Best Portable Table Saw Reviews
When undertaking a woodworking project, your biggest concern is precision and neatness. To achieve those results you need tools that not only perform impeccably but also adapt to your project requirements: you'd be looking for the best portable table saw.
Home improvement and DIY projects require tools that are compact and portable so they can be used anywhere in the house. An essential tool that meets these demands while lending more calibre to your workshop is a portable table saw. Also called jobsite saws, they are easy to handle and yet efficient enough to cut through wood, sheet metal and almost any other material you may pose to them.
What to look for?
Smaller than professional cabinet or contractor’s saws, job site or portable table saws are welder. Being smaller in size means that they have a smaller motor that delivers lesser power. However, that shouldn’t deter you as they still pack enough power to take on any DIY project around your house.
A portable saw is an excellent option for home use because of its compactness. It does not overburden your houses electricity system, does not need extravagant space and can be easily wheeled to wherever you are working. They also cost modestly so you do not have to worry about exorbitant expenditure.
Now, when you go to pick out a portable table saw for your workshop, keep this checklist in mind to find a portable saw packed with features that delivers the best value for your money:
- Horsepower: The horsepower value (hp) of the saw determines two things- first, how powerful it is and second, how much electricity it requires to run. Portable table saws range between 1.5 to 2 hp which means that they can easily run on the 120 V circuit in your house and require around 15-24 amps of current. With this amount of power, they can ideally cut through 2 inches of sheet material smoothly.
- Tilt of the Blade: Table saw blades are set at 90-degrees to enable all common angled cuts. However, cutting a specific angle or beveling requires the blade to be tilted. Saws are available in both left and right tilted models. Both variants are capable of working at angled positions and it is a matter of personal preference.
- Drive: Look for table saws with direct drive. This means that the blade shall be connected directly to the motor. This provides all of the motor’s power directly to the blade, making it efficient. Its counterpart is the belt-drive, which uses a belt to connect the motor and blade. It helps produce more power and torque. However, it adds weight of the machine and the hassle to change the belt regularly. Therefore, a direct drive saw is suited best for home use as it keeps the machine portable yet powerful.
- Dust Collection: Make sure your machine has a functional dust bag that collects majority of the saw just produced. It not only helps keep your workspace and projects clean, but also reduces the respiratory hazard posed by sawdust.
- Safety Measures:
- Kickback Prevention: When using a table saw to cut wood, there is always the risk of a piece kicking back at you. This happens when wood gets lodged between the fence and blade of the saw, get s caught the blade teeth and is ejected at the operator. To avoid potentially serious injuries, it is important to understand the kind of kickback prevention your saw features.A common implement is a splitter, which prevents the wood from getting caught at the back of the blade. However, it remains fixed and cannot be adjusted, which often compels the user to remove it to avoid any crosscuts. This defeats the purpose of having a safety measure.A better alternative is the riving knife, which essentially does the same job but with the added advantage of movement. It can move up or down as the saw blade moves and therefore does not require to be removed frequently. It may cause problem with specialised cuts, like dado cuts, but otherwise is a foolproof measure.
- Flesh Sensor: A flesh sensor is an essential feature to avoid any serious injury to the user. It consists of a sensor connected to an aluminum brake that is activated on coming in contact with skin and stops the blade in a fraction of a second.
- Magnetic Switch: A magnetic switch is another feature that can help to avert safety hazards. Normally, a saw dies down when power is cut off and instantly turns on when the power is back. This can catch you in a potentially injurious position or cause harm to your woodwork. With a magnetic switch in place, the saw is switched off and remains so even when power is back. Manually switching on the saw can help prevent unwitting hazards.
