Table Saws Reviews

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Table Saws Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Table Saws Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. Popular Woodworking >> Details/Subscribe	REVIEWS Hybrid Saws Troy Sexton Nov. 2007		This detailed review compares six hybrid saws -- starting with their assembly, then running them through tests of power, vibration and accuracy. Each saw is also evaluated for ease of use, including blade guards, fences and dust collection. Each table saw has some significant drawback, but two hybrid saws share top ranking -- one as the easiest to use, the other more powerful but also more frustrating. Advantages and disadvantages are nicely summarized for all six saws. Coincidentally, an article on small workshops in the same issue shows a DeWalt benchtop saw stored hanging on a wall.
2. Taunton's 2008 Tool Guide >> Details/Subscribe	10-in. Cabinet Saws Roland Johnson and Taunton Press Editors Sept. 2007		In addition to summarizing the results of a June 2006 review in Fine Woodworking (below), this Tool Guide also reports on the results from a survey of over 9,000 readers of Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding magazines, which ranks the SawStop CB31230 cabinet saw above the Powermatic PM2000. Some important details are highlighted. For example, the SawStop blade guard is the easiest to remove and replace. The General International 650-T50 has fine construction, with the least arbor runout and no need to realign the miter slot with the blade. Three of these cabinet saws lack one basic safety feature, a switch that's easy to turn off with the knee or hip in an emergency. A separate brief review recommends the DeWalt DW745 jobsite table saw as a good gift for anyone with limited workshop space -- but only if a better blade is used.
3. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	Miter & Table Saws Editors of Consumer Reports June 2007		This review ranks ten portable table saws, picking one as the best buy. Based on objective tests, each table saw gets ratings for accuracy (of 90-degree, miter and bevel cuts), speed, ease of use (including blade changes), rip precision and edge finish (cutting crown molding). The portable table saw that rates highest for rip precision isn't the same model that scores highest for crosscut accuracy, and the only saw that gets the highest rating for both features loses points for edge finish on molding. In other words, none of these portable saws will perform with excellence on every task. One negative is that the portable table saws aren't rated for safety. This is unfortunate, since we know from other reviews that there are significant differences.
4. Popular Woodworking >> Details/Subscribe	What's New in Table Saws Editors of Popular Woodworking Jan. 2007		Part of Popular Woodworking magazine's "Essential Guide to Table Saws," an entire publication devoted to this type of equipment, this article on the current state of table saw technology is especially valuable for comparing the two top contenders among cabinet saws: SawStop CB31230 and Powermatic PM2000. Editors praise both for their riving knives, but tests favor the Powermatic table saw and highlight several drawbacks of the more expensive SawStop model. Looking at smaller saws, the review praises the titanium tops and cabinet-mounted trunnions on the new Steel City Tool Works saw, noting that it’s more like a small cabinet saw than a hybrid, making it a bit of a crossover product. This publication also reviews table saw accessories and includes an article on how to customize a table saw.
5. Taunton Tool Guide 2007 >> Details/Subscribe	Portable Table Saws, 10-inch Cabinet Saws Daniel Morrison and Roland Johnson Oct. 2006		Portable table saws and 10-inch cabinet saws get separate reviews in this buyer's guide that’s published by the editors of Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding. The reviews are reprints from earlier reviews in Fine Woodworking, plus ratings of specific table saws from the annual survey of readers of both magazines. Among portable table saws, users give top rating to the Bosch 4000-09, followed by the Ridgid TS2400LS and DeWalt DW744S. (The newer DW745 isn't on the list.) Among cabinet saws, users prefer the SawStop 31230 to the Powermatic PM2000 and Powermatic 66. In separate coverage of new tools, editors note that the new Hitachi C10LA mid-size cabinet table saw offers some unusual features, including outfeed support and a blade-tilt scale located on the tabletop to make it easier to read.
