I have been taking a close look at a lot of table saws recently. My purpose has not just been to find good products, it has been to find products that are good for the beginner.
If you are new to woodworking, there are certain features that will be of special importance to you. You want a saw that is safe, easy to use, but still very effective. Moreover, you probably also want to make sure that they are at least moderately affordable.
To that end, I can be of assistance to you. The products on this guide are specifically designed to suit a wide range of different price ranges.
That said, read on for some of the best table saws for beginners reviews!
Contents
Best Table Saws for Beginners Reviews
Top 10 Roofing Nail Guns
1. Hitachi C10RJ 10″ 15-Amp Jobsite Table Saw for Beginner
The Hitachi is a good, moderately priced piece of equipment. The fifteen amp motor will be good for average work. Though this unit doesn’t do great with extremely hardwoods it does suit the needs of the average project.
The Hitachi features a durable build, a reliable roll cage, and a very stable stand. In short, many features that facilitate the safe and reliable operation of your table saw. The stand also features wheels and can break down pretty effortlessly for ease of operation. For the beginner that doesn’t have much room, these features are sure to be extremely handy.
Power is really the only issue to keep in mind. The amps are decent here—reliable enough for most beginners even. However, if you need something that truly maximizes versatility you may need something with a little bit more juice behind it.
Additional Specification
- Best For: Any Workshop
- Voltage: 120 volts
- Motor Speed: 4500 RPM
- Weight: 96 pounds
- Blade Size: 8 x 13/16-Inch Dado
What We Like:
What We Didn’t Like:
2. Metabo HPT C10RJ 10″ Jobsite Table Saw
The Metabo features fifteen amps of power—enough to produce roughly 4500 rotations per minute. It is a very durable and portable unit that will do well to suit the needs of most average users.s Price is a huge selling point as well.
For a fairly modest amount of money, you get a durable, portable piece of equipment. You also get accessories. The unit comes with a rip fence, a great stand, and even some ten inches saw blades that will get you started. The budget-friendliness of the package will be great for beginners that are starting from scratch without any accessories.
Unfortunately, there are some concerns with the motor. Users are reporting that when they really push the motor—specifically with really tough materials the motor might overheat and stop working.
Not everyone experiences this, but if you plan on working with tough materials it is a consideration to keep in mind.
Additional Specification
- Best For: Any Jobsite
- Voltage: 120 volts
- Motor Speed: 4,500 RPMs
- Weight: 96 pounds
- Blade Size: 13/16″ Dado Blade
What We Like:
What We Didn’t Like:
3. Makita 2705 10-Inch Contractor Table Saw
The Makita is a durable piece of equipment that features a strong build and an extremely powerful motor. In fact, this may be the most powerful piece of equipment on the list today making it a good option for people that need to be able to work with pretty much any material that they come across.
However, there are some issues to bear in mind as well. For one thing, this is the most expensive tool on our list by a pretty large margin. Budget buyers aren’t going to want to dwell on this option for too long.
The costliness is worsened by the fact that you don’t get any accessories at all. There is no stand, no blades, no fence. Unless you already have those things on hand (which is unlikely, especially given that they would need to be compatible with this specific tool) you may easily have to spend an additional $500+ just to get the saw working.
Bottom line? For the contractor, this will be a good reliable table saw to consider. However, if that doesn’t describe your situation you will want to look for something else.
Additional Specification
- Best For: Shop or Jobsite
- Voltage: 120 volts
- Motor Speed: 4,800 RPM
- Weight: 82 pounds
- Blade Size: 13/16″ dado blade
What We Like:
What We Didn’t Like:
4. DEWALT 10-Inch Beginner Table Saw
The DeWalt is a great portable saw that combines storability with power. If you are a beginner that hasn’t quite carved out a large shop space yet, this is going to be a good tool to consider. The durable stand and roll cage makes the product easy to use either indoors or out, while the compact dimensions make it easy to store when you are done.
With 1850 watts of power it is also very powerful and capable of working with even very hardwoods. Finally, the cast tabletop provides you all the stability you need when working with wood stock.
In short, you get pretty much everything you could hope for out of a beginner table saw. The only real issue is the price. DeWalt tends to make expensive stuff. They kind of bank on the fact that theirs is the most recognizable name in the world of power tools.
It is a great piece of equipment but you will need to be willing to fork over a few dollars to get it.
Additional Specification
- Best For: Any Jobsite
- Voltage: 110 Volts
- Motor Speed: 5800 RPM
- Weight: 54 pounds
- Blade Size: 8-1/4″ dado blade
What We Like:
What We Didn’t Like:
5. Bosch 10-Inch Portable Jobsite Table Saw
The Bosch features a ten-inch build that will be good for buyers that are working with moderate-sized stock. It is a portable job site saw that is designed to be moved easily.
However, its portable features notwithstanding it is also an extremely stable piece of equipment that features a cast base and a roll cage that protects the sensitive components of the saw in the event of a drop.
It is also a very powerful saw that should be able to effortlessly work with most hardwoods. Last but not least, it also features a great dust port that will help you keep your workspace and your lungs clean.
Once again, price is the only real issue here. Though this unit is more affordable than our top choice, it still comes with a pretty hefty price tag that will be restrictive for the buyer on a budget.
