Need Help Choosing a Compact Table Saw

[nclemmons]

I bought a Dewalt 7491RS and it's a nice saw.  Easy to setup and take down.    I run a finish blade on it and the cuts are excellent.

Rack and pinion adjustable fence and ability to rip 32 1/2" from the blade made a big difference for me.  Dust collection is not great but with some foam and tape you can improve it.  I made a simple box to connect the over-arm hose with the lower dust collection port with a hose to a vacuum and it works well.

You'll need a better miter gauge than what ships with it, but Incra offers several choices.

Toolnut has the saw for $499 which is a good price.  And free shipping and no sales tax outside NY. I bought mine from them with great service about a year ago.  My son has since bought the same saw and he also likes it a lot.

http://www.toolnut.com/dewalt-dwe7491rs-10-tablesaw-with-wheeled-stand.html

Riving knife or overarm guard are really easy to add or remove.  Optional dado blade and dado blade insert might be a consideration as many smaller saws don't support them.

And I've found it has plenty of power for most jobs in solid or sheet goods.

I looked hard at the Bosch Reaax and the SawStop as well as lower end Bosch and Dewalt saws.  But in the end, I felt this saw was the best value for the money with nice features and accuracy.  Lowe's normally stocks them so you can probably check one out if you have a store close by.

 

[wptski]

I bought a Dewalt 7491RS and it's a nice saw.  Easy to setup and take down.    I run a finish blade on it and the cuts are excellent.

Rack and pinion adjustable fence and ability to rip 32 1/2" from the blade made a big difference for me.  Dust collection is not great but with some foam and tape you can improve it.  I made a simple box to connect the over-arm hose with the lower dust collection port with a hose to a vacuum and it works well.

You'll need a better miter gauge than what ships with it, but Incra offers several choices.

Toolnut has the saw for $499 which is a good price.  And free shipping and no sales tax outside NY. I bought mine from them with great service about a year ago.  My son has since bought the same saw and he also likes it a lot.

http://www.toolnut.com/dewalt-dwe7491rs-10-tablesaw-with-wheeled-stand.html

Riving knife or overarm guard are really easy to add or remove.  Optional dado blade and dado blade insert might be a consideration as many smaller saws don't support them.

And I've found it has plenty of power for most jobs in solid or sheet goods.

I looked hard at the Bosch Reaax and the SawStop as well as lower end Bosch and Dewalt saws.  But in the end, I felt this saw was the best value for the money with nice features and accuracy.  Lowe's normally stocks them so you can probably check one out if you have a store close by.

I have the DWE7491RS also but my take is a bit different than yours.  The fence is good but the miter gauge is junk as you stated but I got the Kreg miter gauge.  It's hit or miss if you get one with a flat table as mine has low spots on both sides of the throat plate which may or may not be a serious problem for a saw of this grade($499 right now, a $80 price drop).  I got a couple of Leecraft zero clearance throat plates which I haven't cut the kerf into yet but trying to get one leveled out with the low spots appears to be impossible but "maybe" usable in the end.

The post before yours has a link to another thread which I started prior to my purchase with a bit more details on the table's lack of flatness which isn't uncommon for this model.

Dust collection as you mentioned can be improved as there are huge holes for dust to escape out the bottom.  The riving knife quick release mechanism option leaves openings above and below its clamp.

 

[Holmz]

Wow! All of you have given me a lot to think about!

[member=15585]Svar[/member]
I did a little more digging and found that the DW745 is actually a fair bit smaller than the DWE74xx series. Those are newer, have a wider ripping capacity, and better dust collection (at least on the 749x)

[member=27126]ChrisK1970[/member]
That's high praise for such a compact saw. You guys are really making me consider DeWalt now, and I have ZERO yellow tools!

[member=19734]grbmds[/member]
You're right that table size is something to consider. The DWE7490X is a few inches smaller in width, which could affect my ability to rip sheet goods, but that's what the TS 55 is for, right?

...

The other saw to possibly consider is the "Mafell Erika 85".
Cons:
- Cost
- 220v
- ~70 #

Pros:
Pull saw feature if you do not have a SCMS.
Fence, etc.

 

[PaulH99]

[member=61962]Nick561[/member] [member=60532]Twoodman66[/member] [member=1146]Brice Burrell[/member]
Two more recommendations for big yellow. I think Nick is right and DeWalt wins!

[member=50292]Peter_C[/member]
Like I said earlier, I'd love to keep the contractor saw. But it's simply too big. I do a fair amount of my cutting outside when the weather is good. Having a saw that not only doesn't consume 1/3 of my small workshop, but can be pulled up the bulkhead would be awesome. I read the other thread you linked and it appears that the DWE7491rs is better in almost every regard than the Bosch 4100. Including cost, now with the recent price drop!

[member=167]neilc[/member]
It looks like my local Lowe's has the DW745, the DWE7491rw and the Bosch 4100 in stock. I'll have to stop by this weekend and play with them all.

