Table saws make life in the workshop a lot easier, from giving a good working surface to taking the strain out of cutting large quantities of lumber at a time. Many professionals will assemble their worksite around their table saws, but what about once the job is done?
Although many of the best saws are heavy cabinet models, for traveling to a job or working over larger areas a more mobile solution is needed. Top manufacturers have produced a range of lightweight saws that can be readily moved from one project to the next, often without compromising on power or durability.
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Our Best Portable Table Saw Reviews and Comparisons
PRODUCT | FEATURES | |
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TOP PICK | 1. Dewalt DWE7491RS
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RUNNER UP | 2. SawStop CNS175-TGP36
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3. Bosch 4100-09
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4. Skil 3410-02
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5. Rockwell RK72415
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1. Dewalt DWE7491RS
Product Highlights
All the classic hallmarks of the commitment to performance over appearance that made DeWalt a byword in construction circles.
Features
- Fifteen amp motor capable of up to forty-eight hundred rotations per minute
- Thirty-two-inch rip capacity
- Vacuum dust chamber keeps dust out of the engine
- Rugged eight-inch wheels and resilient body
The Good
DeWalt comes through once again with its dual goals of cutting power and resilient components for an impressive mobile saw.
The Bad
This model is both heavier and more costly than similar tools.
Pros
- Acceptable dust collection
- Ample rip capacity
- Extreme precision for a table saw
- High rotation count allows for cutting even the hardest woods
Cons
- Heavier than others, at one hundred ten pounds
- On the expensive side for a portable saw, nearly six hundred dollars
2. SawStop CNS175-TGP36
Product Highlights
SawStop focuses as always on their safety features, building the saw around an electric braking system that will entirely halt the blade in milliseconds if it touches the user.
Features
- Expandable to fifty-two-inch rip capacity
- One and three-quarters horsepower engine cuts with cabinet saw power
- Under-table dust collection port
- Steel cart, wheels, and casters make the saw able to be repositioned over rough sites
The Good
Both power and safety are on display in this saw, able to hold particularly wide pieces of lumber and featuring the incomparable SawStop braking system to protect the user.
The Bad
This saw strains the definition of ‘portable’ at above two hundred pounds, and is exceptionally costly to boot. Additionally, a SawStop brake will save the user but can easily destroy both the brake cartridge and the blade.
Pros
- Performance on par with cabinet saws
- High rip capacity
- SawStop safety features give unparalleled peace of mind
- Good dust collection
Cons
- Extremely heavy
- Cost is well above similar tools
3. Bosch 4100-09
Product Highlights
With its integrated aluminum cart and deep-tread wheels, this saw is a solid contender for those needing to move their tools from place to place in a hurry.
Features
- Fifteen-amp motor and four-horsepower engine delivering over thirty-six thousand rotations per minute
- Soft-start wiring minimizes short circuits during startup
- Cast aluminum working surface with plenty of space
- Transparent blade guard prevents accidents while allowing a view of the cut
The Good
Easy to move and weighing just sixty pounds, this is a genuinely portable saw that can be taken from one job site to the next with ease.
The Bad
The aluminum construction and stand amplify noise and vibration and spread it throughout the saw.
Pros
- Extreme portability
- Built-in wheeled stand
- Twenty-five-inch rip
- Transparent blade guard can be used while operating the saw
Cons
- Heavier vibrations and more noisy
- Aluminum stand can buckle
4. Skil 3410-02
Product Highlights
Cheap and functional, this portable saw will make your project without breaking your budget.
Features
- Accurate measurements with self-aligning rip fence
- Fifteen-amp motor running up to five thousand rotations per minute
- Extremely affordable at just above two hundred dollars
- Steel stand is easy both setting up and taking down.
The Good
This saw may well be the best option for the price, beating out many similar tools by a wide margin.
The Bad
Many extra features that are common in other saws are lacking here.
Pros
- Best saw for the money
- Self-aligning fence
- Durable steel stand
- Extremely accurate cuts
Cons
- Alignment will need to be adjusted before use
- Few extra features
5. Rockwell RK7241S
Product Highlights
An advanced saw with many extra features and a foldable fence that allows for particularly large pieces of lumber.
Features
- Fifteen-amp motor running up to forty-eight hundred rotations per minute
- Laser indicator helps keep cutting true
- Stand and wheels collapse for use or deploy quickly for transportation
- Deep cutting at nearly ten centimeters
The Good
This saw adds far greater rip and cutting depth to your job site, as well as Rockwell’s exclusive laser cutter for added precision.
The Bad
The folding table can be unstable when extended.
Pros
- Largest rip in class
- Easy to transport
- Laser-guided
- Collapsible fence for larger pieces of lumber
Cons
- Fence is unstable when fully extended
- Many parts are plastic and less durable than metal
Conclusion
As many of these models are intentionally designed to be small and easy to move, they include as a pleasant side effect a lower price tag that can mean the difference between a project coming in over or under budget. As mentioned, these models can be relied upon to compete with cabinet saws in terms of cutting ability, and many professionals will forgo the more expensive cabinet models entirely.
Of particular note when using these tools is the need for stability; as they will be moved over the rough or broken ground at job sites, they will not have the benefit of being anchored to a shop floor. Users should always make certain they properly brace before activating their saw.
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