Table Saws
Originally in Workbench No. 262 (December 2000)
If you've shopped around, you know there's a variety of saws available in a
wide range of prices. In this review we'll focus on saws that fall in the
mid-price category, commonly called the "contractor's saw." The combination
of quality features and affordable price make these saws a perfect choice for
the home shop.
Why We Chose These Saws
For many woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers, a table saw is probably the most expensive tool they'll ever purchase. And if you've shopped around, you know there's a variety of saws available, with prices ranging from a couple hundred dollars (benchtop saws) to several thousand dollars (big, stationary cabinet saws).
But to my eye, it's the in-between saws, the "contractor's saws," that are perfect for the home shop. They have the features I'm looking for — cast iron tables, good rip fences, and decent-size motors (around 1½-hp).
A cabinet saw may offer a more powerful motor, some beefier components, and a fence with greater ripping capacity than a contractor's saw. But these features are designed for the needs of a commercial shop. For a home shop, the performance difference isn't that necessary. The differences in saw styles are pretty clear. Pricing is more confusing.
Contractor's saws generally start at less than half of what you'd pay for a cabinet saw. Of course, options are almost endless, and you can outfit a contractor's saw with a larger-capacity fence and a bigger table.
For this test, though, I decided to look at base-level saws from some of the top manufacturers — Craftsman, Delta, DeWalt, Jet, Ridgid, and Powermatic. There are several reasons I selected these tools instead of more expensive models.
For one, not everyone needs big ripping capacity. And outfitting a saw with a large-capacity fence adds cost. Plus it means giving up more space in the shop. It's a trade-off.
Also, one of the biggest reasons for upgrading a contractor's saw used to be the fence. These days, manufacturers have improved fences so much that even base models are pretty darn good. One of these fences may suit your needs just fine.
Finally, testing the base-level saw is a great way to measure a manufacturer's basic design. After all, adding a fancy fence and a slew of accessories may help disguise poor engineering, but it won't make a bad saw good.
It's worth noting that not every manufacturer has the same definition of base level. The Craftsman, Delta, Jet, and Ridgid are priced in the neighborhood of $500. The Powermatic and DeWalt, on the other hand, sell for $750 and $900 respectively. I wasn't sure if those higher prices would mean better performance. So to keep things fair, I tested the pricier saws in the same way I tested the less expensive saws.
Different Definitions of Base-Level
If you've ever shopped for a new car, you know that a base-model Chevrolet is different than a base-model Cadillac. The Cadillac costs more, but has more standard features. Of course, you can get the same features as options on the Chevy. It's just a matter of how you want to buy — all-included or à la carte.
The dollar amounts are different with contractor's saws, but the principles are the same: One company's idea of base may just be different than another company's. Take the Powermatic saw for example. It costs half again more than most of these saws. But it comes standard with cast iron extension wings. They provide a flat, stable surface, but cost more to produce than other saws' stamped steel wings.
Powermatic's fence is also beefier than any of the lower-priced saws. In
fact, this fence would have no problems in a commercial shop. In a home shop
it should last forever. DeWalt also offers a very nice fence. And the company
touts its table saw as very refined. But this saw costs even more.
Manufacturers of the lower-priced saws we tested also offer models equipped the same as the pricier saws. And you can do it for about the same money. It's just a matter of what's standard and what's an option.
Details That Make a Difference
To the uninitiated, all contractor's saws look alike — a cast iron table, 10"-dia. blade, open stand, and a midsize (about 1½-horsepower) motor. But subtle differences (and a few more obvious ones) can affect how well they operate. Here are some other important features you should consider when buying a table saw.
Blade Guard
Delta's guard
(left) won't stay up, which is awkward. Powermatic's (right) flips out of
the way.
Power Switch
Rail-mounted
switches (left) are the norm. DeWalt's (right) can be shut off with
your knee.
Beveled Table
A square front
table edge (left) can catch the miter gauge. A beveled edge (right) helps.
Stop Adjustments
Reaching
underneath to set the stops (left) is tougher than up-top
adjustments (right).
Delta 36-650 
In a tightly-bunched field, Delta's new 36-650 brings home our Editor's
Choice award by delivering the best performance overall. It didn't run away
with any category, but offered that extra margin in a few areas that pushed
it over the top.
An example of this is the new fence. It's a no-frills model, similar to the
Jet. But
this one locks easily, and is very adjustable for rack and toe-out. One quirk
with this fence is that the measurement indicator is on the left side. I
usually rip with the fence to the right of the blade, which means that a
workpiece covers up the indicator. That makes it tough to fine tune a cut.
