

This can be a cheap option if you have material available already in your shop. Purchase a table saw fence extension kit made specifically for your table saw make and model.Adjust the fence-sliding rails of your saw or.Add a larger table to the side of your saw.Some of them might require a little imagination from you in using readily available materials already in your shop. There are three primary options available to you. But you’re not a noob anymore and are tackling more sophisticated projects that require greater rip capacity from your table saw. Now that we know what rip capacity is and why it is important, what if your table saw’s rip capacity isn’t enough for your needs anymore? You started out small in both size and investment to get your woodworking shop started. How To Extend Your Table Saw’s Rip Capacity Portable table saws, because of their small size, are going to have a smaller rip capacity usually, 28”, than a table or cabinet saw. And, obviously, manufacturers are not going to use a larger/stronger motor on a smaller table saw. A 10” blade will be able to cut a 3’-thick piece of wood, but a 12” blade will be needed to cut a 4”-thick piece.
Table saw specs for rip capacity are most responsible for determining a table saw’s cost.īlade size will determine how thick a piece of wood your table saw can cut. Most woodworkers will want to spend up just a little for the larger rip capacity table saw, although that will depend, too, on the types of projects you are most likely to tackle.Īs you can see, rip capacity has nothing to do with blade size. Both a 28” and a 30” rip capacity table saw will be able to give you two 24” x 96” pieces of plywood.

To put this into practical perspective, plywood sheets, irrespective of grade, are 48” x 9 irrespective of grade. Again, though, it’s likely much more than most woodworkers will need.
