I started browsing through Home Depot’s pre-Black Friday 2016 tool deals, and came across a Ridgid portable table saw for $249. Whoa, that’s a good deal, at least that’s what I said to myself.
I then considered last year’s holiday table saw deal post, and it all came back. That Ridgid will likely go on sale for $199 again, but it’s not guaranteed.
In a few short weeks, we’ll see homeowner-grade table saws in the $119 to $150 price range. If you’re a DIYer or beginner woodworker and plan on buying a table saw for regular use on projects, it’ll be worth it to step up to a pro-grade portable saw.
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If you’re a pro with daily table saw needs, you’ll probably want something bigger and maybe with a roller stand.
For your first portable table saw, or as an upgrade to an older saw with pre-modern safety guarding, these are the 3 best table saw bargains with few sacrifices.
They have small tables, but you can always build a base around them. Of the 3 saws, I think the Bosch is the only one you can equip with a dado stack.
As in past years, there’s the Dewalt DW745, a strong and very portable table saw with an excellent fence system. The Bosch GTS1031, another strong model that can be easily stowed in a home workshop when not being used. The Ridgid is a less expensive buy, but seems to have positive reviews each and every year.
My pick? The Dewalt DW745. I think that’s the best entry-level professional grade portable table saw. Dewalt’s fence system has nudged me off the fence I’ve been on for a few years. Previously, I’d consider the Dewalt and Bosch offerings to be about evenly matched.
Is there a different table saw that you think is a good buy for anyone looking to buy a portable table saw this holiday tool deal season?
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Dewalt DW745
This saw’s on sale for $299, and while I’ve seen it go for lower, that typically only happens when a Home Depot here or there has a few saws left unsold towards the end of the holiday shopping season.
The DW745 is an older model, and I had thought it would have been replaced after Dewalt came out with a new series of table saws, but it continues to be sold. It’s especially emphasized during the winter holiday shopping seasons and Father’s Day.
$299 seems like a lot of money, double what you’d spend on an on-sale homeowner or DIYer saw, but you get your money’s worth in accuracy, adjustability, performance, and build quality.
This is still what I would call an entry-level professional-grade table saw, but I believe it’s the best saw of its kind out there.
Price: $299
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Ridgid R4516
Now priced at $249, and probably scheduled to drop to $199 at the peak of the holiday season, this Ridgid saw is more affordable than the others.
I’m not sure when I first learned this, but the Ridgid R4516 has built-in wheels and an extending handle for easier transport.
Of these 3 saws, this is the only one I hadn’t tested. Despite the lower price, I have strong faith in Ridgid as a brand.
Price: $249, $199 peak season price is predicted
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Bosch GTS1031
I was less enthusiastic about the Bosch Reaxx injury-avoiding table saw, but I’m not letting that pollute my positive experiences with the Bosch GTS1031 table saw. I reviewed this model quite a few years ago, and while I find the fence system isn’t quite as good as Dewalt’s, it feels more solid.
The best part of the GTS1031 is how it can be stored horizontally or vertically, and very neatly too. But, it’s not quite as easily carried as the Dewalt.
Price: $342
This is the highest priced saw of the bunch, and if history dictates what we see this year, the price won’t go any lower. It did drop to $299 once, but that was in 2013.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Reader Suggestion: Skil Worm Drive Saw
A couple of readers pointed out the great value of the recent Skilsaw worm drive portable table saw. Over at Acme, it’s $349, and “while supplies last,” they’re bundling it with the matching folding stand for free.
So that’s $349 for the saw and a stand that’s valued at $80.
This is also for the SPT70WT-22 model, which comes with a Diablo blade, not the usual junky starter blade you’ll find included with most portable table saws. Not every saw comes with a Diablo blade – the SPT70WT-01 saw comes with a different blade.
You guys are right – this is a great deal!
Austin
What about the skillsaw one I have heard that it’s excellent with lots of power.
