Don’t have time to read the entire article and just want to know what is the best table saw for beginners? The DEWALT DWE7485 compact table saw is your best option.
One of the first power tools you may want to consider for your hobby as you get started is a portable table saw, which is great for DIY. Crosscuts, dados, and rips are all cuts you will need to make accurately as you improve, but what is the best table saw for DIY? Let’s take a closer look at the features as well as five models you might want to consider.
Top Beginner table saws compared:
Understanding Table Saws for Beginners
To choose the best starter table saw, you have to consider some important features. The guide below will help you do just that.
It starts with the blade
Most of the table saw equipment that you will be looking at as a beginner will make use of 10-inch blades. There are compact models available that use saw blades smaller than 10 inches, but I would suggest avoiding them for now. They do not provide the ability to cut through thicker material and are often used for specialty cuts, such as making mitered edges on molding or thin baseboards.
Even with 10-inch blades, you will find a lot of options to choose from. Blades can come with many teeth that help to keep cross-cuts smooth looking, while fewer teeth and wider gullets are ideal for making rip cuts along the wood grain. You will also come across tooth and gullet patterns that fit between cross and rip-cutting blades.
Something else to consider with table saw blades is the width of the blade or the kerf of the cut it makes. Thinner kerfs offer less resistance, while wider kerfs will remove more wood. Teeth patterns are also available for difficult materials, such as MDF and plywood that tend to chip when cut with general tooth patterns.
Safety is priority number one
Let me start off by saying that I do not believe that the table saw is the most dangerous power tool in the workshop. With that being said, accidents with table saws can be more severe due to the design of the blade. Setting up and using the table saw correctly can help to prevent major problems during operation.
Always wear your eye and ear protection when running the table saw. Also, make sure to keep the floor around the saw clear and place the power cord so that it will not be in the way while you work. You need to take the time to make sure the table saw is unplugged before you start making adjustments to the blade or surface as well.
The most important safety tip to remember is to use the proper blade height. If possible, you want the teeth of the blade to clear the surface of the wood. On the other hand, you want to make sure that they do not extend too far above the wood surface to help prevent deep cuts into your body if your hand should slip into the path (or lose one or more fingers).
Things you should look for
As a novice to the hobby, you will want a power tool that is easy to adjust and use. Look for a product that is easy to set up from storage. Avoid units that require a lot of table surface and blade adjustments before they can be turned on.
Table adjustments allow you to tilt the surface of the tabletop itself, while adjustable fences allow you to work from the left or right side of the blade as you cut. Miter fences allow you to present the project at the exact angle you want as it addresses the blade.
If you have limited room in your work area, like me, then keep weight and storage in mind as you shop. If you have the room to mount a table saw unit to your workstation, then these will probably be less important for you. No matter what, make sure that the table saw provides a secure base that will stay stable as you apply pressure and weight to it.
Try to avoid cheaply built products that have rough table tops that are also uneven. Solid cast iron surfaces are usually the best options. They offer a truly flat surface and will also transfer less vibration as the saw is used.
You will also want a blade that is easy to insert and remove. Height adjustments need to operate smoothly, especially if you plan to make dado cuts. If the blade can be tilted, it will really help to improve the versatility of the table saw as well.
Other features to look for include dust collection. Table saws generate a lot of waste that can build up quickly, covering the shop and getting into your eyes as well as your lungs. A good dust port helps to eliminate most dust and debris.
Other features, such as blade guards or dado blade abilities, make these saws a true pleasure to use.
Don’t forget your push sticks!
No matter what, please always use push sticks when feeding your projects into the saw blade.
5 Best Beginner Table Saws: The Reviews
1. DEWALT DWE7485 – Best DIY Table Saw
- Included Components: (1) Dwe7485 8-1/4 In. Table Saw; (1) Fence; (1) Anti-Kickback Pawls; (1) Miter Gauge; (1) Push Stick; (1) 24T 8-1/4 In. Blade; (1) Non-Thru Cut Riving Knife; (2) Blade Change...
OVERVIEW
A real stand-out feature on this 8-1/4-inch table saw from DEWALT is the telescopic fence rails. They use a rack and pinion style railing that allows you to adjust this fence accurately, even at full extension.
PROS
CONS
2. SKIL TS6307-00
- RACK AND PINION FENCE RAILS - Ensures fence stays parallel to blade for fast smooth, and accurate cuts
- INTEGRATED FOLDING STAND - Legs quickly fold in to provide portability and convenient storage
- PARALLEL BLADE ALIGNMENT - Available micro-adjustment of blade so that it is parallel to rip fence and miter slot
OVERVIEW
This 10-inch table saw offers you easy portability, something that will be useful for small workshops or work areas that move from place to place. It also collapses down for easier storage in your shop or vehicle.
