Let's say you're about to start a big woodworking DIY project. You probably want to use the safest table saw you can afford, especially if you're going to be carrying out the project on your own for the first time. Shop Fox table saws offer safety and many other features you should pay attention to; hence, choosing the right one for your project could get a bit hectic. So, whether you're buying a shop fox table saw for personal or commercial needs, we'll make it easier for you to make a choice.
We will choose from these four products to decide which one is the best for personal use and which one will provide the most value when it comes to commercial use.
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Choosing Wisely: How do I find the best table saw?
When we talk about table saws, we should point out that there are multiple features we should examine. The key to buying the best table saw for your needs is to concentrate on its specific qualities. This is a great video to find concrete advice on which qualities should be your top priority when shopping for a table saw.
Now, let´s focus on the four main types of table saws on the market: cabinet, hybrid, portable and contractor.
Cabinet Table Saw – Ideal for Workshops
This type of table saw is not movable because it is large and heavy. However, it is the most powerful and accurate kind of table saw. Shop Fox W1819 3HP has a superior 3hp Leeson motor which uses a belt drive to provide blades with the necessary power. Also, it has a massive cast iron table and wings. A cabinet table saw by Bosch (Bosch Professional GTS 10J) could also be a smart choice as it is precise, powerful, portable, and easy to work with.
Portable Table Saws – Space Savers
These table saws could serve craftsmen well when they are on the move and, when they're not working, they can put their portable table saw away and save a lot of space. The key difference between this kind of table saw and the other three above is that portable table saws do not have powerful induction motors.
They contain a universal motor which is less powerful and creates more noise. One last thing, if you are looking for high precision, they will not provide you with the expected results. This is why we recommend portable saws for those who enjoy doing medium-to-small DIY projects at home.
Related Article:
The Best Portable Table Saw: Review for DIY Woodworkers
Hybrid Table Saw – Best of Both Worlds
Hybrid table saws offer high-quality performance while being portable. They are not as accurate as cabinet table saws, but their portability makes them ideal for both workshops and the home. Shop Fox W1824 could be easily compared to the Shop Fox W1819 3hp as they have similar qualities. However, we'll be honest and say that the cabinet saw is slightly better and more powerful than the hybrid one.
The main difference lies in the fact that the Shop Fox W1824 has a 2hp motor which automatically suggests it is less powerful than the 3hp one. However, it can still do a great job as they offer the same deep cut, high-quality fence, and ten-inch blade.
Related Article:
The Best Hybrid Table Saw of 2019: Reviews for Woodworkers
Contractor Table Saws – The Name Says it All
Contractor table saws are typically better for small workshops. Although they are portable, they are pretty heavy (from 250lbs to 350lbs), so they are not convenient for frequent moving. They are made of cast iron, have a high-quality fence system and are accurate. In this category, you can check out the Delta 36-5000 10-Inch contractor saw. This table saw weighs 230 pounds which makes it suitable for moving. Also, it has a powerful fence and a 15 AMP induction motor.
Related Article:
Delta Table Saw Reviews | The Best Models Reviewed and Compared
What Should I look for in a Table Saw?
Okay, we now have a clearer picture about table saws. We know there are four main types and their typical qualities. But, we should take a deeper look and describe some of the qualities we mentioned:
Fox Shop Table Saw Reviews 2019
As you now know what to look for in a table saw, it's time to review some Shop Fox table saws! Let's see which will win in the “best table saw for home use” and “best table saw for commercial use” categories.
This product should unmistakably go into commercial use category. The powerful Leeson 3hp motor will serve every craftsman well. First of all, it is specially designed for woodworking, so it can endure working for a long time. Furthermore, its completely closed design keeps the motor safe from wood dust and shavings, made out of steel and has a cooling fan. The rip capacity of Shop Fox w1819 is 29-1/2 inches, which means it offers a deep cut.
Having such a powerful motor (arbor speed 4300 RPM) implies one thing – this table saw is made to provide you with the results. When we talk about safety, the Shop Fox W1819 is focused on it, too. It includes a riving knife and blade guard (which are significant safety features). The blade guard is made of a translucent polycarbonate shield, which is excellent, as it gives maximum clarity and protection. The riving knife is working in sync with the T-fence, making it super safe to work. Also, it has a miter gauge.
The miter gauge is there to make sure that the cut is precise under any given angle, but some people question the reliability of its miter gauge. Some find it a bit shaky, but the miter gauge is easily replaced, and you can purchase it easily if it doesn't meet your standards.
