Table Saw Reviews

Table Saw Reviews: Find The Right One for Your Needs!

Woodworking is an art, and to achieve the best results in your shop, you need to equip it with high-quality tools that will get the job done efficiently. If you have a lot of wood to cut on a regular basis, you need the best table saw you can get. Stick around and I'll show you some useful table saw buying tips, as well as five table saw reviews for what I consider to be the top 5 table saws available today. Let's get started!

What Features Should I Look for in a Table Saw?

If you're into woodworking and you wish to shift from making cuts with a circular saw to a table saw, you need to consider a number of things first. For instance, you'll need to keep in mind that a table saw is the woodworking tool around which most workshops base their operations.

Safety Features

A majority of the chainsaws available today come with safety features such as flexible safeguards and riving knives to keep you out of harm's way as you work. When you're buying a table saw, it is imperative to ensure that the blade guard system is easy to install and remove. Some table saws even include flesh-sensing technology, which stops the blade when it touches the skin, a factor that makes them incredibly safe to use, no matter what your experience level might be.

Accurate and Seamless Cutting

One of the most important features of a table saw is its ability to cut any type of wood smoothly and accurately. You need to ensure that the saw you choose has an accurate fence and miter gauge, this will guarantee that every cut can be done meticulously.

Construction

If you intend to buy a table saw for your woodshop, you must make sure that the product you settle for has a sturdy construction. I recommend getting the most durable saw you can afford. The most durable table saws are made of cast iron because it offers the most stable surface, which reduces vibration. Moreover, the saw should have strong legs to increase stability, and its table surface should be smooth and flat. Products with warranties should also be high on your priority list.

Blade Adjustment

If you want a table saw that delivers the best cuts, you need to ensure that its blade alignment is precise, and it should be easy to adjust. Setting up the riving knife and the blade should also be an easy task. The bevel, blade height, and fence position should be easy to adjust.

In addition to the ease of adjusting parts, those who have extensive experience with saws advise that you should choose a product whose levers and wheels are easy to lubricate to minimize friction.

Dust Control

Dust accumulation in a table saw can obstruct optimal performance of the saw, and this is something that you don't want. There are two ways in which table saws control dust. The first way is through a port that's connected to a vacuum which collects the dust that heaps up below the table surface. The second method is through a covering over the blade that can intercept the dust that accumulates above.

a pile of sawdust

Price

Buying a saw is a big investment, and you need to consider how much you are willing to spend carefully because different table saws are priced differently. I recommend getting a product that matches value with price. You will also need to remember that a cheap table saw is not necessarily a low-quality saw. You have to compare a saw’s features and specifications, and then compare it to your budgetary constraints.

What Types of Table Saws are there?

There are different classifications of table saws, and if you want to equip your woodshop with one, you need to know the types that are available in the market and what you should expect from each. Here are some of the common types of saws:

Cabinet Saws

a woodworking shop with a cabinet table saw

Cabinet saws have a sturdy construction of cast iron and steel, and they have powerful motors corralled within a cabinet below the table.

They also feature heavy-duty trunnions, gearing, and arbor assemblies. In the table saw categories, cabinet saws are ranked as the most costly and heaviest of all. Their motors’ horsepower ranges between 3hp and 5hp.

Portable Table Saws

This category of table saws is built to be easy to lift and move around. They are the most suitable tools for individuals who spend a lot of time at the job site, such as carpenters. These saws use a lightweight universal motor, and they tend to be a little louder compared to their counterparts. However, they perform basic functions as the larger table saws, but their functionality is scaled down.

Instead of cast iron, these saws have aluminum tops. This implies that they produce more vibration and, therefore, are less stable when operational. In addition to being less stable, the aluminum surface cannot be classified as very durable.

Contractor Table Saws

old contractor table saw at a job site

These saws are designed to be portable, and they are mostly a must-have for contractors at their job sites. This means that they are lighter compared to cabinet saws, and they are mostly made out of aluminum.

The motor is also mounted on the outside of the saws, and their blades are belt-driven. The trunnions are also lightweight because they are mostly meant for portability rather than precision.

Hybrid Table Saws

This is the last category of table saws. Saws in this category are designed as a combination of both the contractor and cabinet saws. Manufacturers attempt to incorporate some of the most valuable features of cabinet saws. The saws are designed to come with a motor, and they mostly have an advanced drive belt system. They have more substantial trunnions that are mounted to the base of the saw for easy alignment, and arbor bearings

Table Saw Reviews 

If it is important for you to find the best table saws for woodworking, I would suggest you consider the DeWalt DW745. This product presents a consistent and powerful performance, which is enhanced by its 15-amp, high-torque motor. It has fine saw blades that spin at a speed of 3,850 RPM that is fit for tough woodwork like cutting pressure-treated lumber and hardwood.

