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 Portable
Saw: Best Under $325
For the price,
Makita's
10-inch portable table saw is a solid choice for the job site.
The 15 amp motor packs plenty of power, and with a 3-9/16-inch
cut capacity, this saw will rip four-by material on a single pass.
This saw also has an electric brake, so adjustments between cuts
are both safer and quicker to make. The table's a good size, too:
27 by 22 inches. We also really like the saw's new cam-lock rip
fence (much easier to adjust than double-locking designs). The
bevel adjust has a pretty good rack-and-pinion design (metal,
admittedly, would be better). This saw also strikes a nice balance
between weight (only 40 pounds) and vibration (minimal). Simply
put: the Makita
2703 is a solid saw, better for the job site (it's quick,
powerful, and lightweight) than the home shop (the fence isn't
quite as accurate as the fences on more expensive alternatives).
 Portable
Saw: Best Under $500
Bosch's
10-inch Worksite table saw is the best of the current bunch.
Although at 60 pounds the Bosch is lighter than any other saw
in its high-end class, it's no lightweight. It sports a die-cast
undercarriage and a powerful 4.4-horsepower, 15 amp motor--burly
components that make it a serious, albeit slight, contender. Plus,
it's the only benchtop table saw with an arbor lock, so mounting
the blade is a one-wrench affair (less chance of busted knuckles).
The wrench--like all those that come with Bosch tools--is forged
rather than stamped, so there are no sharp edges that dig into
your hand during blade changes. A flip of the paddle-style on/off
switch initiates the soft-start electronics, which ramp the blade
up to speed quickly without a disturbing jolt. The electronic
feedback, popular on many saws today, keeps the blade turning
at a constant speed regardless of the load. The fence is the heart
of any table saw, and we found Bosch's to be a beauty: well machined,
secure, and accurate. The cam-lock handle is padded, seats flush,
and feels good to use. As with the comparable DeWalt saw, the
Bosch features an extendable fence that makes it easy to rip four-by-eight
panel material. The fence snaps into a holder on the side of the
saw and stays put, and the miter gauge slides into a slot on the
front of the tool--yet another small detail that we appreciate.
The bottom line? The Bosch
is a powerful saw that handles big stock without bogging down.
 Contractor's
Saw: Best Under $900
They say the
heart of any table saw is the fence, and this DeWalt
contractor's saw features a unique smooth-sliding, double-cam
action fence that locks down tight and always travels parallel
to the blade. The fence face shifts forward, too, giving you the
option of extra fence area in front of the blade if a cut requires
it. The fence can also drop flush to the table for ripping laminates.
In fact, this saw is riddled with great, user-friendly features.
There's an oversize on/off switch on the left side that lets you
turn the saw off with your knee if you run into trouble while
making a cut. It's exactly this sort of attention to detail that
wins many people over to DeWalt products. The blade-elevation
crank is also set lower on this saw than most, so there's plenty
of hand clearance for making blade-height adjustments. Again,
this might seem like a minor touch until you recall how frustrating
it is to bang your knuckles on a table bottom every time you try
to change the blade height. This table's sturdy, metal bevel scale
is a nice touch, too; it's easy to read and is much burlier than
the mere stickers found on many other saws. The saw's inboard
1-3/4-horsepower induction motor is quiet, cuts down on vibration,
and makes this saw considerably more space efficient than outboard
motor saws, a feature you'll appreciate if you work in a small
shop or have to take your saw through doorways. And at 254 pounds,
this saw's got plenty of heft. It also has a big cast-iron trunnion
and a sturdy steel base.
 Shop
Saw: Best Under $1,500
This edition
of Delta's
highly acclaimed Unisaw has a left-tilt blade, which we like.
Beveling with a left-tilt blade is both easier and safer because
material can't get pinched between the blade and fence (a recipe
for kickback). This Unisaw packs a 3-horsepower, single-phase
induction motor, so it's powerful, smooth, and quiet. Adding to
the saw's remarkably smooth operation are the burly, adjustable
cast-iron trunnions. The triple V-belt drive eliminates belt slippage
without minimizing the power from the motor. One of the main selling
points on this saw, however, is its 50-inch Biesemeyer fence.
The fence rides smooth, stays parallel, adjusts easily, and clamps
down securely (using a cam-lock lever) for complete accuracy.
There's also a hairline pointer and built-in tape measure. Hand
wheels make the blade height and angle easy to adjust--though,
we must admit, it would be nice to have a bit more knuckle clearance.
Also, the included blade is fine for cutting salvage lumber, but
to do the saw justice, most users will want to upgrade to a better
blade.
 Shop
Saw: Best Under $2,000
Powermatic's
Special Edition 66 was built with the home workshop in mind,
and it will make any tool hound's heart beat faster. The eye-catching,
high-grade cast-iron top is machine polished to a mirror finish.
The saw's table--impressively thick and durable--has both a cast-iron
wing extension and a laminated extension (total surface: 28 by
53-3/4 inches). With one of the heaviest cast-iron trunnions of
any 10-inch saw on the market, the model 66 virtually snuffs out
vibration. The double drive-belt system--hooked up to the burly
3-horsepower motor--delivers astonishing power. The saw's hand
wheels are also made of cast iron and have excellent clearance.
The heart of any table saw, in our opinion, is the fence--and
Powermatic's
Special Edition 66 sports the award-winning Accu-Fence, a
system that uses only two moving parts to create easy-gliding,
precision, no-budge fence action. The left-tilt blade tilts away
from the fence, which helps prevent kickback and binding of the
stock, making for smoother cuts. The two-sided blade guards work
independently of each other, so the blade is always covered. The
guards also swing totally out of the way to make changing the
blade easy. You'll also receive a load of extras, including a
dado insert, a motor cover, and an extension table and legs. Admittedly,
this isn't a cheap saw; it is without a doubt, however, an excellent
addition to any shop.
article
provided courtesy of Amazon.com
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