Looking for 10" portable table saw options

[rayra]

In the market for a new and portable 10" table saw. Don't need a stand or framework. It will likely be mounted to the end of my large rolling table a la Ron Paulks workstation designs. Would like at least a 24.5" rip capacity. Have a few other 10" saws and a lot of decent blades in that size, so would like to stay in that range.

I do a lot of rough carpentry and some furniture building, so I need something with enough precision to be useful for the latter.

price cap around $400. Hoping to find something decent in current or upcoming seasonal sales.

I have decent tools, generally and do not ascribe to the 'buy once, cry once' mindset. can't afford it, too many demands on my wallet.

 

[tarbellb]

Industry standard for portable job site 10" table saw= Dewalt DW745 (extremely hard to find now)

WHY?.... like any ts the fence is basically the most important feature, find something w/ rack and pinon

I believe there was a thread here that mentioned some off brand like Porter Cable or Delta? making a jobsite saw
with racknpinon fence.

Otherwise over your budget but also very nice is the Sawstop version

 

[36truck]

I had a Porter cable saw. It worked fine just lightweight & loud. Sold it & bought an older Delta much better saw. Cast iron & belt drive is so much better.
Direct drive saws are nosier and less power. Most are very light weight with the aluminum top.

 

[billconner]

I love my DeWalt 745. Got it 10 or so years ago. Never a problem in any of it. I appreciate it's well over your budget. They used to sell it without stand (iirc) but couldn't find it.

 

[mike93lx]

I like my Dewalt 7491rs a lot. The fence is half decent, it has good power and the stand is good, although that last one isn't what you are looking for.

That said, I'd much rather have it on a wheeled stand and not have to lift it all the time

 

[67carl]

Industry standard for portable job site 10" table saw= Dewalt DW745 (extremely hard to find now)

WHY?.... like any ts the fence is basically the most important feature, find something w/ rack and pinon

I believe there was a thread here that mentioned some off brand like Porter Cable or Delta? making a jobsite saw
with racknpinon fence.

Otherwise over your budget but also very nice is the Sawstop version

I looked and looked for a 745 but didn't have any luck. Ended up buying the 7485 (8 1/4) as I needed a good portable saw. It fit my immediate needs at the time, but not now. That small blade really limits it. I keep checking Craigslist for the 745...

 

[WWheeler]

I answered 2 different ads for DW745s on Facebook Marketplace but after seeing them in person I passed on both for the beat-up condition they were in and prices they were asking. People seem to love them saws and won't part with them except for almost what they paid for them in the first place even when they have obviously been run hard for years.

I'm saving my nickels now for a new DW749. I'm only in the market for a Dewalt, not even considering other brands, and I need one with a roller stand anyway and finding a good condition one for price low enough to make me not regret buying new instead just aint happening, at least not around here. I wish you better luck finding one wherever you are at.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The Milwaukee M18 table saw is nice for it portability, but it has a smaller blade and I don't think the fence can go that far.

 

[kbeefy]

The HF Hercules saw is a pretty close clone to the dewalt 745.
On sale today for $285. Kinda loud, but mine has been working OK.
I really like the R&P fence, but I'm an amateur.
It won't take much of a Dado stack, thats the biggest shortcoming aside from being chinesium.

 

[tarbellb]

At least HF knows who to copy...

Not sure why Dewalt has stopped production on the 745, I bought mine in late 2019 for $250 shipped.

Its loud as hell, wear ear protection with it everytime, but its a good saw. I bet that HF model is worth every dollar.

 

[u2slow]

Mine is a $200 mastercraft 10" from canadian tire. Been good enough for around the house with DIY renos for the last 11 years.

I've since scored 3 different freebie stand-type table saws with minor issues. If you're handy, keep an eye out. Some might be an easy fix.

 

[67carl]

At least HF knows who to copy...

Not sure why Dewalt has stopped production on the 745, I bought mine in late 2019 for $250 shipped.

Its loud as hell, wear ear protection with it everytime, but its a good saw. I bet that HF model is worth every dollar.