Top 5 picks
Considering the features essential to a good saw, we narrowed down the best options in terms of performance and value for money for you, to these 5 portable table saws:
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DeWalt DW745 10-Inch Compact Job-Site Table Saw with 20-Inch Max Rip Capacity - 120V | $$ | |
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1. DeWalt DWE7480XA 10-Inch Compact Job Site Table Saw
DeWalt delivers the promise of high performance and quality with the DWE7480XA portable table saw. It features a 15 amp, 4800-RPM motor that cuts through a variety of sheet materials, including hardwood, like butter while the 24 inch rip adds more ripping power to the machine. The saw is fitted with a 24-tooth carbide blade that is tough and durable on top of being razor sharp. It can also be tilted 0-45 degrees for bevel cutting.
The saw has a Site-Pro Modular Guarding System that allows you to calibrate the guarding components without any tools, which helps save time. It has a rack-and-pinion telescoping system for the blade fence, which makes adjustments smooth. It also enhances the precision of the cuts. It has a 2.5-inch dust collection that needs to be attached to a vacuum to keep your workspace effectively free of sawdust.
The product weighs 67.2 pounds, which is not much considering the power this machine packs. It comes with a 3-year limited warranty, 1 year of free service and 90-day money back guarantee.
Things We Liked
- Comes with a scissor stand that can be used to prop the saw anywhere.
- Has a miter gauge that allows cutting at an angle.
- Metal roll cage provides more durability to the system.
Things We Didn't Like
- No dust bag provided; dust port needs to be attached to a vacuum.
2. Bosch 4100-09 10-Inch Worksite Table Saw
A serious contender in this category is the 4100-09 portable table saw from Bosch. The saw features a powerful 15 amp, 3650 –RPM motor that delivers up to 4 hp. That is enough to cut through a more than 2” of sheet material.
The saw is equipped with a 40-tooth carbide blade, which glides through softwood and can also withstand hardwood. The blade can be angled anywhere between 0 and 45-degrees to cut precise bevel cuts.
It has a 29 X 21.5 inch aluminum worktable that provides enough space for you to easily cut up large boards and sheets. A SquareLock Rip Fence is a distinctive feature of the Bosch 4100-09. The rip fence moves easily across the cutting space to increase efficiency while cutting and it can also be fixed in a cutting position to allow accuracy.
Bosch has installed a number of features to ensure user safety. Foremost is the Smart-Guard System including a blade guard, riving knife and anti-kickback pawls to prevent injury from kickback.
They can all be adjusted toollessly and the design allows enhanced visibility of the cutting space. An arbor-lock mechanism enhances the safety feature of the machine as it allows quick and easy blade change.
An ergonomic Gravity-Rise Stand, available with the product, makes it easy to prop the saw at a suitable height and is wheeled to allow transportation without a hassle. It opens and folds with a single lever making it very user-friendly.
The product weighs 60 lbs, which keeps it despite the various features and storage spaces it packs. It comes with a 1-year limited warranty and 30-day money back guarantee.
Things We Liked
- Collapsible stand; reduces space required for storage.
- Storage facility for blade, rip and miter guard. Additional space for any blades you may add in the future.
Things We Didn't Like
- Dust port needs to be attached to an external vacuum.
- User-dissatisfaction with the quality of the miter gauge.
3. Makita 2705X1 10-Inch Contractor Table Saw
Makita is a well-known name in the power tools category and it delivers on its reputation with its compact table saw. Designed for professional jobs, this saw is also appropriate if you are a fervent hobbyist. It packs a number of unparalleled features, which make it tough competition. The saw features a 15-amp, 4800-RPM motor that lends it enough power to cut through all light to medium duty materials. The carbide blade has immense ripping caliber that can cut through 4X material in a single go.
Adding to the versatility of the machine are dual slide guards that makes it easy for you to make measurements from the blade to the rip fence. A T-slot miter gauge allows for wide crosscutting jobs. The saw can be adjusted to work at 90 as well as 45 degrees angle
Safety features are a major attraction in this model. A unique addition to this machine from Makita is an electric brake, which cuts power to the saw in seconds to prevent potential injury.