I do like the power switch mounted out on the front rail. You lift up a guard to access the "on" switch, but just push on the guard with your hand or thigh to shut the saw down. The 36-650 also ran quietly, and cut smoothly in every type and thickness of stock I tried. Delta does produce this saw overseas, which helps make the price one of the best in the test group.
The blade guard is this saw's biggest disappointment. It's flimsy, and the guard can't be flipped it up out of the way, which is a real hassle when setting the blade height. Overall, though, the 36-650 offers the best combination of performance, features, and price in this test.
At a Glance
- Price:
- $500
- Motor:
- 1½ - hp (15 amp) 110/220v
- Blade:
- 36-tooth carbide-tipped
- Blade Tilt:
- Right
- Warranty:
- 2 years
- Web Site:
- Delta Woodworking
- Virtues:
- Competitive price; fence moves and locks easily; quiet; well-balanced.
- Vices:
- No leg levelers; flimsy blade guard that won't stay up; cheap miter gauge.
- Verdict:
- The 36-650 offers rock-solid performance, but please Delta, give it a better blade guard.
Jet JWTS-10JF 
Check
the charts, and you can see that the Jet measured up in almost every
category. Just a couple complaints slipped this saw into second place.
Most notable is the fence. It moves easily, and is plenty beefy. But the locking mechanism isn't very positive. That may be due to a very short locking handle that doesn't offer much leverage. The short length also puts your thumb close to the lever's mounting hole, where it can get pinched.
The fence isn't bad, it's just getting a bit long in the tooth, and newer designs have gotten better. I also couldn't get the fence's measurement indicator to align with the scale on the rail. Apparently the scale was located in the wrong spot. To fix the problem, I had to cut a notch in the indicator before mounting it to the fence.
The 45° and 90° blade stops are also located under the table. That's not a big deal other than during the initial setup.
Back on the positive side, the JWTS-10JF does have good things to offer. The fit and finish is great, and the table surface is honed flat. I also like this saw's low stance. It helps you get leverage over the workpiece.
The Jet's cutting performance is also first rate. There's plenty of power, and the cut edges are smooth. In the end, the Jet landed into second place by a slim margin.
At a Glance
- Price:
- $525
- Motor:
- 1½ - hp (18 amp) 110/220vv
- Blade:
- 28-tooth carbide-tipped
- Blade Tilt:
- Right
- Warranty:
- 2 year
- Web Site:
- Jet Tools
- Virtues:
- Great fit and finish; convenient height; smooth adjustments; powerful.
- Vices:
- Open legs won't accept pads or levelers; fence lock isn't positive.
- Verdict:
- The JWTS-10JF has been a top contender in this category for years. It just needs freshened up to stay in that spot.
RIDGID TS2412 
Right out of the box, the Ridgid impressed me with labels identifying every
box and bag of parts. It's a small touch, but a thoughtful one.
The Ridgid also has a fence with a positive locking mechanism. The fence does tend to rack when slid back and forth. But push the fence head forward against the rails (like the little label says to), and it locks down parallel to the blade.
Another positive that's hard to ignore is this saw's lifetime warranty. Few tools can match it.
What cost this saw a lot in our standings is the motor. Most of the other saws use totally-enclosed fan-cooled (TEFC) motors. But this motor is open, so sawdust can easily get into the works. The motor did offer plenty of power, and drove the blade easily through all cuts I made.
Another downside is that the Ridgid offers only 24" rip capacity. The others (except Craftsman) have 30" capacity. And Ridgid doesn't offer a larger-capacity fence option. Some of these complaints can be worked around, but one that can't is the lack of a blade height lock. I think any saw really has to have one.
At a Glance
- Price:
- $470
- Motor:
- 1½ - hp (13 amp) 110/220v
- Blade:
- 24-tooth carbide-tipped
- Blade Tilt:
- Left
- Warranty:
- Lifetime
- Web Site:
- RIDGID Tools
- Virtues:
- Low price; lifetime warranty; good fence lock; blade kerf indicator on table.
- Vices:
- Stands tall; open-housing motor; just 24" rip capacity; no blade height lock.
- Verdict:
- With a wider rip capacity and an enclosed, fan-cooled motor, this saw could be a contender.
Craftsman 22839
If all it took was a good fence to make a great table saw, the new Craftsman
model 22839 would win this test. To say this fence surprised me would be an
understatement.
