Small table saw for ripping?

[nanook]

Looking for a small table saw for ripping hardwood, say 2'' max thickness.  Really only looking for this for narrow width (under 8'' boards), as my TS55 works great provided the rail fits on the board. 
Love the idea of the CMS - but at $1800 for the router table+$500 for the TS55 or 75 insert + the cost of the saw, not sure if I am seeing value there. 
I would have to be convinced that the CMS system can go toe-to-toe with a $3000 Sawstop or Delta w/o figuring in DC, to even look at it IMO

What I am looking at is the smallest class of portable jobsite saws i.e the DW745 or the tiny Bosch - wondering how people have found them for ripping narrow hardwood boards.   
Love the TS55 for everything else, so Dado and crosscutting (or even ripping wider stock) are not a concern. 

Just looking at a small (50lb, $300) jobsite table saw that packs down well and dedicating it to ripping narrow hardwoods (inc White Oak, Cherry, Maple, ect)
Any pointers?

 

[Kev]

Looking for a small table saw for ripping hardwood, say 2'' max thickness.   Really only looking for this for narrow width (under 8'' boards), as my TS55 works great provided the rail fits on the board.   
Love the idea of the CMS - but at $1800 for the router table+$500 for the TS55 or 75 insert + the cost of the saw, not sure if I am seeing value there. 
I would have to be convinced that the CMS system can go toe-to-toe with a $3000 Sawstop or Delta w/o figuring in DC, to even look at it IMO

What I am looking at is the smallest class of portable jobsite saws i.e the DW745 or the tiny Bosch - wondering how people have found them for ripping narrow hardwood boards.   
Love the TS55 for everything else, so Dado and crosscutting (or even ripping wider stock) are not a concern.   

Just looking at a small (50lb, $300) jobsite table saw that packs down well and dedicating it to ripping narrow hardwoods (inc White Oak, Cherry, Maple, ect)
Any pointers?

I haven't been focused on these, but I did happen to see a very nice new Metabo the other day ... do you have access to them?

http://www.metabo.com.au/Product-catalogue-halfstationary-and-stationary-tools.24127+M56dbbcfd8e7.0.html

 

[Samo]

Dewalt 745

 

[Alli]

I have the Dewalt 745, it is a very nice machine. I find the fence very sturdy, with the scale easy to read, and the rack and pinion gearing easy to finely adjust the fence when you need a hair more off the cut.

 

[Jason Kehl]

I also find the Dewalt 745 very nice, I use it for the same thing you plan too, small ripping where the TS is just too slow. If you hook up your vac to the dust port on the 745 it helps with the dust issue, but I plan on making an over-the-blade guard/dust collector some day if I can find the time. This mod would bring it closer to the TS in dust collection.

j

 

[Rob Z]

I had the small DeWalt for several years and then gave it  to a contractor friend who did a job with us.

Now we have the small Bosch.  It also is a good little saw.  If I had to choose between the two, I'd say the Bosch has a slight edge.

 

[fastbike]

Spacers under the rail are too hard to do? Seems that all the small table saws have the same issue w/ fiddly fence alignment.

 

[RDMuller]

Are the Dewalt and Bosch saws suitable for 2" hardwood???  Do these things have a 220 volt option?  Seems to me that they would be underpowered.

 

[nanook]

Are the Dewalt and Bosch saws suitable for 2" hardwood???   Do these things have a 220 volt option?   Seems to me that they would be underpowered.

Thats my question as well - while 2'' is a bit extreme, I'd like the saw to be able to handle it.  Any experience with the DW745 and thicker hardwoods?
I use a lot of White Oak, Black Locust, Cherry and Maple, also Walnut.

(that said - I find that unless your ripping out legs, ripping most tops, skirts and other parts tend to be sub 1'' in thickness really. so most of the use will be with 1'' hardwoods)

 

[fshanno]

I think you'd be happier with a nice little 1.75hp 110v contractor saw.  There are plenty of belt driven saws with riving knives and decent blade guards and fences that are much more pleasant to use than a job site saw.  You can put wheels on any of them and you can use their tops as a small work surface if space is critical.  You'll have to use a thin kerf blade for challenging hardwood but they will cut smoothly and cleanly.  Grizzly has a good selection for under $1000.  The Rikon looks good.

 

[nanook]

As I said - I'm not looking at all at contractor or cabinet saws. 
I've used them, I know them well, and if I had the space for one I would splurge for a 3hp Sawstop. 

That said, if you have used a DW745 (or other tabletop saw) for ripping hardwoods, would very much like to hear your experience vs a cabinet, contractors, or larger jobsite saw.  (Esp with burning, bogging down, ect.)
Interest in the 745 is a space and portability issue, and I'm just looking for now.    Limiting my looking to the ultra-portable tablesaws only for ripping. 
I think that if they are underpowered then I think I'll continue to make do.    However, most of my experience is with older Unisaws and Sawstops

 

[Alli]

Are the Dewalt and Bosch saws suitable for 2" hardwood???   Do these things have a 220 volt option?   Seems to me that they would be underpowered.

Thats my question as well - while 2'' is a bit extreme, I'd like the saw to be able to handle it.   Any experience with the DW745 and thicker hardwoods?
I use a lot of White Oak, Black Locust, Cherry and Maple, also Walnut.

(that said - I find that unless your ripping out legs, ripping most tops, skirts and other parts tend to be sub 1'' in thickness really. so most of the use will be with 1'' hardwoods)

I have the 230Volt model being from Blighty [popcorn] I use it to rip oak all the time, It will have no problem cutting 2" of oak. Before I got a band saw I use to rip 6" of oak by ripping one side, then the other. Without going into the dangers of having to remove the riving knife because it is taller than the blade due to it holding the blade guard. It would cope with this okay, but you did have to slow the feed rate down.

 

[pugilato]

I have the Bosch 1009 (?) and used it to rip 2" thick maple to build a crib for my grandson. With a good blade, this saw can handle a lot of hardwoods.

 

[Dane]

I have the 745 and have ripped 12/4 walnut, completely burying the blade, without stalling it.  Not sure it would take that much abuse day after day, but it can do it.  i regularly rip 5/4 walnut with no problem.

 

[Alan m]

i have the dw 745.
its a great saw.
great dust colection.
i often cut 2" timber. mostly 4x2s etc but sometimes hard wood. its never boged down

the wheeled stand is great but bulky.
if i was back again i would get the metabo. the stand and wheels are part of the saw . it would take up a lot less space than mine.

 

[BUTTER]

I'm an owner/fan of the Dewalt 745.  If you are doing all your work on site, it's wonderful, especially the fence.  I use the Bosch VAC004 adapter to hook it to my DC.
That said, it is still a 120V direct drive motor, and the arbor won't take a dado set.

If you are more stationary, I would suggest a contractor saw.
Alternately, if you are really needing the capacity for furniture building, a decent bandsaw might be just the ticket. 

 

[ccarrolladams]

Joseph, how does your workers' comp insurance company feel about using dado sets at this time?

 

[illumicon1]

I currently have the DW745 for jobsite use and love it, has not bogged down when cutting hardwoods. I had the new Bosch portable table saw and hated it, bogged down even in 2x4's.

 

[polarsea1]

Another possibility is any cabinet saw with the wings removed - fairly small footprint and plenty of power.

 

[Toto]

I use a Makita combination Chop / table saw its quite small but use it most days when installing kitchens / bedrooms. Realy a great little saw for mitring cornice , light baffle and plinths and use the table for ripping down plinths and infills. Its about 10 years old now and considering the new 305 version. Isnt it time Festool made a combo saw? I for one would want to complete my Festool collection,