Top Overall Pick
DEWALT DWE7491X
Premium Choice
Powermatic PM1000
Best Value
DEWALT DW745
When it comes to making crosscuts, rip cuts, miters, and bevels in your workshop, nothing beats contractor table saws. Oh, the freedom and creativity it avails!
Of course, as a workshop professional, you want the best in terms of reliability, power, and safety. But there are hundreds of options out there, and choosing the one that best fits your specific needs and budget can be difficult.
To help you cut through the clutter, we researched the products available on the market today and compiled our Top Ten Best Contractor Table Saw reviews.
Contents
- Our Favorite Contractor Table Saws on the Market
- 10 Best Contractor Table Saws - Reviews
- 1. DEWALT DWE7491X Contractor Table Saw - Best Overall Pick
- 2. DEWALT DW745 Contractor Table Saw
- 3. Powermatic PM1000 Contractor Table Saw - Premium Choice
- 4. Bosch 4100-09 Contractor Table Saw
- 5. Powermatic 1791230K Contractor Table Saw
- 6. SawStop CNS175-TGP36 Contractor Table Saw
- 7. Delta 36-5052 Contractor Table Saw
- 8. Makita 2705X1 Contractor Table Saw
- 9. Shop Fox W1837 Contractor Table Saw
- 10. SKIL 3410-02 Contractor Table Saw - Best for the Money
- Final Verdict: Our Overall Winner
- Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Contractor Table Saw for You!
Our Favorite Contractor Table Saws on the Market
10 Best Contractor Table Saws - Reviews
1. DEWALT DWE7491X Contractor Table Saw - Best Overall Pick
Key Features
The DeWALT DWE7491X is our top overall pick for best contractor table saw. It is a high-performing, versatile option for any job site.
This saw features a powerful 15-amp motor and a 32.5-inch rip capacity for fast, smooth cutting. The rip capacity allows you to cut through a variety of trim materials.
With this unit, you also receive a 10-inch blade with carbide tips and a rolling stand for optimal portability.
Other high-value features include a 2.5-inch-diameter dust collection port for effective dust extraction and a flip-over ripping fence with precision adjustability. The four legs unfold from the bottom to create a stable working base.
This unit is easy to use and allows for smooth, accurate cutting. The ripping fence also makes this saw ideal for tricky cuts, and you can use it on a wide range of materials.
Pros
Cons
2. DEWALT DW745 Contractor Table Saw
Key Features
The DW745 is a compact table saw with a 15-amp motor and 10-inch blade compatibility to take on any wood sawing project. Other features contributing to this model’s popularity include tool-free guarding-component adjustability, fast and accurate fence adjustments, and a 20-inch rip capacity to take care of large workpieces.
The DW745 is highly portable and foldable with a compact metal scissor stand, and it features adjustable rear feet to level the saw when you’re working on an uneven surface. This table saw also offers onboard storage that you can use to store guarding components and the push stick.
This contractor table saw has a heavy-duty, tube-steel construction for optimal stability and durability. The table saw’s components also are designed for optimal longevity and reliability.
Pros
Cons
3. Powermatic PM1000 Contractor Table Saw - Premium Choice
Key Features
The Powermatic PM1000 contractor table saw offers decent performance and meets all expectations in terms of durability and reliability, making it our best contractor table saw for premium choice. This model features a 1¾HP motor that can cut through any wood type. This relatively high-power delivery is thanks to a poly-v belt that optimizes the motor’s efficiency and reduces its vibration significantly.
Another unique attribute of the PM1000 is its ability to operate on just 115 volts, which enhances the unit’s usability on different job sites. Despite being wired for a lower voltage, its performance is on par with units in its category, and you can be confident using it for commercial applications.
Other high-value features of the PM1000 include a hose that surrounds the blade to collect dust, a miter gauge that pivots to 60 degrees, and tool-free guard assembly.
Pros
Cons
4. Bosch 4100-09 Contractor Table Saw
Key Features
If you are looking for the best in performance and good value for the money, the 4100-09 from Bosch is a viable option. Bosch 4100-09 contractor saw offers the best portability of all models on this list. Features that make the table saw easy to move include a gravity rise stand with handle, 8-inch threaded pneumatic wheels, and a relatively light weight of 60 pounds.
You can carry out precision cutting with the large, stable working surface, miter gauge, self-aligning rip fence with square lock, and table extension. The rip fence scale also enhances your ability to make precise measurements and displays the distance between the blade and rip fence through a magnifying window.
