We research in-depth and provide unbiased reviews and recommendations on the best products. We strive to give you the most accurate information. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
No Experience? No Problem! Get Started on Woodworking with the Best Beginner Table Saw. Woodworking doesn’t need to be complicated. Find out what the best beginner table saw is and how you can choose the best one for you.
handyman.guide
Whether you’re new to woodworking or don’t have any experience using a table saw, getting one can be considered a huge upgrade for most woodworkers.
Table saws are considered complicated to use, but once you get the hang of it, it’s one of the most comfortable power tools for woodwork.
No one is born knowing how to operate table saws. One of the hardest things to do when starting in the woodworking world is actually learning how to use each tool properly.
When it comes to table saws, you need to choose your first one properly if you want to avoid getting overwhelmed with all the features, or in the worst-case scenario, sustaining injuries.
Table saws are great for a broad range of cuts, such as ripping, cross-cutting, dados, etc. Each one provides many features that can make your work easier and more comfortable. If you want to get started in the fantastic world of woodworking, keep reading for the best table saw for beginners!
The 5 Best Beginner Table Saws:
Post name Best Values
Summary
A table saw is one of the most reliable woodworking tools on the market. You can use them for a wide variety of projects at home or your job site. However, they can be complicated to use since there are many types of saws and features available.
For a beginner, a smaller saw is the best choice. In this case, the DeWALT DW745 saw provides the best value for money, with the only downside that it doesn’t come with a stand.
However, if you’re looking for more portability, the SKIL 3410-02 saw is a lightweight product that you can easily set up anywhere.
What is a Table Saw?
If you don’t already know what a table saw is, don’t worry! We are going to walk you through the entire process. A table saw is a powerful tool that is mostly used in woodworking projects. It’s made from a circular saw blade, which is placed on an arbor. Table saws are powered up by an electric motor that can work at different power levels, depending on the product.
The unique thing about table saws is in the name. The table saws’ blade usually comes through the top of a table. This table offers the user more support for the wood piece that’s being cut.
There are many types of table saws, so it’s easy to get confused about which one to choose first. Regardless of the kind of table saw that you choose, it’s one of the smartest investments that you can make if you want to get serious with woodworking or if you want to have a reliable tool to do DIY projects at home.
What are the Types of Table Saw?
Table saws can come in different shapes, sizes, materials, and even colors! Finding the best one for you is crucial if you want to achieve your projects’ best results. We will go through each type of table saw to start getting a better idea of which one can work best for your project.
Benchtop Table Saw
This is the most common type of table saw for beginners. It’s considered the smallest and most portable table saw on the market. However, don’t let the size fool you; these table saws can provide immense power that allows you to cut through a thick wood. A benchtop table saw is suited for homeowners who want a small workstation for their DIY projects.
While these table saws are as powerful as heavier models, they can be a bit expensive too. If you go for a cheap benchtop table saw, you could end up with a product that performs poorly. Overall, this is the best table saw for beginners who want to start from the basics more safely.
Job-Site Table Saw
These are slightly larger than the previous model. A job-site table saw comes with a stationary or folding stand for better comfort during usage. They use a powerful 15-amp motor to work, and they are best suited for any person who needs a table saw at their job site.
Contractor Table Saw
These are heavier and larger saws attached to a base. In this case, the ‘contractor’ model is less portable than the ‘benchtop’ one, but you can still move it from time to time. The difference between those two types of saw is that the contractor table saw provides a lot more stability in exchange for reduced portability.
Contractor table saws are best suited for people who work inside a garage or a workshop and may need to move their table saw from time to time. Remember that these are difficult to move by yourself, so if you get one of those, you may need help whenever you want to move it.
Cabinet Table Saw
this is considered the heaviest table saw model. They were designed to offer a high degree of accuracy and stability. However, they have to sacrifice portability; this type of table saw can’t be moved unless you upgrade it with some wheels.
A cabinet table saw is best suited for woodworking workshops that need a powerful tool for every project. If you own a garage workshop, you may not need to move the table saw very often, but it’s still something to consider.
Sliding Table Saw
This type of saw’s main feature is that it comes with a sliding table on the blade’s left side, which is attached to a folding arm. You can use this type of table saw for most ripping and cross-cutting projects since they provide a high degree of accuracy.