[member=60643]wptski[/member]
I'm planning to buy locally. Hopefully I'll be able to check the flatness of the table before taking it out of the store.

[member=40772]Holmz[/member]
Tha Erika looks great, but $3700??? Yikes!

 

[Nick561]

You can always make a outfeed table as well. This pic is before I swapped from the 7480 to the 7490x but it shows the idea. I've ripped 8 ft 8/4 and ply on here with no issues. I did add miter slots after the picture so I could use a large sled with the saw.  [attachimg=1]

 

[PaulH99]

[member=61962]Nick561[/member]
I see a lot of yellow in that picture, but no green [scratch chin]  [big grin]

 

[Nick561]

There's that too.....[attachimg=1]

 

[Paul G]

If I didn't want the sawstop blade brake I would have bought a dewalt. The dewalt fence is much nicer.

 

[PaulH99]

I stopped in the local Lowe's where they had all the various models set up. Here's what I found:

DeWalt DWE7480: Pictures do not do the size of the table justice. This thing is small! The fence is very short and "dainty" as well.

DeWalt DWE7491RS: Feels very solid. The splayed legs on the stand make it very stable. I tried to shake the saw and was barely able to. The rack-and-pinion fence is AWESOME! I also love the little flip-down part of the fence. It has two heights, one for thin stock close to the blade, and a lower position that is in the same plane as the table to support wide stock. BRILLIANT! I also noticed that the bevel gears that raise and lower the blade are metal.

Bosch 4100: For the $100 price difference over the 7491 I expected more. I really wasn't wowed by it. The gravity stand is a nice trick, but the stability is really lacking. The fence was only "okay". I see what they were trying to accomplish by designing it like a normal T-square fence, but it falls short. the base of the "T" is too small to provide much stability, and the rail it rides on is part of the right table extension, so I can see how it would fall out of alignment pretty easily. Also it appeared that the bevel gears that raise the blade were some form of nylon, not metal.

DeWalt wins!

Now I just have to list my old contractor style saw on Craigslist and disassemble it enough to get it out of my basement.  [eek]

Thank you all for the opinions and feedback. I truly never considered DeWalt's tablesaws before this and I'm very impressed.

 

[wptski]

I stopped in the local Lowe's where they had all the various models set up. Here's what I found:

DeWalt DWE7480: Pictures do not do the size of the table justice. This thing is small! The fence is very short and "dainty" as well.

DeWalt DWE7491RS: Feels very solid. The splayed legs on the stand make it very stable. I tried to shake the saw and was barely able to. The rack-and-pinion fence is AWESOME! I also love the little flip-down part of the fence. It has two heights, one for thin stock close to the blade, and a lower position that is in the same plane as the table to support wide stock. BRILLIANT! I also noticed that the bevel gears that raise and lower the blade are metal.

Bosch 4100: For the $100 price difference over the 7491 I expected more. I really wasn't wowed by it. The gravity stand is a nice trick, but the stability is really lacking. The fence was only "okay". I see what they were trying to accomplish by designing it like a normal T-square fence, but it falls short. the base of the "T" is too small to provide much stability, and the rail it rides on is part of the right table extension, so I can see how it would fall out of alignment pretty easily. Also it appeared that the bevel gears that raise the blade were some form of nylon, not metal.

DeWalt wins!

Now I just have to list my old contractor style saw on Craigslist and disassemble it enough to get it out of my basement.  [eek]

Thank you all for the opinions and feedback. I truly never considered DeWalt's tablesaws before this and I'm very impressed.

Since in your basement like me, just hope for no "major" table flatness problems.  After getting it unboxed, full setup(some not in the manual), you'll dread doing that in reverse.  I have read of one table that was so bad that the fence rubbed on it while moving it.

 

[PaulH99]

My hope is to buy it locally so that I can open the box and inspect the table with a straightedge before making the actual purchase. I don't know how thrilled they will be with me doing that, but my response will be, "How are you any better than Amazon if I can't check it before buying it?"

Since in your basement like me, just hope for no "major" table flatness problems.  After getting it unboxed, full setup(some not in the manual), you'll dread doing that in reverse.  I have read of one table that was so bad that the fence rubbed on it while moving it.

 

[wptski]

My hope is to buy it locally so that I can open the box and inspect the table with a straightedge before making the actual purchase. I don't know how thrilled they will be with me doing that, but my response will be, "How are you any better than Amazon if I can't check it before buying it?"

Well, the stand is in its own box and the table is just covered with plastic.  When the box is opened, the table could be lifted out but that's lifting it >26" above the box at least that height something I couldn't do so I had to lay it down, slide the stand box out first.  You'll need some help and a bit of floor space too.  My Lowe's store is cluttered up and it took three people to get the box out from where it was stored.  My initial check with a Peckerhead 3' straight edge which looked real good but not as good when I got it up on a table.

I've only made a few cuts and the table hasn't affected any of them yet but I think that at one time or the other it will.

