Best Hybrid Table Saw

2. Powermatic PM1000 1791000K Table Saw 30-Inch Fence — Ergonomic design

This cabinet table saw only requires 110V, so it is compatible with standard residential electrical supplies in the US. This is perhaps the truest hybrid model on this list, boasting many of the features found in cabinet saws while still running on residential current.

Cabinet saws have many benefits, such as noise reduction due to the motor being enclosed in a cabinet, cleanliness because they have better dust collection and overall high quality. For many hobbyists, the two big problems are price and the need for a 220V electrical supply.

This model may well have all the features you want and none of the things you don’t want. The price point and 110V wiring make this the perfect choice for many weekend warriors.

The motor is 1.75 HP. The miter pivots 60 degrees to either side. It features a hands-free power switch, ergonomic 7″ handwheels, and a tool-less guard assembly.

It comes with a 5-year warranty. This model weight 418 pounds and its dimensions are 36″ x 27.5″ x 63.8″.

The trunnions mount to the front and rear frame struts of the cabinet. Although less beefy than on many cabinet table saws, they are a big improvement over table-mounted trunnions commonly found on contractor table saws.

There is no thin kerfing knife for this model. Some customers opt to modify the existing kerfing knife.

Recommended or not?

Recommended if you want a cabinet table saw that runs on the standard residential electrical current.

Pros:

• Superior cabinet-mounted trunnions help reduce vibrations and noise.
• Uses standard residential power. No need to upgrade your workshop to 220V power.
• Blade adjustment is easy and dust collection works well.

Cons:

• If there is an issue with your saw, customer service has room for improvement.
• There is no thin kerfing knife.

3. Grizzly G0690 Cabinet Table Saw with Riving Knife, 10-Inch — Best Affordable Cabinet Table Saw

This model has an enclosed cabinet and 220V electrical cord like a standard cabinet table saw, but at a price point more in line with hybrid table saws. If you are looking for a serious saw that you can permanently install in your home workshop, this may be the saw for you.

The table height is 34 inches. It features a 3 HP motor, 29.5″ rip capacity, 13/16″ maximum dado width, and the built-in miter will cut 3 1/8″ deep at 90 degrees or 2 3/16″ deep at 45 degrees.

This table saw model features a triple belt drive, cast iron trunnions, iron table and wings, camlock T-fence, riving knife, magnetic switch, and T-slot miter gauge. The 4″ dust collection port helps protect your respiratory system and helps keep your workshop clean. The heavy cast handwheels make it easy to operate.

The model comes with a push stick. The riving knife, motor guard and splitter assembly are all quick releases.

It comes with a 1-year warranty. For an additional fee, you can add either a 3-year or 4-year protection plan.

It’s quite heavy. The model is 530 pounds and the shipping weight is 539. If you want to be able to move it, you should purchase a mobile base for it.

Recommended or not?

Recommended if you want a 3 HP cabinet table saw for around half the price of most 3 HP cabinet table saws. Not recommended if you are looking for a model that will work on standard residential 110V current.

Pros:

• This unit has many features of a standard cabinet saw, such as a high-precision cast iron table, closed cabinet and 220V power.
• Cabinet units are generally quieter, cleaner and sturdier than job site or contractor tables saws.
• This is a good quality cabinet unit at a hybrid price.
• A mobile base is available if you need to be able to move it.

Cons:

• Does not have 110V power.
• Not as mobile as some hybrids. Get a mobile base if you intend to move it.
• It’s quite heavy. Expect to need help with setup.

4. Shop Fox W1837 10″ 2 hp Open-Stand Hybrid Table Saw — Best Entry Level Hybrid Model

This hybrid model has an enclosed cabinet to contain the motor, thereby reducing sound, and also works on standard residential current. It also runs about half the price of most hybrids, making it quite affordable.

It has a fairly hefty 2 HP motor and can be readily altered to run on 220V for enhanced performance. The table is precision-ground cast iron and the wings are steel. The rip capacity is 30 inches to the right and 15 inches to the left.

