with hardwoods this issue alone should rule out the portable table saw as a purchase that a beginner would want to build a shop around. Here is an example of a $600 Rigid portable saw:  Rigid R4510 Heavy Duty Portable

Contractor Saws

The next choice in price would be a contractor saw. These saws are built so that they can be disassembled and moved. They are a step up from portable saws because they have cast iron table top but most do not have iron extension wings so they tend to vibrate. The motors are still smaller so they do not have the horsepower of a table saw to rip hardwoods.

Contractor saws are semi-portable machines that range from 250 to 350 pounds. While they do not come on wheels like the portable saws, they are built so they can be disassembled enough to move. For example, the motor hangs off the back of the saw, making it easier to remove. Some contractor saws do come with quality fences cast iron tables and extension wings so they are more stable and more accurate than portable saws.  These saws are suitable for carpentry, small cabinetry projects, trim work, and basic furniture making. Contractor saws might be a suitable option for a small shop but they are still more expensive than a miter saw, usually running ;more than $1500.00.  Here are examples of Contractor Saws from SawStop found at Rockler and on Amazon:

Cabinet Saws:

Cabinet saws are what most professional woodworkers will have in their shops. They have more powerful motors and are built almost entirely of cast iron for durability and stability but they are very expensive and probably not in the budget for most hobbyists.
Here is one of the more affordable options from Grizzly that runs close to $,2000.00 on Amazon.

Hybrid Saws:

A more affordable option for most hobbiest like myself is a new class of saw called a hybrid: These saws offers may of the features of the cabinet saw but have smaller motors that run on 110 volt rather than 220v like a cabinet saw   Here is a nice one from Baileigh.com that runs about $1600.00.

Conclusion:

• Miter saws are very handy tools to have for accurate miter cuts and various crosscuts but they do not replace a table saw.
• When you are ready for a table saw,  save until you can get a good cabinet saw or hybrid.