6. Tools of the Trade	Hybrid Table Saws Sean Martin Nov. 2006		This review compares eight hybrid table saws (with ten-inch blades) from assembly through test that rip stacks of lumber in a snowboard shop. Evaluations are detailed, covering assembly time, features, accessories, precision, power, dust collection and safety. The Grizzly G0478 hybrid saw is the clear winner, with lots of smooth power at a reasonable price. The Jet hybrid table performs very well and has the best blade guard, but it costs more. The DeWalt DW746X is the most portable, with easy blade-guard adjustments. The Hitachi and General hybrid saws rank at the bottom in this review, with the Craftsman, Delta and Steel City hybrid saws in the middle of the pack.
7. Workbench Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Table Saw Shootout! Bill Link June 2006		Based on in-depth testing and evaluation of parts, this review compares ten 3-hp, left-tilt cabinet table saws equipped with T-square-style fences. The review is notable for its clear explanations of important factors in performance, including the type of belt, shape of gear teeth and of course, the rip fence -- finding that some fences are now better than the Biesemeyer. The SawStop CB31230 and Powermatic PM2000 share the highest ratings, while the budget choice is the Grizzly G1023SL. The online review includes a video of the SawStop blade brake in action. In Feb. 2006, Workbench editors named The Powermatic PM2000 one of the top ten innovative tools for 2006, for its riving knife and integral retracting castors.
8. Fine Woodworking >> Details/Subscribe	Tool Test: 10-in. Cabinet Saws Roland Johnson June 2006		Reviews by Taunton Press publications, including Fine Woodworking, usually get our highest ratings for thorough testing and clear explanations. This table saw review, while excellent, doesn't match the Workbench review above, because the tests concentrate on fine measurements of arbor-flange runout, fence deflection and slot-blade parallelism -- factors that don't distinguish very well among the best table saws. The tests do report that the SawStop 31230 shows the least fence deflection under force, with the Laguna TS-10 miter slot in perfect adjustment to the blade. The actual picks correspond exactly with those of the Workbench review, however -- the Grizzly G1023SL is the budget choice, and SawStop CB31230 and Powermatic PM2000 share the editors' highest ratings. A later article in the May/June 2007 issue explains the difference between left-tilt and right-tilt table saws, advising that beveled ripcuts are safer on left-tilt saws, while measuring is easier on right-tilt saws.
9. Taunton's 2006 Tool Guide >> Details/Subscribe	Tool Test: Midsize Tablesaws Roland Johnson, Tim Snyder and John White Dec. 2005		With the needs of the "serious beginner" in mind, this review compares nine mid-sized table saws with 1.5- to 2-hp motors, including six contractor saws and three hybrid table saws. Tests of table flatness, arbor runout and blade-slot parallelism show that all nine saws have good fit and finish. Higher-horsepower motors do make a difference, but all the saws perform well. Top rating goes to the Craftsman OR35504 hybrid saw, and the editors note that two less expensive Craftsman saws are also available. This saw is too new to be included in the annual Taunton Press readers' survey, where users choose the General 50-185MI as the top mid-size saw. The editors' budget choice is the Ridgid TS3650, for its stiff cast-iron trunnions and poly-V belt.
10. Woodworker's Journal >> Details/Subscribe	Tool Review: Raising the Bar on Contractor's Saws Rob Johnstone Oct. 2005		Tests of eight contractor saws lead to the conclusion that all these saws are much better for woodworking than the contractor saws that were available a few years ago. Really, only small differences distinguish the best from the worst, and all perform well overall. The highest rating goes to the Ridgid TS3650, but it would go to the SawStop CB31230 if it had been in full production at the time of the review. The author praises the SawStop prototype model for its riving knife (lacking on the Ridgid saw) and truly usable blade guard. The review criticizes the Powermatic 64A for an especially annoying blade guard and finds the actual power of the Grizzly G0567 less than the manufacturer's rating of two horsepower.