Eric
I was wondering the same thing. From what I’ve seen it’s essentially an upgraded version of the Bosch with more power and a better price ( on sale at least).
Stuart
Hmm.
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/skilsaw-worm-drive-table-saw/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
That does look to be a good deal right now too – $349 plus a free stand at Acme.
Buy Now(via Acme Tools)
It’s also $349 at Amazon, but no free stand.
Diplomatic Immunity
Don’t forget that it’s stocked at Zoro (at an inflated price as usual at Zoro) BUT if the drop a 30% off coupon like they did last year it could become even sub $300 cheap.
Allen
I was in the lumber yard the other day and overheard a company representative describing to the owner the new Dewalt cordless table saw he saw demonstrated.
Seemed pretty excited about it, didn’t know when it would be available.
Stuart
The FlexVolt is out now.
fred
I agree with your conclusion that in this price range the Dewalt is the one to pick. I have a larger Bosch 4100DG09 and while the fence is not exactly its Achilles Heel it is a bit finicky to adjust – no where near as solid or easy to use as the Biesemeyer fence on my Unisaw. Having used Dewalt saws over the years too – their fences have also been better than the Bosch.
Regarding a Dado stack – even if the saw has a long enough arbor screw to accept one – it may be a bit underpowered. So if you are buying the Bosch saw for this added ability – you might think “six-inch dado set” rather than the more ubiquitous 8 inch sets.
Finally you advice : “If you’re a DIYer or beginner woodworker and plan on buying a table saw for regular use on projects, it’ll be worth it to step up to a pro-grade portable saw.” – is well said. You might go further and contemplate a cabinet saw. I never regret having bought my Unisaw back in the early 1970’s even though it was a big stretch of my pocketbook (my first new Oldsmobile Cutlass cost only twice as much as the saw and it sliding table – delivered and installed.) If I were buying all over again – maybe it would still be a Unisaw , but I’d be looking again at a Powermatic or with more choices now a Sawstop cabinet saw , a Hammer and/or other European saws too. If you really want to get into woodworking or furniture building as a business or major hobby – the cabinet saw will be the center of your shop.
ACalz
Stuart your not kidding about the Dewalt 745 going on clearance, I got one for a penny a few years ago at a Home Depot some time in late January. The cashier wrong it up and it scanned for a penny she stopped got a manager who said its your lucky day Merry Christmas and gave it to me. He said it should have been pulled when it clearance down to a penny but that is was left on the shelf and that they had to sell it for the penny. Blew my mind.
red92s
I’ve been reading everything I can get my hands on regarding the compact-ish table saws in advance of purchasing my first one. I’ve only got a small shed, so a stationary saw is sort of ruled out . . . need to be able to set up and break it down. Even the rolling stands I think would make it cumbersome to store (albeit easier to set up and use).
The biggest knock on the Bosch seems to be complaints about wobble in the arbor hurting cut quality and accuracy. The form factor and storage are great. I had largely settled on the Bosch but this kept popping up.
The fences on the Dewalts are seemingly universally praised. The newer 7480 model gets you enough rip capacity for full sheets but is closer in price to the Bosch. The big downside about the small Dewalts is the lack of Dado capacity.
I’ve now got my heart set on the DW7490X. Larger table area than the smaller DeWalts, dado capability, soft start motor, scissor style stand included, and the great DeWalt fence. Ups my budget a bit, but it’s about as much saw as I can comfortably store, and by the time you add a stand to the lower-end Bosch/Dewalt models you’ve made up half the price difference already. Seems to be pretty rock-steady at $499 everywhere I look. Any guesses if we will see some sales on it for the holidays?
fred
If you wait on a Zoro 25% off sale – it might save you $22 – but if they run a 30% off sale like they did last year – then their price would drop to $445. Both thoughts are speculative and a bit of a crap-shoot.
David Lewis
I agree 100% about the arbor wobble. I went through 3 saws (one through amazing returns and one through Bosch rma) I can’t speak about now, but a few years ago the design or qa was awful.