Another high-value feature of the 4100-09 is its smart guard system that comprises a barrier device guard, an adjustable riving knife, and an anti-kickback device.
Pros
Cons
5. Powermatic 1791230K Contractor Table Saw
Key Features
The Powermatic 1791230K is a popular jobsite table saw, filled to the brim with high-value features.
Power delivery is standard, with a 15-amp motor at 120 volts and a no-load RPM of 3,800. The saw uses 10-inch blades, and it is suitable for cutting most material types and thicknesses. The saw also comes with a 50-inch fence and riving knife to minimize the risk of kickback.
With the miter gauge, you can make accurate micro measurements for optimal accuracy, and the cast iron table and wings have beveled edges for accurate miter gauging. The extension plate allows for wide crosscuts, adding to the saw’s versatility.
Finally, you can remove the knife and guard without using tools, and it features a built-in port that extracts dust.
Pros
Cons
6. SawStop CNS175-TGP36 Contractor Table Saw
Key Features
The SawStop CNS175-TGP36 is a highly versatile table saw that offers decent value in terms of power delivery, safety, and quality. The motor has a current of 14 amps at 110 to 120 volts and seven amps at 208 to 240 volts. With this power rating, high rip capacity, and 10-inch blade, you will be able to cut most wood types.
Safety features of this model include a dust-management system to prevent respiratory problems and SawStop’s safety mechanism. This safety system activates if the blade manages to come in contact with your skin.
The SawStop CNS175-TGP36 contractor table saw also allows for precise measurements and cuts with a T-glide fence, a relatively large work surface, and wings that align well with the table. The fence is made of thick gauge steel and features a sure lock-down with zero deflections.
Pros
Cons
7. Delta 36-5052 Contractor Table Saw
Key Features
The Delta 36-5052 has several high-value features, the most prominent being its table extender, tubular stand, and railing system.
These components make it easy for you to line up and cut long pieces of materials. With a 15-amp motor, 10-inch blade, and left-leaning miter gauge, you can cut a wide range of wood thicknesses and types without any difficulty.
Construction of the 36-5052 is highly durable, and it provides you with a highly stable work platform. You can adjust the feet to prevent the table saw from wobbling, and the railing system allows you to make precise measurements and accurate cuts.
The blade guard has a split tool-free design that makes blade changes easy, and the fence is suitable for heavy-duty applications.
Pros
Cons
8. Makita 2705X1 Contractor Table Saw
Key Features
The Makita 2705X1 is a popular option for DIY, commercial, and industrial applications with its 15-amp motor, 10-inch blade, and no-load RPM of 4,800. With this high level of performance and a cutting capacity of 3 5/8” at 90 degrees, you will be able to cut most wood types and thicknesses with ease.
Other high-end features include an electric brake system and a tool-less modular blade guard system with a riving knife. You also get two onboard anti-kickback pawls that are independently stowable.
The Makita 2705X1 is lightweight and compact for easy storage and transport. Portability features include heavy-duty wheels, a spring-loaded system that you can adjust and fold, and a portable stand.
The stand is easy to adjust, and it provides a stable platform. With the extendable wing, you can expand your working surface significantly.
Pros
Cons
9. Shop Fox W1837 Contractor Table Saw
Key Features
The Shop Fox W1837 comes with a wide range of high-end features in addition to standard table saw features that add to its versatility, making it a part of our top ten.
The most prominent attribute of the W1837 is its cast iron cabinet that offers a stable platform and support for all jobs. Casters make it easy for the cabinet to move around in your shop or on a job site, then you can lock them in place to prevent the saw from moving around while you work.
The W1832 has a large cutting area that you can extend by lifting its side wings and removing the fencing system. If you want to prevent boards or workpieces from moving, simply lock the fence system in place.
When it comes to power delivery, the W1837 doesn’t disappoint. This table saw features a 15-amp, 1,800-watt motor, with a rip capacity of 30 inches to the right and 15 inches to the left. It’s ready to get the job done right!
Pros
Cons
10. SKIL 3410-02 Contractor Table Saw - Best for the Money
Key Features
The Skill 3410-02 is a popular jobsite table saw with a powerful 15-amp motor and 10-inch blade. One of the best things about this unit is its low price, which is why it is our pick for the best contractor table saw for the money.
The Skill 3410-02 is highly portable, with a weight of only 67 lbs and a foldable steel stand. The powerful motor and the 3½” cut-height capacity allow for longboard cutting and crosscutting smaller workpieces with ease.
