working knowledge of the products. Many people go looking for table saws on the Web, only to find themselves quickly overwhelmed by a surfeit of unfamiliar terminology and power ratings. A simple guide can help you make wiser choices when selecting a table saw.

The makeup of a table saw has not changed much in decades. Generally it consists of an arbor, or mount, the saw itself, and a motor to power the whole operation. The major varieties are known as bench top saws, cabinet saws, contractor saws and hybrids. With few exceptions, most of the modern versions fall cleanly into these categories, so determining which one you need can save you considerable time at the store.

Bench top table saws tend to be lightweight and portable--fit for one person to carry and use without difficulty. If you are into cutting heavy lumber or major furniture parts, you may want to invest in something a little more substantial. Most home users looking for serious reliability favor cabinet table saws for their unsurpassed power and versatility.

The best cabinet saws offer rip fences with replaceable facing, anti-kickback devices and table extensions for projects that exceed the dimensions of your arbor. Many require a heavy circuit installation to cover all that extra power, so it may be worth thinking twice before you commit to such permanent home repair. That said, once in place, it is not unusual for such machines to run for ten years or more without requiring serious maintenance. Delta, Dewalt, and Ryobi are leading table saw manufacturers who offer quality products.