The Top 10 Best Contractor Saws
BOSCH 10 In. Worksite Table Saw with Gravity-Rise Wheeled Stand 4100XC-10
DEWALT 10-Inch Table Saw, 32-1/2-Inch Rip Capacity (DWE7491RS)
SKILSAW SPT99-11 10 Inch Heavy Duty Worm Drive Table Saw with Stand, Silver
SAWSTOP 10-Inch Jobsite Saw Pro with Mobile Cart Assembly, 1.5-HP, 12A, 120V, 60Hz (JSS-120A60)
Table saws are a must in any contractor’s arsenal. A portable saw is an excellent solution for personal projects, construction site work, and home furniture. While not as powerful as an industrial, cabinet, or hybrid table saw, portable table saws are remarkable for maneuverability and flexibility.
Today, we’re looking at the best contractor’s table saw for woodworking. We’ve varied it up with both some cordless and corded options, as well as a range of options for different price points.
Corded portable saws are standard and work well in most situations. They are only more frustrating when you have to move around a lot and don’t have access to electrical outlets.
Battery-powered portable table saws have come a long way in terms of power and longevity in recent years. Of course, it can still be pricey to go with a battery-powered option, but they now compete well in function.
Otherwise, it’s all about the power, quality of parts, and overall design. We’ve got lots of options to cover, so let’s get started.
Bosch makes excellent, highly durable equipment. The 4100-10 combines a decent motor (a 15-amp 4 HP) with great portability. It folds up and can be carried very easily but unfolds with its gravity-rise stand to an adjustable height. Added portability comes from its built-in sub-base and carry handle.
It comes equipped with a 10-inch blade with 3,650 RPM and a 25-inch rip capacity to cover any job site rip-cutting width. The built-in soft-start circuitry offers a quick yet smooth increase in the operating speed that prevents the machine from tripping a circuit breaker. The Bosch has a cast aluminum top and onboard storage to keep all its attachments and tools.
The main power of this table saw is its overall design, which allows it to accomplish many different functions well. The Bosch 4100-10 runs smooth, quiet, and with slight vibration.
It’s also full of valuable surprises as you unpack the machine. The built-in storage is quite useful, as you always underestimate how many leftover pieces you’ll have around. There’s also stuff like a spot for the power cord when you fold the machine up, making it easier to carry around.
This is truly one of those times where the sum is greater than its parts. The designers spent time making every aspect of the machine work together.
Another solid 10-inch portable table saw, the DEWALT is an excellent option. Also sporting a robust 15-amp motor, the blade has a slightly faster max speed at 4,800 RPM.
It has a 32-inch rip capacity and stays clean with its 2-inch dust collection port. There is also a good system of onboard storage ready for easy access to the fence, riving knife, blade guard assembly, push stick, and miter gauge.
When it comes to power, this saw has no trouble with most wet or treated wood. You have to remember you’re using a 10-inch portable saw, but it’s a solid blade compared to others of the same caliber. At just 48 pounds and coming with wheels that increase portability and lower set-up time, it's great for moving around quickly.
It’s an overall very steady portable table saw and comes with a rack and extension fence.
Unfortunately, it’s time to look through some of the cons. The table coating isn’t the best, with a painted finish. It’s not as smooth as it could be, and wood doesn’t glide as well as it could.
The miter gauge isn’t as good as it could be, but this is an effort in good budgeting. There are many excellent gauges available in the after-market, and putting an expensive one most people won’t use isn’t worth it.
DEWALT is a famous brand amongst contractors and for a good reason. Their products are durable, strong, and built to function in real construction environments.
One of the first significant differences you’ll notice with the Skilsaw is the cast iron construction. The table surface and the extension wings are cast iron, which is a highly durable material.
Sporting a 25-inch rip capacity, the table is a decent size and has a 15 amp motor. As a result, it can handle a solid 3 and 5/8th-inch depth of cut without getting clogged up.
It’s got a self-aligning rip fence and a solid blade guard. Rack and pinion system included for exact adjustments. It comes complete with blade wrenches, a miter gauge, and a steel folding stand. For portability, the easy-mount system works well. It has big wheels, which are great for easy transportation. It seems to be made with portability on the job site in mind.
One nice feature is its ability to use a dado blade, which many other table saws cannot. It also comes with a dust port that can hook up to standard shop vac hoses.
Unfortunately, like many saws on this list, the miter gauge is a disappointment.
