I would go with first choice the Dewalt, Skil has has gone downhill since its Glory Days. I have the Bosch, heard good things about the Dewalt, Know nothing about the Skil
First Table Saw
Hey I have some home projects coming up and I am looking to get my first table saw. I do not have a lot of space so only looking at portable table saws right now.
My budget is around $300 and I am trying to decide between theses 2 models. I can get both for $300 or less, the dewalt woulde be a little less with gift cards etc. Anyone have any experience with these models?
Skilsaw SPT70WT-22
Dewalt DW7485
My budget is around $300 and I am trying to decide between theses 2 models. I can get both for $300 or less, the dewalt woulde be a little less with gift cards etc. Anyone have any experience with these models?
Skilsaw SPT70WT-22
Dewalt DW7485
1 - 20 of 42 Posts
Adam, it looks like you're comparing a Skil 10" to a Dewalt 8 1/4" saw...what size is it you're interested in...? Or does it not matter...?
@Nickp Good catch Nick, I was thinking of the 7480,0r 745.
This one surprises me, I didn't know about it being a worm drive. that might be a game changer. I used worm drive Skilsaws on the job for over 50 years and they were the standard of the industry then. This sounds like an interesting saw and for the price it is a couple of hundred cheaper than my Bosch.. If you decide to get this one ,be sure to give us a review on it.
Herb
This one surprises me, I didn't know about it being a worm drive. that might be a game changer. I used worm drive Skilsaws on the job for over 50 years and they were the standard of the industry then. This sounds like an interesting saw and for the price it is a couple of hundred cheaper than my Bosch.. If you decide to get this one ,be sure to give us a review on it.
Herb
Reason I'm looking at the 8 1/4" DeWalt vs 10" skilsaw is the price since I can get both for less than $300.Adam, it looks like you're comparing a Skil 10" to a Dewalt 8 1/4" saw...what size is it you're interested in...? Or does it not matter...?
My first project for the table saw is for ripping hardwood floor, then it's whatever projects come up.
The DeWalt seems well put together and rack and pinion adjustment, but the skilsaw seemed to have some nice additions such as Diablo blade, worm drive 10" etc.
Yeah price and availability have me looking at the dw7485 since the dw7480 doesn't really seem to be available.@Nickp Good catch Nick, I was thinking of the 7480,0r 745.
This one surprises me, I didn't know about it being a worm drive. that might be a game changer. I used worm drive Skilsaws on the job for over 50 years and they were the standard of the industry then. This sounds like an interesting saw and for the price it is a couple of hundred cheaper than my Bosch.. If you decide to get this one ,be sure to give us a review on it.
Herb
@TheFlash In a more direct response to your question, I don't have either saw so I cannot comment...but...
The Skil's worm drive, 10" blade and higher RPM would tend to make me lean towards the Skil.
The Dewalt has a nice feature in the rack/pinion fence adjustment but that has never been a biggie for me (I bought the Bosch 4100)...
I read some of the reviews on both and there seems to be some issue with the fence...spend some time with the reviews so you go into it better informed.
Also, check the safety features on both, ie, riving knife specifically..does it adjust with blade height or is it fixed...?
The 1/2" dado capability of the Skil is also attractive but if you're going to cut grooves or dado's I would consider a saw that would allow you to go to 3/4"...
If you have the time to spend, gather some more funds and take a look at the slightly higher end portable saws...it might be worth it to wait and save a few more bucks for the 4100 or Dewalt...just a thought on budget versus value...
Side note...? I do like the worm drive and speed on the Skil...less likely to "bog down" on rips...
Good luck...let us know your progress...
The Skil's worm drive, 10" blade and higher RPM would tend to make me lean towards the Skil.
The Dewalt has a nice feature in the rack/pinion fence adjustment but that has never been a biggie for me (I bought the Bosch 4100)...
I read some of the reviews on both and there seems to be some issue with the fence...spend some time with the reviews so you go into it better informed.
Also, check the safety features on both, ie, riving knife specifically..does it adjust with blade height or is it fixed...?
The 1/2" dado capability of the Skil is also attractive but if you're going to cut grooves or dado's I would consider a saw that would allow you to go to 3/4"...
If you have the time to spend, gather some more funds and take a look at the slightly higher end portable saws...it might be worth it to wait and save a few more bucks for the 4100 or Dewalt...just a thought on budget versus value...
Side note...? I do like the worm drive and speed on the Skil...less likely to "bog down" on rips...
Good luck...let us know your progress...
Adam I would also give some strong consideration to a used saw if they are available in your area. There are some great deals out there that may just be better then new for the money.
I have the DeWalt 7491 XE, the slightly bigger brother to the one you're looking at (and the Australian notation XE, not sure what it would be where you are).
It's a great saw, and a bit more power than the 7485 I suspect.
The fence is held by rack and pinion and very good, comes with a riving knife and vacuum port on top of safety unit (can't remember it's name right now, too tired).
I love it, it works well. I bought a Diablo finishing blade for it and have not looked back.
It's a great saw, and a bit more power than the 7485 I suspect.
The fence is held by rack and pinion and very good, comes with a riving knife and vacuum port on top of safety unit (can't remember it's name right now, too tired).
