Professional Tool Reviews for Pros
You’ll have a tough time making in construction or woodworking without a table saw. With so many options out there, what is the best table saw? We got down to business to run down our favorite models and help you narrow down the list. Vacuum Membrane Press
Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, you need a quality table saw that makes precision cuts, and if want to make specialty cuts, like dadoes or rabbets, you need a top-quality saw with those features. To make your decision easier, here are the key features, pricing, and reviews of what we consider the 5 best table saws.
DeWalt is a quality brand name that delivers on its promise with this table saw. The DeWalt DWE7491RS Jobsite Table Saw answers the call when portability is crucial. The rolling table design is manufactured for portability. It collapses easily but is not top-heavy and won’t roll over, making it one of the best table saws for beginners.
This saw has a powerful motor to cut through all types of wood, including pressure-treated lumber and hardwood. Its 10-inch saw blade can cut to a 3-1/8 inch depth at 90 degrees and 2-1/4 inches at 45 degrees. An optional dado throatplate allows for 8” stacked dado blades up to 13/16” inches thick, so it has all the features you need for almost any woodworking project.
The SawStop safety system has saved over 6,000 fingers (and counting) with the patented technology that recognizes human skin. The T-Glide fence assembly can’t be beaten at this price—making this one of the safest and best-performing table saws in its class.
This is also the best table saw for contractors looking for a combination of precision and performance. It has all the features you need to make specialty cuts and the power to make them. Precision is built into this table saw, starting with a heavy cast iron top with a diagonal flatness measured at 0.010” maximum gap and two steel extension wings. Want more functionality? SawStop has in-line cast iron router tables that let you do even more with your tool.
The Bosch 4100XC-10 Jobsite Table Saw offers the best combination of portability and stability with its wheeled stand. Setup is easy with the single-action design, and the rugged 8” tires will move across the uneven terrain found on most construction sites. The onboard storage system makes it easy to keep everything you need with the saw at all times.
It doesn’t feature the now-popular rack-and-pinion fence design, however, we like the well-made fence regardless. The stop sign-shaped safety cut-off switch makes for a nice touch.
This saw features a large aluminum table top for cutting 4-foot wide sheets. It has a powerful motor and soft-start circuitry for smooth operation. The Constant Response circuitry maintains speed while cutting, and restart protection avoids accidental startup to make this a safe, reliable, and powerful tool.
The Skilsaw SPT99-11 table saw works well for DIYers looking for more power and features. It has more functionality, power, and precision with its brass-geared worm drive motor, and the wheeled stand offers the best in portability. At a total of 53 pounds, it’s a lightweight saw on a 16-inch wheeled stand, and the easy-load handles make it easy to move over stairs or load into the back of your truck.
The cutting power of this saw and the 3-⅝” cutting depth allows for cuts of stacked lumber so you can increase your productivity. This professional-grade tool rips through plywood with a high-torque motor and high RPMs. It’s as accurate and precise as any saw in its class, making it the perfect choice when portability and power are your priorities.
With brands such as Grizzly, Powermatic, and Sawstop dominating in terms of model options, narrowing it down to just one model for the best cabinet table saw proved to be a challenge. In the final analysis, the safety of SawStop won our crew over, with the Industrial Cabinet Saw earning our top recommendation. Within that line, we prefer the 5HP, three phase, 230V motor as a balance of high performance and easing the hit to your budget. From there, you can get either a 36-inch or 52-inch rip capacity, depending on your needs.
With so much attention on SawStop’s flsh detection technology, it can be easy to assume that they’re primarly about the tech first and the saw second. In our experience, it’s clear that they know table saw design and make a darn fine saw that can also save you from serious injury.
If you’re on the hunt for the best sliding table saw, you’re in a different league—one that’s much more expensive to play in. We highly recommend you take the time to demo several options when you’re making an investment this large in your business.
That said, be sure to put Baileigh Industrial on your list. It’s a brand under the JPW tool group that’s also responsible for Powermatic and Jet, among others. Baileigh’s sliding table saw starts with a base 12-inch/14-inch blade model, and then adds a digitial readout as one upgrade level or a full-on CNC option with a 16-inch balde capacity at the top of the line.
The Ridgid R4550 is a popular saw that’s durable enough for professional contractors. It folds and stores upright, so it’s not in the way, and the powerful motor has all the power you need for ripping through plywood and lumber.
This saw can cut through a 4×4 with a single cut, and with the front and back clamping fence, you can make precision cuts. It is dado blade compatible with an 8″ dado stack and 11/16″ dado width. Backed with a 5-year warranty, this is one of the best table saws for the money, and you won’t be disappointed with the quality, price, or portability.
The big deal surrounding Skil’s TS6307-00 is what you get for the price. With a 15-amp motor and 4600 RPM operating speed, it has more power than other DIY table saws that opt for smaller motors. With its rack and pinion fence adjustment, onboard tool storage, and blade height/bevel adjustments, you can easily see the Pro-inspired design elements from contractor-grade models. One big difference is that the intefgrated folding stand doesn’t have wheels, but the saw is still light enough to load into the back of you truck without too much trouble.
When you consider the performance and feature set against the $299 price tag, Skil is an easy choice for us as the best budget table saw for DIY yse.
Before you shop, it helps to understand the basics. Learn the different types of table saws and the features to look for when you’re selecting the best table saw for your projects.
Selecting the right tool starts with choosing the right type. Learn more about the three main types of saws.
These are the least expensive types of table saws, also called benchtop or compact. Lightweight and compact, these tools are easy to move and store. Some of them come with a stand, and you can easily disconnect them for transport to and from jobsites. Others affix to rolling stands so you can roll them on an off a truck or trailer.