Basically, every other item on the saw feels excellent and high quality. The accessories fit easily in the onboard storage, the guards are easy to put on and take off, and the overall design works well.
The Rigid 10-inch table saw is a solid budget option on the list. It’s heavy-duty, with a 5000 RPM motor. It can rip through 4 by 4-inch material in a single pass with accuracy. The maximum depth is 2 and a quarter inches and includes many helpful cutting angles.
The saw comes with easy-to-use onboard storage for its miter gauge, extra blades, and rip fence. The portable folding stand is solid, and the overall design is durable. It is designed with worksite portability in mind and can handle an active site.
The overall quality of the pieces is solid but more of a budget model. Especially the rails and guide are dependable on this machine, beating out some of the more expensive models.
The Milwaukee 21HD table saw is an excellent cordless option for table saws. The problem with cordless is that the battery often doesn’t last long enough to make the trade-off worthwhile. But this is not the case with Milwaukee.
It has got plenty of power, cuts smoothly, and is lightweight for excellent portability. In addition, it has an 8-and-a-quarter-inch blade that spins at 6300 RPM, providing an exciting trade-off compared to other models.
On actual wood, it can handle both untreated and pressure-treated softwood with ease. In addition, it cuts with just the same power as corded models. The height adjustment is smooth, with solid metal gearing.
Rip capacity is done through a rack-and-pinion system that works flawlessly. The fence of Milwaukee uses a clamp lock system with pivoting extension. The table saw comes with two riving knives and can function with or without the blade guard. It comes with a power loss safety switch so that the blade won’t restart the moment power comes back on, a solid safety feature.
The dust collection system on the 21HD is solid, above average even. A layer in the table moves along the bevel to help push the dust into the dust port. They’ve also opted for a metal dust port which brings extra durability.
For carrying the Milwaukee cordless table saw, you’ll want to carry the saw and stand separately. The legs are wide enough that, with adjustment, you can stabilize it on somewhat uneven ground.
Because it’s a cordless option, it does run up the bill once you include the cost of the battery. It’s still within the same price range as other mid-range table saws.
Even though it is great to have a cordless machine, it would be nice to have an AC adapter for long jobs as an option.
We’ve already covered one Dewalt, but if you are looking for one of the best brands, often a Dewalt has got you covered. It has many solid safety features, is lightweight at 53 pounds, and comes with an easy-to-use miter gauge and push stick. The DWE7485 has excellent durability, with a 15-amp motor and 20-inch rip capacity.
Some people will be concerned about the 8, and a ¼ inch saw, but it cuts perfectly well for most projects. The main advantage is the higher RPM, which helps clean ripping through more difficult woods. Its maximum cutting depth is about 3 and ⅛th inches with a top blade speed of 5,800 RPM.
On its base, the metal roll cage provides more strength and durability near the machine’s feet and allows for adjustments to accommodate uneven terrain. As is standard, it comes with a nice rack and pinion fence rails, but it also comes with a coated surface for a smooth ability to push wood on the surface. It also comes with a 2 and ½ inch dust collection port.
Finally, the blade guard system is handy, combining a nice safety feature with quick and accurate cuts.
The SKIL TS6307-00 is great on a budget and for beginners. With a 10-inch saw blade and 15 amp motor has the standard package for a portable table saw design. The max speed is 4,600 RPM which is also solid.
It’s got a 25-and-a-half-inch rip capacity with 3 and a half-inch rip height, which is a solid range for most people.
It comes equipped with a cast-aluminum tabletop, a heavy-duty steel folding stand, and a self-aligning rip fence. The aluminum is coated for ease of movement and features a 24-tooth, 10 inches saw on the table with parallel blade alignment. The fence features an EZ view measurement system for accurate settings and measurements. The dado cut option on this table saw has a maximum width of ⅝ inches.
It weighs about 51 pounds for portability, which is a little heavier than usual but still quite maneuverable. Its rack and pinion system makes for easy and secure height adjustment with its integrated folding legs.
The SKIL also cuts accurately, with the ability to accommodate uneven ground with its legs.
Overall this is a great budget saw that is just as strong as a Dewalt.
This is Dewalt’s cordless option, with an 8-and-a-quarter-inch blade. It’s got a 24-inch rip capacity and the power of a corded tool. As with most of the options on this list, it sports a rack and pinion system for accurate fence adjustment.
The table is coated for a reduced friction surface, allowing the wood to slide more easily and creating smoother cuts. The onboard storage system is great for storing all the extra components and accessories that come with the portable saw. This includes the guard, fence, push stick, riving knife, miter gauge, and wrenches.