11. Tools of the Trade	Tool Test: 3-HP Cabinet Saws Bill Thomas Nov. 2005		Six heavy-duty cabinet table saws are run through objective tests here. In addition to evaluating build and performance, this review covers assembly and adjustment, finding that it takes one or two hours to assemble a new saw. All six saws pass tests for table flatness, angle stops and blade-miter groove parallelism. The SawStop CB31230 and Laguna TS get top ratings for fit and finish, trunnions, smooth cutting, dust collection and safety -- they both have riving knives and excellent blade guards. Top choice is the Laguna, because it can be upgraded to an integrated sliding table. The editors' pick for best value is the Grizzly G1023L, though they say it needs a better fence. This review gives some praise to the Powermatic 66, but it doesn't test the Powermatic PM2000.
12. Fine Woodworking >> Details/Subscribe	Best Portable Tablesaws Daniel S. Morrison July 2005		Based on objective testing, this review compares seven 10-inch portable table saws that come with folding stands and extension tables for ripping sheet stock. Each table saw is rated for its fence, miter gauge, power, portability, ease of adjustment and accessories (including the blade guard). The Ryobi BTS20, the most portable of all these saws, is the budget choice, while the Bosch 4000-09 edges out the Ridgid TS2400-1 as the best portable table saw. The Ridgid has the best fence adjustment, but the Bosch has a safer switch and better blade guard.

Table Saws Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Table Saws Ratings Comments on Reviews

13. Popular Woodworking >> Details/Subscribe	Riving Knives -- Not Just for the Europeans Anymore Robert W. Lang July 20, 2007		New UL regulations will require new table saws to be equipped with riving knives and quick-change blade guards as of January 2008, but quite a few manufacturers are providing them now, before the regulations go into effect. Comparing the new systems, editors from Popular Woodworking prefer the Jet blade guard system for its ten-inch Jet Exacta cabinet saw, and the Bosch and DeWalt systems for portable (job-site) table saws. The blade guard components made by these three manufacturers are separate, so each can be removed when needed. Bosch and DeWalt make it easy to life the blade guard temporarily for making measurements. Powermatic and Grizzly already make table saws equipped with riving knives, while Steel City will include its new riving knife and blade guard on hybrid saws available early in 2008. The article notes that Delta, General and Shop Fox also show new table saws with riving knives, but no release dates are given. A later issue of this weblog previews the SawStop contractor saw.
14. Popular Woodworking >> Details/Subscribe	Best New Tools of 2006 Editors of Popular Woodworking Dec. 2006 and Feb. 2007		Editors at Popular Woodworking name the 12-inch Grizzly table saws among the best new tools of 2006, praising both the 5-hp Grizzly G0605X table saw that runs on 220-volt current and the three-phase 7.5-hp Grizzly G0606X. Editors say the Grizzly 12-inch table saws are affordable, especially since they come with a riving knife, a safety feature not found on many table saws in the United States. Outfeed and extension tables are also standard on both models, and a digital gauge indicates blade tilt. This article also previews the new Steel City cabinet saws based on inspections at a woodworking show, while the later February 2007 issue reviews the Steel City 35601 table saw based on actual testing.
15. Fine Woodworking >> Details/Subscribe	Hitachi's First Cabinet Saw is Strong, Precise Roland Johnson Jan. 2007		Although the title calls the Hitachi C10LA table saw a cabinet saw, it's actually a less powerful hybrid saw with a 1.5-hp, 15-amp motor. Still, tests show that this Hitachi table saw has enough power "to rip 4/4 hardwood with ease, and 8/4 just fine if you feed it slowly." The blade-angle gauge is on the tabletop, so it's easy to read. Though no comparison tests or numeric ratings are reported here, the review praises the Hitachi table saw for its "dead flat" cast-iron top and excellent dust control, as well as its fit and finish. They recommend it as a good upgrade from a benchtop or contractor saw.