DeWalt Table Saw Features

This product also features a Site-Pro Modular Guarding System that allows tool-free adjustments, enabling it to be used in a wide range of applications. Moreover, its table surface is coated for minimal friction and to improve the cut precision. An added feature of this product is a metal roll cage that allows a sturdy setup and increased durability. The DW745 also has a large rip capacity, and it only weighs 45 pounds to enhance portability.

DeWalt Table Saw Reviews Specs

PROS

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    Has a large rip capacity
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    Delivers powerful performance
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    Can be used for a wide range of applications

CONS

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    The top plate is plastic
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    The guard is not well made
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    It may not last as long

The Makita 2705 10-Inch contractor table saw is a powerful and versatile tool that you can use in your woodshop or job site. It has a large capacity of 15-amp power, which makes it ideal for a wide range of uses. This product is easy to use, and it has adjustable dual slide guards that enable you to carry out easy measurements from the blade to the rip fence.

I would also recommend this product because of its efficient riving knife that adjusts to 3 different positions for dado, thorough, and non-thorough cuts. This table saw is designed with a smooth and flat tabletop to give you the most accurate cuts. It also has an excellent performance since its right extension table gives it great cutting capacity, allowing you to cut 4 by 8 sheets of plywood easily. 

PROS

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    High-quality saw
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    Durable
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    Easy to use
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    Has a wide range of uses

CONS

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    It’s not economically priced
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    It doesn’t have a good fence
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    The design is not fulfilling

Might you be looking for the best portable table saw? The DeWalt DWE7480 does not fall far from that tree. This product is compact and weighs light for easy portability. It features a Site-Pro Modular Guarding System that allows for easy, fast, and accurate tool-free adjustment of the guarding components. It also has a 2-1/4 dust collection port for efficient dust collection as you work.

The DeWALT DWE7480 has a 15-amp, 4800-rpm motor to provide you with powerful performance, which can cut through hardwood efficiently and quick. An added feature of this product is a 24-tooth carbide blade that increases the blade’s durability and improves its cut quality.

This product also has adjustable rear feet that you can use to level your saw if your job site is uneven, and it includes table coating that ensures a minimal friction and enables smooth cutting. The DeWalt DWE7480 is a great, portable table saw for woodworking. Here is a YouTube video that gives the full description of the DeWalt DWE7480, and you’ll see why I recommend it.

PROS

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    Lightweight saw for small projects; fits well in small spaces
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    Solid aluminum body for durability
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    Variable speed for cutting many different materials

CONS

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    Not for large projets
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    The miter tool is on the right side of the blade
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    The clearance around the blade is very tight; you'll have to take the top off to clean and clear away dust.

Fine woodworking relies on good equipment, and if you are a carpenter or a contractor, I suggest you consider acquiring the Bosch GTS1031 10-inch portable table saw, if you don’t already own one. This product features a compact design and a balanced one-handed carry handle for easy portability to and from the job site.

The Bosch GTS1031 also features an all-steel base that increases its durability and its ability to handle tough jobs. An added feature of this product is its square lock rip fence self-aligning design that allows for superb accuracy and performance. I would also recommend this product because it has the capacity to handle a wide range of applications and it comes with a complete on-board storage compartment for the rip fence, miter gauge, wrenches, and smart guard. 

PROS

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    Easy portability
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    Durable
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    Can handle a wide variety of woodworks
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    Cuts with precision

CONS

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    Not the most attractive design
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    It doesn’t have a great blade elevation
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    It’s below par on quality

The last product on my table saw reviews list for fine woodworking is the Rockwell RK7241S table saw with laser. This product delivers power, accuracy, and portability all in one package for optimal performance at your job site. Compared to other 10-inch table saws in the market, the RK7241S has the most cutting depth. It also has an extra-long 30-inch foldout fence that gives it a wide rip capacity.

An added feature of the Rockwell RK7241S table saw is its laser that enables you to have consistent accuracy. The laser automatically realigns if the blade angle is beveled and it does not require fine-tuning. This product also has integrated wheels and an extended leg that can be used as a pull handle. It also comes with accessories that are stored on board, and you can move with it to and from your workshop whenever you want.

PROS

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    Has consistent accuracy
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    Easy to set up
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    Delivers plenty of power
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    Portable

CONS

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    It comes with poor assembly instructions
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    The motor is not replaceable

Conclusion

If I were buying a table saw for my workshop, I would settle for the DeWalt DW745 10-inch compact job site table saw. This product has a powerful 15-amp, high-torque motor that operates at great speed to allow it to handle tough jobs such as cutting hardwood.

Moreover, it features the Site-Pro Modular Guarding System that allows for tool-free adjustments, not to mention the dust collection port that allows for easy cleanup. Moreover, it's offered with a three-year limited warranty, free service for a year, and a 90-day money-back guarantee.