What is the best portable table saw? As the name says, the most distinctive feature of this tool is its portability. The latter means that the saw should be compact and lightweight. More than that, it should provide its operator with the best user-friendly features.
Even if the portable table saw is simple in the design it should be capable to perform fast and accurate cutting due to its power capacity and stability in operation.
The saw should handle various cutting tasks required by any homeowner or a DIY enthusiast on a constant basis.
Besides, even the best portable table saws should be offered at a reasonable price in comparison with the stationary models which can be extremely expensive. As for me, the DEWALT DW745 model is the clear-cut solution!
Why have I chosen this model? The DEWALT DW745 is that model you can rely on. The name of its brand is the first prerequisite of my choice, with its deserved goodwill on the market. This particular model of the trusted manufacturer is a highly rated portable table saw with a 10-inch blade and 15 Amp motor which ensures 20 '' ripping capacity.
This benchtop table saw is a lightweight unit, just 54 pounds, but it is made from the high-quality materials to ensure its durability. The smaller size of the saw contributes to portability and storing as it occupies less floor or table space.
Dewalt DW745 features the patented rack and pinion fence with movable rails that telescopes for fast setup and higher accuracy. Besides, it is sliding into a compact, portable position for easy transferring.
This model features an adjustable blade which can be tilted from 0 to 45 degrees. You can also change the depth of cut for different material thickness, using the crank handle, if necessary. More than that, this saw comes with a dust port which can be connected to a vacuum for efficient dust removal.
Table of Content
- 1 Portable table saws | The grounds
- 2 Benchtop table saw
- 3 Jobsite table saw
- 4 Portable vs. Stationary table saws | Main Features
- 5 Trusted Brands
- 6 Best portable table saws
Portable table saws | The grounds
Most probably you don’t know anything about the origin of a portable table saw, which was actually invented in 1929. Art Emmons, the Porter-Cable engineer was the author of that idea. He introduced a compact and lightweight design of a typical circular saw of that time. Certainly since then the portable table saws have been continuously improved in the design and performance. As a result they are the more advanced and lighter alternatives offered on the contemporary market.
In my considered opinion, the portable table saws are must-have tools for the professionals who are involved in the large-scale woodworking projects and need to have an auxiliary lightweight and compact unit like a portable table saw which can be transferred around any construction or production site easily. On the contrary, the portable table saw can become the perfect tool for a total newcomer in the carpentry or any craft related to the woodworking. It will be a primary tool for those who are eager to fulfill the required jobs with a table saw, but have no experience yet.
Having a portable table saw in your garage or workshop enables a fast and accurate cutting process, instead of dealing with manual cutting tools. Frankly speaking, you never know what would be the result of hand sawing for instance, which is, by the way, a long and unpredictable story each time as the human factor is incredibly high with this.
Thus, it should be clear for you now that this type of the table saws can be extremely useful for the larger audience, both for amateurs and professionals.
And now it's high time to learn about the main types of the portable table saws in more details.
Benchtop table saw
The benchtop saw is first type of the portable table saws. They are small in size and lightweight, generally not more than 40 or 50 pounds, to carry from one location to another. It is designed to be placed on a table or other support for operation as it has no stands attached. This tool can be used as a portable option at any jobsite. But more often this type of saw is used by homeowners and DIY enthusiasts in home workshops or facilities that are tight on space.
Small pieces of furniture like coffee tables, chairs or light constructions can be made from the materials cut on this type of saws. Dewalt DW745 benchtop table saw is one of the best options in this class of equipment.
The benchtop table saws commonly have a direct-drive motor. This means that the motor power can be transferred directly to the blade. Thus less horsepower is needed to accomplish the desired job.
One of the flipsides is that the table surface is comparably small that limits the rip capacity. That is why these saws are less functional than larger and more powerful options. Besides they have a shorter rip fence, which makes it harder to make a clean and straight cut when ripping.
Such saws are often made from cheaper materials such as plastic or aluminum and usually come with a more simple design with fewer components than full size table saws. And this contributes to their attractively lower price in comparison with large stationary models.