It features a lift-off fence with front and rear locking ability. It has a 4-inch dust port, T‐slot miter gauge, quick‐release blade guard assembly, and easy‐glide fence system.

At just 260 pounds, it’s far lighter than many other hybrids. The low weight plus built-in wheels with kick-stand make it easy to move.

It comes with a 2-Year warranty. The dimensions of this unit are 58″ x 38″ x 36″.

This is truly a best-of-both-worlds hybrid table saw that gives you the mobility of a high-end contractor saw, combined with better dust control and other quality features typical of cabinet saws. It also features a true riving knife, quick-change blade guard and anti-kick pawls.

At 90 degrees, it can cut 3 1/4″ deep. At 45 degrees, it can cut 2 1/4″ deep. The trunnions are cabinet mounted to help absorb vibrations and provide generally superior performance.

Recommended or not?

Recommended if you want a truly mobile hybrid saw. If you want a hybrid saw for not much more than a grand instead of around two grand will be a great pick. Recommended whether you want a 110V or 220V machine because it is compatible with both and can be readily changed to 220V.

Pros:

• A convenient kickstand and built-in wheels make this model surprisingly mobile.
• Trunnions mount to the cabinet to absorb vibration and ensure proper alignment.
• For safety, the blade guard assembly is quick release.
• Comes with 110V electrical cord and can be readily switched to 220V.

Cons:

• Assembly instructions have room for improvement.
• It draws enough amperage that cutting on another powered item may trip the circuit breaker.

5.SawStop CNS175-TGP36 1.75Hp Contractor Saw 36″ Prof T-Glide Fence SYS — Best Model For Safety Purposes

The big selling point for SawStop saws is their unique safety feature: Thanks to a unique sensor system, they stop in about 1/200th of a second when they come into contact with human skin. If safety is your number one concern, then this is the saw for you.

This model is classified as a contractor saw, but has enough extra features to qualify for our hybrid table saw list. It offers mobility options, has a 36″ professional T-glide fence system and up to 52 in rip capacity.

It features a cast iron table, extension wings and a 4″ dust collection port. At 45 degrees, it can cut to a depth of 2 1/4″. At 0 degrees, it can cut to a depth of 3 18″.

This model runs on residential 110V electrical current. With the addition of an extra component, it can be configured to run on 220V.

Across the US, tables saw injuries happen every day and often result in the loss of one or more fingers. So only a fool wouldn’t be concerned about safety issues when purchasing a table saw.

But this is a bigger issue for some people than others, such as individuals outfitting a workshop in a household with small children or older weekend warriors who are no longer at their best. For such households, safety features should rank higher on their priority list.

But SawStop doesn’t just protect against saw accidents. It also has a superior dust collection system to protect your respiratory health from sawdust, a substance the CDC classifies as a carcinogen.

Comes with a 1-year warranty. This saw weighs 338 pounds and its dimensions are 72″ x 19.5″ x 47″.

Recommended or not?

Great model if you want superior safety, both in terms of protection against injury and protection for your respiratory health. Also, recommended for any household with extra safety concerns, such as the presence of small children.

Pros:

• Superior safety thanks to a unique sensor system that shuts it off if the blade contacts human skin.
• Up to 52″ rip capacity.
• Has a 36″ Professional T-glide fence system to support safe lockdown, precise measurements, and smooth operation.

Cons:

• Customer service gets mixed reviews.

Buyer’s Guide

If you are considering buying a hybrid saw, you probably already know how central a table saw is to the functioning of a woodworking shop. But maybe you don’t quite know what all your options are and why a hybrid may be the best fit for your needs.

Types of Saws

There are four types of table saws. From generally less expensive to more expensive, they are:

• Job site
• Contractor
• Hybrid
• Cabinet

Job site saws are the smallest, lightest and most portable. Some of them can be hand-carried instead of wheeled around. They are designed to be taken to a job site and used on site. They are typically 110V and have limitations on the size of stock they can handle.

