There is a lot of debate in the woodworking community about which brand makes the best table saws. Bosch and DeWalt are two of the most popular brands, and both have their fans and detractors. In this article, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of each brand, so you can decide for yourself which table saw might be right for you.
Bosch Table Saw
Bosch is a German company with an impressive reputation for building quality, reliable power tools. The most common table saws that people buy from Bosch are the models in their job site series.
These include:
* GTS1031 – 10-inch table saw; fence system adjustable from 0 to 50 degrees
* GTS1041 – 10-inch table saw; fence system adjustable from 0 to 90 degrees
* GTS1051 – 10-inch job site table saw with a rolling stand that is designed to be easily moved around a job site.
Bosch’s portable table saws are popular because they offer a good value for the money, and because people like their portability. A couple of things that set them apart from most other portable table saws are:
* They have an easy blade change mechanism
* The design of the rip fence ensures accurate cuts each time
Pros of Bosch Table Saws:
Bosch makes very solid machines, and their prices are reasonable. In particular, I am a big fan of the GTS1041. It is a beefy, heavy-duty machine that can cut through pretty much anything without flinching. I also like the Bosch portable table saws because their design makes them really easy to use (and especially easy to carry).
Cons of Bosch Table Saws:
The only real drawback with any of the Bosch Jobsite saws is that they are expensive, but this should come as no surprise you get what you pay for.
DeWalt Table Saw
DeWalt is probably best known for making power tools for industry rather than commercial applications, and anyone who has ever worked in construction knows them as one of the most reliable brands around. DeWalt’s reputation for building quality tools is well-earned, and their portable table saws are no exception. Two popular DeWalt models include:
* DW745 – 10-inch contractor table saw; fence system adjusts from 0 to 45 degrees
* DW788 – 10-inch benchtop cabinet saw, with a 20-inch rip capacity and a fence that adjusts from 0 to 50 degrees.
The biggest difference between the two machines is that the benchtop model has a cast metal wing for supporting large sheets of material, while the contractor model does not. This makes the contractor model far more suitable for any application where portability isn’t important you can get up to 2x more cutting power out of this machine if you have it set up in a stationary location.
Pros of DeWalt Table Saws:
The biggest thing in favor of the DeWalt table saws is their price point. If you are on a budget, these machines will get the job done without busting your budget. They also offer pretty good ripping power for their size.
Cons of DeWalt Table Saws:
Without question, one of the most common complaints about the two DeWalt models that we mentioned is that they require frequent blade changes this can be especially frustrating if you’re working with large sheets of material and need to change blades multiple times during each cut.
A Video Guide On Bosch Table Saw Vs Dewalt Table Saw:
How do the two compare in terms of features?
The table below offers a side-by-side list of all the features and specs that we think are important when comparing these two brands.
DeWalt Bosch Rip Capacity 20″ 10″ Blade Size 10″ 10″ Adjustable Fence Yes Yes Warranty 3 Yr Motor Rating 1.3 HP 2 HP Safety Feature No Active Response(Optional) Case/Stand Included No Rolling Stand Weight 81 Lbs 97 Lbs Overall Dimensions 37.1 x 21.5 x 33.9 Inches 37 x 24 x 36 Inches.
In general, the DeWalt table saws have a slight edge over their Bosch counterparts in terms of cutting power and rip capacity, but this is only a matter of degree. The truth is unless you really need the extra power (or if you’re making crosscuts using large sheets of plywood) the two model’s rip capacities and cutting power should be more than enough for most applications.
Keeping in mind that ripping capacity is only one aspect that goes into choosing a table saw, we can get a pretty decent idea about which machine will perform better by looking at the specs side-by-side:
Tablesaw comparison chart
DeWalt Bosch Dimensions 37.1 x 21.5 x 33.9 Inches 37 x 24 x 36 Inches Weight 81 Lbs 97 Lbs Rip Capacity 20″ 10″ Blade Size 10″ 10″ Adjustable Fence Yes Yes Warranty 3 Yr Motor Rating 1.3 HP 2 HP Safety Feature No Active Response (Optional) Case/Stand Included No Rolling Stand Cost.
Clearly, the DeWalt table saw is better overall, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t find an excellent Bosch job site table saw. Both machines offer high-quality features and components, so as with most things it ultimately comes down to personal preference. One feature that we especially like about both of these machines from a general standpoint is their ease of use. Many users have complimented both brands for their uncomplicated designs and intuitive functionality.
On a final note, if you’re looking to purchase one of these two portable tables for sale, it’s important to keep in mind that all of the accessories and replacement parts are interchangeable. So if you ever need to replace any components or accessories you can easily go either way although we recommend sticking with the same brand as your machine for maximum compatibility.
Following Questions You Need To Answer Before Buying A Table Saw
- What is your budget?
- How often will you use it?
If your table saw works only a couple of times a month then it doesn’t make sense to purchase a high-end model, for this reason, we aim at providing a fair comparison between two very different models. The Bosch has higher ripping power due to its 2 horsepower motor while the Dewalt has better cutting depth capacity because of its 20-inch rip capacity. Both are great machines depending on the use, you should choose one that fits your need.
When it comes to woodworking, there is no substitute for a table saw. It’s the number one machine in terms of importance according to pretty much every professional carpenter or woodworker I ever met. At first glance, they may look simple enough but if you take a closer look at their components and features, you’ll quickly understand why so many people swear by them.
That being said, choosing the right model can be quite confusing given how many different models are available today. If you’re like most people this will require doing some extensive research before making any decisions.
The best place to start would be to know exactly what you need
So before getting into the thick of things, keep in mind that this guide is for beginners who are looking to purchase their first table saw, or for anyone who isn’t really sure exactly what they need. If you’re an experienced woodworker with a fair amount of knowledge in this area then you probably know all about the various makes and models available today, so be sure to check out our other lists like best compound miter saws or best oscillating tools. Those may be better suited for your needs.
The fundamental components
When it comes right down to it there are only three main components that make up every table saw: The arm (aka “arbor”), the blade guard assembly (aka “blade guard”), and the rip fence/miter gauge / hold down.
The first two are used to control the cut, The arm holds the blade and its height can be adjusted using the knobs on top of the machine, this is commonly referred to as “rising and lowering” or “tilting”. The blade guard assembly makes up part of the table saw enclosure, it prevents kickback by rising during a cut and slowing or stopping the forward motion of any objects (ie: your little finger) that may come in contact with it.
It also helps protect you from flying debris like wood splinters, small particles like metal shavings, or dust created by cutting different materials, this consequently brings us to our last component which essentially all of these parts together; The rip fence/miter gauge/hold down. This is the part you use to make all of your cuts, it’s essentially a long bar that locks onto the table saw and has grooves running along its length which allow for quick adjustments during each cut.
Much like how you would line up a pencil when using a hand saw instead of cutting the wood directly. But there’s one more step you need to do before it’s ready for action!
Conclusion:
It’s up to you to decide which table saw is best for your needs. Both the Bosch 4100-09 and the DeWalt DW744XRS have their pros and cons, but we believe that the DeWalt DW744XRS comes out on top overall. If you don’t mind spending a bit more money, then this table saw is definitely worth considering.