When I got the saw, I was suspicious the fence rails were missing, because there was only one shipping box. It turns out that the rails are each two pieces. That sent up the red flags. But the pieces aligned fine. The fence that rides those rails is about as resistant to racking as any I've used — even very expensive models. Plus, it locks down tight.
But a good fence doesn't do it all. When tilting the blade, the 45° and 90° stops seemed mushy. I soon realized the stops were fine. The problem is that the saw's metal housing is so thin, that the sides flex as you crank the adjustment wheel against either stop. A reinforcing plate behind the wheel mount does little to help.
And I don't understand why this saw comes with a steel blade. Craftsman needs to wake up and spend the few extra dollars for carbide. I'd also like to see more than 24" rip capacity.
At a Glance
- Price:
- $500
- Motor:
- 1½ - hp (13 amp) 110v
- Blade:
- 64-tooth steel-tipped
- Blade Tilt:
- Left
- Warranty:
- 1 year
- Web Site:
- Sears Craftsman
- Virtues:
- A surprisingly easy-to-move, accurate, and rack-free fence; good miter gauge.
- Vices:
- Open-housing motor; no carbide-tipped blade; thin metal housing.
- Verdict:
- The fence is fantastic, but the saw does have a few shortcomings. Fix those, and this saw would rank much higher.
Powermatic 64A 
The 64A from Powermatic is the latest evolution of a saw that's been around
for quite a few years. And this saw shows how refining a good design can pay
off.
The good things here start with the table. It's flat and finely honed. With
the addition of the cast iron wings, the table provides a large work area.
Plus, all that iron adds vibration-reducing weight to the saw, helping it run
smooth and quiet.
The 64A is the only saw tested that comes with two throat plates (the plate around the blade). One is standard, the other has a wider opening to accept a dado set. Above the throat plate sits the best blade guard of the bunch. It has two halves that move independently. And those sides can be secured up out of the way when necessary.
Secure is also a good word for the fence. It's based on the Biesemeyer design, and is built tough enough to park a tank on. It does rack a bit when slid back and forth, but locks down solid and parallel to the blade.
On the downside, adjusting the 45° and 90° stops does require reaching under the table, and it's not an easy task. Also, removing the blade guard takes a little work.
So is this saw worth half again more than the others? Well, yes. Outfit any of them with cast wings and an equivalent fence, and you'll spend the same money.
At a Glance
- Price:
- $750
- Motor:
- 1½ - hp (15 amp) 110/220v
- Blade:
- 40-tooth carbide-tipped
- Blade Tilt:
- Left
- Warranty:
- 1 year
- Web Site:
- Powermatic
- Virtues:
- Cast iron wings; heavy-duty fence; best blade guard in the test; good switch.
- Vices:
- Heavy; fence racks when moving; blade tilt wheel a bit hard to reach.
- Verdict:
- This saw has everything you'd want for the price, including performance. But the lower-priced saws are closing in.
DeWalt DW746
It's not a contractor's saw, but it's not a cabinet saw either. That's what
anyone — including the folks at DeWalt — will tell you about the
DW746. It's a tough tool to get a handle on.
On the plus side, I love the compactness of this saw. That's mainly due to the motor that's mounted underneath instead of hanging out the back like the other saws.
I also like the shroud around the blade that directs dust and chips right into a dust collection port. And the fence leaves you longing for very little. It's hefty, accurate, and has an adjustable face. The switch is great, too. You can simply bang it with your knee to shut the saw down.
On the downside, the cast table wasn't very flat, at least on the saw we tested. And the motor — touted as ¼-hp stronger than the others — bogged down on tough rip cuts.
But the bottom line is price. At $900, it's just too high. For that money I can set up a regular contractor's saw with a 52" fence and still buy accessories. I think DeWalt needs to knock a couple hundred off the price to make this saw competitive.
At a Glance
- Price:
- $900
- Motor:
- 1¾ - hp (15 amp) 110/220v
- Blade:
- 30-tooth carbide-tipped
- Blade Tilt:
- Left
- Warranty:
- 2 years
- Web Site:
- DeWalt
- Virtues:
- Under-mounted motor; heavy-duty fence; knee switch; integrated dust pickup.
- Vices:
- Price is too high; saw whined when resawing; cast table not very flat.
- Verdict:
- DeWalt has done a lot of things right on this saw. But the price is too high, almost into cabinet saw range.