Contractor saws are also intended to be mobile but are heavier and sturdier than job site saws. These cannot be hand-carried, but often include wheels to help facilitate moving them. They are heavier than job site saws but lighter than hybrid or cabinet saws. They are typically 110V.

Hybrids are a fairly new category of a table saw designed to serve serious hobbyists who can’t afford or don’t want the full features of a cabinet saw, but need something more than your typical contractor saw. Manufacturers became aware that this was an emerging gap in the marketplace and sought to fill it.

The result is something with features superior to most contractor saws, but less expensive than most cabinet saws. Hybrid saws are usually 110V.

Cabinet saws are serious professional level saws that are typically permanently installed in a professional shop with adequate space for such. The motor is fully enclosed in a cabinet for reduced noise, better dust control and improve safety. They are typically 220V.

Things to Think About

If money is no object, you might think the obvious answer is to just buy a cabinet saw. Why not get “the best” if you can afford it?

Well, slow down. Yes, cabinet saws are the best type of saw for purposes of woodworking, but that’s never the only consideration.

If you have any reason to want or need to move the saw, a cabinet saw is the worst possible choice. All other options are more portable.

If you have a small shop, cabinet saws may also be the worst possible choice. They are generally larger than all other options.

These are also some of the reasons hybrid saws appeal to serious hobbyists. They may be fortunate to have a dedicated space to pursue their passion, but that space may not be as large as your typical professional workshop. They may also have reason to move it from time to time.

Although hybrid saws are generally aimed at serious hobbyists, there are professional use cases for them as well. Independent professional shops may find a contractor saw inadequate, yet not be able to justify the expense of a high-end cabinet saw. A hybrid saw may be the perfect answer in such a scenario.

Features

Here are some details you will want to think about when choosing a saw:

• What is the quality of the fence system?
• What safety features does it come with? This includes items like anti-kickback pawls and the blade guard assembly.
• Is there a hands-free off switch?
• Does it have a push stick?
• How big and ergonomic are the hand wheels?
• Is it easy to assemble or not?
• How easy is it to use?
• What is the quality of the instruction manual? Keep in mind that some of them can be perused online before purchase.
• Is it 110V or 220V?
• How good is the dust collection system?

Some of these details are more or less equally important to all customers, but others are heavily impacted by personal circumstances. For example, the quality of the dust collection system will be more important to people with allergies and respiratory problems.

As a rule of thumb, your table saw should be able to handle the most complex task you anticipate doing. You should keep that task in mind when contemplating saw features as a litmus test for which saws are likely to work for you.

But don’t lose sight of other parameters for your saw. It may help to make a list of details that matter. Ask yourself the following questions and jot down the answers:

Important Questions to Ask Before Buying a New Hybrid Table Saw

• What’s my total budget?
• If I get 220V, do I have to upgrade my electrical supply? What will that cost? Can I afford that on top of the saw I am considering?
• Do I have special safety concerns, such as a home workshop in a household with small children?
• How much does noise control matter to me? (Cabinet saws are typically quieter because they are enclosed.)
• How important is dust collection to me?
• How much space do I have for a table saw?
• Does it need to be portable?

Some people find it helpful to make two columns, one for “must-have” features and one for “nice to have” features. If you can find a saw that meets all criteria on both lists, you’ve found a clear winner.

In practice, most people have at least a few conflicting needs. In such cases, the “must-have” should trump the “nice to have.” If you have conflicting needs and they are both “must-have” items, now you really need to think about which one matters the most and buy accordingly.

Thoroughly thinking through your list of needs and wants can help reveal practical ways to resolve any seeming conflicts. For example, you can’t have something that is simultaneously heavy and light, but you can have something heavy that is on wheels to help you move it if you want something lightweight for purposes of portability.

Our Best Choice

Our favorite is number 1. Powermatic PM1000 1791000K Table Saw 30-Inch Fence. This is a true hybrid saw. It has cabinet features, but also runs on 110V power.

Of course, no saw is the best saw for everyone. Make sure you think about your needs and the specifics of your particular situation and choose accordingly.