I’ve had the dewalt dwe7480 and it’s absolutely great. The dw745 is similar enough.
Surprisingly, like people have remarked, the skillsaw is not on the list. I actually have two of them and they are my current faves. To put it into perspective, I have a dwe7480, dwe7491rs, (2) skillsaw spt70wt, and a porter cable cabinet saw. They get used among my remodeling crew.
The fence storage, 3.5″+ vertical blade capacity, and sheer power tip the scales in favor of the skillsaw over dewalts very convenient rack and pinion. I’d be pretty happy with either Saw but the skillsaw edges out narrowly.
David Lewis
Amazon returns* I hate auto correct.
red92s
Yeah the Skillsaw wormdrive is also really tempting, especially since you can get it with a nicer blade out of the box. What I read made it sound like an awesome framing and rough carpentry saw, but it left a little to be desired for finer work where the fence on the DeWalt became a difference maker.
Honestly if the Skillsaw had a DeWalt-quality fence on it, I’d probably have bought it already.
Stuart
It depends on what you want to do. IMHO, none of these saws are ideal for breaking down full sheets of plywood – you’re better off using a track saw or guided circular saw for breaking down larger sheets.
I’ve been testing and working with the Dewalt DWE7491RS, and really like it. I wish that the fence were a big beefier, but it’s easy to adjust, accurate to adjust, and holds true.
I don’t know if we’ll see a discount for the holidays, but some stores might have percent-off deals. Since it’s full price now, it won’t hurt to wait.
red92s
Yeah I feel you on the sheet goods through the smaller saws thing.
I’m sort of in the position where I don’t really need 24″+ inches of rip capacity (or a dedicated track saw for that matter), but it sort of comes with the territory once you start looking at models with some of the other features I’m interested in: dado capacity, soft start, and maybe most importantly a few more inches of table in front of the blade for wider cross cuts and better stability on rips.
I had sort of resigned myself to spending in the low $300’s for one of the compact Bosch or Dewalt models, since I’m likely not going to find one for a penny. Once you add a folding stand for one of those, you are into the ~$400 range. At that point $499 for a DW7490X (with stand) becomes easier to justify.
If I had the space to build a smaller saw into a larger work surface, I’d probably go that route, or just spend similar money on a larger used contractor saw. But, reality dictates I need something that can break down and store under a fixed workbench in the shed.
fred
I’ve seen past comments on Amazon about some jobsite saws where reviewers say their motor windings are not well insulated and that motor burn-outs are the result. One possibility is that they do not handle humid-environment storage very well. This may be something to consider for shed or even garage storage.
Tom
The vertical storage for the Bosch is really useful for those of us without a dedicated shop. Good onboard storage of all accessories too. I’ve also been happy with it’s fold up stand – lightweight, easy to store, etc.
Stuart
Yup! In my review I showed its storage spot underneath my workbench.
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/bosch-gts1031-table-saw-review/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
I liked the stand, too. It’s not as nice as Dewalt’s, but it’s tool-free.
Nathan
I have a table saw. It’s my workbench (table) and panel saw.
:-p
Steve
I’ve had the Bosch for about 4 years, and love it. No problems with cut quality or arbor wobble… Rips are clean enough for gluing, using a Diablo thin kerf blade. I can run an 8″ dado stack up to about 5/8″ with no trouble.
Things that I wish were different: it would be nice to have more area in front of the blade, but I guess that’s true for any compact saw. I do wish it had soft start.
Aaron
Stuart, how do you think the DeWalt table saw mentioned above compares with the new model (the DeWalt DWE780)? It’s $80 more and I’m looking for my first table saw. Is the extra money worth it for the newer model? Thank you!
Stuart
The DWE7480 ($379 via Amazon) has 24-1/2″ rip capacity, compared to the DW745’s 20″.
The version with the stand is $399 via Amazon. That’s perhaps the better bargain, since you get a stand for only $20 more.