Compare the Saws
|
Compare the Saws Features and Quality P=Poor, F=Fair, G=Good, E=Excellent |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Features and Quality | ||||||
| Condition out of Box | G | G | G | G | G | G |
| Ease of Assembly | G | G | G | G | E | G |
| Overall Fit and Finish | F | G | G | G | G | G |
| Table/Wing Flatness | G | G | G | G | F | E |
| Switch Location/Action | F | G | G | F | E | E |
| Blade Height/Tilt Controls | F | G | G | F | E | G |
| Bevel Scale Accuracy | G | G | G | F | G | G |
| Fence Movement/Locking | E | G | F | F | F | G |
| Fence Scale Accuracy | G | G | F | G | E | G |
| Blade Guard | F | F | F | G | F | E |
| Miter Gauge | F | F | F | G | F | G |
| Setup and Cutting | ||||||
| Trunnion Alignment/Adjustment | G | G | F | G | G | G |
| Fence Alignment/Adjustment | G | G | G | G | G | G |
| 45°/90° Blade Stop Adjustment | E | E | F | E | E | F |
| Rip Power (1" and 2" stock) | F | G | G | G | F | G |
| Smoothness of Rip Cut | F | G | G | F | G | G |
| Accuracy of Rip Cut | G | G | G | G | G | G |
| Crosscut Power (1" stock) | G | G | G | G | G | G |
| Smoothness of Crosscut | F | G | E | G | G | G |
| Accuracy of Crosscut | G | G | G | G | G | G |
| Vibration Supression | G | G | G | E | E | E |
| Noise/Sound Quality | F | G | G | F | F | E |
Final Recommendations
I know it sounds like a cop out to say there's not a bad saw in this bunch, but there really isn't. Whether you buy the least expensive (Ridgid) or the one with the highest price (DeWalt), you'll get a saw capable of handling most cutting needs. Look at the charts above. Ratings could range from Poor to Excellent. But you see that no saw scored less than Fair in any category. That says a lot.
There are differences between these saws, though. And in the end, some fared better than others. Here are a few reasons why.
Precision and Power
I said up front that the rip fence is one area that's gotten better on these saws. In the past they were clunky, inaccurate, or hard-to-adjust. The biggest surprise is the Craftsman fence. It's very good, and rivals models that cost a heck of a lot more. Even the two-piece rails — an item I was skeptical about — work well, with no alignment problems. Powermatic's Biesemeyer-style fence and DeWalt's fence are also both very good. Of course, I expect more from both fences, given the higher price of these saws. Jet's fence did push it back in the rankings. The fence isn't bad. It's been around a while though, while newer designs have improved.
As far as cutting power goes, you shouldn't run into problems with any of these saws. And I tried to trip them up. For example, I ripped 8/4 (2"-thick) hard maple, and on some passes I fed the stock too quickly and forcefully on purpose. I'm sure I could have stalled any of the saws, but not while making what anyone would consider a reasonable cut.
The Craftsman and DeWalt saws did balk at tough cuts more than the others, bogging down and/or letting out a whining sound. But both did the job. I figured the Craftsman might complain, given its low-cost steel blade. But the DeWalt surprised me. I even rechecked the fence and blade alignment. Nothing was binding, but I couldn't get rid of the whine when ripping thick stock.
By the way, if you need more oomph, all but the Craftsman can be rewired to run on 220-volt (instead of 110-volt). This drops the motor's amp draw in half, yielding more efficient power.
Setup and Controls
Setup and adjustment of these saws was also pretty easy. They come out of the box with many parts already assembled. You'll have to put together the stand, mount the motor, add the wings and fence rails, then align and tune everything. (The DeWalt is the exception. It's assembled, except the wings and fence.)
Figure on spending a few hours getting the saw up and running. You'll just need a few hand tools. In each case, the 45° and 90° stops needed tweaking. I didn't have to mess much with trunnion adjustments, though.
Blade height and tilt controls are similar on all of the saws, with handwheels that control both functions. Ridgid and Craftsman are a bit different, though. Those saws have a lever that locks the blade tilt angle, rather than a knob on the handwheel. And neither saw has a height lock. That could be annoying when trying to cut a groove or dado.
I should mention that the blade tilts to the left on all saws except the Jet and Delta. The blades on these two saws tilt to the right.
The Final Cut
So, they're all decent saws. How do you know which to buy? I think it depends on your budget. If you've got around $500 to spend, the Delta 36-650 is the best choice. So it gets the Editor's Choice Award in that group. I'd like to see a better blade guard, but I think it offers the best combination of features, quality, and performance in the group. Powermatic's 64A gets the award in the high-price group. This saw offers a lot of refinement and precision to go with its price.
