I still recall dawn light creeping across my driveway while fresh coffee steamed on the bench. A parcel arrived from SawStop and the label hinted at new power. My old contractor saw hummed beside it and the fence begged for alignment again. That contrast set the stage for this guide.
You stand in a similar spot now. You scan forums and store aisles and your mind flips between two paths. The phrase sawstop contractor saw vs cabinet saw fills your search bar and you chase clear answers. I spent months with each machine and I kept notes after every rip. The goal here is simple. Share what those notes reveal in plain speech.
The next sections break down feel, power, dust control, cost, and shop fit. Each point holds real shop data and direct experience. Read at your pace. Skip ahead with the headings. Return when a spec or tip feels handy. By the end you will walk away ready to choose with calm confidence.
Quick Snapshot
- Contractor format places the motor out back
- Cabinet format hides the motor inside a steel box
- Cabinet mass dampens shake and guides smoother cuts
- Contractor frame weighs less and moves with ease
- Cabinet base traps dust far better
- Contractor unit plugs into common household power with no wiring change
- Cabinet line offers both standard power and high power
Each line above fits real use. The next chapters add depth.
Why Safety Sits First
SawStop earned fame through a blade brake that fires in a blink. A small electric charge flows through the blade. Human skin shifts that charge. The brake slams an aluminum block into the blade. The drop happens faster than a wink. Hands stay whole. This feature changes how folks relax in the shop. It frees mental space for craft instead of fear.
I watched a demo with a hot dog. The blade kissed the meat then vanished below the table. A small nick appeared. The lesson landed. Buy the saw that protects flesh. We still follow every rule. We still push sticks and guard fences. The brake stands by as a last shield.
Deep Dive Into the Contractor Saw
The SawStop contractor saw bears the code CNS and ships with one point seven five horsepower. That rating rides on one hundred twenty volt current or two hundred forty volt with a simple swap. The frame uses cast iron in the center with steel wings on many kits. A friend upgraded to cast wings later and the swap took an hour.
Core Specs
- Ten inch blade left tilt
- One point seven five horsepower motor
- Cast iron core top with steel wings by default
- Fence choice spans thirty inch Standard or thirty six and fifty two inch T Glide
- Weight starts near two hundred fifty pounds and climbs with add ons
- Footprint depth sits near forty two inches due to the rear motor
- Four inch dust port under the table
- Trunnions bolt to the table
How It Feels
The motor hums with a soft start. Vibration stays low for a machine in this class yet still exists. A thin rip in hard maple needs a slower feed. I lean in and guide with steady hands. The board glides and the cut face shines with minor mill marks. The fence locks firm after a quick press of the lever.
Setup asks for care because table mounted trunnions force you to nudge the top. I used an indicator gauge and a brass feeler. The process took patience yet only once. A check each season shows alignment still holds.
Strong Suits
- Sheet goods slide with ease due to the wide fence rail
- One inch hardwood rips with a thin kerf blade
- Crosscuts land square when paired with a sled
- Mobility rules in a garage since the frame weighs less
Areas That Demand Work
- Two inch oak slows the motor at full depth
- Dust leaks from every open gap
- The rear motor adds depth so the saw cannot sit flush with a wall
- Above table collection helps yet adds hose clutter
Morning Use Story
A neighbor dropped by with cherry boards for a small side table. We chose the contractor saw rather than the cabinet because the boards sat near one inch. The blade sliced each rip and the smell of cherry filled the air. Dust floated until the collector spooled up. We finished the stack in one mug of coffee.
Deep Dive Into the Professional Cabinet Saw
The cabinet line carries the code PCS. You pick one point seven five horsepower or three horsepower. Mass jumps to near four hundred pounds. Trunnions mount inside the cabinet and alignment feels easier.
Core Specs
- Ten inch blade left tilt
- Motor choices one point seven five horsepower or three horsepower
- Full cast iron top with cast wings
- Fence choice thirty inch Premium or thirty six and fifty two inch T Glide
- Footprint depth rests near thirty two inches because the motor hides inside
- Four inch dust port below plus a guard port on the high power kit
- Gas spring lifts the blade with light effort
Shop Feel
Flip the switch and the blade reaches speed in silence compared with older units. Vibration fades behind the heavy frame. Push two inch walnut and the feed remains steady. I rarely slow. Dust funnels through the cabinet port and little escapes.
Blade height cranks with two fingers thanks to the gas spring. Angle shifts hold true after a small twist on the wheel. I check stops at ninety and forty five degrees every few months with a digital square and they rarely drift.
Strength Points
- Thick hardwood slices with no burn and no bog
- Dust stays inside the cabinet and away from lungs
- Alignment holds all season even with humidity swings
- Less depth allows the saw to park nearer a wall
- Upgrade path to three horsepower if you start with the smaller motor
Trade Offs
- Higher cost hits the wallet first
- Weight makes stairs a pain during delivery
- Setup takes an extra pair of hands due to bulk
- A bigger collector suits the three horsepower motor to pull chips well
Afternoon Use Story
A client needed a walnut dining top and the panels ran twenty two inches wide. The cabinet saw handled each long edge with speed. I fed at a relaxed pace and the cut lines felt glass smooth. A friend swept later and found little dust on the floor.
Power Lessons
Horsepower matters when wood thickens. One point seven five horsepower serves sheet goods and furniture stock up to one inch with ease. Feed slower on thicker rip stock and use a fresh blade. Three horsepower handles two inch hardwood without complaint and open grain looks crisp.
Voltage swap gives the smaller motor cooler running. Breaker trips drop away on two hundred forty volt. Horsepower stays equal yet work completes with fewer pauses.
