Table Saws: Reviews

PopularMechanics.com: The DeWalt DW745 gets a respectable 4-star rating in this roundup review comparing it with 10 other portable table saws, earning kudos for its accurate fence and "enviable power." However, it doesn't rank at the top -- it loses points for its limited ripping width and lack of dado capacity.

PopularMechanics.com: This thorough, objective review compares the DeWalt DW745 with the Bosch GTS1031.

Tools of the Trade: A finish carpenter provides a detailed, well-illustrated review comparing the DeWalt DW745 with its main competitor, the Bosch GTS1031.

ThisIsCarpentry.com: Carpenter Michael Inskeep compares the DeWalt DW745 with the Bosch GTS1031, using both with a Rousseau table that comes with its own fence.

The Journal of Light Construction: This review covers the DeWalt DW745 before it was redesigned to use the UL-approved three-part blade guard on the current version.

Fine Homebuilding: This single-product review of the DeWalt DW745 praises the rack-and-pinion fence "which is easy to adjust, and has an excellent hairline indicator to make zeroing in on precise measurements a cinch." Other adjustments are also deemed easy to use, and the miter slot takes aftermarket accessories.

Amazon.com: Over a hundred owners review the DeWalt DW745 table saw here.

HomeDepot.com: At the time of our report fewer than two dozen owners have reviewed the DeWalt DW745 here, giving it a high average rating.

Lowes.com: More than a dozen owners review the DeWalt DW745 table saw.

DeWalt.com: Over a dozen owners review and rate the DeWalt DW745 table saw, praising it for carpentry but not for fine woodworking.

PopularMechanics.com: After testing 11 portable table saws, editors note that it's unfair to compare the Skil 3310 with more expensive models, noting that it lacks the power and precision of pro-quality saws.

Lowes.com: The Skil 3310 table saw earns a reasonably high average rating from the nearly four dozen owners; over 85 percent say they'd recommend it to a friend.

ToolSelect.com: The handful of owners reviewing the Skil 3310 table saw here run the gamut from amateur to pro and are about evenly split on whether or not the saw is adequate.

PopularMechanics.com: The Bosch 4100DG-09 earns a perfect rating plus top ranking, based on tests of 11 portable table saws in this detailed, well-illustrated review.

HomeDepot.com: The handful of owners reviewing the top-of-the-line Bosch 4100DG-09 table saw here are enthusiastic.

Taunton's 2011 Tool Guide: The Bosch 4100-09 portable table saw -- identical to the 4100DG-09 but without the digital rip fence -- earns both an Editors' Choice award and top ranking in an annual survey of readers of Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding.

Fine Homebuilding: Jobsite carpenter Ireton tests the Bosch 4100DG-09 in comparison with four other 15-amp portable table saws that have riving knives.

Popular Woodworking: The Bosch 4100 earns top ranking in a comparison against four other benchtop table saws (also equipped with riving knives) based on tests of accuracy and power, plus evaluations of ease of use.

Tools of the Trade: This review gives second place to the Bosch 4100DG-09, with praise for its safety features and arbor lock.

GaryMKatz.com: This detailed single-product review by a frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking magazine includes photos of the new blade guard system on the Bosch 4100 series, as well as of the digital rip fence.

Fine Woodworking: This brief review reports that the Bosch 4100DG-09 saw handles 1.75-inch hard maple nearly as well as 0.75-inch plywood, and praises the saw for easy blade changes and an exceptional blade guard system that includes a riving knife.

Lowes.com: More than 40 owners review the Bosch 4100-09 table saw here (identical to the 4100DG-09 except for the digital fence).

Amazon.com: More than 30 owners reviewing the Bosch 4100DG-09 portable table saw give it mostly rave reviews except for the digital fence, which quite a few owners deem more a problem than an asset.

BoschTools.com: About a dozen owners review the Bosch 4100-09 here, most very pleased with its accuracy and ease of transport and setup.

New Woodworker.com: This detailed, well-illustrated review is very enthusiastic, running through each major feature and including a video.

ICanFixUpMyHome.com: This detailed review, based on actual use, rates the Craftsman 21807 a 9 on a 10-point scale, noting that the built-in extensions make it simple to cut a sheet of plywood, and that the wheels on the base are a big plus for a small workshop.

ToolBoxHero.com: This single-product review by an experienced remodeler recommends the Craftsman 21807 table saw for basic homeowner use and construction projects, but notes that the miter slot has too much play in it to make the saw good for furniture-making.