16. Popular Woodworking >> Details/Subscribe	Powermatic PM2000 Saw Offers Features and Performance for Serious Woodworkers David Thiel Aug. 2006		Comparing the Powermatic PM2000 with the popular and more expensive Powermatic 66, the review finds the latter to be better for repetitive millwork, while the Powermatic PM2000 is suited to furniture makers who change setups often. The PM2000 cabinet saw has an integrated mobile base with hidden casters, and tests show that it's mobile even when the extension table is added. The review notes other improvements, including an optional riving knife, an arbor lock for one-wrench blade changing, improved dust collection and a good miter gauge. Of the available models, the review recommends the 3-hp single phase 220-volt saw with a 30-inch fence. Tests show that the 3-hp model can handle 3-inch oak well. The Powermatic PM2000 loses a few points for the mobile-base lift mechanism because it takes quite a few turns, and dust can get into the threads.
17. Woodworker's Journal >> Details/Subscribe	Benchtop Table Saws with Rolling Stands: How Do They Stack Up? Rob Johnstone Apr. 2005		This review compares five benchtop table saws that come with rolling stands. Tests include ripping standard lumber, adjusting for accuracy and making miter cuts both with the miter gauge and with the blade set at 45 degrees. Top rating goes to the Craftsman Pro 4.4 Jobsite portable saw for best overall performance. The Bosch 4000-09 comes in second, with the best riving knife and blade guard. In addition, its stand is easiest to use, though its 38-inch table height is too tall for many users, and it lacks table extensions. The Ryobi BTS20R’s maximum rip cut of 27 inches is best of all the saws tested, and it is recommended as a budget entry-level saw, though its fence goes out of alignment easily. The lowest rating goes to the Craftsman Jobsite 3, because its stand is judged to be too unstable. Both Craftsman saws have now been replaced by newer models with stands of completely different design that look similar to that of the Bosch.
18. Workbench Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Hybrid Table Saws Editors of Workbench Magazine Feb. 2005		Reviewers test four hybrid saws for precision. Power is tested by ripping two-inch thick walnut boards. Cutting precision is measured with a variety of cutting tasks. The Editor's Choice Award goes to the Craftsman OR35504, with the General 50-220MI as the budget pick, especially if a Biesemeyer-style fence is added (est. $100). Editors find that the Jet SuperSaw slightly underpowered and that the DeWalt's stamped-steel table wings and dust collection need improvement. In the same issue, the new Skil X-shop (est. $380) is rated as one of the top ten innovative tools for 2005.

Table Saws Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Table Saws Ratings Comments on Reviews

19. Fine Homebuilding >> Details/Subscribe	Small Tablesaw is Big on Features Kit Camp Mar. 2007		This review of the new DeWalt DW745 portable table saw reports tests done by a finish carpenter who used it in his own work. He praises the rack-and-pinion fence for its precision and ease of adjustment, and he finds the power and features to be excellent. The main drawbacks are its inability to accept a dado blade and the poor quality of the blade supplied.
20. Kevin Kelley Cool Tools	Sawstop Table Saw Ben Bishop June 22, 2006		This review of the SawStop cabinet saw goes beyond detailed coverage of the safety features (riving knife, well placed shut-off paddle switch, convenient blade guard and -- of course -- the unique sensor that stops the blade if it encounters flesh. Woodworker Ben Bishop also praises the SawStop's performance and ease of use. He finds cuts even with the stock blade to be "smoother than what I get from my surface planer," and he adds that all adjustments are easy to make and to repeat. Dust collection is also very good.
21. Workbench Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Portable Power: Metabo Jobsite Saw Editors of Workbench June 2006		This brief review of the Metabo TS250 portable table saw praises its 25.5 x 30-inch table as the largest model available. The 15-amp soft-start electronic motor is mounted on solid posts that dampen vibration. Tests at Workbench Magazine find this saw "extremely capable…mostly a pleasure to work with," but it loses points for a blade guard that's complicated to remove. This is important because users tend to leave blade guards off, when taking them on and off isn't quick and easy.
