It’s that time of year again – seasonal table saw sale time!
The Dewalt DW745, Dewalt’s older but updated portable table saw, is on sale again, this time for $279, which is lower than I spotted it for last year.
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This is a very good saw. Lightweight, accurate, plenty powerful, and it has an excellent fence system.
Price: $280
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Ridgid’s R4516 is also a well-regarded choice. It’s on sale for $249 at the moment, but might be further discounted later in the season.
This one has an extending handle and built-in wheels, for easier transporting without needing a separate rolling base.
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Price: $249
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Bosch’s GTS1031 is a long-time favorite of mine, due to its compact size and the ability to store it vertically. I don’t like its fence system as much as I do Dewalt’s, but it’s still a very good portable table saw.
Its current price is as close to its 2013 low as I’ve seen. It’s typically around $349.
Price: $322
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Ridgid’s R4513 portable table saw with folding roller stand is on sale for $399. This seems to be its typical pre-holiday season price. It dropped to $299 last year on Black Friday.
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SS
I don’t suppose any of these could handle a 3/4″ dado…?
Adam
We have the previous generation to the Ridgid on wheels at the bottom (very similar). Not that I can guarantee it will work in this model, but my brother just used a dado set on it last week, and worked fine.
Joe
I’d be curious if the new Skill could run a 3/4” dado.
Diplomatic Immunity
It seems to be able to do 1/2 inch dado max.
Diplomatic Immunity
The new Hitachi Table Saw C10RJ Max Width of Dado: 8 x 13/16-inch. Also a rack and pinion fence. Seems like all the new $500 table saws are going with copying Dewalt’s good rack and pinion fence design.
Ktash
I have the D Walt 745. It won’t handle a dado. My biggest regret about it. But I’d still get it again. Because I love the fence.
Art
For those wondering, the 7491RS can take a dado.
jtr165
The 745 and 7480R saws can fit a freud box joint cutter, which stacks up to 3/8″ iirc. Obviously not a 3/4″ dado, but better than just a single kerf.
Both saws fit the dado throat plate available for the bigger table’d 7491…but again, can’t confirm for sure. This is all from various videos talking about it. Dewalt updated the 745 at one point a couple of years ago, and not sure if that changed the arbor bolt for better or worse (the bolt length was the primary problem)…and not sure if the video was dealing with a pre-updated model.
Raoul
Why doesn’t a dado fit? The arbor too short? I’ve used several saws over the past 30 years and the thought that a dado might not fit never occurred to me. Did I just get lucky? I’ve used the wobble type dados and the stacked and I believe the stacked dados haveca higher than 3/4″ capacity. Sometimes I made my own kerf plate but other than that they all fit.
Diplomatic Immunity
Skilsaw came out with a new heavier duty worm drive table saw recently called the Skilsaw SPT99-12. Apparently it’s got a rack and pinion fence and can use 1/2 inch dado blades.
https://www.toolbarn.com/skilsaw-spt9912.html/
red92s
The smaller worm-drive skill (SPT70WT) can run a 1/2″ dado as well. I had not seen this model. Had it been available at the time I bought the more compact version, I probably would have spent the extra money on it for the rack/pinion fence. It looks like its the same saw apart from the stand and fence.
Albert
I’m going to keep an eye out for the smaller Skilsaw worm drive table saw. It is currently on sale for $350 at Menards (which is too much in my opinion) but maybe another vendor will discount it over the holidays.
https://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/power-tools-accessories/power-saws-accessories/skilsaw-reg-10-portable-worm-drive-table-saw/p-1483514456435-c-9082.htm?tid=589301925241157958&ipos=1
Diplomatic Immunity
Check the price at Zoro. I know they carry it but it might have different listings which I believe are based on what kind of blade is sold with it. Usually Zoro’s prices are overpriced but that’s because they will run a 25%-30% coupon code. Something like 30% off their higher than normal price might make it a good buy on Black Friday.
red92s
Near the end of last year Acme Tools was running a promotion on the small Skill worm-drive that included free shipping and a free stand, on top of a sale price. So you could get the whole package for under $300 shipped.
Julian Tracy
The Bosch compact saw is VERY heavy compared to the compact Dewalt saws. The Dewalt saw can be stored vertically as well.
I own the larger Bosch jobsite saw on the gravity stand with all of the outfeed supports – its very capable: can rip a 4×8 sheet by myself with an offboard roller stand.
When I was looking for a smaller version, naturally I looked towards the Bosch model, but there are a ton of negative reviews online about so-so cut quality probably related to the motor arbor and runout I’d think. That plus the excess weight it carries led me to get the Dewalt and I’ve been very impressed with this little saw.
So nice to be able to just carry it to the truck and slip it in along side all the other tool cases as opposed to having to use up a full half of the truck bed for the large Bosch saw and stand.
Julian Tracy
As for the worm-drive Skil – I can’t think of a time I’ve really stressed my Bosch or Dewalt other than using the incorrect blade (40tooth finish for ripping 2x) or using a dull blade.
I’m not sure I need the torque the Skil brings unless I was doing a LOT of ripping of 2x lumber and PT lumber.
RF
I’m looking at the Skilsaw for the extra cutting capacity. Cutting a 4×4 (3 1/2) without flipping it over makes every other jobsite saw dead to me.
Julian
I’m curious – why cut 4×4’s with a Tablesaw? Most 4×4 usage is inherently rough carpentry as opposed to fine carpentry, so why not a 10” circular saw held against a triangle square?
RF
You’re right, it isn’t for framing. But I have limited space and don’t have room for 3 circular saws.
For some projects 4×4 cedar posts and some other species are cheaper than 2 2x4s.
For other projects, it’s easier to get 4x4s and make your own quarter sawn, than to hunt down and pay for quarter sawn when you want something really stable.
CS
Does anyone have a recommendation on a stationary saw? Hoping to get one a little more rigid/stable than a portable version.
Stuart
Ridgid has one for ~$600.
There aren’t many solid options under $1000.
Bolt
The easy answer is something used off Craigslist. If you’re in a somewhat decent area and are willing to wait you can get a cabinet saw for what you’d pay for a new hybrid saw. Or a good contractor saw for 150~300 bucks depending on what extras it’s packing.
For new saws the Delta at lowes is generally viewed as superior to the rigid. And then the next step up is probably the grizzly hybrid.
Jimie
Any pre-holiday deals on less-portable tablesaws? Not really looking for a cabinet saw (I do well to push my bandsaw and jointer around the garage) but a hybrid saw with decent dust-collection would make for a nice pre-holidy gift to myself.
Stuart
Not really – that I am aware of at least.
There are usually some discounts on Jet and Laguna saws during the holiday season, and there might be SawStop deals as well.