If you’re a construction or a DIY enthusiast, you’ll find yourself in a lot of situations where you need proper tools to get the best results. Working with wood is one of the most obvious examples where tools make it or break it.
A table saw is a must-have tool for any woodworker. However, shopping for one might be overwhelming and difficult.
Today, I’ll provide you with all the needed information before buying the best table saw for a small shop. Let’s jump in.
Best Compact Table Saws
Here’s our carefully selected list of the top products you can find on the shelves.
DEWALT DWE7491RS Table Saw – Best Budget Option
Kicking off our list with one of the best table saws in the market. It might be a great option for those who want a great overall table saw that’s also budget-friendly.
Motor Power
The DEWALT table saw comes with a powerful 15 amp motor with an overall speed of 4,800 rounds per minute. This gives the saw plenty of power to cut through different types of wood with ease.
Rip Capacity
The DEWALT offers an astonishing ripping capacity of 32.5 inches to the right of the blade. This is one of the highest in this category on the market.
Rack and Pinion Fence
One of the unique things about the DEWALT’s design is the rack and pinion system. It can act as a support extension for wider materials that are larger than the tabletop.
Additionally, the face is highly adjustable and stays parallel to the blade all the time. The design of the fence has an innovative touch. It’s installed on rails at both ends of the saw. This eliminates any possibility of fence drifting while working.
The flipping fence allows you to work on large and wide materials while staying highly compact whenever the saw isn’t in use. Not only that, but it also allows you to cut a small piece without interference with the blade guard.
This is great because if it wasn’t there, you’d need to remove the guard to work on such pieces. You can also lock it into a lower position to hold the workpiece no matter how small it’s.
Roller Stand
Here’s a great feature, the DWE7491RS comes with an extremely efficient and user-friendly roller stand. It makes the whole unit highly portable, which is highly appreciated for a 90-pound product. This means you won’t have to worry about moving or setting the table saw up if you work alone.
The wheels on the table saw are large enough to move freely. Additionally, the handle is on a comfortable height, so you won’t need to bend over or hurt your back while moving the unit.
The folding process is extremely simple. You only need to get the saw to stand up on its end. All you have to do then is fold the 4 legs down by using the levers. This whole process takes less than a minute and you won’t need any tools to do it.
Additional Storage
The design also provides a highly convenient onboard storage. This makes all the stored accessories secure and easily accessible.
It also protects your items from getting lost while working. It’s designed so you can store the blade guard assembly, the fence, the miter gauge, the riving, and the anti-kickback knives inside.
Dust Collection
The unit comes with two 0.5-inch dust collection ports that you can connect easily to a vacuum. This great for a mess-free work station.
Pros
- Budget-friendly option
- Powerful motor
- Roller stand with rack and pinion fence
Cons
- The miter gauge is unstable
Bosch Worksite Table Saw 4100-09 – Best Portable Option
Bosch has done wonders in their 4100-09. They managed to pack several great features that make woodworking as efficient and enjoyable as it should be.
Motor Power
This table has a 10-inch cutting blade that’s attached to a powerful 4-Hp motor that delivers up to 15 amps. Additionally, you can control the intensity of the motor and use it at variable speeds.
This immense amount of power provides the large blade with a speed of 3,650 rounds per minute. This is sufficient to deliver clean and easy cuts to different kinds of wood.
Rip Capacity
Bosch offers a decent ripping capacity. The table saw comes with a table that measures 29 inches x 21.5 inches. This gives it the ability to hold stock as large as 25 inches wide.
Portability
Simplicity is one of the unit’s strong suits. You can easily set the table saw up anywhere you want. The product comes with a gravity-rise stand that folds the product automatically when you lift it.
Additionally, the product is supported with a lightweight aluminum frame and air-filled 8-inch wheels that make it easy to take it from job to job.
Precision and Safety
The product is equipped with a square-lock rip fence. This new technology increases the cutting precision and decreases waste.
Along with the T-slot miter gauge, they allow you to get accurate cuts even on small projects by locking it in place. The square-lock fence also helps you to do one-handed operations easily.
Moreover, the product comes with an anti-kickback pawl and a riving knife to protect you from any related work hazard.
Warranty
This product is designed for longevity. Bosche back up its products with a 1-year warranty. Additionally, they allow for a worry-free purchase thanks to their 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Lightweight and portable
- 1-year warranty with a 30-day money-back guarantee
- Excellent safety measures
Cons
- Doesn’t work well with huge pieces
- Produces a strong vibration while cutting
Hitachi C10RJ Jobsite Table Saw – Best Cutting Capacity
Hitachi is a reputable manufacturer that offers great products. That’s why the C10RJ table saw is expected to live up to the name of the brand.
Motor Power
This table saw features a high-torque 15-amp motor, which gives it enough power to generate up to 4,500 rounds per minute.
Cutting efficiency is best indicated by motor torque, which is common knowledge among professional woodworkers. The superb torque in the C10RJ’s motor is what makes it special. The motor allows it to cut through softwood like butter.
Rip Capacity
The extendable top on the table saw provide ample space for cutting. With its 35-inch rip capacity to the right of the saw, the C10RJ exceeds a lot of competitors in the same price range.