The tool-less blade guard system allows appropriate visibility while cutting and is complete with a riving knife and anti-kickback pawls. These features are adjustable to ensure precision regardless of the type of cut being made.
The table saw weighs around 85 lbs and can be a bit heavy to carry but the portable stand definitely helps with that. It comes with a 1-year limited warranty and 30-day money back guarantee.
Things We Liked
- The stand available with this saw increases portability as it is wheeled and is very durable.
Things We Didn't Like
- Plastic body of the machine is prone to wear.
4. DeWalt DW745 10-Inch Compact Job-Site Table Saw with 20-Inch Max Rip Capacity - 120V
Another great option from DeWalt, the DW745 comes equipped with a 15-amp motor and carbide blade, which enhance its cutting caliber. The 24-tooth blade can be tilted anywhere between 0-45 degrees to allow precision while beveling. The 20-inch rip of the machine cuts through large sheet material with ease.
The fence is fitted with a rack-and-pinion system that makes adjustments quick and easy. The fence rails are telescopic and be expanded or retracted to fit your cutting needs. Keeping safety in mind, the saw features the Site-Pro Modular Guarding System, which allows for tool-less adjustments. A miter gauge, and push stick are included to complete the safety package.
The table saw is lightweight at 45 lbs but does not include a stand, which compromises on the portability. It has a standard DeWalt warranty of 3 years with 1 year free service and 90-day money back guarantee.
Things We Liked
- Metal roll cage enhances durability of the machine.
Things We Didn't Like
- Does not include a portable stand.
5. SKIL 3410-02 10-Inch Table Saw with Folding Stand
Skil is a trusted brand for power tools, which helps this saw make it to the list. It is a great option for home DIYers working under a budget. It features a 15 amp motor and a carbide tooth blade, which enables it to cut through all varieties of wood efficiently. It is a versatile saw that can cut long boards, bevel and miter and crosscut small pieces of wood.
The 20 X 26 inch aluminum table is durable and provides ample space for DIY fabrication tasks. The saw has a self-aligning fence and EZ View measurement system to lend precision to your work. It is a lightweight at 66 lbs with the stand, adding to its portability.
The product comes with a 3-year limited warranty.
Things We Liked
- Heavy-duty steel stand.
- Quickmount technology enables quick and easy setup.
Things We Didn't Like
- Can prove to be noisy.
- Not suitable for hardwood.
Conclusion
The competition is a very close one with equally efficient portable table saws, from reputed brands, pitted against each other. However, a few features that added more value for the consumer made two contenders stand out: DeWalt DWE7480XA 10-Inch Compact Job Site Table Saw and Bosch 4100-09 10-Inch Worksite Table Saw. Either of these are great choices for the best portable table saw.
They were judged on the following criteria to determine the winner:
Price
Both Bosch and DeWalt are high performance machines loaded with features. Considering that DeWalt offers just as much power capability for a considerably low price, it makes sense to buy it over Bosch.
Warranty:
DeWalt is a trusted name in the power tools industry but they go the extra mile to ensure user satisfaction with a 3-year warranty period, 1-year free service and 90-day money back guarantee. Bosch falls behind in this respect with 1-year limited warranty and 30-day money back guarantee.
Power:
Both the motors function at 15 amps but DeWalt delivers 4000 RPM while Bosch manages 3650 RPM. DeWalt certainly takes this one.
Safety features:
DeWalt features a unique Side-Pro Modular Guarding system to enhance its safety mechanism. Bosch gives it a tough competition with its Smart-Guard System. Both safety systems are very efficient and work to the same effect. Bosch additionally has an arbour-lock mechanism to allow safe blade change. This helps Bosch win this round.
Winning 3 out of 4 categories, DWE7480XA 10-Inch Compact Job Site Table Saw clinches the title comfortably. A top-of-the-line product, it is sure to meet all your carpentry requirements satisfactorily.
If you find that these portable table saw reviews still don't give you what you're looking for, please check out our other evaluation of the best table saws.