Jobsite table saw
The jobsite saws are a bit larger and heavier than the benchtop models, and are mounted on a folding or stationary stand which often comes with wheels. Because of this feature they are still referred to the portable type of table saws. These saws are mostly used by professional carpenters, contractors, and home woodworkers for making pieces of furniture or materials for house construction, etc.
Commonly the jobsite saws are run by the powerful 15 amp universal motors. However many of the advanced models are equipped with gear-driven motors. The design of such tools is stronger with the larger table surface enhancing the ripping capacity. They are made of better quality materials, so the parts like the fence are sturdier and more reliable. They provide more accuracy while cutting than the benchtop saws with an overall higher functionality. Dewalt DWE7491RS is a bright example which demonstrates the above-mentioned features.
Jobsite table saws also come with the additional accessories like riving knives and dust collection included in the scope of supply. However if you buy a cheaper saw you will probably have to purchase those items separately. Most of these saws are more expensive than the benchtop models.
You’ve got the point now with the portable options. And what about the stationary models? Are they worth to be considered or do they suit only heavy-duty applications? Let’s find it out in the following section.
Portable vs. Stationary table saws | Main Features
- Portability
Obviously it is the main advantage of the portable table saws over the stationary counterparts. These saws are made to be transferred and stored easily. Besides, the portable models can be very handy if your working space is limited, and you have to maneuver the saw around. Due to the compactness and lightweight of the smaller tools you are able to work both indoors and outdoors.
The stationary table saws are heavy and bulky machines which are installed whether on a fixed base with an enclosed cabinet or on a robust stand. Thus, they are highly limited in mobility and take up a lot of space. Besides they feature a large surface tables or an extension table, as an additional option for some models, which enhance the productivity but lower considerably the possibility of their handling around any facility.
- Power
The portable table saws run at lower power ratings and thus require lower voltage for operation. It is very convenient for the regular customers to run the saw by the standard residential 120-volt power outlet. While the most powerful stationary models like cabinet or sliding table saws saws are equipped with extremely powerful 3-5 HP motors and capable to run only by the industrial-grade 240-volt power supply. It should be a matter of concern for a carpenter or craftsman who deals with minor woodworking projects or use it from time to time.
- Capacity
Despite the simple design, nowadays the portable table saws are versatile and indispensable tools for multiple woodworking jobs and DIY crafts. It offers a great convenience and consistency in use for the operators. They can be useful both for small and large-scale projects. They perform as the main tool applied for smaller woodworking or DIY jobs or construction of houses with a light wooden framework. However, the professionals often use it as auxiliary equipment for minor stuff.
The stationary table saws are designed to handle large stock mainly. In particular, they will not perform better on softwood or thin plywood.
Having viewed the main beneficial features of the portable table saws in contrast with the stationary machines, let’s move to the manufacturers which offer the most reliable and efficient equipment in this class on the market. Thus, you will be able to take full advantage of it!
Trusted Brands
DeWALT
DeWALT is a well-known US brand with a history of almost 100 years. The company now belongs to a part of the Stanley Black & Decker group. DeWALT offers a wide range of hand and power tools designed for the woodworking, manufacturing, and construction industries. Their products include table, miter, reciprocating, circular saws, and other types of the advanced cutting tools.
According to the customers' reviews, the DeWALT products demonstrate the excellent quality, especially in terms of durability and functionality. This brand can be associated with reliability which you can trust without any doubts.
Bosch
Bosch Group is one of the largest engineering companies in the world. They're also a major power tool manufacturer with a strong reputation worldwide. According to the customers' reviews their products are considered to be highly reliable, featuring advanced and innovating characteristics. The company has multiple production facilities around the world with a global selling network.
As the company declares, each year they launch more than 100 new power tools into the global market that is quite impressive.
Grizzly Industrial, Inc.
The company was established in 1983 in the U.S.A. They provide high quality woodworking and metalworking machinery and accessories. The Company offers table saws, metal and wood band saws, wood lathes, surface grinders, etc. Grizzly Industrial Inc. serves the customers worldwide. Their products are highly appreciated by the customers for the quality and value.
Makita Corporation
Makita Corporation was founded in 1915 in Japan as an electric motor sales and repair company. Nowadays the company is recognized as the manufacturer of portable power tools. The latter are made in numerous factories in Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and other countries. The customers trust their American-made quality which is considered to be one of the best in the world.
