Smaller table saws-- Dewalt, Ridgid, Bosch, or others?

[Hohn]

Ok fellas.



I've decided that woodoworking is a lot easier and more fun if you can actually make a straight cut. I know-- quite the discovery!



I have right now a nice miter saw (DeWalt DW706 12"), and a decent Circular saw (Hitachi cs7b). I also have a big-mama Milwaukee Orbital Super Sawzall, that's not much use for anything with tolerances of less than an inch or so.



So here's my first question: is there anyway I can use what I have to avoid the expense of a decent table saw? All the circ-saw cutting guides have disappointed me, and they don't seem to give the nice straight cuts I want. I even tried clamping a large level to use as a makeshift fence, but it's practically impossible to get it positioned PERFECTLY, and then clamp it down, as the act of clamping it seems to move it every time.



So, that brings me into table saw land. In my mobile life, space is at a premium, and I have to keep the weight of all my possessions under the military limit.



So the first decision: what class of table saw? I was quick to rule out a cabinet saw, as it's too heavy and takes up too much space. I'll get one when I retire



What about a contractor saw? Now, THIS was a better option for me. I've used JETs before (very nice!), but that's more than I'm willing to pay, and they're a little too big. A smaller size contractor saw (like a Delta TS350) was more what I'm looking for, but it didn't QUITE seem to be what i wanted, though the price is pretty good at <$400.





Enter my discovery of the "jobsite" size table saw. The compact size of these immediately caught my eye. There are a lot to choose from between Sears, Lowe's and Home Depot. I also noticed that the compact jobsite saws were cheaper.



But that was JUST the problem!! They were CHEAP! The fences seemed so flimsy that they were practically useless. I'd be back to clamping down a level! The miter slots has so much play in them that they felt like toys, not tools. The FENCE IS HUGELY IMPORTANT to me, more than power, size, ease of adjustment, and all that.



So, I was able to find three smaller, portable saws that actually seemed to have decent fences-- the Dewalt DW744s, the Ridgid TS2400, and the Bosch 4000. They are all 13amp-15amp saws of modest size and range from $450 (Ridgid) to $550 (Bosch).



All three of these appear to be pretty good saws. I love the Rack-and-pinion fence setup of the DeWalt, but the fence isn't that sturdy. The unit also "felt" like it was of lower quality than the price indicated. My impression: another DeWalt that's good, but not as good as it's priced.



The Ridgid was a little bigger, but seemed to be of good quality. The fence was super-sturdy, but the floor model wasn't assembled properly, so it felt imprecise to adjust (but rock-solid when locked). The portable stand of the Ridgid was very appealing, and would work well to help me sace space. It would probably work very well for me, and was $60 less than the smaller DeWalt.



Then there's the Bosch. This thing just seems to be in a class by itself. The fence is super-precise and always locks perfectly square (very important to me). The stand it comes with is an engineering masterpiece. The motor is as powerful as 110V will support. The table expands wide enough to rip a 4x8 sheet down (over 24" rip capacity, which the other two saws also will do). The Bosch also has a LEFT-tilting blade (which is AWAY from the fence), and I strongly prefer this setup.



All in all, the Bosch just looks like the PERFECT saw-- giving me full sized capability in a modest sized package that won't take over my whole garage.



Now, I own tools from all kinds of makes, but I don't own any Bosch tools. I like the Hitachi stuff I have, but their table saws just seem lacking (look at Lowe's and see what I mean-- cheap fences and lesser precision in the machining of the miter slots, which are non-standard!).





I was blown away by the Bosch. Is there something else I should be considering?? Are there smaller contactor saws that have good fences and over 24" rip capacity? Though the Bosch is the priciest, it appears to be the best value, as you get your money's worth and then some.



I'd consider the DeWalt, as it's also a nice unit (and right now, you get a free jigsaw for buying one), but the Bosch seems tailor-made for me.



Does anyone have a Bosch 4000? I'd appreciate your comments on the Bosch, or just table saws in general. I'd like to stay under $600.



jh

 

[jeff95]

I have the Dewalt and it is a very good saw. I am a contractor so my tools are my life. I have recently been looking at replacement saws as mine has a few years on it now. I think all three are good quality products. I don't use my table saw for miter cuts, purely ripping lumber. I have not used the Rigid or Bosch but, I expect that they work just as well as the Dewalt. My gut feeling is that the Dewalt and Bosch have more accurate fence systems but, Rigid now offers a lifetime warranty on power tools. Let us know what you purchase and how it works for you.

Jeff

 

[Mundgyver]

I have the Rigid on the folding table with wheels, It came in second to the Bosh in a review I read. I am very happy with it as it is portable, just wheel it where I need it and pop it up and start cutting. The wheels are a nice size so I can pull it over rough areas of the yard and it pulls easy. Has a good strong motor and does a very nice job on the cutting. I don't think you would go wrong with one of these.