22. Benchmark	Table Saw Reviews Phil Bumbalough As of Nov. 2007		Professional woodworker Phil Bumbalough reviews table saws of various types and price ranges here. He uses the $7,000 European Hammer B3 cabinet saw as his reference point, though he judges its fences to be inferior and even unsafe. He likes the Ridgid TS3650 contractor saw as a budget choice, because of its mobile base and high-end features for the money, including cast-iron extensions, poly-V belt and machined pulleys. The right-tilt Ryobi BT3100 (now the Craftsman 21829 Professional) is another good budget choice. Bumbalough says its sliding table works fine as a substitute for a miter gauge. Dust collection on the Rojek PK300V is rated more highly than on most cabinet saws, but not as well as that of a DeWalt 746 hybrid saw.
23. Wood Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	The Best Tool I Ever Bought Bill Krier, Editor-in-Chief and other Editors and Contributors Oct. 2007		Wood Magazine's Editor-in-Chief names the Powermatic 66 cabinet saw as the best tool investment he ever made, because it added so much more accuracy and ease of use to his woodworking after he moved up to it from a contractor table saw.
24. AskToolTalk.com	Ridgid - TS2400LS portable table saw Leon A. Frechette Updated Mar. 2007		This review of the Ridgid portable table saw compares the older with the newer version, noting several improvements. Although the motor is no longer built by Emerson in the United States, but by TTI, it now has soft start and an overload reset, and all metal parts on the saw are grounded. The blade tilt scale and indicator are easier to see, as is the front rail measuring tape. The blade elevation is also easier to adjust. The author notes some minor drawbacks; the 2.5-inch dust port is ribbed inside so it clogs easily, and the rubber handle wears but can't be replaced. This table saw is very portable, however. The wheeled folding stand works well, and the saw has plenty of power and reasonable accuracy. He concludes that overall, especially given the lifetime guarantee, this Ridgid table saw is a good buy if you need its portability.
25. Just4Fun.org	Tool Reviews: SawStop Cabinet Saw Editor of Just4Fun.org 2005		An engineer and hobbyist woodworker reviews the 5-hp SawStop table saw in detail, based on his own experience with it. The review includes some comparisons with the 3-hp Delta 36-842 UniSaw, and it covers SawStop pros and cons well. Arbor runout is 0.000 inches -- tested twice -- and the author also praises the big 30x44-inch table that adds precision and weight (which in turn limits vibration). The author also praises SawStop customer support as outstanding. Drawbacks include lack of a mobile base and collecting dust at the blade -- which the author finds doesn't work as well as collecting it at the bottom.
26. The Woodshop	Grizzly 1023S Table Saw Review Jack Loganbill Undated		Woodworker Jack Loganbill compares the Grizzly 1023S cabinet saw with the Powermatic 66, based on his own testing and use. If you're considering the Grizzly table saw, this is an excellent review to read because it's so detailed and well illustrated, delineating all the pros and cons. Loganbill gives the Grizzly 1023S a rating of four stars (out of a possible five), concluding that although the Powermatic table saw is superior in casting, wiring, trunnions -- in every way, really -- it doesn't make any significant difference in the quality of the woodworking you can achieve with it. Hence, the Grizzly table saw is an excellent buy.
27. New Woodworker.com	Table Saw Reviews Tom Hintz As of Nov. 2007		Professional woodworker Tom Hintz provides separate in-depth reviews of table saws based on his own tests and use, with some comparison among them. Most reviews offer few criticisms, so it's hard to tell how objective they are. The Powermatic PM2000 is the highest rated full size cabinet saw, while the Bosch 4100DG-09 gets kudos as a worksite option. He also lauds the older Bosch 4000-09 for its direct-drive design that uses no belts, as well as excellent dust collection provided by the shroud enclosing the blade. No drawbacks are noted. Hintz also likes the right-bladed Jet JWTS-10JF contractor saw with a mobile base. The Delta 36-682 gets a good write-up, with the only drawback being its lack of dust collection. The Ryobi BT3100 is suggested as a budget choice, and the JET JPS-10TS ProShop hybrid saw is also covered.