Additional Specification
- Best For: Portable Jobsite
- Voltage: 120 volts
- Motor Speed: 3650 RPM
- Weight: 109 pounds
- Blade Size: 10″ Carbide-tipped Blade
What We Like:
What We Didn’t Like:
6. SKIL 3410-02 10-Inch Beginner Table Saw
The Skil is a great tool for the buyer on a budget. This is actually the most affordable product on our list today making it a great opportunity to save some cash on a good beginner product.
In addition to being affordable, this is also an extremely portable piece of equipment. This is a job site saw which means it can be easily moved indoors a doubt, then stored with ease.
It also features a solid dust port that will help you to keep your environment clean as you work. Do, however, bear in mind that it is not super powerful. For lighter projects, it should perform just fine. However, if you tend to work on projects that require a lot of juice you will want to gravitate towards something else.
Additional Specification
- Best For: Budget Friendly
- Voltage: 120 volts
- Motor Speed: 4600 RPM
- Weight: 51 pounds
- Blade Size: 5/8″ Dado Blade
What We Like:
What We Didn’t Like:
Beginners Table Saw Comparison Chart
| Name | Best For | Voltage | Motor Speed | Weight | Blade Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitachi C10RJ TableSaw for Beginner | Any Workshop | 120 volts | 4500 RPM | 96 pounds | 8 x 13/16-Inch Dado |
| Metabo HPT C10RJ Table Saw | Any Jobsite | 120 volts | 4,500 RPM | 96 pounds | 3/16″ Dado Blade |
| Makita 2705 Table Saw | Shop or Jobsite | 120 volts | 4,800 RPM | 82 pounds | 13/16″ dado blade |
| DEWALT Beginner Table Saw | Any Jobsite | 110 Volts | 5800 RPM | 54 pounds | 8-1/4″ dado blade |
| Bosch Jobsite Table Saw | Portable Jobsite | 120 volts | 3650 RPM | 109 pounds | 10″ Carbide-tipped |
| SKIL 3410-02 Beginner Table Saw | Budget Friendly | 120 volts | 4600 RPM | 51 pounds | 5/8″ Dado Blade |
Features to Take Into Account When Buying Table Saw for Beginners
It can be hard to select a single product when there are six great options to think about. Which will be right for your needs?
If you haven’t quite made up your mind yet you may benefit from some of the buying considerations listed below.
The Jobsite Table Saw
You don’t actually have to be a contractor to benefit from the utility of a job site table saw. These units are made to be both durable and portable—both qualities that any woodworker should be able to find plenty of use for.
They also tend to be more affordable than stationary units which is a big plus.
If you are in the situation of having limited shop space (a common concern of do it yourself) you will probably actually prefer the easy storability of a job site table saw.
Dust Ports
Dust ports are important for several reasons. For one thing, excessive dust can get into your tool thus jeopardizing the health of the motor. It can also cause a big mess in your shop, and most importantly, your lungs. Sawdust is a well-known carcinogen that can pose long-term health risks to woodworkers that work a lot.
The dust port tends to solve all of these problems. Get a good one and you will be able to avoid messes and keep your lungs healthy. That said, also bear in mind that the buck doesn’t necessarily stop with the port itself. Depending on how the dust collection system operates you may need to invest in a shop vac.
Shop vacs are larger pieces of equipment that do well to keep your entire shop clean. They can also be used in conjunction with a variety of other household chores, thus ensuring that you will get good use out of them.
Size
How big do you need the table saw to be? The bigger the saw, the bigger the stock that you will ultimately be able to work with. However, bigger saws also tend to cost more money and take up more room so there really are pros and cons to every consideration.
The average woodworker is probably going to benefit most from a nine or ten-inch table saw. However, you will ultimately need to consider your needs before deciding on a saw that will suit you.
Also, remember that you will need to buy saw blades that specifically correlate with the size of your saw. It is unsafe to use blades that do not correlate with the size of your tool so this is an important consideration.
Price
The price of table saws can vary substantially. Stationary units can easily cost several thousand dollars while portable ones are often available at under $500.
Chances are pretty good that you will spend something in between $300-1000. The more money you spend, the more stability and power you tend to get. However, the occasional user will definitely be able to find all the utility they could ever need out of a moderately priced product.
That said, when you are buying on a budget it can help a lot to consult handy guides like this one so as to avoid the pitfalls that are often associated with cheaper products.
Frequently Asked Questions & Answered
What is the best table saw for home use?
While that will ultimately depend on your needs, the DeWalt may ultimately be the best product for your home use needs.
What is the best cheap table saw?
The Skil saw is the most affordable product on our list today.
What should I look for in a table saw?
Every user is a little bit different. However, the average beginner will be best served by a tool that combines value, power, performance, and portability.
Which table saw has the best fence?
It ultimately depends on your needs. Some users may actually be best served buying their fence independently.
Conclusion
You’ve read the reviews, but do you know which product is going to be right for your needs? If you haven’t quite selected the perfect beginner table saw yet, consider a couple of my favorite picks.
If you want the most quality you can get your hands on and you won’t mind paying a little bit of money to get it then the DeWalt will be a suitable choice for your needs.
Meanwhile, if you are looking for a combination of value and quality your needs are likely to be well served by the SKIL 3410-02 10-Inch Table Saw.
Of course, these are just my preferences. Every pick on this list is pretty great at what it does so consult the guide as needed to find the perfect piece of equipment for your needs.