Why Do You Need the Best Starter Table Saw?
If you’re starting in woodworking, getting the best table saw for beginners is the proper choice since it provides the basic features you need without spending so much on a heavy-duty model. While buying the best table saw on the market may be the smart choice, it may not be as good for you since you’re not going to take advantage of all the features.
To wrap it up, if you want to start in the safest way possible, choose the best table saw for beginners; they provide most of the tools that you need to get your woodworking project done.
How to Choose the Beginner Table Saw for You?
As we said before, if you’re a beginner, the most logical thing to do is to get a table saw for beginners. As you gain experience with your power tool, you may consider upgrading to a heavy-duty model, but for now, let’s stick to the basics!
One of the most important things that you should look for when buying a table saw is comfort. It would help if you had a table saw that you could set up and adjust easily at first. There are also many additional features that you can get to make your experience even more comfortable, but we will get through those later in the article.
Table Adjustments and Storage
The best table saws allow you to adjust the surface of the table to something that you need. On the other hand, some models come with an adjustable fence that makes your work easier from your cuts’ left or right sides. Fence adjustments are as important as tabletop adjustments, so keep that in mind.
As for the storage, it depends on your goals. If you’re a homeowner who needs something small for the garage, consider getting a small or lightweight table saw that you could move quickly. If you have a big workstation, then you may get a bigger model. Regardless of the type of product that you choose, make sure that the base is secure. Unstable table saws provide a huge safety risk for everyone.
Blade Adjustments
The blade is one of the essential elements of a table saw. If you don’t have the proper blade for your project, you may get poor performance. If you’re looking for a starter table saw, the most likely cause is that you’re going to get a 10-inch blade. While a 10-inch blade is not the most powerful option on the market, it can manage most types of cuts.
Aside from the blade’s diameter, you can also choose from different teeth counts, gullet depth, and kerf widths. The teeth can determine the smoothness of your cuts. The higher number of teeth you have, the smoother the cut is. The gullet is designed to carry away chips and sawdust; the wider the gullet, the more it can carry. Finally, the kerf width can determine the amount of power the motor will work with and how much wood it can cut.
Keep in mind that in most cases, you can adjust the height of your table saw blade. This is great if you’re planning to make different types of cuts.
Rip Fence
If you’re starting, getting an adjustable rip fence, you can adjust the cuts’ location more easily. While most table saws already come with a standard fence, some models allow you to buy a separate fence that suits your needs.
Miter Gauge
A miter gauge can help you set your cuts’ angle, making for a more thorough job. Table saws come with some miter slots in which you can place the miter gauge. After you place it there, you can adjust it to an angle that fits your goals best. Keep in mind that a miter gauge is replaceable, so if the one you have doesn’t work correctly for you, you can always get a new one.
Dust Collector
A table saw usually generates a tremendous amount of sawdust while you’re working, which can be hazardous to your health. A table saw with a dust collector (a vac) attachment can contain most dust particles that come out of the piece when you’re working.
Safety Accessories
While these accessories don’t necessarily come with all saw models, you need to keep them in mind to avoid as many safety risks as possible. These are the following:
- Push Sticks – They allow you to keep the wood piece flat against the table and fence while cutting it.
- Anti-Kickback Paws – Kickbacks are a common reason for injuries. An anti-kickback paw allows you to immobilize the board if a kickback happens, which reduces the chances of cutting yourself.
- Blade Guard – It protects an extra layer of protection to your fingers, and it also prevents small wood pieces from falling onto the blade.
- Electric Brakes – Some newer models come with automatic braking features, which allow you to stop the blade in a faster way if something goes wrong.
Regardless of the number of safety accessories that you get, the most important thing you have to keep in mind is the table’s stability. A portable table saw usually has sturdy legs with hard plastic disks that you can adjust. Other models come with a folding stand that you can use to move the table saw around. Please choose a product that you can use without worrying about its stability.
Product Reviews: Best Beginner Table Saws
SKIL 3410-02 10-Inch Table Saw with Folding Stand
If your main focus is portability, the SKIL 3410-02 may be suitable for you. This table saw comes with a self-aligning rip fence and an ‘EZ’ view measurement system that allow you to make more precise cut measurements. The SKIL 3410-02 has a 15-amp motor that can drive the blade at 5,000 RPMs, which is a fantastic speed for the product’s size.
