Measure twice, cut once – this is the Prime Directive of the carpenter.
It’s a proverb, if you will, which advises that you should always double-check measurements before taking any irreversible actions; and it’s solid advice that serves just as well in day-to-day life as it does at the workbench.
It’s also particularly applicable when it comes to the use of potent, toothsome power tools with the ability to chew through wood at an alarming rate of revs per minute, as what is cut cannot be uncut; it can be glued, but it’ll never be the same again.
I speak, of course, of table saws. The closest most will get to owning a mini Canadian lumber mill in their own home, providing a sturdy surface to work on and a rapidly rotating circular blade to work with, the table saw is an essential addition to the arsenal of anyone who wants to up their joinery game to the next level. Available in a wide variety of sizes and general configurations, if this is your first time toying with the idea of a table saw, just what are the things you’ll want to take into consideration?
What should you look for in a table saw?
With these three elements in mind, take a meander now through my thoughts as to a firm five favourites that I think might just be the fit for you. Read it twice, choose once…
Best table saws at a glance:
DeWalt DWE7485-GB
Best for: Power and precision
Protective goggles and gloves on, this giant of a grunt is the DWE7485-GB from DeWalt. It’s a table saw with a colossal no-load speed of 5800rpm, a massive ripping capacity of 610mm, a powerful 1850W brush motor, a 30mm bore blade with 24 razor-sharp teeth, and a built-in dust extraction system to keep sawdust out of your lungs and off the floor.
Perfect for jobs of all sizes, it has a maximum cut depth of 65mm, can be used to cut floorboards to size, construct fitted units, cut plinth and/or size timber swiftly and cleanly, while a pinion fence system and dual rack makes aligning and precision cutting easier and, moreover, safe, keeping your fingers well out of harm’s way.
With an aluminium table, the whole sawing shebang weighs in at just 22kg, while the L605 x W605 x H330mm dimensions give a good-sized platform upon which to work your wood magic.
A renowned name in the pantheon of power tools, at £500, yes, the DeWalt is towards the pricier end of the table saw spectrum (at least it is amongst the models I’ve rounded up here), but if you want a timber-tackling machine that can grow with you as your ambitions expand, the DeWalt is DeOne.
Buy now £500.00, Amazon
Ryobi 18V ONE+
Best for: Lower-cost, wire-free cutting
I’ve had the distinct pleasure of testing many of Ryobi’s truly innovative power tools over the years and although I’ve been utterly impressed with the company's incredibly flexible interchangeable One+ rechargeable battery system, I still found myself a little sceptical at the idea of a battery-powered table saw. And, as ever, I was wrong.
So, as I’ve already given away, eschewing the mains, the Ryobi 18V ONE+ HP Cordless Brushless 210mm Table Saw, to give it its full name, runs off a 5.0Ah battery (available separately alongside charger, incidentally, this is sold as a bare tool) that delivers around 40-50-minutes’ worth of tool-time, which may seem limited, but this relatively little, light-weight table saw set-up targets the more occasional joiner than it does the shed-dwelling obsessive.
With a blade bore of 30mm, a max. no load speed of an impressive 4500rpm and a rip capacity of 318mm, maximum depth of cut comes at 45mm at 45° and 57mm at 90°, giving plenty of play, while its dimensions and 16kg cart-around load make it a perfect portable option for those whose need might take them on and off-site.
Able to effortlessly cut through hardwood, the motor’s advanced brushless technology results in more power and a longer runtime, not to mention giving the device a longer life through less wear and tear, while the quick-lock rip fence makes it quick and easy to set up.
With the 5.0Ah battery priced at £100 and chargers costing from £39 upwards, the Ryobi still represents excellent value and let’s not forget, that battery will work with any other tool within its One+ range, so it’s an extra cost, agreed, but it’s also an extra investment in all your Ryobi power tools too.
