Finding the best table saw for beginners to own will truly level up your woodworking game. But with all the choices out there, it is very difficult to know which one suits your particular needs. It’s actually a lot easier than you realize to know what table saw you should have in your shop. Now let’s see which table saw is best for you.
This article will show you some of the top choices in table saws for beginners. We will take a look at some of the key features to look for in your choice. And later in the article we will answer some questions you might be asking about table saws.
If you would like more information about woodworking tools for beginners in general, check out This Article. And now lets dive into finding out more about the best table saws for beginners.
Best Table Saw For Beginners
If you don’t want to read this entire article, then let’s cut to the chase. My top pick for the best table saw for beginners is the DeWALT DWE7491RS. This saw has plenty of power with 4800 RPM. You get a built-in mobile stand for easy transportation and setup. It’s a 10 inch table saw that comes with one 24 tooth blade. And having an expandable fence for wider rip cuts you can pretty much use it for anything.
DEWALT DWE7491RS
"My Top Pick For The Best Table Saw For Beginners"
How Do I Choose a Table Saw?
There are several things for you to consider when choosing a table saw. One of the most important is to think of how much space you have to work with it in. Don’t forget that when you make a cut with a table saw you need to realize you need enough room to feed the material through it.
Consider ripping an 8 ft piece of plywood. Before making your cut, the entire length of the piece is extending past one side of the blade. And after you feed it through the length of the piece will be extending past the other side of the blade. This means for an 8 ft piece of plywood to be cut you actually need 16 ft of space to safely make the cut.
You also want to think about whether you will be running the saw on a workbench or if it will be free standing. Many saws nowadays come with legs that allow it to be a free standing unit. And some saws are designed to be used on a workbench. Many of the more notable saw makers offer a detachable and possibly mobile base to add on.
These are just a couple of the questions to consider when choosing the best table saw for beginners. Below are a few more questions to think about before making your purchase.
What Features Should I Look For in a Table Saw?
One of the first things to consider is the size of the blade your saw will allow. The size of the blade will determine the maximum thickness of the material your saw will cut. For instance an 8 inch blade will be able to cut close to 3 inch thick material, but a 10 inch blade will be able to cut 4 inch material.
Another important feature to consider is how far the rip fence will extend from the blade. The fence is what you run the material along while making the cut. The further it is from the blade, the wider a piece you can cut. Some models come with an extension arm for the fence. This is only important if you will be cutting bigger pieces like when making furniture.
The new table saws all have the safety features you would be looking for. A riving knife is important to keep the material from pinching the blade when making a cut. Anti kickback pawls ensure the material is fed in and does not kick back in the direction you are standing.
How Much Should I Spend on a Table Saw?
The table saw is not one of the cheaper woodworking tools. Prices can range from a few hundred dollars on the low end to several thousand dollars for a professional grade cabinet table saw.
As a beginner you don’t want to be spending a huge amount of money on your first table saw. You can get some decent quality saws in the $500 price range. You can expect to spend over this amount on a good quality table saw. If you know woodworking is something you really enjoy, consider making this investment. It’s going to be worth it in the long run.
What Is a Good Size Table Saw?
The size of a table saw can mean two things. The first is how thick of material you can cut. This is decided by the size of the blade you will be using. The second is the length the rip fence can extend. This will allow for wider pieces to be cut.
Both of these questions can be answered when you think about what you want to be making. If you are working with plywood, and other materials under 3 inches thick you can get away with an 8-¼” blade.
But if you think you will be making furniture and cabinets you want to consider an option with a rip fence that extends out further. This will make it easier when cutting down wider sheets like plywood you might be using.
What Can a Table Saw Do?
A table saw is the perfect tool to make long, straight cuts in flat materials. Even though this is possible to do with other tools like a circular saw, a straight edge and clamps, the table saw makes quick work of something. This is ideal when you know you will be making many cuts like this.
Top 10 Best Table Saws For Beginners
Now that we know what to look for when picking the best table saw for beginners, let’s look at the top 10 best table saws out there:
The RYOBI RTS12 table saw is a great option for beginners. It comes with a built in foldable base that allows for easy setup and storage. With a 5000 RPM motor it has plenty of power to cut through some of the densest/thickest materials. Plus with such an attractive price point, who could ask for anything else?
If you are looking for an entry level table saw with plenty of power, look no further. The SKIL SPT99-11 is a tool that will have no trouble cutting through most any materials. Complete with a rip fence that extends to over 30 inches, this saw holds nothing back. And with a built in mobile stand feel free to take your saw to your projects.
The RIDGID R4520 has a stationary base that’s perfect for a larger woodshop. But if you don’t want to keep it in the same place all the time you can simply roll it with the built in wheels. The fence is great for wider rip cuts. With a 10 inch blade capacity and a 3.25 hp motor, you won’t have any problem with this saw not having enough power for your projects.