In addition to the width, the table saw has an impressive depth in cutting. All that thanks to its 10-inches carbide-tipped blade along with the rack and pinion system it has.
The bevel blade range also offers the ability to cut at different angles. This includes 0 degrees and 45 degrees.
Portability
With excellent ripping capacity and high torque, you’d be surprised to know how portable it is. The Hitachi is equipped with 4 foldable legs and sturdy 8-inch wheels to enable you to take it anywhere with ease.
You can also unfold the legs in less than a minute to get the unit ready. You can also adjust the height on the table saw through its legs.
Convenience and Safety
The unit is equipped with a soft-start button. With this feature, the product can start without loud noises or recoil at the start-up.
Additionally, the C10RJ is one of the few models on the market that offers an electric brake system. This feature works by stopping the blade rotation within seconds for safety. You can also connect the saw to a vacuum to keep sawdust to a minimum.
For more safety, the product also has zero-voltage restart protection that prevents restarting when power is down. Moreover, the unit offers multiple storage sites for various accessories like the power cord.
Warranty
The table saw comes with a generous 2-year warranty. This adds to its reliability and longevity.
Pros
- High-torque motor with a huge cutting capacity
- 2-years warranty
- Foldable and adjustable legs with wheels for portability
Cons
- Unstable fence
Table Saws for a Small Shop in 2020 – Buyer’s Guide
Why Would You Need a Table Saw?
Your final work is a reflection of all the effort you put into the work. This includes techniques and art styles. A table saw is a great tool for everyone who works with wood on a daily basis.
With the help of a table saw, you can put all your focus on the art in the process, and rely on the table saw to give you the precision you need. Additionally, it can help you get the job done in a fraction of the time you’d need with a hand saw.
Moreover, having a clean-cut makes your measurements and fitting a much easier job to pull it off. For that reason, a table saw is one of the best investments any woodworker or a DIY craftsman can make.
Things You Need to Consider While Shopping for a Table Saw
In order to land your ideal table saw, there are some aspects that you need to keep in consideration.
The Motor
One of the first things that set two table saws apart is the motor they have. In fact, the difference in motor power can be a way to classify table saws.
For example, smaller and portable table saws usually have a motor that produces up to 12 amps.
The more powerful and most common class of table saws are those between 12 to 18 amps. Both the previous types operate on 120-volt circuits. The class is enough to manage nearly all kinds of wood with relative ease.
The heavy-duty class of motors offers up to 5-Hp. Those table saws usually work on 240-volt circuits.
The Saw Blades
There are plenty of ways to describe the saw blade. The most common one you’ll come across is the diameter and rounds per minute.
Most table saws lie within the range between 10 to 12-inch blades. However, you can still find ones as small as 5 inches in smaller models. A professional woodworker should look for a saw blade that’s at least 10 inches.
You can also classify the blades with their material, such as carbon, carbide, and diamond-tipped plates. Carbide-tips blades offer excellent cutting without costing an arm and a leg. However, if you’re willing to splurge some cash on quality tools, a diamond-tipped blade can do wonders for you.
You should also make sure that the blade gives you an ample cutting space on your dominant side to allow for the maximum level of control and precision.
The Fence
Fences are one of the most essential parts in a table saw. It acts as a guide to get a perfect parallel cut, which is almost impossible without it. The fence runs all the way through the table front to back.
The most common fence type in the market is the T-square fence. It gives excellent accuracy and stability while cutting.
Portability
Woodworkers are always on the move from job to job. That’s why they need a reliable way to move their equipment around. Table saws come in different weights. However, most of the decent ones can easily exceed 80 or 100 pounds.
For that reason, it’s extremely critical for you to be able to move it around. Always look for a portable table saw that’s also easy to set up. A portable table saw should have legs that you can easily fold and unfold.
Additionally, you should look for ones with pneumatic tires. Wheels can help you maneuver your unit and move it around without breaking a sweat.
Safety Features
It’s no secret that working with cutting tools carry a lot of danger. With your fingers inches away from a super speed cutting blade, you must be careful.
Luckily, due to Federal laws across the nation, most table saws come with the minimum safety standards at least.
Yet, a recent study found that every year, more than 30,000 injuries occur due to table saws, with hands and fingers getting the most injuries.
That calls for more security features on your table saw. A safe table saw should include all the recent safety technologies in the table saw industry. For example, automatic shutdowns and blade guards are great security systems to protect your hands while working.
You should also look for ones with anti-kickback pawl, riving knives, and splitter. These features protect you from any kickback hazard. While it may make a table saw more expensive, you shouldn’t take this matter lightly.
Consider it as a long-term investment. As long as you ensure your safety, you guarantee another day doing your projects.
Wrap Up
When I’m shopping for a table saw, I need it to have an excellent motor and superior safety features. For that reason, I think DEWALT DWE7491RS Table Saw is my choice for the best table saw for a small shop.
From its powerful motor and rip capacity to its ease of use and portability, it has everything I need in a table saw. All that comes at a price that doesn’t poke a hole in my wallet.
If you’re all about safety, you’d also be delighted to learn about the upcoming Festool table saw with SawStop technology. This technology takes safety to a whole new level, as it detects contact with skin to kill the blade instantly!
