Bosch 4100-09 or Makita 2705 Portable table saw...which one?

[Stanley C. Pearse]

I am looking for preferably for a portable 10" table saw due to space limitations.  Over the last year I have been trying to determine to either go with the Bosch 4100-09 or with the Makita 2705.

My concerns with each are as follows and I would like to know if anyone of you can chime in and provide some insight.

The Bosch has been my first choice until I heard that there has been a wiring and a bearing issue.  Albeit a recent issue of Fine Homebuilding stated that Bosch has fixed the issue.

Hence I began looking at the Makita in November; however, I understand that there is an issue with the fence and that the miter slot is not a standard size, which would prevent me from using the the Kreg precision miter for instance.

So...can any of you please help me?

Thanks.

[Dreamcatcher Design & Build]

I have the Bosch 4100 also. I have been using it professionally ( I am a remodeling pro) for about 5 years now and have never had a problem with the wiring or bearing; although I have chatted with many fellow carpenters in professional forums who have had such problems. I guess I just got lucky, but I assume that if Bosch outright claims to have fixed the problem then it's probably not an issue anymore.

I remember back when I was shopping for a saw, and what my concerns were for each. I really liked the DeWalt fence system. But having used one for a long time I knew the motor ran rough and the cabinet was cheap and thin. I believe redesigned Makita and Porter Cable table saws were just introduced. Neither seemed to have a grasp on their new designs, both of which featured the extendable fence, so they were just too clunky and seemed cheaply produced. The Ridgid was a serious contender and I went back and forth over it. In the end I decided the Ridgid was just too bulky; I have a lot of tools to fit in my truck already. I finally chose the Bosch for multiple reasons. The table size is large (it is sometimes my makeshift workbench on-site) and with the front and side extensions makes it easy to rip plywood. I like the soft start motor which is reasonably quite and very smooth. It just feels well built (for an aluminum and plastic table saw). It has great storage and dust collection. The gravity rise stand is without a doubt superior to all others when it comes to set-up/clean-up/transport but the pneumatic wheels can make it a bit tippy when ripping very hard stock. The final straw was the price; I got it with the stand and the side extension for $600 which was an unbelievable deal back then.

[Stanley C. Pearse]

Was in HD again yesterday. While there I looked at the saw again.

1. Have you had an issue with the measuring tape that runs over the front rail?
2. How accurate is the distance gauge in the fence in comparison to measuring between the blade and the fence?
3. Any issues cutting hardwood (i.e. oak, maple)?
4. Do you know what horsepower the motor is?

Thank you Phil for your patience with my questions!!!!

Stan

Phil Howard said:

Don't get me wrong, the Bosch is a great product but to get a setup similar to the Ridgid you will pay $300-400 more for the Bosch. That's what helped make my decision easier.

Stanley C. Pearse said:

Thanks again Phil. I stopped by at HD last night on my way home from work and took a gander at it. You are right about the dust collection system...very simular to the Bosch.

I am intrigued about the Lifetime Warranty...have you seen any issues with it? Thinking about it...if Bosch is such a great product why don't they have one on their saw??? Hummmm.....

Phil Howard said:

The dust collection is great on it. Also, when you fold the saw/stand into the stored position it only takes up a few square feet of space. From all of the reviews I've read it looks like Ridgid used the Bosch as it's benchmark... they are both very similar.

Stanley C. Pearse said:

Thanks Phil. I will look into this saw.

One question...how is the dust collection / evacuation working on the saw?

Phil Howard said:

Get the Ridgid r4510. It's alot cheaper, on par with the Bosch, better fence and warranty. I bought it 6 months ago and couldn't be happier. Just make sure it's the r4510 and not the ts2410 because they look similar. The r4510 is the latest model with the split blade guard, riving knife, adjustable splitter, better stand and bigger on/off switch. The only downside so far is the dado insert plate is on back order and you'll have to make your own zero clearance throat plate. I got mine for $450 by using a Lowe's 10% off coupon at Home Depot (get a change of address packet at the post office, it'll include the coupon).

[Jim Taylor]

I have had the Bosch 4100 for 2 years. I have had Bosch tools for years and never had any real problem(except paying for them sometimes!). I liked the features of the 4100 and use it to cut sheet goods, and all kinds of wood for anything I am building (I'm just a retiree that does lots of remodeling, wood projects, etc) I added the digital readout after I purchased the saw and I really like the way it works and it's accuracy. The folding stand is the best! I drool over swapping out my miter saw stand for the Bosch, but have resisted so far.
A couple months ago I was cutting and all of a sudden the blade started running backward(strange feeling!). I shut it down, restarted and it would only run backward at a slow speed. A call to Bosch customer service revealed to me for the first time that this is a problem with the field shorting out in the motor. To fix, I could take off motor and ship to Bosch or take to a certified repair center which there is one about an hour away. The saw was out of warranty(go figure) so I hauled it to the repair shop(complete saw) and they ordered parts and fixed saw in two weeks and less than $100!
Have had no problems since repair. I did read all the war stories on the internet about the problem and I hope they have fixed the problem, because all-in-all it is a great saw for what it is made for.
I'll continue to use this saw for a lot of different projects until I can get that dream cabinet saw one day!

