Table Saw

• The table saw can handle most of the cuts required on hardwood flooring. Rip cuts along the length of the planks reduce the width of the plank along walls when the full width won't fit. The table saw also removes the tongue along the length of the boards at the wall. If the flooring is installed on an angle other than 90 or 45 degrees to the wall, a table saw makes the long, angled cuts that are necessary for the installation. On standard parallel installations, the saw easily makes crosscuts to shorten planks.
  
  

Miter Saw

• To quickly cut a hardwood flooring strip to length, you probably can't beat the power miter saw. The installer measures the plank, marks it and sets on the saw table against the fence. He aligns the blade with the mark, starts the saw and lowers it through the mark. The entire process takes about 30 seconds, and the plank is ready for installation.
  
  On a diagonal installation, or if a wall angles away from the parallel installation, the miter saw easily makes the cuts at the end of each plank row. The installer measures and marks the same but sets the miter saw table to the correct angle.
  
  

Jigsaw

• A jigsaw makes cutting notches in the planks for corners, around vents and other places easy. The narrow, thin blade allows for turning sharp corners. An uneven wall may frustrate the installer, but the jigsaw solves the problem. The wall is scribed onto the plank with a compass, then the installer clamps the plank to a work table. He follows the cut line scribed by the compass on the plank to fit the board against the wall. The jigsaw's downfall is cutting speed. A crosscut on a narrow plank can take a full minute, not including measuring and marking. Rip cuts take longer depending on the length of the cut.
  
  

Hardwood Flooring Saws

• Professional hardwood flooring installers carry three saws to their jobs. No one saw does all the work, and each type of saw works best for a different cut. Table saws excel at long, straight cuts. Miter saws make cutting planks to length easy and cut perfect angles when required. The jigsaw doesn't see a lot of use, but when it's needed, no other saw will do the same job as easily.