What’s The Best Table Saw For The Money in 2017?
Pulling up your sleeve and working on that bundle of ply is always a charm. The most important tool that can reduce your work and effort by half and can take up most of your burden is that friend of carpenters – The table saw!
The wood working tool now comes in all shapes and sizes with ornate accessories. The depth and texture made on the wood’s body by the blade tell us all about the quality of a table saw. Finding the best table saw for the money can be quite a challenge, but don't fret, we're here to help you make the right decision!
What To Look For In A Table Saw While Buying One?
There are several types of table saws available in the market. Choosing the right type of table saw for the right work is important. Here is a look at some of the major types of table saws available today that you can choose from.
1. Benchtop table saws
These saws are portable, lightweight and can be housed on a table or bench for the activity. The supporting bench is small and therefore benchtop table saws cannot be used on heavy load or huge wood. However it can accommodate smaller wood sheets. The cut managed by this saw is a shorter rip. A clean slice through cannot be done as there’s a considerable amount of vibration during this cut. Some of the saws even feature a reciprocating action.
2. Cabinet table saws
The cabinet table saws were designed to minimize the vibration of the benchtops and increase precision. These saws are heavy and have a closed cabinet base which encases a motor that drives the blade. Cabinet saws have a modern design integrating a dust collection mechanism.
3. Contractor table saws
This is the most commonly used table saw by a hobbyist if they want to make their own home made furniture. These contractor-grade saws are rather heavy but they have a decent power consumption which makes it friendly for house bound carpenters. The dust collection is difficult to control when compared to a cabinet saw.
4. Hybrid saws
As the term hybrid suggests, these saws have the combined goodness of the cabinet saws at an affordable rate and energy consumption as the contractor table saw. They have a cabinet base and dust collection chamber which provides you a clean as well as efficient workstation. The heaviness falls between contractor and cabinet saws for the hybrid table saw.
Top Features That You Would Want
Now that we have looked at the different types of saws available for one’s disposal, let us keep in mind the following features to consider before delving into the top five table saws you could buy, if you’re a pro in carpentry or a hobbyist.
1. Finish on the cut
The feeling of the cut wood when you touch it should give you a good sense on how well the cut was made. The completed woodwork would be rough or smooth depending on the table saw blade’s edge, the work area, measurable size of the loaded wood, and the wood’s strength.
2. Size of the workstation
If you have a lavish work space, you can opt for a full-fledged cabinet table saw. It aids in keeping the work area clean and you can do bulk orders in an instant. But an important aspect to be kept in mind is the power consumption criteria. A large scale industry specializing in wood work can very well go for cabinet saw. But if you have scanty work area, the hybrid or contractor saws would do you good.
3. Affordability
Some of the easily affordable contractor saws have the same features as the high class cabinet saws. You will have to consider the quality of the blade fence, the weight and form of the trunnion, power consumption and transmission, and the durability of the extension wings or tops.
4. Time measure
If you are planning on starting from a small scale first and then expand into a huge industry, then pitch in to get the best possible resource in the market. If you are into wood working on and off, a moderately adequate table saw would suffice. You can bring out the best possible furniture from minimal investments.
5. Type of furnishing
When you’re working on a smaller project which involves a mass area narrow and small that it can be accommodated in a bench top table saw, then you can go for it. As it is easily affordable, portable and gives you the perfection you can expect with the limited wood. Basically if you are designing a small stool, bench top is easy to access and finishes your product with very little power consumption.
Top 5 Table Saw Pics You Can Bet Your Money On:
Choosing from a huge range of products that is worth your every penny is always difficult. But we have made that easy for you. Now that you have a clear focus on the range of woodwork you’re going to do, the area of the work space you can tap into, the seriousness of your commitment and the expected clarity in your wood work, you can explore further into our suggested picks of table saws.
Product | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|
DEWALT DW745 10-Inch Compact Job-Site Table Saw with 20-Inch Max Rip Capacity | $$ | |
Bosch 4100-09 10-Inch Worksite Table Saw with Gravity-Rise Stand | $$$$$ | |
Makita LS1016L 10-Inch Dual Slide Compound Miter Saw with Laser | $$$$ | |
Rockwell RK7241S Table Saw with Laser | $$$ | |
SKIL 3410-02 10-Inch Table Saw with Folding Stand | $ |
1. DEWALT DW745 10-Inch Compact Job-Site Table Saw with 20-Inch Max Rip Capacity - 120V
Coming from Dewalt, one of the competent leaders in table saw manufacturing, is the DEWALT DW740. Operating on a 1.4KW source power, the 10-inch table saw offers much more than a user could ask for. It has an unit weight of 22 kg with optimised footprint. The versatile table saw has a Site-Pro Modular Guarding system that can be tuned for a specific application and get a nice straight cut out of it. The structure is portable with a massive 20-inch rip capacity. The table saw shelters a 15-amp high torque motor that strikes through any hard wood with ease.
