3HP vs. 5HP Table Saw - Is more horsepower better?
A 3HP table saw is more than adequate for the overwhelming majority of woodworkers. Only in a commercial setting or very specific application will a 5HP table saw or greater, be a logical purchase. For example, in a commercial cabinet shop, where hardwood boards are ripped for 8 or more hours a day, the added horsepower helps to provide faster and smoother cuts, resulting in less wood burn and thus less time wasted on correcting those marks. Over the long run, that time saved is a significant cost savings.
For the average woodworker, or even the woodworker that works daily in a shop, 3HP will be sufficient. For most, the difference in cost would be better put towards upgraded blades, tools, or other accessories to improve efficiency. Here are a few examples for where a 5HP saw is would make sense.
- Commercial application - daily, heavy duty use
- Woodworkers who primarily cut through 8/4 or greater stock of dense hardwoods
- Woodworkers who primarily cut through 4/4 or greater stock of wet, dense hardwoods.
In a production shop, efficiency means money saved. The 5HP saw with the larger motor allows for a higher feed rate, which in the long run means greater efficiency and more money saved.
In a non-production environment, the time saved is marginal. Your average home shop doesn't receive the at-scale benefits of a say, a commercial cabinet making shop. For the one man shop, save about $2,000 and purchase other accessories that are going to make the workflow faster and easier.
4 Reasons for Upgrading to a 5HP Table Saw
Less Strain on the Motor
Higher powered motors have a much easier time than their lesser-powered counterparts when cutting through thick or dense material. Over a long period of time, less wear and tear on the motor will generally result in a longer lifespan.
Smoother Cuts
Because their peak power output is higher, table saw motors with greater horsepower can sustain higher power outputs over a cut duration. If you were to try and make a rip cut 12/4 (3” thick) white oak board with a 1.75HP motor, you’ll quickly come to find the motor will get bogged down, run slower, and cause burn marks.
The 1.75HP motor simply does not have a high enough power output to spin at a sustainable RPM. As the blade slows down, material is not removed as efficiently. Burn marks are common result, which take a lot of elbow grease to remove.
10" Industrial Cabinet, 5HP Table Saw | SawStop
SAWSTOP PATENTED SAFETY SYSTEM: Stops a spinning blade on contact with skin. The blade stops in less than 5 milliseconds, and drops below the table, minimizing a potentially life-altering injury to a mere scratch
Greater Efficiency
Smoother cuts mean the blade moves through the material faster and ultimately, your throughput is faster. When you don’t have to spend time cleaning up burn marks or making multiple passes through a board, you can move onto the next task sooner.
Safety
Any board that starts to bog down the blade can pose a safety hazard. For one, the natural response of the operator is to push the board through harder - this is not good. When more force is applied, hands or material can slip and the outcome can result in lost limbs.
Secondly, if the operator backs the board off and releases all force, the board can shoot out and seriously injure whoever is in its path.
These two outcomes become even more likely when the operator is tired after having made multiple cuts already. People make mistakes when they’re tired or fatigued. A motor with more horsepower reduces the likelihood of material slowing down the blade.
3 Factors to Consider for a 5HP Table Saw
Power Constraints
Do you know how much of your building’s current power supply is in use while everything is running? A 5HP table saw will draw somewhere close to 20A. Following the rule of thumb that a circuit shouldn’t be over 80% loaded, means that a 5HP table saw needs at least a 25A circuit to run on, 30A to be safe.
TIP
The general rule of thumb to follow when choosing a breaker is to be at least 20% above your expected peak amperage. For a 5HP table saw drawing 20A, then we'll take [20 * 1.2], which equals 24. We'll round up to 25 for this, but may opt to go ahead and step up to 30.
While most newer homes have 200A service, you’ll want a separate circuit to run the table saw on 220/230/240V. If you don’t currently have an extra 220/240 line installed, this typically isn’t a complicated job for a frequent DIY-er.
Running the saw on three phase power is a different discussion and beyond the scope of this article. You’ll want to consult with an industrial electrician for their input based on your home’s unique setup.