 

[mroodzant]

Bosch Bosch And Bosch. I have used the Rigid and the Bosch. Both saws have precision rip fences. All the other saws I looked at were no comparison. I burned out a motor on the Rigid and I own the Bosch and have been using it for full time jobsite use for almost a year. No complaints.

 

[Alphacowboy]

i have a huge selection of Ridgid tools, and use them everyday. The folding table saw is next on my list. The Dewalt one I have used in the past sucks monkey balls in my opinion. Havent used the Bosch one, and I am sick of hauling around a heavy arse Delta (not really a portable) I used a customers Ridgid he had in his garage (he told me too use it if needed. ) and it was awesome, fence was nice and solid and stayed where I put it. It also handled ripping anything I put through it.



I dont think you will go wrong with the top two, Ridgid or Bosch, but the great experiance I have had with my Ridgid tools would definately sway me toward the Ridgid.

 

[mroodzant]

I read the same review in Fine Home Builder Magazine about the rigid. I tried it first but it was not up for the longevity test.

 

[GMincher]

We have a Bosch that has the livin' crap used out of it. I'm quite impressed. However we use it almost daily and they're not cheap. If it's just for recreational use I'd have nothing against a less expensive saw. If you look at them it'll drive you crazy as most are very similar and almost always made in China. I have a Craftsman portable job site saw that was useless. I burned it up cutting 1x pine boards. Shame as it was light and handy. Our basics are DeWalt, good customer service and pro models are usually made right here. The Black and Decker plant(Or whats left there) is actually in my town. Greg

 

[Alphacowboy]

I read the same review in Fine Home Builder Magazine about the rigid. I tried it first but it was not up for the longevity test.

But everything does fail... hell I have had the expensive crap die on me and the cheap crap last forever! go figure. I guess lucky for me I know the Ridgid repair man, lives 10 min. away from my house, so if I have a problem, he is close! Only issue I had with my Ridgid tools is the trigger burn out on my 18v drill, which was a problem with the first run of these drills, no problem since and my second one has been flawless. The brake died on my 12" miter saw as well, but I havent had a chop saw brake not die on me. they all seem to last a little over a year and then die, but that could have a lot to do with the fact I run expensive heavy carbide blades in them, I dont use that cheap crap blades they sell at your local hardware store. Blade weighs 2x as much, but gives you glass smooth cuts time and time again!



Anyway, just like our trucks, all have different options, some people like one better than the other and unfortunately they all have their little problems and quirks. BUT, we buy what we see fit and what fits our needs and wants as close as possible. So, with that said, buy what ya want! I just do NOT like Dewalt tools. I have had way too many issues with them, so i do not own a single one. Plus thier QC seems to have dropped alot in the last few years. I use to only buy Porter-Cable tools, but they went down the crapper nd ended up being bought by Dewalt (glorified black and decker!) I do use one Dewalt tool and that is thier 12" slidding compound miter saw. I will admit this is a thing of beauty! but anyway, again, buy the one you like the most that fits your budget.

 

[Hohn]

I'm almost to the point of saying "screw it" and just BUYING the crap I want to make.



Then I could take the $550 of the Bosch and buy a TST box!!



jh

 

[Fishin Guide]

Hohn,



all I own is Dewalt. This is due largely to the proximity of a Dewalt repair center. No other manufacture has one close. And the ability to get a looaner tool when I drop one off is a huge plus. I am out an hours woth of time and that's it.



BTW, the only tool that ever stopped functioning was an older compound setup that got too much sawdust in the trigger. Dewalt updated it and I had it back the same day.



That was 5 years ago. I have not had one other Dewalt failure.



Dave

 

[BTighe]

have you looked at makita table saws at all. ive talked to quite a few finish carpenters on the job and alot of them ran the makita a love it. my uncle has one and its pretty nice. i have a 90 dollar delta but thats all i need. i would look at teh makita and the bosch. ive used the dewalt miter saws and they were sweet but havent gotten my hands on a table saw yet. i dont like the hitachi table saw but i would let my sliding miter saw go for nothin. get what you pay for

 

[E2360]

Rigid table saw.

96% of my power tools are Milwaukee but, I recently bought the Rigid Contractor table saw. I love it. Tolerences are fine for everything except the most exacting cabinet making. Fence is pretty good and I like the built in tool/fence storage. Folds and stores easily. For the Money It was the best saw. Craftsman and Dewalt were very "thin" feeling. Ya, you could spend more... . depends on what you are using it on.



Pay attention to your sent up, measure fence from the front and back of the blade and take the money saved and put it into the Blade.



You really want to see a difference in a saw, use a good sharp blade.



Thats my $. 02

 

[Holzarbeiter]

I'm a contractor and do mostly top end trim jobs. I have owned a ridgid for 5+ years now, in that time i have burned up 4 motors and the saw is back in the shop for its 5th. I like the stand, can live with the accuracy of the fence, like the expansion of the table and it's compact size. The motor is a emerson piece of crap, it is sealed and can't be rebuild so replacement is the only option, that is great when there is a lifetime warrantee but that is only through a certifed repair shop. The tool repair place I have been using for over 10 years (great people) stopped doing ridgid warrantee work do to reimbursment problems as well as a long wait on parts. It took 1 hour on hold to get ridgid rep on the phone which was followed by 3 transfers with additional waits to find out that there was nobody in the area to service the tool. Only other option was to send it 100 miles up the road. Now it is a paper weight until further notice.