Table Saw #4: BOSCH 4100XC-10
Running a 4.0 hp motor, the BOSCH 4100XC-10 is a very powerful saw. You will have no trouble ripping rough or fine materials. But don’t worry about tripping a circuit with all this power because this guy has soft-start circuitry. This means it will gradually power up the motor so your circuit board has a chance to catch up. It also comes with all the bells and whistles of other table saws, like a mobile base for easy portability.
There are plenty of reasons why the SKIL TS6307-00 made the list. The first of which is its double 47 degree bevel ability. That means you can rip materials at greater than 45 degree angles. With its folding legs you can easily set it up, and store it away when needed. This is perfect for a tight shop space. Plus you are going to love its attractive price point.
The SKIL SAW SPT99T-01 is a very powerful table saw option. This worm drive motor runs an 8-¼ inch blade. The compact design makes it a great bench top saw, that’s easy to store when not in use. It comes with one 24 tooth blade.
If you are looking for a more compact table saw option, the DeWalt DWE7485 is perfect for you. This “jobsite” model is perfect for the weekend warrior who has the option to store it away when not in use. The 5800 RPM motor is plenty of power even for the biggest of cuts. And with on-board storage you don’t need to worry that you misplaced any of the accessories it comes with.
The Delta 36-725T2 is a table saw that can hang with the big boys. This “contractor grade” saw is designed to make many accurate cuts, day after day. The extension wings are perfect to give you wide rip cuts when needed, and the stable base is great for cutting larger materials. It also has built in wheels for when you need to move it out of your way.
One of the best choices in table saws for beginners would have to be the DeWalt DWE7491RS, and for good reasons. As you may know, DeWalt is an innovator in the woodworking tools industry. This table saw is no exception as it has a built in mobile base, extendable arm to allow for rip cuts up to 32-½ inches wide, and a wide dado capacity. It’s perfect for small and large woodshops alike.
I’ve always said that you can only be as good as your equipment allows you to be. The SawStop CNS175-TGP236 is going to let you become a woodworking master. This high end table saw comes with the SawStop patented safety system that shuts down and retracts the spinning blade the moment you come in contact with it. It has a huge amount of add ons that will let you configure your table saw to exactly your needs. Set up your shop right the first time!
Why Should I Buy a Table Saw?
The biggest downside of owning a table saw is you will be paying a good amount of money up front. If you are not in the position to afford this investment at the moment, you may want to consider using a circular saw and straightedge to make rip cuts and larger cross cuts.
I consider this tool as a good investment when you can make it. That’s because you will be able to do more with it that other tools won’t let you. You will be able to resaw your materials, make a miter cut on strips, as well as various other tasks only this tool can do.
The table saw can potentially replace other tools that you won’t need to use as often. You would need a quiver of other tools to accomplish all the things this one can do. It can also reduce the amount of time you spend on your projects in the long run.
Best Table Saw For Home Use
The best table saw for home use would be the DeWalt DWE7491RS. This is because you are not going to need it for a whole lot of projects, but when you do it needs to be able to perform well.
This saw has a built-in mobile stand making it easy to move to where you need to use it. The extendable fence is a handy feature that will get used plenty. And when it’s not in use the saw folds up and is able to store away easily.
Best Table Saw For Woodworking
The SawStop CNS175-TGP236 is by far the best table saw for woodworking. This is a beast of a saw that offers so many options. You will be able to fully customize it to whatever your needs are. That lends itself to say this saw is perfect for every aspect of the hobby.
The “biggest” downside is how big it is. Since it’s a cabinet saw you don’t have the luxury of being able to take it down and store it away when you are done with it.
Best Table Saw For A Small Shop
The best table saw for a small shop is the SKIL TS6307-00. This is a free standing saw with built in foldable legs. Space is of huge importance in a small shop. This means you will need the same space to for different purposes. When you are done with using your table saw you can quickly fold it down and stick it aside for future use.
Best Budget Table Saw
The best budget table saw is the RYOBI RTS12. It has the lowest price of all the table saws on the list, without compromising on any of the features you want. In fact this compact table saw has a 5000 RPM motor, allowing for use with more types of materials.
Best Portable Table Saw
If you are looking for the best portable table saw, then you’ve found the DeWALT DWE7485. This saw is small enough to easily move around, and runs an 8-¼ inch blade. It also includes all the safety features you can ask for, as well as a 24 tooth blade. And with a 5800 RPM motor, you will have all the power you need.
Conclusion
As you see, there is a table saw for every need, and every price range. The important thing to remember is oftentimes you will be able to get what you want from more than one option. Start by considering what you will be using it for, and how often you’ll be using it. Also you want to think about how much space you have to work in.
By making an educated decision about what the best table saw is for you, you will be purchasing a tool that will last you for many years to come. This purchase is a great investment for the avid woodworker, and will save you time and frustration in the long run.
Most importantly, have a fun time on the journey as you become a better and more experienced woodworker.
Happy Woodworking,
Kevin