Sears.com: Over 70 owners review the Craftsman 21807 contractor saw here, giving it mostly positive comments as a good value; over 80 percent say they'd recommend it to a friend.

RidgidForum.com: This brief discussion points out that the arbor on the Craftsman 21807 limits the dado stack (which cuts a groove across a board) to half an inch, too small for many projects.

Wood Magazine: A former shop teacher and woodworking magazine editor gives the SawStop Contractor Saw a perfect 5-star rating.

Popular Woodworking: This detailed review praises the SawStop Contractor Saw from start (easy setup, near-perfect fit and finish) to finish -- with kudos for "all but non-existent" vibration, quiet 81-decibel running and excellent dust collection.

Fine Woodworking: This long, detailed single-product review is accompanied by a video tour of the SawStop Contractor Saw.

Woodworkers Guild of America: In this well-illustrated review of the SawStop Contractor Saw (with T-glide fence and cast-iron wings), a woodworker who's accustomed to using a cabinet saw reports surprise at this contractor saw's low vibration and excellent cutting ability (testing it on hard maple and with bevel cuts on "burn-prone" cherry).

About.com: The SawStop Contractor Saw earns a perfect 5-star rating, based on tests.

Tools of the Trade: The SawStop Contractor Saw wins an Editors' Choice award, with high praise for its flesh-sensing blade brake and true riving knife.

Woodworker's Journal: Comparison tests of eight contractor saws give top ranking to the SawStop (based on a preproduction model), not because of its blade brake, but because of its overall quality and superior riving knife and blade guard.

Consumer Product Safety Commission: This report by an engineering psychologist concludes that the SawStop blade brake adds significant protection to users -- superior even to the most user-friendly blade-guard systems that include riving knives, as on Bosch portable table saws.

Toologics.com: This review of the SawStop Contractor Saw compares it with the SawStop Cabinet Saw, based on hands-on use of both.

ConsumerReports.org: The SawStop blade brake is tested here to see if it really works -- testing it on hot dogs and chicken thighs to be sure it stops the blade, but also testing it on soft damp wood to check for false positives.

The Journal of Light Construction: This forum discussion is interesting because professional contractors here agree that the extra price of the SawStop safety feature is worth paying.

Amazon.com: At the time of our report, only two owners review the 30-inch SawStop Contractor Saw, with another owner covering the 36-inch SawStop.

SawmillCreek.org: This discussion covers solutions to a minor annoyance some owners of the SawStop Contractor Saw experience (a screw jamming with sawdust).

YouTube.com: This 9.5-minute video covers all three versions of the SawStop Contractor Saw, explaining their differences as well as the features they have in common.

Wood Magazine: The SawStop Professional shares the top spot with the Delta Unisaw in this roundup review of eight cabinet saws that have riving knives.

Popular Woodworking: This detailed review compares the new SawStop Professional Cabinet Saw (PCS) with the more expensive SawStop Industrial Cabinet Saw (ICS).

Taunton's 2011 Tool Guide: The blade guard system on the SawStop 31230 (used on both the Pro and Industrial models), gets a thorough comparison with the systems used on seven other cabinet saws that also come with riving knives.

Woodcraft Magazine: This detailed review compares the SawStop Professional with the newly redesigned Delta Unisaw.

Wood Magazine: In this recent review, editors name the SawStop Professional Cabinet Saw one of the best new tools.

American Woodworker: This review of the SawStop Professional Cabinet Saw (PCS) highlights its advantages -- including improvements over the earlier, more expensive SawStop Industrial Cabinet Saw.

Consumer Product Safety Commission: An engineering psychologist for the CPSC compares the safety provided by a good blade guard with riving knife -- using the Bosch portable saws as the example -- and that provided by the SawStop system.

Popular Woodworking: This video review shows the effectiveness of the new dust collection system on the SawStop Professional Cabinet Saw.

FestoolOwnersGroup.com: This detailed single-product review is valuable because it covers the lighter-duty 1.75-horsepower version of the SawStop Professional Cabinet Saw.

Woodcraft Magazine: This article by a hand surgeon who's also a woodworker notes that most table saw injuries happen to experienced users.

ConsumerReports.org: In this brief video review, editor Peter Sawchuck tests the SawStop blade brake, concluding that it does indeed work to protect the saw's user from serious injury.

YouTube.com: This video interview at the 2010 International Woodworking Fair covers the 1.75-horsepower budget version of the SawStop Pro cabinet saw that runs on an ordinary 110 circuit.