The table saw has a cut depth of 3-1/8 inches at 90 degrees and around 2-1/4 inches at 45 degrees. A customizable guarding systems helps the user choose the operation type and setup. It is also offered a 3 year Limited Warranty and a year’s free service. The whole pack includes a 10-inch table saw, a 10-inch 24 tooth carbide blade, a miter gauge, a push stick and a blade guard.
Things We Liked
- Quick adjustments can be possible with the guarding system.
- Large rip capacity.
- Portable design.
- Accuracy and consistency in performance.
Things We Didn't Like
- No dust collection unit.
- Corded electric connection restricts distance.
2. Bosch 4100-09 10-Inch Worksite Table Saw with Gravity-Rise Stand
An innovative machine from the makers of Bosch having a gravity rise-stand allows a portable arrangement. It is a highly accurate cutting machine with a 10-inch table saw working at 3650 rpm.
A bit on the heavy side with around 30 kg weight, the saw is driven by 4HP. It has a durable sub-base with carry handles and a SquareLock rip fence. The smart guard system present in this unit has anti-kickback pawls and a riving knife system. This gives you utmost charge over your wood and provides protection as well. The gravity rise stand eases the movement of the tool to the required jobsite.
The table saw has a cut depth of 3-1/8 inches at 90 degrees and 2-1/2 inches at 45 degrees. The bevel angle ranges from 2 to 47 degrees. The unit includes a 10-inch table saw, a miter gauge, a carbide trip blade, a gravity rise table stand with smart guard system, a push stick and a rip fence. The whole deal includes a 1 year manufacturer warranty.
Things We Liked
- A Gravity rise wheeled stand.
- Decrease in waste because of the square lock rip.
- Large surface area to work.
- Withstand harsh handling.
Things We Didn't Like
- Increased weight.
- Corded electric connection restricts distance.
3. Makita LS1016L 10-Inch Dual Slide Compound Miter Saw with Laser
Another pioneer in the power tool technology, Makita gives us a robust miter saw run by a powerful 15 AMP drive motor with 3200 RPM which doesn’t wear down easily and can be maintained without much effort. It has a compact design with 4-Steel Rail Sliding System that gives rigor and strength to create refined cuts.
Exceptional additions are the 6 linear ball bearings to produce pinpointed strokes. It shelters the largest crown-mold cutting unit with tremendous capacity. A lightweight tool with a mere 24 kg weight has a built-in laser for precision cutting and micro adjustments. It also has large adjustable fence lever, ergonomic D-handle design, machined aluminium base support and a dust bag.
The miter table saw is a game changer in its class of saws. The product unit includes a 10-inch dual slide compound miter saw, 60T TCT Saw Blade, and Vertical Vise. Some of the other standard amenities you would find is a dust Bag, triangular ruler, and a socket and Hex wrench a piece.
Things We Liked
- Easy to maintain.
- Large cutting capacity with an in-house precision laser.
- Mastery in miter and bevel cuts.
- Wide range of applications.
- Compact design.
Things We Didn't Like
- The work table is not notable large.
- No extensions provided.
4. Rockwell RK7241S Table Saw with Laserag
Rockwell’s laser guided table saw has all the good things combined which in one. This table saw is purposely constructed for heavy duty works. Even so, it is lightweight considering the cabinet look. It provides folding fence to facilitate wide cuts.
An added advantage is the presence of laser indicator which adjusts the blade tilting. The portable 10-inch table saw can break through a 4X4 lumber in a single strike. The cutting depth is 3-9/16 inches at 90 degrees and 2-9/16 inches at 45 degrees.
Loaded with 15 AMPs of power and a speed of 4.8K RPM, the Rockwell saw is the complete solution for laboring with woods in large scale.
You would fine a 10-inch laser saw, and a rip fence inside. Some of the other things included are a miter gauge, a push stick, and a riving knife. For some of your other uses, you would need a dust bag and two blade wrenches along with a 2 year limited warranty.
Things We Liked
- Biggest cutting depth and best in class rip capacity.
- Trolley for portability.
- Laser precision indicator.
Things We Didn't Like
- Heavy machinery.
- Suitable for only large scale projects.
5. SKIL 3410-02 10-Inch Table Saw with Folding Stand
A modern aluminium design from the manufacturer SKIL has a 3-1/2-Inch cut height capacity. A heavy duty steel stand is foldable and paves way for easy storage and movement. The table saw employs EZ view measurement systems for accuracy.
The package unit has a 10-inch table saw, folding stand, a carbide tooth blade, two blade wrenches, self-aligning rip fence and a miter gauge. The benchtop weighs 33 kg with 1 year warranty.
Things We Liked
- 15 AMP motor.
- Foldable steel stand.
- EZ view measurement system.
Things We Didn't Like
- No dust collection provision.
- Electric cord stunts distance.
Conclusion
All the table saws discussed above suit a different need for a variety of audience. However with many specifications in mind, the DEWALT DW745 is suggested for a small time hobbyist and is perhaps the best table saw for the money. The Bosch 4100-09 is best suited for a pro-worker.
Despite the recommendations provided, the selection of the right table saw is up to the user’s discretion. No matter which table saw you choose, once you get your gear ready it’s time to put your helmet on and work on that dream furniture of yours.