But if you don’t need that rip capacity, which is beneficial for cutting full sheets of plywood or other sheet goods down the middle the long way, the DW745 mentioned above would be the better way to go.
I’ve never compared the DW745 and DWE7480 side by side, but it looks like they’re largely the same, other than that rip capacity difference.
I’d assume that the DWE7480 is also a little larger to provide for that greater ripping capacity, and it has the potential to slightly affect its portability compared to the DW745.
Is it worth it? Hard to say. If you were planning on buying a stand, the DWE7480 with stand gives you the saw with a stand for not much more than you’d pay for the DW745 and the same or similar stand.
Aaron
Thanks for the quick response! I’ve also been looking at Kobalt’s table saw (compact w/built-in roll stand; allegedly made by Delta): https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-15-Amp-10-in-Carbide-Tipped-Table-Saw/50056619
At this point it looks like a toss-up between the DW745 and the Kobalt. I love the fact that Kobalt’s has a roll stand as I’d like to do my work outside. I’m strictly a hobbyist at the moment and have been wanting to get into woodworking/potentially carpentry for a while, and know I want a table saw. Reviews on the Kobalt seem favorable, and it often goes down to $199 or lower on Black Friday. What would your suggestion be between those two?
Stuart
I haven’t tried the Kobalt, but in my mind, the Dewalt would be the better saw, Kobalt the better deal.
When money is better you can buy or build a stand for the Dewalt, but there won’t be anything you could do to the Kobalt saw, aside for buying a better blade of course.
Chapin
Hi, anyone have any comment as to which is the better deal on a table saw, the current Skilsaw promo for $350 or the Dewalt DWE7480 for $300 (after Acme 20% discount?
Thanks.
Stuart
Personally, I’d go for the Dewalt.
Max
Stuart workshop tools are also offering the -22 skillsaw promo but at a $299 price. At that price does it beat out Bosh, Ridgid and DeWalt?
Stuart
I think that Skil is a good table saw.
$299 for the Diablo blade model AND a free saw stand? That’ll very hard to beat.
Would it be my pick? Not necessarily, but I think it does beat out the other models on value.
Chapin
Thanks, Stuart!
peorian
Has anyone checked out the newly released BF special Delta table saw (36-6022)? Specifications look great and Delta claims that the new “mini-T fence” contributes to amazing accuracy at least much more than previous releases of the 6000 series including the 36-6010 and 36-6020. The $229 price is inviting, however I have concerns about Delta warranty policies and support procedures. At this price and when the specs (rip capacity, etc) are factored, it compares favorably to both the Ridgid and Dewalt. But not brave to pull the trigger on it. Obviously Dewalt DW745 with the rack and pinion fence is amazing, but you don’t get the rip capacity and stand in this price point. Stuart and others: welcome any thoughts and feedback from users who bought the 36-6022 Delta. This is for occasional DIY and hobby activities and 24″ rip is a nice and not a must for my needs.
Stuart
I’m hesitant about it. All of Delta’s information about this saw talks about how it’s a Black Friday special. I don’t know if I can trust that.
For a personal purchase, I’d steer clear unless I was able to buy it quickly, test it out quickly, and then quickly determine whether to keep it or buy a different saw while other short-listed models were on sale. Or I’d more likely convince myself to spend more and get a tried and true model with less risk.
peorian
Thanks Stuart, that makes sense; fully understand the tradeoffs.
bg21828
Bought the 36-6022 a few weeks ago, not sure why it was still in stock at my local HD but they have a ton of them, the odd thing was they didnt even have it out on display. Anyway, for the money (currently at $200) you really cant go wrong. Solid list of features: great rip capacity, fold up base with wheel and shop vac dust port and stow compartments for all the attachments.
Out of the box, the knife was in proper alignment with the blade and the fence and the 90 degree needed minor adjustments. The blade is a smidge off to the left in the back (less than 1/64th) but i can live it with it. The down side is: no soft start, no rack and pinion, crappy miter and a crude factory blade but for its a solid table saw.