I love it, it works well. I bought a Diablo finishing blade for it and have not looked back.
If they have the same power then the 8 1/4 will seeming have more power because of the smaller diameter blade. However, there is usally less variety in that smaller blade size than there is in 10 inch blades but that probably won't be a big issue.
The fence is the big deal. Look for reviews on Home Depot, Amazon, and any other site that has them. See if any one mentioned mentioned that as an issue. I bought a cheap saw from Sears when I was away from home and didn't have access to my big ones and the fence just about drove me crazy. First thing I had to do was take some sandpaper and glue it to the clamp on the far end to keep it from sliding around and every time I set it I had to measure at both ends of the blade to see if it was parallel. The rack and pinion fence on the DW should fix that issue once it's set properly.
The fence is the big deal. Look for reviews on Home Depot, Amazon, and any other site that has them. See if any one mentioned mentioned that as an issue. I bought a cheap saw from Sears when I was away from home and didn't have access to my big ones and the fence just about drove me crazy. First thing I had to do was take some sandpaper and glue it to the clamp on the far end to keep it from sliding around and every time I set it I had to measure at both ends of the blade to see if it was parallel. The rack and pinion fence on the DW should fix that issue once it's set properly.
I don't have either of these saws. I started out with a Skil 3400 portable saw which could use 10 inch blades. It was an okay saw but did not have 3/4 x 3/8 miter slots and the miter gauge was not very good. You can get around that by building a sled, but I noticed after a fair amount of use, the blade slot in the sled was wider than the teeth on the blade. This was probably due to the direct drive motor. I don't know what benefits a worm drive is, but I think it would be a far more accurate saw than the one I had. You might take a look at the throat plate on both saws to see how easy it would be to make a zero clearance insert which will give you cleaner cuts. I see the Skil saw gives you the ability to make a 25 inch wide cut. I know you are cramped for space, but you might think about what Steve says above and consider getting a used saw with a belt drive motor and putting it on a mobile base to shove it out of the way when needed. It's likely to be much more stable.
I'd search for a used saw with a 10 inch blade, 3/4 miter slots, and a really good fence. Take a little time to look it over if local, if it's beat to death, filled with sawdust, tweaked in some way, skip it. If you can find a Bosch 4100, it's a really good saw for your uses, but if you can use a little credit to get it, treat yourself to a new one in perfect condition. The table saw is the heart of all workshops, so spending a little more on it makes a lot of sense. What's that saying? Buy in haste, repent at leisure." BTW, today on Amazon, the 4100 is only $409! Not much of a stretch for what many Forum members consider the best entry level saw. The 4100 RT is only $380.
I see old Rockwell Beaver saws for sale fairly regular and they were a pretty good saw. A buddy wanted to upgrade from his to something bigger and more modern and I wanted to gift my old Craftsman to my inlaws so they would leave my Unisaw alone. He sold it to me for $100. They had a decent fence on them but I already had a good aftermarket one I switched it with. You can find them on Craig's list or marketplace web sites anywhere from about $100 to $300. They were fairly solid cast iron which has and will hold up much better than the aluminum ones like what you're looking at.
Adam I would agree with Chuck and Steve; I would look for a used table saw. There are great buys out there. These older table saws will be a great value and in my opinion a huge step up from the saws you are looking at. You can remove surface rust but watch out for pitting. Make sure the fence is solid--does not move. Check the arbor (blade is straight) and that all the pieces are there and work. You will be much happier in the end. Good luck!
Well I bought one today based on your recommendations! I couldn't find anything used in my area so I picked up a Bosch 4100-10 for under $390 new!
you will love that saw...Well I bought one today based on your recommendations! I couldn't find anything used in my area so I picked up a Bosch 4100-10 for under $390 new!
Well I bought one today based on your recommendations! I couldn't find anything used in my area so I picked up a Bosch 4100-10 for under $390 new!
You will love that saw...it does the job...see my thread for initial observations... https://www.routerforums.com/tool-reviews/72089-bosch-4100-house-unboxing.html
Happy you made that choice. That saw with the folding stand (no thanks on that stand) used to go for close to $600. A friend of mine had one that he built a special table for. The saw sits down into a U shaped table and then he micro adjusted the height of the saw to the exact height of the table. Gave him a larger surface to work on. He used it to rebuild his sailboat. Let us know how you like it. New tools are great fun, aren't they.
all those projects I've posted were done using a 4100...Well I bought one today based on your recommendations! I couldn't find anything used in my area so I picked up a Bosch 4100-10 for under $390 new!
You are not going to regret it, I have one for my 2nd go to saw in the shop. The blade that comes with it is not too shabby. I used it until it was getting dull and had it sharpened at the saw shop and it is even smoother cutting now.
Depending on all the accessories that came on it, I bought them all, but the LH extension. and rear extension are the most useful. Infact I bought another rear extension and put it on my Craftsman.
Herb
Depending on all the accessories that came on it, I bought them all, but the LH extension. and rear extension are the most useful. Infact I bought another rear extension and put it on my Craftsman.
Herb
1 - 20 of 42 Posts
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