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Going to buy a table saw tomorrow

10K views 70 replies 13 participants last post by  woodworkbykirk 
#1 ·
I don't need anything big because I will not use this very often and when I do use it it will be for small projects around the house. Anyway, I have $175 worth of Home Depot gift cards and permission from my wife to spend another $100 on a saw (my christmas present). I have my eyes on the one linked below because of all the good reviews and its a Dewalt which usually means pretty good quality. Anyone have any input of suggestions on a better one for the same price range?

Heres what i'm planning to buy right now?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-1...Table-Saw-DW745/100497987?N=c298Z12l6?NCNI-5#
 
#32 ·
I'm glad I found this thread. I've been going back and forth about a small saw for longer than I can remember, either a DeWalt similar to the one in this thread (DWE7480) or the Bosch GTS1031. I was hung-up on not having 24" rip capacity on some of the portable models, but never considered stability issues with a smaller saw and large workpiece. I tend to just use the circular saw with large pieces anyway. With that in mind I could get the Dewalt 745 and save $50.
 
#33 ·
I'm glad I found this thread. I've been going back and forth about a small saw for longer than I can remember, either a DeWalt similar to the one in this thread (DWE7480) or the Bosch GTS1031. I was hung-up on not having 24" rip capacity on some of the portable models, but never considered stability issues with a smaller saw and large workpiece. I tend to just use the circular saw with large pieces anyway. With that in mind I could get the Dewalt 745 and save $50.
I too am glad you found it and got UN-Hung on the 24" rip capacity of small saws. All too often it just has to be tried for some to learn. But if they can get that education without getting seriously hurt it usually stays with them for life.
 
#35 ·
Jim--that is the smaller of the two---I find it ideal for a truck saw--and remarkably tough and accurate---I use it when installing cabinets and trim and general construction.

The larger table and wider rip capacity of the bigger model make that a more versatile tool---I am please with the smaller model---for what I do the tool has proven it self----I even ran a shaper head in it ---the little saw is remarkably good.
 
#36 ·
The 745 is larger than the 744? Wow, this is great, I love that, I thought the 744 was larger. Here is the 744 first then the 745.
 

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#42 ·
#44 ·
Does that saw telescope the fence, it looks like it would. If it is anything like Bosch has been in the past it would be a winner. Use to Bosch was right at the top in quality when it was made in Germany or Switzerland. IMHO

I just checked out the saw online, that saw is a lot bigger than it looks here, that would be nice. check it out.
http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-GTS1031-10-Inch-Portable-Jobsite/dp/B004O7FX20
 
#45 ·
The fence on my dewalt does telescope out and has a 20.5" cut capability. The display in the stored only has 16" which is interesting. I think they recently upgraded that feature or something. I still haven't gotten the dumb riving knife into position for the blade guards though.
 
#46 ·
the newly updated version of the small dewalt now has 24" rip capacity, my hardwood installer just bought one and a buddy is about to. the bosch is about the same size as the small dewalt ..

the small bosch is very powerful and made entirely out of metal which makes it more durable, the only issue ive heard with it is the occasional unit suffers from blade wobble
 
#48 ·
Broke bases --that was my big complaint with my previous saws---life in a construction truck is hard and short----that metal cage sold me---and the great operation of rhe Dewalt kept me happy---

I think that Bosch looks like a tough tool----but when the dewalt is worn out--I'll get another just like it---
 
#49 ·
we have 3 of the older model full size.. today actually the base of one of our older ones broke while hte saw was attached..... its wrong of me to say im not sad to see it happen.. the fence on that saw is a complete mess and the blade raising mechinism is completely gummed up so its a real workout to raise the blade
 
#50 ·
I suffered through several crummy job site saws before I got the Dewalt---

It's lived a hard life---but sure is better than any other saw I've used on site---

I do have a huge cabinet saw at home---now that is a tool----
 
#62 ·
They may be clearing it out. They seem to have a new product, the 7480

http://dewalt.com/tools/machinery-portable-table-saws-dwe7480.aspx

It's probably a replacement. The main difference seems to be it can rip to 24" so unlike the 745 you can split a piece of plywood down the middle, which may have been seen as a major competitive product problem for the 745. One negative of the new saw seems to be it won't accept dado blades. Seems a bit odd to design a new product seemingly to address some competitive weaknesses and leave this out. HD price is at $369, which - as I recall so I may be wrong - was about what the old saw used to cost.

Seems like a smart move. One of the reasons I went with the Bosch 4100 was for the fence rip capacity. Usually I'll still have those big cuts done right at the store and then smaller cuts at home, but I wanted it anyway just in case. Except for the dado issue - maybe not important to some - the saw now seems more feature competitive with some more expensive products.
 
#64 ·
I don't think you can use a dado with any of the portable saws, I may be wrong. I would think if any portable saw did it would be the Bosch 4100 but that saw weighs 124 pounds, the DW745 weighs about 48 pounds, not that the weight has to do with anything. I was just thinking there is no way I could handle a saw that weighed 124 pounds now days. I hate that Bosch is made in Taiwan now days.
 
#67 ·
Thanks for clearing that up Kirk, that makes sense. My nephew had a DW774, I think, (it was one of the first portable table saw DeWalt made in the yellow plastic) but he had the light fold up stand and I know that saw wasn't that heavy.

I want to sell my Unisaw and buy one of the DeWalt saws, the Unisaw takes up way too much room in my shop.
 
#69 ·
As both Big Jim and Kirk mention above, the Bosch 4100-09 on the stand is 124 lbs. But the 4100 saw alone should be about 60 lbs alone if that's how you'd use it.

Anyway, since dados have come up, the 4100 does take dado blades. I've not done it myself, but I've just checked my manual and it does have instructions for stacked dado sets to be used. In addition to - or included in the blade kit, you would need some kind of Dado Accessory Kit that has an accessory washer, and then you'd want a special Dado Table Insert. I haven't shopped for it, but I'd think their own blade kit would have this, but if you were to go with this saw and get another brand dado set, you'd want to make sure about that additional accessory washer being included or getting it separately. Bosch has a dado insert plate as well, but I'd probably get one from Lee, same as the zero clearance insert I got from them for my regular blade.
 
#70 ·
In my 42 years of wood working I owned two dados, one a stack and the other a wobble set. I probably used them maybe two or three times all that time. I did see the results of a dado stack that came loose, talk about a mess. I find the router is much easier and quicker to set up and use than a dado and it is a neater results. JMHO
 
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