Buy now £350.00, Ryobi
Metabo Ts 254
Best for: Construction site convenience
If you’re looking to take your table saw talents beyond the domestic domain and into more commercial concerns, then you’re going to need an option that packs power, flexibility and excellent portability, along with a set-up time that’s literally seconds; you’re going to need the Metabo TS 254.
Featuring a 30mm bore blade with a diameter of 254mm, a no-load speed of 4200rpm gives a colossal rip capacity of 630mm, delivering a maximum cut depth of 564mm at 45° and 87mm at 90°.
Incredibly compact when folded down, making transportation much easier, the Metabo comes with dual working heights of 850- and 355mm, letting you let rip standing or kneeling, whichever position better suits your specific style.
Also boasting electronic overload protection, a motor brake that stops the blade within 3 seconds and a restart protection function that stops the blade from suddenly spinning back to life after a power supply interruption, the Metabo is as safe as any power saw can be.
Dual port dust extraction sees to sawdust issues, whilst a precise parallel guide with double clamping and quick fastening makes getting down to the business of carving out extremely accurate cuts achievable in the blink of a safety goggle-protected eye.
Finally, relatively lightweight at 33.4kg and imbued with a built-in trolley design, the Metabo TS 254 is extremely practical and portable, making it ideal for the craftsman often on the move.
Buy now £496.00, B&Q
Makita MLT100NX
Best for: Greater cutting capacity
Looking for a table saw with an epic expanse of workable area? Then set your sawing sights on the MLT100NX from Makita. With a bed size of 960 x 690mm, consisting of a 610 x 620mm main bed and a 200 x 620mm profiled aluminium slide bed, two extendable beds increase the length to 840mm and width to 1310mm, so you get ample room to manoeuvre.
Power-wise, the 30mm bore saw packs a no-load speed of 4500rpm, with a maximum ripping capacity of 480mm and max. cut depths of 64mm and 93mm at 45° and 90° respectively, so oomph enough to cope with light to medium work.
Reasonably light at 35kg, thanks to the aluminium and plastic build, and on that latter material, some may find the plastic a little too plasticky, however, renowned for making robust tools, the Makita can hold its own at home for the hobbyist and on-site for the pro, so while the plastic may put some off, you can be reassured of build-reliability.
Of course, as Makita tend to make tools of a professional grade, they come with a professional grade price tag attached, in this case, £750, which is undeniably steep for the aforementioned home hobbyist. But for those with the money to throw at it, the Makita is a table saw that’ll see you good for life.
Buy now £780.00, Amazon
Bosch GTS 10 J Professional
Best for: Going Pro
A name synonymous with quality, Bosch is a power tool manufacturer that professionals swear by. And the GTS 10 J Pro is an excellent example of exactly why, featuring as it does, a 30mm bore, 254mm blade, a no-load speed of 3650rpm, a maximum ripping capacity of 635mm and maximum cutting depths of 56mm at 45° and 79mm at 90°.
What’s more, while its physical dimensions give plenty of space for all your cutting and ripping requirements, the Bosch’s 27kg weight and compact design make it perfect to pack up, sling in the van and head to the next place your table saw skills are needed.
With soft start and overload protection, blade tilt range and height adjustment are a breeze, allowing you to get swiftly on with the task at hand, unleashing the Bosch’s powerful 1800W motor on woods, wood composites, board materials and laminate.
Priced accordingly for a table saw of this calibre, its all-steel base construction means the Bosch is built to last, taking the bumps and bruises of everyday usage at home or on-site in its sawing stride, and far outlasting inferior options. So upper end of outlay, yes, but a tool that will see you sawing for a long time to come.
Buy now £619.01, Amazon
Verdict
Five examples of food for table saw thought, there. Of course, I’ve only really touched on the main attributes of each as, well, if I went into full detail we’d be here until Christmas. To that end, I suggest following the links supplied and looking deeper into the myriad merits of all and working out which best suits your personal intended usage and, of course, budget. Then, release the revs and let rip!
