I'm looking to upgrade from my trusty Bosch jobsite saw to a more robust option as I dive deeper into woodworking. My budget is limited to around $300-$600 for a used saw, and while a high-end stop saw is out of reach, I want to focus on dust collection since my shop is in a basement with doors and windows. I'm curious if the enclosed design of cabinet saws really improves dust management compared to contractor saws. Moving the saw seems like a hassle, but I really want to minimize dust as much as possible. Also, I have single-phase circuits (20A and 15A) in the shop, so I'm not expecting huge power boosts from a cabinet saw—just trying to make the best choice here. Thanks for any insights!
2 Answers
I've been in your shoes with a contractor saw—they're great, but the dust situation can be a nightmare. Switching to a cabinet saw made a big difference for me, especially with the below-the-blade dust collection. Just keep in mind that it won't catch everything; dust tends to fly above the table. You'll probably need an over-arm dust collection setup to tackle that part. Older cabinet saws can contain a lot of dust in the base, but they usually have a 4-inch port for dust extraction, which means you'll need to clean them out periodically depending on how much you use it.
Totally worth it! My contractor saw wasn't cutting it (pun intended!) when it came to dust collection. Upgrading to a cabinet saw really helped with the sawdust problem and made my workspace a lot cleaner. Definitely consider some additional overhead dust collection for the best results. How are you finding the switch so far?
Awesome to hear, thanks for the feedback!