Electrician Costs
Unless you are familiar with single and three phase power, you will need an electrician. For a 5HP motor, three phase is generally preferred as it offers greater efficiency. In a residential application, single phase power is the most common. Upgrading to three phase power will be close to the cost of the saw itself.
Most industrial applications already have three phase power somewhere in the building. Almost all industrial manufacturing equipment runs on three phase power.
Brand Reputability
Where are you getting the 5HP table saw from and does it come from a reputable manufacturer? In other words, can you trust and verify that the motor in the table saw is actually 5HP?
With a well-known brand name like SawStop, who’s owned by Festool, there’s next to nothing to worry about. The same goes for a Grizzly or Powermatic - those are brand names that have been in the industry for quite some time and reputable manufacturers.
But, for an overseas manufacturer or brand, do know what you’re getting? Most people won’t be able to tell the difference between a 3HP and 5HP saw until cutting through very dense and thick material. Even if the motor is labeled 5HP, there’s no guarantee that it is until it’s measured.
Pricing - Cost Benefit Analysis
For those that don’t truly need 5HP for daily use, but want to have it ‘just in case,’ let’s look at the costs.
SawStop’s Industrial Cabinet Saw (ICS) running on 5HP, single phase power has a standard cost of $5,245. The Professional Cabinet Saw (PCS) running on 3HP, single phase power has a standard cost of $3,358 - a significant price difference of $1,887.
Is an extra $1,900 worth the extra horsepower? For most people, no.
Instead, it’s in my opinion that $1,900 would be better put towards:
- A larger T-Glide Fence and Table (~$200-$300)
- A backup brake cartridge ($95)
- 2x Forrest Woodworker II Ripping Blade (~$200 each)
- Woodpeckers Rip-Flip Fence Stop System (~$270)
Then still having a little over $800 left to spend towards other jigs, tools, or material. You’ll likely save more time with these accessories and add-ons in the long run, then you will with those rare occasions where the extra horsepower is needed.
But what if you truly do need to cut through thicker material?
3 Alternatives to cut through thick material
Multiple passes through the table saw
For thick material you’ll end up saving time in the end by making multiple pass-throughs with the blade incrementally raised higher and higher with each cut. If you try to cut through thick material in a single pass or too few passes with an underpowered saw, you’re almost guaranteed burn marks as the saw blade binds in the material.
Sanding out burn marks is a pain that no one wants to deal with. Depending on how deep the burn mark is, it could take up to 30 or 40 minutes to completely sand it out. Instead, lower the saw blade and only remove a little bit of material with each cut on the saw.
Use the bandsaw
Instead of making multiple passes with a table saw, the band saw will remove the least amount of material and do it in the shortest amount of time. While the band saw has its limits, it is good option for thick material because the blade thin and doesn’t remove as much material as a standard table saw blade.
Upgrade your existing blade
If ripping material regularly, check to make sure you’re using a ripping blade. A general purpose blade will work, but a ripping blade will give you smoother, faster, and quieter cuts. If your table saw allows for it, a thin kerf blade may also be used to help reduce the amount of material being removed and make it easier for the motor turn the blade through the material.
If you're finding that your current 3HP saw is having difficulties cutting through material, consider having the blade sharpened if possible. A dull blade makes it harder to rip through thick hardwoods and thus puts more stress on the motor.
Our Final Opinion
If money isn’t a factor, a 5HP table saw is a fine purchase. Again, I’d recommend buying the accessories mentioned above in addition to the table saw. For the home woodworker, it may be the last table saw you’ll ever need to buy and you may wear out before it will. You’ll never question whether you need more power and you’ll always have peace of mind knowing you can cut through the thickest of material.
On the other hand, a 3HP is typically more than enough, with the exception of a few special scenarios. Most professional woodworkers have 3HP table saws and have never asked whether they need more power. Okay, small white lie, everyone asks if they need more power, but even for them the answer is almost always, “No.”