A friend of mine bought the same saw recently and was told it only has a 3 free replacement of parts.

Ok, I'm done now sorry for the rant, you are better of bying Makita, Bosch, DeWalt... ... .

 

[WestT]

Ok fellas.



I've decided that woodoworking is a lot easier and more fun if you can actually make a straight cut. I know-- quite the discovery!



I have right now a nice miter saw (DeWalt DW706 12"), and a decent Circular saw (Hitachi cs7b). I also have a big-mama Milwaukee Orbital Super Sawzall, that's not much use for anything with tolerances of less than an inch or so.



So here's my first question: is there anyway I can use what I have to avoid the expense of a decent table saw? All the circ-saw cutting guides have disappointed me, and they don't seem to give the nice straight cuts I want. I even tried clamping a large level to use as a makeshift fence, but it's practically impossible to get it positioned PERFECTLY, and then clamp it down, as the act of clamping it seems to move it every time.



So, that brings me into table saw land. In my mobile life, space is at a premium, and I have to keep the weight of all my possessions under the military limit.



So the first decision: what class of table saw? I was quick to rule out a cabinet saw, as it's too heavy and takes up too much space. I'll get one when I retire



What about a contractor saw? Now, THIS was a better option for me. I've used JETs before (very nice!), but that's more than I'm willing to pay, and they're a little too big. A smaller size contractor saw (like a Delta TS350) was more what I'm looking for, but it didn't QUITE seem to be what i wanted, though the price is pretty good at <$400.





Enter my discovery of the "jobsite" size table saw. The compact size of these immediately caught my eye. There are a lot to choose from between Sears, Lowe's and Home Depot. I also noticed that the compact jobsite saws were cheaper.



But that was JUST the problem!! They were CHEAP! The fences seemed so flimsy that they were practically useless. I'd be back to clamping down a level! The miter slots has so much play in them that they felt like toys, not tools. The FENCE IS HUGELY IMPORTANT to me, more than power, size, ease of adjustment, and all that.



So, I was able to find three smaller, portable saws that actually seemed to have decent fences-- the Dewalt DW744s, the Ridgid TS2400, and the Bosch 4000. They are all 13amp-15amp saws of modest size and range from $450 (Ridgid) to $550 (Bosch).



All three of these appear to be pretty good saws. I love the Rack-and-pinion fence setup of the DeWalt, but the fence isn't that sturdy. The unit also "felt" like it was of lower quality than the price indicated. My impression: another DeWalt that's good, but not as good as it's priced.



The Ridgid was a little bigger, but seemed to be of good quality. The fence was super-sturdy, but the floor model wasn't assembled properly, so it felt imprecise to adjust (but rock-solid when locked). The portable stand of the Ridgid was very appealing, and would work well to help me sace space. It would probably work very well for me, and was $60 less than the smaller DeWalt.



Then there's the Bosch. This thing just seems to be in a class by itself. The fence is super-precise and always locks perfectly square (very important to me). The stand it comes with is an engineering masterpiece. The motor is as powerful as 110V will support. The table expands wide enough to rip a 4x8 sheet down (over 24" rip capacity, which the other two saws also will do). The Bosch also has a LEFT-tilting blade (which is AWAY from the fence), and I strongly prefer this setup.



All in all, the Bosch just looks like the PERFECT saw-- giving me full sized capability in a modest sized package that won't take over my whole garage.



Now, I own tools from all kinds of makes, but I don't own any Bosch tools. I like the Hitachi stuff I have, but their table saws just seem lacking (look at Lowe's and see what I mean-- cheap fences and lesser precision in the machining of the miter slots, which are non-standard!).





I was blown away by the Bosch. Is there something else I should be considering?? Are there smaller contactor saws that have good fences and over 24" rip capacity? Though the Bosch is the priciest, it appears to be the best value, as you get your money's worth and then some.



I'd consider the DeWalt, as it's also a nice unit (and right now, you get a free jigsaw for buying one), but the Bosch seems tailor-made for me.



Does anyone have a Bosch 4000? I'd appreciate your comments on the Bosch, or just table saws in general. I'd like to stay under $600.



jh

i have a bosch 4000 and I love it. I've had it about 4 months.

I had an old craftsman that it replaced.

there is no comparison to the power.

U can use the fence marker once it's calibrated. u don't have to measure with a pocket tape. the mobile stand is well worth it.

I also got the extensions for the side and the back for bigger pieces.

The only thing I noticed was when the saw blade is angled for bevel cuts, it 's not quite square. I still need to do some kind of adjustment there.

good luck,

you'll like it.

tom