Dust Control Steps
Fine dust harms lungs. Capture below and above the blade.
- Cabinet model seals chips inside by design
- Contractor frame needs a rear panel kit to close gaps
- Four inch hose with a clear path boosts air flow
- A guard hose above the blade collects plume at source
- Short duct runs beat long runs in small shops
I taped seams inside the contractor stand then added foam strips. Collection improved by half based on bin level after each session.
Space And Mobility
Garages change roles through the week. A saw that rolls helps. A saw that stays fixed ignores clutter.
- Contractor base pairs with a foot pedal cart and glides over concrete
- Cabinet base moves with an integrated lift yet weight feels heavier
- Motor tail on the contractor saw eats depth so plan room behind the blade
- Cabinet depth shrinks yet width grows if you pick wide rails
- Plan outfeed support even on wheels then lock before each cut
I raise my contractor saw on its cart when the car pulls in each night. The cabinet saw sits near the back wall and never moves.
Fence Options
Fence trust makes work flow. SawStop ships three choices.
- Standard fence spans thirty inch on the contractor kit
- Premium fence covers thirty inch on the cabinet kit with beefier faces
- T Glide fence spans thirty six or fifty two inch on both lines and uses steel tube rails
I run the fifty two inch T Glide on my cabinet saw because I cut wide plywood for built ins. The Standard fence served fine in a past shop yet flexed on an overhang test beyond thirty inch.
Miter Gauge And Sled Life
The stock miter gauge on the cabinet saw holds spring loaded bearings. Slot play drops to near zero. The contractor gauge feels loose so I built a sled on day one. A hardwood runner glued tight and waxed slides smooth. Crosscuts hit square every time.
Setup Path That Saves Headache
Follow this list when the crate lands.
- Level the base with shims under corners
- Lay a straightedge across the top and shim wings flush
- Align blade face to miter slot with an indicator then lock bolts
- Square fence to miter slot with a feeler card
- Set riving knife flush with blade plate height
- Lock stops at ninety and forty five degrees with a quality square
- Check brake gap with the feeler tool before first spin
One long Saturday grants years of accuracy.
Which Saw Fits Your Shop
You can now picture each machine. Match that picture with your space and craft goals.
Choose The Contractor Saw If
- You work in a garage and need daily mobility
- Your power grid offers one hundred twenty volt only
- You cut plywood often with boards near one inch thick
- Budget sits tight yet safety sits high
- Floor strength limits heavy weight
Choose The Cabinet Saw If
- You want low dust and quiet running
- You plan to rip thick hardwood often
- Space depth rests tight against a wall
- You run two hundred forty volt circuits already
- You plan to keep one main saw for a decade
Money Talk
Start price favors the contractor kit. Add the T Glide fence and dust panel and cost rises yet still trails the cabinet base. Cabinet price looks steep yet includes heavy wings and sealed storage. Think five year span.
- Save on cleanup with the cabinet base
- Save on alignment time with cabinet trunnions
- Save floor space with the tucked motor
- Resale value holds for both due to the brake system
- Fingers stay safe on both and that value sits beyond price
Daily Workflow Habits
Small habits build a safe shop.
- Keep the riving knife in place on every rip
- Push sticks rest on a hook beside the fence
- Clear chips below before the bin packs tight
- Wax the top once each month for smooth feed
- Lift the guard only for buried dado work then lower at once
- Keep a bright light over the blade to watch the line
- Use earmuffs every session since sound fatigue cuts focus
Common Questions Answered
Does the contractor motor feel weak on hardwood
Feed slower and use a sharp rip blade and the saw keeps pace with maple up to one inch. Two inch oak asks for patience.
Will the cabinet saw fit through a standard door
Remove the wings and fence. The core frame slips through most residential doors with two movers and a dolly.
Can I move from one point seven five horsepower to three horsepower later
SawStop sells a motor kit for the cabinet line. Swap motor and contactor then switch plug wiring.
Will wet wood fire the brake
Wet stock may trigger. Use bypass test mode on a sample cut. Dry wood or change tasks until moisture drops.
Does the brake add cost on every cut
A cartridge fires only when skin contact or conductive contact occurs. Normal cuts add zero cost outside blade wear.
Story From A Class Session
I coach weekend classes. One group built small keepsake boxes. A student brushed a thumb near the blade by mistake while steadying a short strip. The brake fired and the blade vanished. The thumb held a scratch no deeper than paper. The class paused in wide eyed silence. The student whispered thanks then reset the cartridge. The box reached completion and that thumb still strums guitar strings today.
Accessory Picks
- Folding outfeed table saves space yet supports long boards
- Floating guard arm clears sight lines while catching dust
- Inline router table expands joinery options on the right wing
- Slide table aids panel crosscuts and angles
- Industrial base turns a heavy cabinet saw with one foot pump if you need rotation
Choose add ons based on work flow rather than impulse buys.
Sensory Detail Corner
Fresh pine scent drifts from the blade as teeth bite grain. Cast iron holds morning chill and your palm feels the cool surface before power rises. The brake clicks a small self check and an amber light flashes then sits green. Air from the collector hums through hose and dust flickers like snow then vanishes. Each sense signals readiness.
Closing Thoughts
Your craft rests on a smooth cut and safe hands. Both saws grant those goals. The contractor kit offers freedom in small spaces and lighter weight. The cabinet kit shines with quiet strength and clean air. Picture your next year of builds. Pick the saw that fits the picture then cut lumber and breathe deep. I will cheer from my own shop as you plane that first edge.