From what I've read it was a change in regulations and it impacted all brands that had the larger blade on a smaller table. One of several explanations I found;

"...basically has to do with updated safety guidelines. the change was made to comply with recent IEC regulations requiring increased table-to-blade size ratios. ...a table saw needs to have a larger work surface in order to be engineered with a 10″ saw blade, or it won’t pass safety approval. If a saw doesn’t meet the safety requirements it cannot be used on jobsites that follow OSHA guidelines."

Edit to add - found a DeWalt 744 10" saw for sale about 30 min away, $200. Thinking about it, but I don't know the diff between the 744 and the 745.

 

[tarbellb]

Looks like Skil has a rack+pinion table saw

If it was me, with inventories the way they are, id buy a HF, Skil, or Dewalt based on availability and price.


Seems the design or intellectual property (patent) has expired and anyone can replicate the design

 

[jives]

I don't understand the popularity of a portable table saw. I have a Delta Shopmaster (free) and a 1990s Craftsman 3 hp contractor's saw. No comparison in ease of use, especially for larger stock. In my shop the CM does take up more space, but only because of the larger table and fence rails. Shopmaster stand footprint is about the same as the CM. I don't understand why purchase a portable and then build a table system around it. Why not start with a saw with a heavy cast iron table and wings? Those DeWalt portables are not cheap, and around my area a nice used CM contractor saw can be had for less than $300-400.

I understand that portability can be important, and the battery powered saws can be a real job saver. If I was a contractor with specific sawing needs and high portability needs, then I would consider one. But consider that contractor saws were made to be portable to a jobsite, at least in my experience. When I was a kid working for my dad's contracting business, the Unisaws were in the shop and the contractor saws were taken to jobsites. I ferried contractor's saws all day long. Very easy to flip upside down on a tailgate and slide into a pickup. Carrying was a two person job, but that was not a problem.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Ridgid makes a nice portable 10” used to go on sale for 300$ at hd, good reliable saw. I also have a dw 745 great saw but i have found myself using my dw cordless saw. It’s a 7 1/4” but can’t be beat for trim work and portability. Had a bosch 4100 gave it to my son, that is one work horse of a saw also. I would choose between dw, bosch and ridgid, all good job site saws.

 

[mike93lx]

I don't understand the popularity of a portable table saw.

I don't have the space right now for a stationary saw. Pretty simple justification.

I like being able to take my saw to a project. Or even just out onto the driveway.

 

[Trapps]

Funnily enough, I watched this video this morning:

It's a couple of years old, but still relevant if you're shopping.

I'm searching for the same reason - inclusion into a rolling MFT.

 

[ItsNemo]

Industry standard for portable job site 10" table saw= Dewalt DW745 (extremely hard to find now)

WHY?.... like any ts the fence is basically the most important feature, find something w/ rack and pinon

I believe there was a thread here that mentioned some off brand like Porter Cable or Delta? making a jobsite saw
with racknpinon fence.

Otherwise over your budget but also very nice is the Sawstop version

Yup, I've got the DW745 and it's awesome:

 

[ItsNemo]

I don't understand the popularity of a portable table saw. I have a Delta Shopmaster (free) and a 1990s Craftsman 3 hp contractor's saw. No comparison in ease of use, especially for larger stock. In my shop the CM does take up more space, but only because of the larger table and fence rails. Shopmaster stand footprint is about the same as the CM. I don't understand why purchase a portable and then build a table system around it. Why not start with a saw with a heavy cast iron table and wings? Those DeWalt portables are not cheap, and around my area a nice used CM contractor saw can be had for less than $300-400.

I understand that portability can be important, and the battery powered saws can be a real job saver. If I was a contractor with specific sawing needs and high portability needs, then I would consider one. But consider that contractor saws were made to be portable to a jobsite, at least in my experience. When I was a kid working for my dad's contracting business, the Unisaws were in the shop and the contractor saws were taken to jobsites. I ferried contractor's saws all day long. Very easy to flip upside down on a tailgate and slide into a pickup. Carrying was a two person job, but that was not a problem.

I have no space for anything bigger. Larger sheet goods I'll use a regular circular saw to get to size, but for anything under 24x48" or so running through the portable table saw is faster. It also lets me bring it to wherever the work is and for things like trim or flooring, it's super handy.