I started browsing through Home Depot’s pre-Black Friday 2016 tool deals, and came across a Ridgid portable table saw for $249. Whoa, that’s a good deal, at least that’s what I said to myself.
I then considered last year’s holiday table saw deal post, and it all came back. That Ridgid will likely go on sale for $199 again, but it’s not guaranteed.
In a few short weeks, we’ll see homeowner-grade table saws in the $119 to $150 price range. If you’re a DIYer or beginner woodworker and plan on buying a table saw for regular use on projects, it’ll be worth it to step up to a pro-grade portable saw.
If you’re a pro with daily table saw needs, you’ll probably want something bigger and maybe with a roller stand.
For your first portable table saw, or as an upgrade to an older saw with pre-modern safety guarding, these are the 3 best table saw bargains with few sacrifices.
They have small tables, but you can always build a base around them. Of the 3 saws, I think the Bosch is the only one you can equip with a dado stack.
As in past years, there’s the Dewalt DW745, a strong and very portable table saw with an excellent fence system. The Bosch GTS1031, another strong model that can be easily stowed in a home workshop when not being used. The Ridgid is a less expensive buy, but seems to have positive reviews each and every year.
My pick? The Dewalt DW745. I think that’s the best entry-level professional grade portable table saw. Dewalt’s fence system has nudged me off the fence I’ve been on for a few years. Previously, I’d consider the Dewalt and Bosch offerings to be about evenly matched.
Is there a different table saw that you think is a good buy for anyone looking to buy a portable table saw this holiday tool deal season?
Dewalt DW745
This saw’s on sale for $299, and while I’ve seen it go for lower, that typically only happens when a Home Depot here or there has a few saws left unsold towards the end of the holiday shopping season.
The DW745 is an older model, and I had thought it would have been replaced after Dewalt came out with a new series of table saws, but it continues to be sold. It’s especially emphasized during the winter holiday shopping seasons and Father’s Day.
$299 seems like a lot of money, double what you’d spend on an on-sale homeowner or DIYer saw, but you get your money’s worth in accuracy, adjustability, performance, and build quality.
This is still what I would call an entry-level professional-grade table saw, but I believe it’s the best saw of its kind out there.
Price: $299
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Ridgid R4516
Now priced at $249, and probably scheduled to drop to $199 at the peak of the holiday season, this Ridgid saw is more affordable than the others.
I’m not sure when I first learned this, but the Ridgid R4516 has built-in wheels and an extending handle for easier transport.
Of these 3 saws, this is the only one I hadn’t tested. Despite the lower price, I have strong faith in Ridgid as a brand.
Price: $249, $199 peak season price is predicted
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Bosch GTS1031
I was less enthusiastic about the Bosch Reaxx injury-avoiding table saw, but I’m not letting that pollute my positive experiences with the Bosch GTS1031 table saw. I reviewed this model quite a few years ago, and while I find the fence system isn’t quite as good as Dewalt’s, it feels more solid.
The best part of the GTS1031 is how it can be stored horizontally or vertically, and very neatly too. But, it’s not quite as easily carried as the Dewalt.
Price: $342
This is the highest priced saw of the bunch, and if history dictates what we see this year, the price won’t go any lower. It did drop to $299 once, but that was in 2013.
Buy Now(via Amazon)