The last time I looked, Amazon price went back up, shipping was free but they charged sales tax.  I waited for a 11% off at Lowe's to purchase mine but they stopped that "At the register 11% off promos" to compete with Menard's so I get that 11% back as a gift card.

 

[nclemmons]

Paul - I think you'll like the saw.  Great choice.

When it's uppacked and setup, I'd go through the full adjustment procedure - I think it's outlined in the manual
- squaring the fence to the miter slots
- checking the blade alignment to the miter slots
- adjusting the blade tilt to cut square to the table
- adjusting the fence measurement so it is accurate to the blade

I seem to recall there are videos on YouTube that go over this to make it easy.

I bought my hose from Rockler - http://www.rockler.com/12-ft-heavy-duty-shop-vacuum-hose-kit.  That hose can be cut in half to go from the over blade dust collection unit to the box, and then from the box to the vac.  I just used a hole saw on my drill press to cut a press-fit hole for the lower port and two for the hose.  It will connect to the Festool or a Shop Vac.

Let me know and I can take a photo of the adapter box I made if you are interested for connecting the upper and lower dust ports to one vac.  Pretty simple and it works well. 

Good luck!

 

[wptski]

Paul - I think you'll like the saw.  Great choice.

When it's uppacked and setup, I'd go through the full adjustment procedure - I think it's outlined in the manual
- squaring the fence to the miter slots
- checking the blade alignment to the miter slots
- adjusting the blade tilt to cut square to the table
- adjusting the fence measurement so it is accurate to the blade

I seem to recall there are videos on YouTube that go over this to make it easy.

I bought my hose from Rockler - http://www.rockler.com/12-ft-heavy-duty-shop-vacuum-hose-kit.  That hose can be cut in half to go from the over blade dust collection unit to the box, and then from the box to the vac.  I just used a hole saw on my drill press to cut a press-fit hole for the lower port and two for the hose.  It will connect to the Festool or a Shop Vac.

Let me know and I can take a photo of the adapter box I made if you are interested for connecting the upper and lower dust ports to one vac.  Pretty simple and it works well. 

Good luck!

All but aligning the miter slot to the blade or moving the trunnion, don't think I missed that gem(PITA) anyways.

I bushed down a 2 1/2" "Y" to fit my vacuum but don't get much suction to the blade guard not that one gains much dust collection there even with a separate vacuum.

 

[PaulH99]

[member=167]neilc[/member]

The setup procedure sounds similar to other table saws, but thank you! I likely would have forgotten a step. Others have mentioned "adapter box" as well and I'm unsure of what they mean. I'd like to take you up on the offer of a picture of yours.

Paul - I think you'll like the saw.  Great choice.

When it's uppacked and setup, I'd go through the full adjustment procedure - I think it's outlined in the manual
- squaring the fence to the miter slots
- checking the blade alignment to the miter slots
- adjusting the blade tilt to cut square to the table
- adjusting the fence measurement so it is accurate to the blade

I seem to recall there are videos on YouTube that go over this to make it easy.

I bought my hose from Rockler - http://www.rockler.com/12-ft-heavy-duty-shop-vacuum-hose-kit.  That hose can be cut in half to go from the over blade dust collection unit to the box, and then from the box to the vac.  I just used a hole saw on my drill press to cut a press-fit hole for the lower port and two for the hose.  It will connect to the Festool or a Shop Vac.

Let me know and I can take a photo of the adapter box I made if you are interested for connecting the upper and lower dust ports to one vac.  Pretty simple and it works well.

Good luck!

 

[ben_r_]

Check out this deal on the DeWalt DW745:

@ Slick Deals .net, for some reason FOG blocks that website.

.net/f/10169056-dewalt-model-dw745-15-amp-10-in-compact-job-site-table-saw-250-fs-at-hd

Price should be $250 at checkout at Home Depot:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-15-Amp-10-in-Compact-Job-Site-Table-Saw-DW745/100497987

 

[wptski]

Check out this deal on the DeWalt DW745: LINK

DNS error on your LINK.  That model is a bit different, miter slot aren't "T" slots for one.

 

[ben_r_]

Check out this deal on the DeWalt DW745: LINK

DNS error on your LINK.  That model is a bit different, miter slot aren't "T" slots for one.

Fixed. I think. See that post.

 

[nclemmons]

Paul -

Here's a sketchup drawing.  Box overall is about 5.5" square made from 1/2 baltic birch ply.

The holes were cut to fit the dust collection input on the saw side and the two hose holes were cut to 1.96" to offer a tight fit for 2" hose from Rockler that goes up to the over blade guard and out to the vac.

Easy to slip on or remove as warranted.  When not using the overarm dust collection, I just plug the hole in the box with a rag.

Neil

 

[PaulH99]

Now that makes more sense. Thank you for the drawing! You're using this as crazy "Y" adapter because there are three different hose sizes involved. Is the over-blade dust collection effective on the DeWalt table saw?