Sizing dust collection: CFM, static pressure and port sizes from the makers' manuals
How makers rate dust collectors by CFM and static pressure, which inlet and hose sizes they list, and the dust-port sizes tool makers publish.
Guides
24 guides to the decisions behind choosing a machine, written from makers' manuals and published specifications. Every fact links to its source.
All 24 guides
Single-stage vs cyclone dust collectors: how the makers describe them
What two-stage (cyclone) separation means in makers' own words, how bag and canister filters are rated, and the CFM and HP of catalogue models.
Dust collector, shop vac or dust extractor: what the makers' figures show
WEN's pressure-versus-flow rule, with the CFM, water-lift and hose figures JET, Harvey, Festool, Makita and DEWALT publish for each machine type.
Air filtration for a woodworking shop: CFM, room size and filter ratings from the makers
How WEN and JET rate shop air filtration units: CFM by speed, WEN's room-volume method, filter ratings as named specs, timers and remotes.
Choosing a benchtop planer: what the makers' specs show
Width and thickness capacity, depth of cut, feed rates, cutterheads and snipe, compared from DEWALT, Makita, WEN and RIKON pages and manuals.
Jointer width and jointer-planers: 6, 8, 10 and 12 inch compared
Jointer cutting widths, table lengths and jointer-planer combos from WEN, RIKON, Powermatic and Felder, with how each maker says the modes switch.
Helical vs straight-knife cutterheads: insert counts and knife specs
Straight knives, spiral and helical cutterheads: insert counts, HSS vs carbide, and what WEN, Powermatic, RIKON, DEWALT and Felder say about each.
Jointer vs planer: what each machine does, per the makers
What a jointer does, what a thickness planer does, whether you need both, and what WEN and DEWALT say about planing without a jointer.
Drum sander vs planer: what the makers say each does
What WEN, Powermatic, JET and DEWALT say drum sanders and thickness planers do, with width and thickness capacities from their pages and manuals.
120V or 240V woodworking machines: what the makers list
Which catalogued planers, jointers, band saws and table saws makers list as 120V, 230V or dual-voltage, and what their manuals state about supply.
Benchtop or stationary machines: how the makers' specs compare
Weight, table size, horsepower and voltage of catalogued benchtop and floor-standing planers, jointers, drill presses, band saws and sanders.
Shop air compressors: reading SCFM, duty cycle, tank and noise figures
What SCFM at 90 PSI and duty cycle mean per Kaeser and Campbell Hausfeld, with makers' figures for catalogued compressors and nailer air needs.
Cordless vs corded woodworking tools: the makers' figures side by side
DEWALT and Makita track saws, table saws and routers in corded and cordless versions: voltage, cut depth, rip capacity, speed and weight as listed.
Jobsite, contractor, hybrid or cabinet table saw: what the makers' specs show
What makers mean by jobsite, contractor, hybrid and cabinet table saws, with cited motor, voltage, weight and rip figures from real models.
Sliding or not, single or dual bevel, 10 or 12 inch: reading miter saw specs
Sliding vs non-sliding, compound, single vs dual bevel and 10 vs 12 in. miter saws, compared by the crosscut capacities makers publish.
Track saw vs table saw for sheet goods: cut depth, rail length and rip capacity
Track saw or table saw for plywood and sheet goods? Cut depths, rail lengths and rip capacities as the makers state them, side by side.
Miter saw vs table saw: what each maker says the tool is for
Miter saw or table saw? What DEWALT, Powermatic and WEN say each tool is for, plus crosscut, rip, depth and weight figures from maker pages.
How many amps does a table saw draw? The makers' own figures
Amp ratings for table saws as makers state them: every 120V jobsite and contractor saw in the catalogue lists 15 amps; cabinet saws list horsepower.
Choosing a band saw: throat, resaw capacity and blade width from the makers' specs
What band saw sizes mean, how much resaw height 10, 14 and 18 in. saws list, and which blade widths makers specify for resawing.
Band saw vs table saw: what the makers say each one is for
How makers describe band saws and table saws, and how listed depth of cut, rip capacity, resaw height and throat compare.
Router bases and collets: fixed, plunge and compact routers by the makers' specs
Fixed vs plunge vs compact routers, 1/4 vs 1/2 in. collets, horsepower and speed ranges, as Bosch, DEWALT, Makita, Triton, Milwaukee and Festool list them.
Lathe swing and distance between centers: reading a wood lathe's specs
What lathe swing and distance between centers mean, plus spindle thread, Morse taper, bed extensions and speed ranges from JET, Powermatic, RIKON and WEN.
Choosing a drill press for woodworking: swing, quill travel and speeds from the makers' specs
What drill press swing and quill travel mean, benchtop vs floor models, and speed ranges from WEN, RIKON, DELTA and Powermatic.
Spindle sander vs belt/disc sander: what each is for, per the makers
How makers describe oscillating spindle sanders and belt/disc sanders, with spindle sizes, oscillation, belt and disc sizes from JET, RIKON and WEN.