The very first machine-tool that I ever purchased was a table saw from a garage sale.
The tool was cast iron and sheet metal, and weighed a ton.
This saw lasted me for several years, even though the fence wasn't particularly straight and the tabletop wasn't 100% flat.
Over the years since then table saws have gone from strength to strength, and come way down in price.
There are many more accessories to go along with today's table saws, from adjustable angles of the blade to dust collection ports and extendable tables, and they are now an indispensable piece of any craftsman's workshop.
With its flat, circular spinning blade doing the hard work, the table saw is able to make all sorts of cuts, from grooves, dadoes, rabbets and pretty much any woodworking joint you would want.
However, despite the fact that they can do all this, the table saw is most commonly used to do just two basic tasks; ripping timber, and crosscutting timber.
Because of this point it is especially important that the fence you have attached to your table saw runs parallel to the blade for both accuracy and safety.
The table saw won't cut easily, accurately, or safely if it is not properly set up.
So before you make any cuts with it, make sure it is in good working order and properly adjusted.
Many of the older style table saws and the cheaper table saws on the market today do not have reliable fences or blade covers.
These are two of the most important pieces of any good-quality table saw, and should be the first things you look at when you think of purchasing a new saw.