Ace Hardware | Tools

Saws

Miter saw

Miter Saws

Miter Saws are used to make straight accurate cross cuts and miter cuts. Most miter saws Miter saws come in different styles including:

  • Standard Miter has a fixed vertical pivot were the blade remains vertical but you can rotate the cutting table allowing horizontally angled cuts.
  • Compound Miter has a rotating vertical pivot allowing the cutter head and blade to be tilted sideways along with horizontally rotating the table. This then allows vertical and horizontal angled cuts even in both planes. Even though most compound miter saws are only single action but some do come in dual action.
  • Sliding Compound Miter is a compound miter saw that has sliding arms for cutting allowing cuts on wider boards. Just like other compound miter saws they can be single or dual action. They are relatively portable. Usually they have adjustable stops at 45° and 90° allowing easy and accurate adjustment of the saw.
    • Single action vs. Dual action: Single action means that they only tilt to one side of the vertical and not both sides unlike dual action which tilts both ways. Both can make identical cuts single action just requires flipping of the workspace in-between cuts.

Table Saws

A Table Saw or sawbench has a circular saw blade mounted under a table or bench that is projected through a slot in the table or bench. The saw can be moved up and down to portray the depth of the cut. The angle of the cut is controlled by adjusting the angle of the blade. The heavier the saw the less vibration and more accuracy you have. Table Saws come in different styles including:

  • Benchtop Table Saw are small and lightweight so even one person can easily lift it and move it making it easier to different locations. They are designed to be placed on a table or different form of support. The top of the is narrow.
  • Contractor Table Saw are large and heavy and have to be attached to a stand or base usually with wheels. Dust collection can be problamatic.
  • Cabinet Table Saws are heavy being made of cast iron and steel. They are mounted with a blade mount and height and tilt adjustment. Improved dust collection.
  • Hybrid Table Saw are lighter than cabinet saws but heavier than contractor saws. Some have a sliding table to help with cross cutting. Improved dust collection compared to benchtop and contractor.

Table Saws

A Table Saw or sawbench has a circular saw blade mounted under a table or bench that is projected through a slot in the table or bench. The saw can be moved up and down to portray the depth of the cut. The angle of the cut is controlled by adjusting the angle of the blade. The heavier the saw the less vibration and more accuracy you have. Table Saws come in different styles including:

  • Benchtop Table Saw are small and lightweight so even one person can easily lift it and move it making it easier to different locations. They are designed to be placed on a table or different form of support. The top of the is narrow.
  • Contractor Table Saw are large and heavy and have to be attached to a stand or base usually with wheels. Dust collection can be problamatic.
  • Cabinet Table Saws are heavy being made of cast iron and steel. They are mounted with a blade mount and height and tilt adjustment. Improved dust collection.
  • Hybrid Table Saw are lighter than cabinet saws but heavier than contractor saws. Some have a sliding table to help with cross cutting. Improved dust collection compared to benchtop and contractor.

Bench Grinder

Bench Grinder

Bench Grinder is a free hand machine used to drive abrasive wheels in a bench top form. There are also pedestal grinders that are mounted on a pedestal and bolted to the floor these are larger versions of bench grinders. They usually have two wheels one on both end of the grinder some even have wet and dry wheels. These grinders are commonly used to hand grinding like grinding hand tools and other rough grinding. Grinding is used to make work-pieces finished with a high surface quality (smooth) and accuracy for shape and dimension. A grinder can remove little amounts of volume to high amounts rapidly, making grinding a diverse field.