Do you just want to know what the best hybrid table saw is? DELTA 36-715 Hybrid Intermediate Saw is your best choice. Read on to learn why.
As you develop in your woodworking hobby, you will find the need to upgrade the tools in your shop. A table saw is no exception to this rule. A hybrid table saw will tackle any project without issue.
In this article, we will break down the features that you will find on the best hybrid table saw models, as well as a closer look at five specific hybrid models you might want to consider.
Quick Comparison
Hybrid Table Saws And Their Features
There is a lot of confusion online about what this kind of table saw really is when compared to other table saw types. Hopefully, I can answer some of the more common questions here.
How Are Hybrid Table Saws Different?
To begin with, a hybrid table saw is larger and more powerful than a benchtop or job site table saw. It will provide a more durable frame and tabletop (the best hybrids will make use of cast iron here) while using a larger belt-driven motor. It will not be as portable as these portable table saws, but it will handle larger pieces of lumber while providing more accurate cuts.
Traditionally, a hybrid fits in between the contractor and cabinet table saw types. It is less bulky and lighter in weight when compared to cabinet table saws. A hybrid will use a motor configuration similar to a cabinet table saw, but it will not provide the same level of power. A true cabinet saw will also be able to handle larger projects than a hybrid table saw can.
Conversely, most hybrid table saws will provide more stability than contractor table saws by sacrificing mobility. Many older contractor saws used outboard motors similar to smaller saws and not the inboard mounting that a hybrid has. The extra stability and larger motors allow a hybrid to handle cuts that could prove impossible with most contractor table saws.
Who Are Hybrid Table Saws Designed For?
First off, a hybrid might be overkill for someone just starting out with woodworking or for those who work occasionally. For them, a smaller compact table saw will do just fine. Hybrid table saws will make a poor choice at the construction site as well due to the room that they take up and their lack of mobility.
I would recommend a hybrid table saw for most amateurs who are looking to upgrade their workshop’s cutting capability. Also, I would not hesitate to suggest a hybrid to replace an older contractor’s table saw. The subtle advantages are worth a little extra money.
Hybrid Table Saw Safety Precautions
Safety should always be your number one priority in the shop, especially with power tools. Table saws are generally safe tools when used properly, with only a couple of major safety concerns.
Your first point of concern will be the spinning blade, obviously. Taking the time to set a proper blade height that will cut through the wood without standing too far above it is important. This adjustment can prevent you from losing fingers or even a hand should you accidentally slip.
The second point of concern is wood kickback during the cut. Many of today’s models include features, discussed further below, that help to reduce your lumber’s tendency to lift off of the table or pinch between the blade while sawing.
Perhaps the most important safety device when using a table saw, besides your safety glasses, will be a push stick. My grandfather drilled it into me when I was young that I should never reach for the wood near a moving blade or push it through the cut by hand. Sound advice, if I do say so myself.
How To Choose The Best Hybrid Table Saw
There are many types of cuts that you can make with a table saw, with the rip cut being the most common. Any potential product should have a blade that adjusts easily and locks securely.
The table saw should include both a table saw fence and a good miter gauge at minimum. Blade guards and feather boards that hold wood and help to prevent kickback are becoming standard with newer models as well.
Other Features To Take Into Account
- Power – a larger motor will cut through hardwoods more easily and allow you to cut thicker stock.
- Motor design – A poly-v drive belt design will create less vibration than either a V or wedge belt will.
- Blade tilt – A left-tilting blade will make the same cuts but will generate less kickback and binding during use.
- Dust collection – A good dust port will be preferred over a blade shroud when it comes to dust control.
- Build materials – A cast iron table is more stable and transfers less vibration than a table surface made from aluminum.
- Finally, make sure that all measurements on the table saw are easy to read.
Top Five Hybrid Table Saw Reviewed
Shop Fox W1837 10″ 2 Hp Open-Stand Hybrid Table Saw
- 2 HP, 120V/240V, single-phase motor prewired to run on a 120V, 20A circuit
- Enclosed cabinet bottom with 4" dust port
- Precision-ground cast iron table with steel wings measures 401/4" x 27"
OVERVIEW
A built-in mobile base is the first control option that stands out here. The foot-activated system lifts the table off of the ground and onto the support of its wheels, a feature that will allow you to move this hybrid table saw by yourself.
PROS
CONS
DELTA 36-715 Hybrid Intermediate Saw
OVERVIEW
This traditionally styled hybrid will offer a solid base with stability, thanks to its weight of 358 pounds as well as the cast iron table wings. Angled and straight cuts can be made safely with a secure blade that tilts left for miter cuts.
PROS
CONS
Grizzly G0771Z – Best Hybrid Saw For The Money
- Includes full manufacturer warranty
OVERVIEW
A cast iron table that is precision grounded is the first thing you will notice with this table saw. That accurate surface should translate to accurate cuts. Both the fence, as well as the blade, also line up well on this model to provide you with straight cuts.
PROS
CONS
Shop Fox W1851 Hybrid Cabinet Table Saw
- Motor: 2 HP, 110V/220V, single-phase, TEFC (Pre-Wired for 220V)
- Blade tilt: left, 0°–45°
- Table size with extension: 27" X 55"
OVERVIEW
A standard two-year warranty covers this hybrid, which looks and functions in many ways like a traditional cabinet table saw would. That includes the motor configuration and power requirement to make that motor operate.
PROS
CONS
LAGUNA Fusion F2 Table Saw
No products found.
OVERVIEW
Laguna has provided a multitude of small features that provide safety for both you and the motor. These features include a thermal overload that resets, anti-backlash arbor adjustments, as well as the quick-set blade and kerf splitter guards.
PROS
CONS
Cutting it down to one
These table saws offer you varying degrees of workability, depending on the features you are looking for. For most intermediate woodworkers, I would recommend the DELTA 36-715 Hybrid Intermediate Saw as the best hybrid table saw to go with.
Unlike the Shop Fox, the Delta provides the smaller footprint and lighter weight of a true hybrid, making it easier to move. It also comes at a bargain price when compared to the Laguna Tools table saw. The softer metals and uneven castings on the Grizzly and Shop Fox W1837 are not found on the Delta.
With a budget-friendly price tag and adequate features, the Delta hybrid table saw is a great option for those building up their shop tool collection. It provides straight cuts with an adjustable blade that locks securely. With a 30-inch right rip and 15-inch left, you will be able to tackle most projects.