SKIL
The SKIL brand was established in 1926 in the US. Nowadays Skil Power Tools is a worldwide manufacturer of power driven hand tools and accessories. The company now focuses more on the DIY customers, nevertheless offering the range of the industrial and professional-grade equipment on the market. Skil products include table saws, jig and reciprocating saws, multiple sanders, grinders, hammers, drills, mixers, lasers, measuring tools, and many others.
The brand was a part of the Bosch Group for many years. However, it offers tools at a slightly lower price in comparison with Bosch counterparts, but still featuring a reliable quality for the specific applications.
Best portable table saws
1. DEWALT DW745 | Best overall
DEWALT is a highly recognizable brand in the U.S. with a strong reputation of a reliable manufacturer of industrial and residential power tools and accessories to them. Besides, their products are highly demanded on the contemporary market worldwide.
This Dewalt DW745 10 '' model is a compact and powerful cutting tool, with Site Pro modular guarding system ensures a simple and quick setup of the tool for various applications.
This model is equipped with 15 Amp motor providing 20-inch rip capacity which is enough for a quick and accurate cutting of work pieces, including hardwood and pressure-treated lumber.
The saw features rack and pinion fence rails for smooth and accurate adjustments. The fence has a telescoping design allowing free movement of the rails up to 20 inches thus ensuring cutting of larger work pieces.
Its table surface comes with a protective coating and a metal roll cage contributes to its durability.
Also this model is offered with the dust-collection port to be vacuumed easily.
Features
- RPM, no load: 3850
- Blade type: 10 "Carbide Blade
- Depth of cut at 90 ° (in): 3-1 / 8
- Weight (lbs): 54
- Dimensions (L x W x H) (in): 22.7 x 29.2 x 16.7
Pros & Cons
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This Dewalt DW745 benchtop table saw is one of the most compact but reliable options available. It is made from the high-quality materials for longer service life. Besides it has a number of useful features that will be highly appreciated by any users, including total beginners in the woodworking field.
DEWALT: Check the current price
2. SKIL 3410-02 | Best performance
Being a manufacturer with a long history in the field, the company offers high quality power tools at very affordable prices. Their unique solutions greatly contribute to convenience of DIY jobs.
The SKIL 3410 10 '' table saw features 3-½-inch ripping capacity due to its powerful 15 Amp motor.
It comes with the cast aluminum table support ensuring its stability during operation. Besides this model features 20-Inch x 26-Inch cast aluminum table extension to 20-Inch x 32-Inch table to process work pieces of a bigger size.
The self-aligning rip fence and EZ View measurement system contribute to accurate cutting.
Features
- RPM, no load: 5000
- Blade type: 10 "Carbide Blade
- Depth of cut at 90 ° (in): 3.5
- Weight (lbs): 67
- Dimensions (L x W x H) (in): 28.9 x 12.99 x 20.87
Pros & Cons
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It is a great portable option for DIY woodworkers looking for a budget but still reliable cutting tool to tackle appropriate household tasks both indoors and outdoors.
SKIL: Check the current price
3. ROCKWELL BLADERUNNER X2 | Best cheap
It is a highly compact and portable model with a built-in tabletop handle to carry anywhere. It runs on 120-volt power supply. The ripping capacity of the saw will vary depending on the material.
This model features a large rip fence for convenience and accuracy of cuts.
The manufacturer assures us that this saw is capable to perform rip, scroll, miter and inside cuts by changing its 5 t-shank blades. It takes 3 seconds to change the blades which are designed for cutting wood, ceramic tile, aluminum and metal. However, to my opinion, it is really doubtful that this model will manage all these tasks successfully, as cutting modes for different types of materials require different features with the fine tuning in each particular case.
Features
- RPM, no load: 3000
- Blade type: 10 "Carbide Blade
- Depth of cut at 90 ° (in): 3.4
- Weight (lbs): 17
- Dimensions (L x W x H) (in): 16.1 x 17.5 x 8.3
Pros & Cons
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This tool is offered for homeowners and DIYers who have no working space for bigger options or for those whose budget is limited to purchase professional-grade tools.
ROCKWELL: Check the current price