The battery uses a new technology called Flexvolt, which means it can change voltage depending on the type of tool you are using. It’s backward compatible with 20V tools but also works with Dewalt’s newer 60V and even 120V ones.
We’ve got a power-loss reset that stops the blade from immediately spinning back up when the power comes back, a great safety feature. Like other folding table designs, there’s a metal roll cage at the base for greater durability. This also means it comes with a significant efficiency advantage, allowing the table saw to last as long as possible on its battery life.
It is a great cordless option and you can hardly go wrong with a Dewalt.
#9 - SAWSTOP 10-Inch Jobsite Saw Pro with Mobile Cart Assembly, 1.5-HP, 12A, 120V, 60Hz (JSS-120A60)
The SAWSTOP is the only portable table saw to use the guaranteed saw-stopping technology that is guaranteed to stop you from getting seriously injured. Their patented system stops the saw the second it makes contact with skin, dropping the blade below the table.
It has highly competitive features such as a portable table saw, including a 24 and 5/8ths-inch table depth, a 10-inch blade, and a great dust management system.
The motor is a 1.75 HP with a 40-tooth saw attached. It’s got a rip capacity of up to 52 inches with two cast iron extension wings and a professional T-glide fence. This makes for a fairly powerful and versatile system overall.
The onboard storage has the riving knife, two blade wrenches, a push stick, and more prepared. The portable base on this model is excellent for moving it around. It folds up very quickly and easily and the intuitive foot pedals make it simple to collapse.
But of course, the main feature is the brake pawl itself, which has been a game-changer. It can detect human contact nearly instantaneously and retracts the saw. Unfortunately, the statistics are not great for table saw injuries, with up to 10 amputations a day in the United States.
The Ironmax Table Saw comes with a coated flat aluminum top for smooth wood movement and outstanding performance. It has a 15 amp motor with low noise and 5,000 RPM. The 10-inch table saw is solid, and the stand is extra sturdy with heavy-duty steel. However, that does make the portability less good compared to many on this list.
It’s got a 26-inch rip capacity for ripping through a fairly large wood. The guard and riving knife are built to protect from many serious injuries. Comes with a miter gauge and rip fence that can be adjusted from -45 degrees to 45 degrees for cross-cutting. The self-aligning rip fence is paired with a both sides parallel guide for accurate cutting without any wobble.
Overall, the Ironmax is a solid cordless table saw for a great price. It also accepts dado blades and is powerful for a cordless.
Unfortunately, it is missing the now-standard rack and pinion system for the rip fence. It also lacks a solid dust extraction system, which means frequent cleaning. In the end, you’re trading features for budget if you go with this one.
Conclusion
The Top 10 Best Contractor Table Saw
BOSCH 10 In. Worksite Table Saw with Gravity-Rise Wheeled Stand 4100XC-10
DEWALT 10-Inch Table Saw, 32-1/2-Inch Rip Capacity (DWE7491RS)
SKILSAW SPT99-11 10 Inch Heavy Duty Worm Drive Table Saw with Stand, Silver
SAWSTOP 10-Inch Jobsite Saw Pro with Mobile Cart Assembly, 1.5-HP, 12A, 120V, 60Hz (JSS-120A60)
Final Wrap-up
There are many options when it comes to portable table saws, and most of them are good. We’ve tried to find the best contractor’s table saw for woodworking we could and to provide the best range of options.
Our choice for the best table saw overall is the DEWALT 10-Inch Table Saw, which is a classic, reliable company with a well-built portable chainsaw. However, recently it has been out of stock often, so a great alternative is the BOSCH 10 In. Worksite Table Saw. These have excellent all-around features and work for both power, accuracy, and portability.
If you are looking for the best value option, DEWALT Table Saw Compact or the SKIL 15 Amp 10 Inch Table Saw are excellent budget options.
Among the cordless options, the Milwaukee Electric Tools Table Saw Tool is a great choice. It offers great power for a battery-operated table saw and all the functionality you could need.
The SKILSAW 10 Inch Heavy Duty Worm Drive Table Saw is a great choice in terms of ease of portability while still being an excellent machine. Most of the saws on the list are going to offer you great portability, however.
Finally, a special mention to the best choice for safety, the SAWSTOP 10-Inch Jobsite Table Saw with its patented brake pawl. This is a fantastic feature to have around and your best option for complete peace of mind while working.
Disclosure: I only recommend products that I have used myself. All opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
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