And the last important factor is that the Shop Fox W1819 cabinet table saw is really heavy. It is 150lbs heavier than the Shop Fox W1824, which makes this table saw hardly movable. Now that we know what to expect from this model, let's summarize:
PROS
CONS
As a hybrid table saw, this model has a lot of great features in one place. It is the combination of a cabinet table saw, and a portable table saw. When we compare it to the Shop Fox W1819, we will find the evident distinction between them. Shop Fox W1819 is a model that is made for small shops or wood workshops in general. The Shop Fox W1824 is model that is lighter, therefore more easily movable.
This might be a convenient solution for home use. Primarily, you can move it around if you need additional space. Also, you can rest assured that you are safe as this model has a riving knife, T-fence, anti-kickback pawls, and blade guards.
Actually, the blade guards and riving knife are exactly the same as the ones on the Shop Fox W1819. What makes it even more interesting is its 10-inch blade, a rip capacity of 30 inches, and its high-quality Leeson 2hp/15-amp motor.
The 15-amp motor is something worth noticing, as it will provide you with enough energy to cut those wood pieces super smoothly. The motor itself is not as powerful as 3hp, but it will still do the job, especially, if you need it for not-so-large DIY projects.
We have seen what this hybrid table saw has to offer, so we should go straight to the point and see what the pros and cons are if we decide to go for this model:
PROS
CONS
If we compare this hybrid saw to the Shop Fox W1824, we will see the huge difference in portability. First, this model is a lot lighter than the one before. The Shop Fox W1824 weighs 380 pounds, while this one, the Shop Fox W1837 weighs 260 pounds. Therefore, this model is perfect for moving around more frequently as it has built-in wheels.
However, portability is not always synonymous with exceptional quality. Some say that with great portability comes less accuracy as the table saw is more unstable. Therefore, if you prefer heavy and stable table saws, then the Shop Fox W1837 might not be for you. However, this so-called instability is not a guaranteed thing, you might not face any problems while working on this kind of table saw, but you should have in mind various points of view when it comes to portability.
If we start comparing other features, it becomes more complicated as they are pretty much the same. They have the same 2hp motor, the same 30-inch rip capacity on the right, and 15 on the left, quick change blade guard, anti-kickback pawls, and T-fence.
Basically, this model offers the same motor, the same safety features, and rips capacity, so it is hard to choose when you have two great models. However, we should make a final distinction. If you crave for mobility, then you should go with the Shop Fox W1837 hybrid table saw. Otherwise, there is not a crucial difference between these two.
PROS
CONS
Well, this one is really heavy. It weighs 410 pounds, so the best thing you should do if you buy it is to install it let it stay there. While the Shop Fox W1837 was the combination of cabinet and portable table saws, this one is a mix of contractor and cabinet ones. It is not portable, but its accent is more on the performance. So, with this one you will get more powerful performance and stability.
The Shop Fox W1851 has a large table, 55˝ wide, making it comfortable to work on. If we speak about performance and power, it uses 2HP motor and should be prewired to 220V or 110V to support its motor. If you wire it to 110V, it offers 16-amps and when on 220V, 8-amps. Also, this table saw has a motor with an arbor speed of 3850 RPM, which makes its performance more powerful.
Furthermore, its safety features are only giving this model additional value. It has a transparent blade guard, which enables a woodworker to see the workpiece. How does it work exactly?
This blade guard is installed to be right on the top of the wood piece, so it stays in contact with it through the complete cutting session. That way, it protects the woodworker's hands from getting cut. Also, as the guard is directly on the workpiece and dust collection is integrated, this table saw offers excellent dust collection capability.
Besides these qualities, it has 30-inch rip capacity on the right side, while on the left it offers 12 inches. Okay, so you have a heavy, steady, and powerful table saw, should you buy this kind of saw for home use or a workshop?
Let's make it easier for you, you won't make a mistake if you decide to use it both ways. This one is all-around type of saw, and there are only tiny details that make the difference between this one and for example Shop Fox W1824.
PROS
CONS
Conclusion
The Shop Fox W1819 is the winner for the commercial use category as it is the most powerful and result-oriented table saw from the list. This one is made to work and last for long time. On the other hand, the Shop Fox w1851 is a deserved winner in the tight hybrid table saw category for home use. Good motor, excellent rip capacity, safety and wide workspace, are features that are in our opinion worthier than portability.