Thread: Budget Table saws

Of those 4, my choice would be the Makita.

It's more than $200 less than the DeWalt, which, in the US, is rated as one of the best jobsite saws. Most reviewers and users rave about the DeWalt's fence, but here in Canada, the DeWalt can be had for less than half what Bunnings is asking. The Makita generally comes 3rd behind a Bosch jobsite saw, but there's not much between 2nd and third.

Dust collection on the Makita, and similar saws, is only so-so. They are designed for connection to a work shop vacuum, but in practice they are best used outside, if you can at all manage it.

The mitre gauge on a jobsite saw is also pretty average. But you will probably build yourself a cross-cut sled anyway Building a small table saw sled

Budget to buy some decent blades. What's supplied with the saw is OK, but not brilliant.
Buying quality cross cut and ripping blades is worth the expense -- but I don't think Bunnings carries any

I have the Makita and have found it to ba a good saw, I couldn't stretch my budget to accommodate a Dewalt/Metabo/Bosch, so picked up one of these when they were on special at Bunnings a while back.

As mentioned above, the mitre gauge is pretty ordinary, and as suggested by Ian, I made a cross-cut sled almost immediately, I also made a zero-clearance insert for ripping small strips (necessary to make the rails for the cross-cut sled), as the standard insert has a pretty wide clearance to allow for mitre cut angles.

I'm yet to make a heavy duty rip-fence, but that's next on my to-do list, the fence isn't very long, so movement at the outfeed side of the blade is pretty standard.

Steer clear of the Scheppach, there has been some discussion over the last few years on this forum about the lack of quality of various machines. In fact last week I was getting some tiling done on the new house and I asked how he liked his Scheppach electric tile cutter. Lets just say he was less than complementary.
Ian's comment about blades is a good one. Even if you buy a $2000 saw you will still want to get a better blade than the supplied one. I can recommend Diablo from Bunnings.
I got one for my scms because I stupidly put all my good blades in storage for a house move and couldn't get to them - found the quality of the cut was excellent.

Thanks for the replies much appreciated.

If I get the Makita I have seen that you can put a 260mm saw blade in to give it a maximum cutting at 90 degrees 93mm,found that here Makita - 1500w 255mm Table Saw - MLT100 | Total Tools
Has anyone done that?

I will get a top notch blade for it,for general cutting and ripping what would you go with ?

Is the Dewalt DW745-XE a better saw? Bunnings have it for $849???


Thanks again for everyone's help and answers

Cheers

I think the Dewalt is the better option if your budget allows it

Originally Posted by ozzielee303

Is the Dewalt DW745-XE a better saw? Bunnings have it for $849???

That's very difficult to say, as in part it depends on your experience and needs. And how much plastic you're prepared to live with.

But as a guide to popularity and/or value, in my market -- Alberta, Canada -- the different benchtop / jobsite saws retail for

DeWalt DE745 -- $450 CAD
Bosch GTS1031 -- $460 CAD

Bosch 4100-09 -- $840 CAD with gravity stand
DeWalt DE7490 -- $840 CAD with stand
Makita 2705 -- $800 CAD with stand

The Makita MLT100, sometimes described as the smaller sister to the Makita 2705, appears to no longer be available in my market.

You may wish to read some of the reviews, the Lumbrjocks one is from 4 or 5 years ago
Makita MLT100 Tablesaw - Australian Wood Review
Review: Makita MLT 100 not much good about it - by anobium @ LumberJocks.com ~ woodworking community

when I was looking at getting a portable/jobsite saw I thought the $450 CAD DeWalt and Bosch were better value

Originally Posted by jms_8087

I think the Dewalt is the better option if your budget allows it

Thanks for the reply
If my budget can stretch that far I might go with the DeWalt,if I cannot I'll go with the Makita and do some modifications to it to make it better.
Thanks

Originally Posted by ian

That's very difficult to say, as in part it depends on your experience and needs. And how much plastic you're prepared to live with.

But as a guide to popularity and/or value, in my market -- Alberta, Canada -- the different benchtop / jobsite saws retail for

DeWalt DE745 -- $450 CAD
Bosch GTS1031 -- $460 CAD

Bosch 4100-09 -- $840 CAD with gravity stand
DeWalt DE7490 -- $840 CAD with stand
Makita 2705 -- $800 CAD with stand

The Makita MLT100, sometimes described as the smaller sister to the Makita 2705, appears to no longer be available in my market.

You may wish to read some of the reviews, the Lumbrjocks one is from 4 or 5 years ago
Makita MLT100 Tablesaw - Australian Wood Review
Review: Makita MLT 100 not much good about it - by anobium @ LumberJocks.com ~ woodworking community

when I was looking at getting a portable/jobsite saw I thought the $450 CAD DeWalt and Bosch were better value

Are we getting ripped off or what with these prices compared to the Aussie market,sheesh!

Well put it this way,it will be a toss up between the Makita and the Dewalt budget allowing.
Thank you for the help
Cheers

Hi
Concerning the Dewalt saw,I see it is a 15 amp plug

I don't have a 15 amp plug in my house or shed and it would cost me a lot to get one,bummer!

Where did you see that it was 15amp? I can't see that mentioned anywhere on the Australian sites.
You weren't looking at specs on a 110V saw on a US or Canadian site were you?

I agree with Ian - Makita will likely serve you best.

The Carba-tec saw is actually a clone of the Scheppach, yet costs more. That might say it has better components, or it might indicate that Scheppach have dropped their standards of the 80s and 90s.

All the saws will be loud.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by Treecycle

Where did you see that it was 15amp? I can't see that mentioned anywhere on the Australian sites.
You weren't looking at specs on a 110V saw on a US or Canadian site were you?

Hi Treecycle
No I found it on an Australian site here: DeWalt Heavy Duty Table Saw DW745-XE 254mm - Bigger Boyz Toyz
It is in the specs bottom of page.

Cheers

Originally Posted by derekcohen

I agree with Ian - Makita will likely serve you best.

The Carba-tec saw is actually a clone of the Scheppach, yet costs more. That might say it has better components, or it might indicate that Scheppach have dropped their standards of the 80s and 90s.

All the saws will be loud.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Derek
Thanks for replying,I am learning so I hope you all will be patient with me.

I think I will go with the Makita,as I can modify it to make it a better one.

I have seen on many forums and internet searches that they had bad switches(power) I hope these don't,mind you that was old posts around 2010.

Thanks again

Originally Posted by ozzielee303

Hi Treecycle
No I found it on an Australian site here: DeWalt Heavy Duty Table Saw DW745-XE 254mm - Bigger Boyz Toyz
It is in the specs bottom of page.

Cheers

I expect they have copied the specs from a US site. It's only 1850 Watts, so just under 8 Amps at 240V (happy to be corrected on my maths!)

Cheers, Jeff