Larger than a benchtop model, a contractor saw offers more power and stability for larger jobs. These tools are less portable than a jobsite table saw, but you can cut larger pieces of wood. Contractor saws have open bases and a stand to provide a larger surface for working on oversized projects.
Next to a sliding saw, a cabinet table saw is the most expensive option made specifically for power and precision. Cabinet saws have heavy-duty stationary bases, dust collection ports, precision adjustment capabilities, and powerful motors. Their closed bases are often made out of cast iron, and they typically weigh about 600 pounds.
Some tools combine features from contractor and cabinet table saws and are considered hybrid saws. They allow you to have some of the best features of cabinet saws, like an enclosed case, but they don’t have as much power.
Table saws are packed with various features that affect their price, portability, and safety. Before making a selection, thoroughly check out the features.
Most table saws have 10-inch blades. These cut as much as 3-½ inches deep at a 90-degree angle and 2-½” at a 45-degree angle. If you use a smaller blade, you won’t be able to cut as deep.
The blade on a table saw tilts right or left, but not both ways. It’s a matter of personal preference, but there are advantages and disadvantages either way. Typically, you will have around 45-48 degrees of range in order to cut bevels and angles for drawers, cleats, and more.
The motor’s power determines how quickly and powerfully these tools cut. Most contractor saws have a 1.5 to 2 hp motor, and cabinet saws often range between 3 and 5 hp.
Dado blades are used for making wide cuts for interlocking pieces of wood together. The dado capacity refers to the width of the blade. Not all table saws are compatible with dado blades.
You slide wood or material against the fence when cutting. Fences can be adjusted, but for regular cuts, they need to be exactly parallel with the blade. Some fences adjust easily with a rack-and-pinion system. Other tools use a more or less robust fence that you slide manually across the table.
The rip capacity is the distance from your blade to the farthest point the fence can reach on the saw’s right side. Most rip capacities are 28, 30, and 50 inches.
This is a must-have feature if you plan to make bevel cuts. Look for a model that offers both left and right bevels and accurately makes angle cuts.
Safety is always a priority when operating power tools. Look for a saw that comes with a blade guard, riving knife, anti-kickback pawls, and an emergency shut-off switch.
Table saw accidents are common in the United States. Each year, about 40,000 accidents result in hospitalizations and 10% of those result in amputations or disabilities. Here are the top safety tips for operating a table saw:
Avoid accidents by learning more safety tips before operating a table saw.
The biggest difference between a contractor saw, and a cabinet saw is that a cabinet saw stand has an enclosed case, and a contractor saw is on an open stand. Cabinet saws are more precise and have dust connection ports.
The rip capacity is the distance from your table saw blade to the farthest point the fence can reach on the saw’s right side. A larger rip capacity lets you cut wider pieces of wood.
You can use these powerful tools to cut more than just wood. With the right blades, you can use a table saw to cut plastic, acrylic sheets, and non-ferrous sheet metals like aluminum.
Keeping your table saw clean is the best way to maintain it. How often it needs to be maintained depends on how much you use it. Before servicing it, unplug your saw, and remove the sawdust and resin built up in the cabinet with a stiff brush and shop vac. Wipe it clean and lubricate all the gears and pivot points with a dry silicone-free spray lubricant. Check for proper alignment every time you work on your saw, and always make sure your blade is sharp.
These tools present a serious risk of injury, but that doesn’t mean beginners can’t use one as long as they learn proper safety techniques. The best table saw for a DIYer that’s just starting out has a sturdy base to allow for more precise cuts.
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When he's not playing with the latest power tool, Clint DeBoer enjoys life as a husband, father, and is an avid reader—especially the Bible. He loves Jesus, has a degree in recording engineering, and has been involved in multimedia and/or online publishing in one form or another since 1992.
Clint’s career has covered nearly the entire realm of audio and video production. After graduating at the top of his class with an Associates Degree in Recording Engineering, he began working for the famed Soundelux studios in 1994, one of the largest post-production companies specializing in audio for feature films & television. Working on a myriad of feature films, Clint honed his skills as a dialogue editor, foley editor, and sound designer. Years later, he moved into the expanding area of video editing, where he served as the company’s senior AVID video editor for three years.
Working for such clients as Universal Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Paramount Home Entertainment, NASA, Universal Studios, Planet Hollywood, SEGA, NASCAR, and others, Clint DeBoer dealt extensively with client management as well as film & video editing, color correction, and digital video & MPEG compression. He also carries several THX certifications (Technician I and II, THX Video), and is ISF Level II Certified.
After founding the CD Media, Inc. publishing company in 1996, he went on to help start or grow several successful online publications, including Audioholics (as Editor-in-Chief for 12 years) and AV Gadgets. In 2008, Clint founded Pro Tool Reviews followed by the landscape and outdoor power equipment-focused OPE Reviews in 2017. He also heads up the Pro Tool Innovation Awards, an annual awards program honoring innovative tools and accessories across the trades.
Crediting God and his excellent staff for the success of what is now the largest power tool review publication in the industry, Clint DeBoer hopes to see continued growth for the company as it rapidly expands its reach. Pro Tool Reviews critically reviews hundreds of hand tools, power tools, and accessories each year to help inform users about the best and newest products in the industry. Reaching everyone from the construction industry professional and tradesman to the serious DIYer, Pro Tool Reviews helps tool consumers shop better, work smarter, and stay aware of what tools and products can help put them at the top of their game.
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