Help Me Find A Good Table Saw

My wife wants a table saw. She's been wanting one for a couple years and I'm thinking about getting her one for Christmas. Problem is I know nothing about such things and need help.

Do any of you have a saw you like? Is there a good table that we can mount our current hand held circular saw to?

I guess I'm looking for something that either wont take up too much room in the garage, or folds up to allow easy storage, but isn't a piece of junk that wobbles all over the place and is difficult to use.

One of those items where you get what you pay for. While it isn't the "best" saw on the market, I have no complaints about the one I have.

Portable Table Saws, DEWALT Products

wait, wait, wait...


your wife is wanting a table saw? and you, the husband, know nothing about this manly power tool?


What's she getting you for Christmas; some nightgowns & a new ironing board?


anyway; usually this is something where you get what you pay for. The cheap ones ($100 B&D Firestorm type) will certainly cut wood, but how accurately and how nicely.

You could probably be alright with a DeWalt or Hitachi one that runs in the $500 range but again it's not going to be awesome...but most likely what you're looking for. I came real close to buying one for a specific project...but then I realized I could just rent it for that 1 project so I didn't need to worry about storing it in my garage.

I'm hoping for a sowing machine.

Thanks for your suggestions!!

Well, lets first ask....what are your/her intended projects?

What ever it is, make sure it can cut 4" thick. I hate when I've used ours to cut a 4x4, and I have to flip it over to finish the cut.

That's the most important question.

If Artsy Craftsy bird houses is all she intends to do then a basic Ryobi will fit the bill.

If she intends to do things of substance and quality she is going to need a little more.

Those two statements are somewhat disingenuous as someone with experience and developed talents (and patience) can get quite allot out of the Ryobi.

Without getting into hella (LOL) detail, it's all in the fence and vibration.

If I were you I would buy used.

I did a Craigslist search for table saws in Lubbock. There are a couple of what could be good ones in there.

Theres even an old Tilt Top Rockwell with 4" Jointer with what looks to be an old RI motor. Long as safety isn't the issue, open belts and such.

This one, a Craftsman 10" is a bit overpriced (and screw the wobble Dado) but it does have the table extensions which are nice for wider stock.

My suggestion for someone starting out in the hobby is a Iron Top Craftsman from the 50's~60's through the 80's. They're usually inexpensive and of good enough quality, and if tuned up they give quite acceptable results. I have one thats dedicated Dado, and I paid $20 for it.

Things needed checked on a used saw is that everything moves smoothly through tis range of motion, locks in place, and that it wasn't ran with sheaves and loose blade.

4" thick or 3 1/2 x 3 1/2?

I can't think of a 10" that will show 4" of blade, the arbor washer would be through the table top/ insert.

Even 3 1/2 is asking allot of a 10". Many 10" will do a 3.5 cross cut on a 4x4, I wouldn't want to make a habit of it, good luck with ripping a 4x4. Long 2x4s are a **** to rip.

Regular cutting of stock over 2~2 1/2 inches requires a 12 or 14. But then we are no longer talking homeowner/hobbyist, not even construction. Better off with a chop saw.

Be real careful about this.

You never know where this stuff leads.

It starts with something simple like a table saw.

And as long as 'you're' active in woodworking it never ends.

There comes jointers and chisles and planes and routers and drills and measuring and lay out instruments and, and and and ...

If you are not trying to cut sheets of wood, a chop saw might do what you need also.

We deal with a lot of scrap stuff that has pieces cut from it and such, and some of the stuff really is 4x4, but most of the "4x4" stuff that I was referencing was about 3.5x3.5 or so. I just hate making two cuts to cut in one spot. I've just put stuff in the vise, and used the chainsaw many times.

You guys are hella helpful.

Yea, Carlene would like to have a router as well. We've even gone shopping for one, but she decided to wait.

Having the table saw will likely lead to more wood working projects. She built a new entertainment center for our living room last week. It turned out really nice. We've talked about making a stand for our bed with drawers, but never had the guts to start that. Might be the next thing.

Thanks for the suggestions!!