Portable Table Saw Buying Advice

[NickM]

Hi Friends,

I am a DIYer--repairs around the house, build small furniture, help a neighbor or two from time to time.

With that said, I am in the market (new or used) for a portable 10" table saw. Space is an issue. Currently I am lookng over the Bosch GTS1031 and the Craftsman 21829 with the gravity stand.

Your thoughts/experiences with either of these saws? Perhaps another brand of table saw?

To do rips and cross cuts now I use the Eureka EZSmart rail guide system, and while it is a nice system I find it a bit cumbersome. In addition, I own a Ridgid 12" dual compound sliding miter saw.

Ok, let's hear it.

Thanks!

Nick

 

 

 

[Ken Darga]

Bosch GTS1031 vs DeWalt DW745 Portable Jobsite Table Saws

http://toolguyd.com/bosch-gts1031-vs-dewalt-dw745-portable-jobsite-...

[Russ Haynes]

It's a good review, but it assumes that the only dado blade anyone would use is a 1/2".  It says that the Bosch will take a 1/2" dado stack but the DeWalt won't.  What about a dado stack thinner than 1/2"?  Frankly, the review is factually erroneous in the final paragraph when it says "[y]ou won't be able to use a dado blade with the DeWalt (at least not safely)."  If they're referring to a 1/2" stack, perhaps that is true.  But a 3/8" stack (which is all I use -- two passes = a 3/4" dado) works just fine.  And if I had any concern about using a 3/8" stack safely, e.g. not enough threads to lock it down tight or skipping the starting and ending washers, I wouldn't use a dado stack.  But seriously, how often do people switch out their blades to cut dadoes?  I do it only when I have a bunch of them to cut at one time.  The rest of the time I just take multiple passes with the regular blade.  When it comes down to which saw to buy, even the professional reviewers said these two saws were pretty evenly matched.  For my dollar, the DeWalt won.  But the Bosch is a nice saw.  Buy what you like -- but do NOT believe anyone who says the DeWalt cannot accomodate a dado stack at all.  Perhaps not a 1/2" stak - I don't know, never tried - but a 3/8" stack is no problem at all. 

[Ken Darga]

Thanks for your reply, Russ.

Sounds like you may have gotten a model with a longer arbor.

Russ Haynes said:

Nope, one to start and one to finish.  My stack goes:  T-washer, cutting blade, spacer, chipper blade, spacer, cutting blade, T-washer, arbor nut.

[Russ Haynes]

No prob -- thanks for posting that review.  I'll measure it tonight and take a couple pics of the saw with the dado stack installed (I was gonna de-pitch my blade anyway).  We'll see if the arbor is longer than the spec sheet says it should be.  Although that wouldn't be a bad workaround -- replace the arbor with a longer one.  Since dado blades are usually a smaller diameter, you could probably use a thicker dado stack than the short arbor could handle without overstressing the motor...  Hmmm...

Ken Darga said:

Thanks for your reply, Russ.

Sounds like you may have gotten a model with a longer arbor.

Russ Haynes said:

Nope, one to start and one to finish.  My stack goes:  T-washer, cutting blade, spacer, chipper blade, spacer, cutting blade, T-washer, arbor nut.

[Leslee]

 Nick,

 Hi and welcome to the community. I have a Craftsman Jobsite Table saw. I have no problems with it and it was easy setup. It also has a window on the deck so you could see the angle you are putting your saw when cutting a bevel cut like your miter saw. It was affordable at the time I bought the saw and I also read the reviews on the different saw than just compairing the specs of each saw. My was accurate right out of the box. I did do what the manual said and double checked the squareness. Even today it still cuts square and I use it as much as my miter saw. 

[michael evans]

Hi ken , what i was getting at was i do not know wether dewalt in the u.s.a. has a longer arbor than the models we get in europe? Any idea ken?

Ken Darga said:

Mick,

That's what I found.

Perhaps an "arbor stretcher" was used to make it longer.

michael evans said:

>>>... the dewalt will not take dado blades here the arbor too short....br/>

[Ken Darga]

Mick,

When I perused the DeWalt 745 saw, the arbor length wasn't long enough to accept a 1/2" stacked dado.

However, Russ Haynes posted he uses a stacked dado---blades stacked to make up 3/8" wide cuts.

Personally, I think the DeWalt saw uses the same arbor internationally.

One of my table saws will accept stacked dado up to 13/16",

another saw accepts a dado up to 1/2".

Two of the outside dado blades can be used to make a 1/4" wide groove, 

handy for making tongue a groove joints, on a table saw.

The outside blades make nice flat bottom grooves.

I use a single blade to make narrow 1/8" grooves, when making drawers using 1/8" thick bottom panels,

two blades for 1/4" grooves for making drawers with 1/4" bottoms,

and 1/2" stacked for making 1/2" drawer bottoms.

I use 6" dia dado---no need for an 8" dia blade.

For making grooves in long and wide stock, that are too large to safely cut on my table saw, I use my router.

My circular handsaws will accommodate a single dado blade or a other single blade with TFG teeth, to obtain a flat bottom groove.

michael evans said:

Hi ken , what i was getting at was i do not know wether dewalt in the u.s.a. has a longer arbor than the models we get in europe? Any idea ken?

 

[NickM]

Hi Friends,

Sorry for the delay in my reply. I have been on the road of late and now finally back home.

As for the Bosch 1031 (Amazon $359; stand $79) I appreciate the units small size and and easy handling and storage. However, the Sears 21829, I believe, is being discontinued and is on sale for $419. I plan visit this weekend to see if I can cash in on a Columbus Day sale. Keep you folks posted.

Be well, friends!

Nick

 

[Ken Darga]

As products are discontinued, many repair/replacement parts become NLA.

Sears only keeps a limited supply of parts on hand for a short period of time.

[NickM]

Hi Leslee,

Thanks for your reply!

I looked at your saw today--Craftsman 28463--and it seems to be a decent saw. (It has many similarites of the Bosch 1031!). It's on sale at Sears for $199. I am seriously considering it based on your comments. I would appreciate it if you could tell me more about it. The floor model was pretty beat up and I don't want to base my decision on that particular unit. For example, the main table and sliding extention wing were not flush (not by too much), and the saw it self seemed a tad bit shaky on the stand. So anything more you could tell me--good or bad--would be great.

Thanks!

Nick

Leslee said:

 Nick,

 Hi and welcome to the community. I have a Craftsman Jobsite Table saw. I have no problems with it and it was easy setup. It also has a window on the deck so you could see the angle you are putting your saw when cutting a bevel cut like your miter saw. It was affordable at the time I bought the saw and I also read the reviews on the different saw than just compairing the specs of each saw. My was accurate right out of the box. I did do what the manual said and double checked the squareness. Even today it still cuts square and I use it as much as my miter saw. 

[NickM]

Ken Darga said:

As products are discontinued, many repair/replacement parts become NLA.

Sears only keeps a limited supply of parts on hand for a short period of time.

Ken,

Good point! Thanks for making my decision more difficult! LOL

-Nick

[NickM]

Hi Friends,

Looks like I am going to lock-and-load on the DeWalt 745. Why? It's on sale at HD for $299, PLUS I have a $100 HD gift card that's been in my wallet for about a year. So, the saw will cost me $199 (plus tax) out of pocket.

Good deal. It works for me.

Be well all.

Nick