With the EZ view measurement system and self-aligning rip fence, you can make accurate micro-measurements and adjustments with this affordable contractor table saw. The cast aluminum table is 20” by 26”, but you can extend the work surface to 20” by 32” if you want to cut larger pieces.
Pros
Cons
Final Verdict: Our Overall Winner
DEWALT DWE7491X
After reading this table saw reviews, we hope you have gathered enough information to select a contractor table saw that meets your specific needs.
Most contractor table saws have power ratings of 15 amps at 120 volts. They differ in terms of efficiency and quality, though. So it is crucial to consider all the features of the best contractor table saws that are available before purchasing it.
According to our research, the DeWALT DWE7491X offers the best value when it comes to power delivery, quality, safety, and versatility. If you have a limited budget, however, you can’t go wrong with the DEWALT DW745. For the best combination of values, consider the Powermatic PM1000– our premium choice.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Contractor Table Saw for You!
Before buying a new contractor table saw, spend some time considering the features that best meet your workshop requirements. Here are some of the most crucial buying considerations to help you achieve optimal value from your investment:
Power
Contractor saws power rating, in watts, indicates the rate at which the saw converts electrical energy into kinetic energy. When you’re shopping for a table saw, the power rating is worth considering, especially if you want to run it from a generator or photovoltaic (PV) system (a solar-power system).
Contractor table saws wattage also are an indication of a saws cutting capabilities. If you want your contractor table saws to cut thick lumber or hardwoods, such as mahogany or oak, you need a power rating of 750 watts or more. If you can’t find the wattage rating of a unit, multiply its amperage (A) by its voltage (V) rating.
For example, the Shop Fox W1837 has a 15-amp rating at 120 volts, and a 7.5-amp rating at 240 volts, giving you a power rating of 1,800 watts.
Amperage
Amperage or amps (A) measures the current that contractor saws draws at a full load. Most household circuits can accommodate only 15 amps, but industrial sites might carry a current of up to 20 amps.
The amperage that contractor saws draws at its operating voltage are the most accurate way to determine its cutting capability. We’d say that 15 amp motor is ideal because they provide the longest run within a temperature limit, and you will be able to use it on most worksites.
Horsepower
Many manufacturers list horsepower (HP) as a power rating. But this measurement isn’t standard across the board. As a rule, one horsepower equals 746 watts at 100 percent efficiency.
Keep in mind, however, that electric motors generally don’t operate at 100 percent efficiency. Let’s take the 1,800-watt Shop Fox as an example. To calculate its horsepower rating, we divide 1,800 watts by 746, which gives us an HP rating of 2.4.
Because motors with less than 5 HP are about 80 percent to 85 percent efficient, Shop Fox rates the unit at about 2 HP in its product listing. If you want to split hairs, consider the amperage, voltage, and watts of a unit instead of its horsepower.
Revolutions per Minute
Revolutions per minute (RPM) indicates the speed of the motor – not the speed of the arbor or blade that it drives. As a result, RPM is not the most significant consideration.
You don’t want the highest possible RPM, because these contractor saws tend to have relatively low torque. A low RPM – say, less than 2,000 – also is not ideal, because it won’t allow you to make accurate cuts. An RPM rating between 2,000 and 5,000 is suitable for most private, commercial, and industrial applications.
Blade Considerations
Type
You’ll find two types of blades available for contractor table saws – namely, rip blades and crosscut blades. The former has many teeth and relatively large gullets for speedy woodcutting. Crosscut blades have small gaps between the teeth for precision-cutting applications.
Teeth Per Inch
The more teeth per inch that a blade has, the slower, cleaner, and more precise the cut it can make. A blade with fewer teeth per inch will cut faster but will result in a rougher finish.
Size
Blade size is a feature that ensures compatibility with your table saw. Blade sizes typically range from 8 inches to 12 inches, with commercial and industrial blades usually being more substantial.
Material
The blade material you need depends on the material you want to cut. For wood sawing, you need a steel or carbon steel blade that offers some degree of flexibility.
If you want to cut metal with your contractor table saw, you need diamond-tipped tungsten blades. A tungsten carbide blade is best for cutting plastic materials, including PVC.
Table Size
Consider the size of the materials you will be cutting when you’re shopping for a contractor table saw, as it helps determine the table size you’ll require.
In general, contractor table saws are more significant than standard table saws, so you can use it for construction of things like roof trusses and doors. Of course, the size of the table also affects the saw’s portability and positioning in your workshop.