Table Saws Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Table Saws Ratings Comments on Reviews

28. Wood Central	Table Saw reviews Contributors to Wood Central As of Nov. 2007		Wood Central includes a number of in-depth reviews of table saws by readers, but there's no overall scoring or rating system. Still, if you have your choice narrowed down, these reviews are thorough and insightful, often well illustrated with photos of details hard to find anywhere else. The SawStop and Grizzly 1023 get very positive reviews here, as does the Powermatic 66 (except for its blade guard and fence faces). Table saw fences and other accessories are also well covered at this site.
29. OnlineTips.org	Makita Table Saw Review Carlo Morelli Not Dated		This Canadian review covers three Makita table saw models, noting that the miter gauge on the Makita 2703 is its weak point, while the Makita 2704 (the one designed to rip 4X lumber in one pass) makes much more accurate cuts. Some testing is documented, but no comparisons are made with other brands.
30. Ridgid Power Tools Forum	Ridgid TS3650 Table Saw Review Contributors to the Ridgid Tool Forum Apr. 2007		This review of the Ridgid TS3650 reports various assembly problems and indicates that all attempts to keep the blade parallel with the miter track failed. Another contributor reports the same problem. It's not clear to either owner whether or not this is typical of this model, but clearly there are some quality problems in manufacture. (Over 50 reviews at HomeDepot.com give this model a perfect 5-star average rating, but do note that it can be hard to assemble.)

Table Saws Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Table Saws Ratings Comments on Reviews

31. Sears.com	Table Saws Contributors to Sears.com As of Nov. 2007		Sears now publishes owner-written reviews and ratings of table saws, but only a few models, mostly Craftsman brand, have gathered enough reviews here to make average ratings credible. Three relatively expensive table saws stand out with perfect or near-perfect ratings, while owners give a few Craftsman table saws below-average marks. One owner notes that the Craftsman 21829, made by Ryobi, is similar to the discontinued but well-reviewed Ryobi BT3100. Many Jet table saw models are sold here, but at the time of this report, only a single owner has reviewed one.
32. Lowes.com	Tables Saws Contributors to Lowes.com As of Nov. 2007		Lowes publishes owners' ratings of table saws (on a 5-point scale), plus more specific ratings for features, value, design, quality and ease of use -- but without any comments. As of our last visit, over 80 users give an average 4.5 rating to the Hitachi C10FL hybrid saw. The more expensive DeWalt DW746X hybrid table saw gets an average rating of 4.5, but from only six users. None of the benchtop table saws get very good ratings here. Users give the Hitachi C10FR an average rating of 4.1 (from 85 users), while the Firestorm, ShopMaster and Task Force saws get average ratings well below 4.
33. Amazon.com	Table Saw Reviews Contributors to Amazon.com As of Nov. 2007		Owners review table saws and accessories here, rating them on a 5-star scale. You can sort the listings by average rating, but you have to click on a model to see the number of reviews on which the rating is based. Quite a few table saws get high ratings here, but it's interesting to see that some of the best-selling table saws get somewhat lower ratings. The Hitachi C10RA3 gets mixed reviews, with complaints about nonstandard parts and poor customer service from Hitachi. Owners complain that aftermarket accessories don't fit on the Makita 2703 either.
34. HomeDepot.com	Table Saws Contributors to HomeDepot.com As of Nov. 2007		Most of the table saws get reviews and ratings from owners here, with the less expensive saws accumulating the most reviews. Three table saws stand out with perfect or near-perfect average ratings, but it also looks as if a Makita benchtop saw and two Jet table saws are worth watching, with perfect ratings from just a few owners. One Ryobi table saw gets much higher ratings than the other.
35. Epinions	Table Saws Contributors to Epinions As of Nov. 2007		It's convenient to browse table saw listings here, since both the average rating and the number of reviews are shown right on the list. Unfortunately, though, most table saws get reviews and ratings from only a few owners. By the time a table saw accumulates many reviews here, a more current model has usually replaced it. However, we did find a few exceptions to this.