As for the table saw’s build quality, it comes with a heavy-duty steel stand that allows you to set it up anywhere you want more easily. You can also move it without needing much strength.
This product has a 3-1/2-inch cut height capacity, which means that it’s suitable for most woodworking projects. With the 15-amp motor and the blade’s height capacity, you can make most of the cuts without much effort. It’s a slightly smaller product, but it does the job perfectly.
If you want to read more about SKIL 3410-02, click here.
SKILSAW SPT99T-01 8-1/4″ Portable Worm Drive Table Saw
Place here Description for your reviewbox
This table saw is unique because it provides an all-metal construction. This makes it one of the most durable table saws on the entire list. The SKILSAW SPT99T-01 comes with a great precision rack and pinion system that allows for easier and quicker fence adjustments, which provides smoother cuts.
You can use this saw for heavy woodworking projects that require hours of work or thick wood pieces since it comes with a motor that can operate at lower temperatures, which prolongs its health. One of the best things about this saw is that it’s relatively easy to use; you don’t need a lot of experience to set it up, and you can move it around your job site if you need to, making it great for beginners.
However, since the product is entirely made from metal, it’s a hefty product that may not suit every type of beginner woodworker. If you can handle a heavy power tool like this one, consider giving it a go! You can read more about this product here.
Goplus Table Saw, 10-Inch 15-Amp, 36T Blade, 5000RPM, 45º Double-Bevel Cut, Aluminum Table, with Metal Stand & Sliding Miter Gauge
While this saw may seem small, it packs a punch! This saw comes with an aluminum tabletop with a 26-inch rip capacity, making it great for going through thick pieces of wood. As a bonus, the blade comes with a tooth count of 36 teeth made with carbide tips, which can achieve smoother cuts.
Some other features of this saw include a miter gauge and a rip fence. The GoPlus model comes with a sliding miter gauge that you can adjust from -45 to 45 degrees, and the rip fence can self-align, providing stability and precision on your cuts. As for the table saw itself, it weighs 46 pounds, so it’s considerably lightweight. You can set it up easily using its metal stand.
One downside of this table saw is that it doesn’t come ready to use out of the box. You have to adjust it thoroughly before you get the settings that you want for your cuts. While those features may not be attractive for a beginner, they can certainly work for those who are willing to spend a considerable amount of time reading the manuals.
Click here to read more about this product.
DeWALT DW745 10-Inch Table Saw – Top Pick
If you want the best portable table saw for your job site, the DeWALT DW745 is the way to go! Aside from amazing build quality, this saw offers a great rip capacity at 23 inches, which you can achieve on both ends of the blade.
This saw includes a rack and pinion fence system that works amazingly for your fence adjustments. Another good thing about the DeWALT DW745 is that it comes with many useful features that can make the work easier and safer for a beginner. These features include a push stick, a 10-inch carbide blade, a miter gauge, anti-kickback paws, and a blade guard.
As a bonus, the saw has a 2-1/2-inch dust collection port that you can use to connect the saw to a shop vac, making the dust containment process more comfortable. Overall, this is an excellent saw for a beginner with a powerful motor and useful features. You can read more about this saw here.
Delta 36-6023 Table Saw
This saw is similar to the DeWALT DW745, with the difference that this model is slightly heavier. Nonetheless, this is a great saw that a beginner can use to achieve smooth cuts on their woodworking projects.
The Delta 36-6023 saw has all the features you need to achieve better cuts: Great rip capacity, accurate rack, pinion fence rails, and strong build materials. This saw also comes with a powerful 15-amp contractor-grade motor that can drive the blade through most hardwoods.
Regardless of the type of cuts that you want to achieve, the chances are that this saw can perform them smoothly and accurately. Click here to read more about this product.
FAQs
What is the best table saw for home use?
DEWALT DW745 model.
What is the best table saw for a beginner?
Conclusion
Choosing the best table saw for you comes down to a matter of preference. However, make sure that you select a product that feels stable enough to work on it correctly. While the most recommended choice for beginners is to get a smaller model, you can get higher-end models to gain more skills.