PROS
CONS
3. DeWalt DWE7491RS 10-Inch Table Saw
- Your purchase includes one Dewalt table saw, 10inch 24-tooth carbide blade, rolling stand, push stick, miter gauge, rip fence, 2x blade wrenches, blade guard assembly manual
- Other Specs: Max rip to left of blade – 22inch | Max rip to right of blade – 32-1/2inch | Max width of Dado – 13/16inch | Arbor size – 5/8inch | Amps – 15 | Depth of cut at 45inch –...
- Rolling stand designed for easy set up and breakdown with excellent stability
OVERVIEW
If you can spare a higher budget for your table saw purchase, then this professional-grade table saw from DEWALT. This table saw can be a bit of an overkill for a beginner but you will appreciate its wealth of features once you progress in your hobby.
This table saw is equipped with a high-torque 15-amp motor. This will allow you to cut most species of wood at maximum depth without the saw bogging down.
Unlike the DWE7845, it boasts the industry-standard 10-inch blade, which will allow you to get 3 1/8-inch cuts at 90 degrees and 2-1/4-inch cuts at a 45-degree angle.
You will appreciate the fact that the arbor on this table saw can host a dado stack up to 13/16 inches. You will appreciate this once you start working with more demanding projects that demand complex cuts.
PROS
CONS
4. Bosch GTS1031
- Portable: Ultimate portability and mobility thanks to balanced one handed carry handle and compact design allowing you to bring this table saw along no matter the jobsite
- Tough: Durable and unique all steel base allows this portable table saw to take on the hardest job site abuse; The all steel base is built to withstand heavy impact and provide long lasting...
- Precision: Square lock rip fence self aligning design for accurate performance and cutting consistency as you glide along the saw rails with ease; Also features smart guard with anti kickback pawls...
OVERVIEW
The body is made from durable steel that is made to absorb impacts on job sites, making this unit great for novice woodworkers who may be a bit rough on their tools. That material should also provide a rigid body that is stable under weights and normal operation stresses.
PROS
CONS
5. SKILSAW SPT70WT
- First ever brass-geared Worm Drive table saw for maximum power and torque
- 15 Amp solid construction dual-field motor for increased cutting speed and extended motor life
- 25 inch rip capacity and 3-1/2 inch depth of cut for ripping a wide variety of materials; Fit Dado blades with the Skilsaw SPTA70WT-DD Dado Insert (Sold separately)
OVERVIEW
A worm drive system is used to transfer power from the electric motor to the saw blade. This setup is designed to provide powerful energy transfer while extending the motor’s life. Skil offers a 180-day money-back guarantee on this model.
PROS
CONS
6. Dobetter DBTS10
An aluminum body may transfer more vibration but it also drops the overall weight for light mobility. This product also folks up nicely, leaving a small footprint that is simple to store in tight spaces.
PROS
CONS
The Best Table Saw for Beginners
- Included Components: (1) Dwe7485 8-1/4 In. Table Saw; (1) Fence; (1) Anti-Kickback Pawls; (1) Miter Gauge; (1) Push Stick; (1) 24T 8-1/4 In. Blade; (1) Non-Thru Cut Riving Knife; (2) Blade Change...
Each product discussed above provides you with various features, depending on the manufacturer and your budget. Of the five, I think the Dewalt DWE7485 8-1/4-inch table saw is one of the best table saws for the money. It might be the most expensive on the list, but there are plenty of reasons why it is worth it.
First off, you have a solid design that is made from good materials. The frame will not flex while under load, and the engine will offer plenty of power through the cut. All moveable parts are sturdy, meaning that you should get plenty of life out of this purchase before it wears out.
The adjustments themselves are easy to make while also offering accuracy. Many angles can be reached with the blade. Finally, Dewalt is known for their customer support, with great warranties and services provided to you.
2 thoughts on “Best Table Saws For Beginners: 2024 Review & Buying Guide”
Re: DEWALT DW745 10-Inch Table Saw
This saw can’t accept a dado as I understand things. So is a dado really not needed?
Hey Dave,
Really depends on what kind of woodworking you intend to do. Technically, you can make dadoes and rabbets with a router, but I personally prefer to have the weight and power of a table saw for that. DW745 is an awesome saw for a beginner but if you are concerned that you will be needing dado functionality as you progress, consider the Bosch or SKILSAW table saws.