[Phil Howard]

Stanley,
I haven't had any problem with the tape measure in the fence although at first I was scared of damaging it. When I got it out of the box the distance was dead on although I did read about some people having to tweak it a little, regardless it's not tough to set it. It seems to easily cut through everything that I've thrown at it so far but the thickest material I've run through it was some 6/4 maple and it did fine. As far as horsepower, I'm not sure but being a 120v motor they usually top out in the 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 h.p. range. It just says 15 amp. I hope this helps you out.

Phil

Stanley C. Pearse said:

Was in HD again yesterday. While there I looked at the saw again.

1. Have you had an issue with the measuring tape that runs over the front rail?
2. How accurate is the distance gauge in the fence in comparison to measuring between the blade and the fence?
3. Any issues cutting hardwood (i.e. oak, maple)?
4. Do you know what horsepower the motor is?

Thank you Phil for your patience with my questions!!!!

Stan

Phil Howard said:

Don't get me wrong, the Bosch is a great product but to get a setup similar to the Ridgid you will pay $300-400 more for the Bosch. That's what helped make my decision easier.

Stanley C. Pearse said:

Thanks again Phil. I stopped by at HD last night on my way home from work and took a gander at it. You are right about the dust collection system...very simular to the Bosch.

I am intrigued about the Lifetime Warranty...have you seen any issues with it? Thinking about it...if Bosch is such a great product why don't they have one on their saw??? Hummmm.....

Phil Howard said:

The dust collection is great on it. Also, when you fold the saw/stand into the stored position it only takes up a few square feet of space. From all of the reviews I've read it looks like Ridgid used the Bosch as it's benchmark... they are both very similar.

Stanley C. Pearse said:

Thanks Phil. I will look into this saw.

One question...how is the dust collection / evacuation working on the saw?

Phil Howard said:

Get the Ridgid r4510. It's alot cheaper, on par with the Bosch, better fence and warranty. I bought it 6 months ago and couldn't be happier. Just make sure it's the r4510 and not the ts2410 because they look similar. The r4510 is the latest model with the split blade guard, riving knife, adjustable splitter, better stand and bigger on/off switch. The only downside so far is the dado insert plate is on back order and you'll have to make your own zero clearance throat plate. I got mine for $450 by using a Lowe's 10% off coupon at Home Depot (get a change of address packet at the post office, it'll include the coupon).

[Stanley C. Pearse]

By the way everyone.  I ended up purchasing the r4510 from Ridgid.  I just could not pass up the lifetime warranty and the saw was alot less too.  The way I looked at it the money saved allowed me to buy another tool.

 

Thanks!!!!

[Rick]

Please do not overlook the Ridgid R4510. I have one and it rocks!

[Gary roofner]

I have the makitia 2705 very nice portable saw nice large wheels. The height of table is also very adustable. One problem is the insert plate is odd size diffcult to get a zero clearence plate. I bought an incra sled with incra 1000 hd miter gauge fixed most of the problems with the insert. I also have a sled I was building I am going to connet an incra positioner to do ripping.

[Gary roofner]

Anyone other than myself that has a Makita 2705 contracter saw? Only problem I have with the saw is no avilabilty of a zero clerance insert plate? Plate is very thin not very easy to make your own the shape is simple rectangle.

[Gary Meeks]

Ok, When I was doing my leg work and internet eye search which portable table saw I wanted, budget $700.00 back then. Now, I have the bosch 4000- tablesaw without ditgal readout. This has a 3Hp motor, works great for me going on five years, got it for weekend projects, with limited space,  Check Spindle runout was .0015 ths. in tolerance of spec was new, and still that way now. The mitre fence had .002 convex  on tubing, I added a wood fence to correct that problem. Used stacking dado blade up to 3/4 wide slot. My opinion you get what you pay for, or go for the name. O' here's the kicker, keep the saw clean and respect the saw for safety reasons. This picture is over 4ys, I have an old habit of taking care of my equipment. Here's some stuff I made for my saw, a knee kill switch, extension support, dovetail replacment blade plate, and other stuff.

 

[Gary Meeks]