abowers Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 I have been looking at small table saws, mainly the Dewalt dw745, because my old craftsman 10" is wearing out and becoming dangerous to use. This seems to be the one that gets good reviews, however, I see it does not have the capacity to install a dado as my craftsman did. Doing so few projects, and not really using the dado much, I would tend to use the router if I needed one for rabbets, etc. Would you consider this to be something you could live without. Do you have any other recommendation of a table saw in this price range. Price is my biggest concern at this point, next would be space in my makeshift shop. Anything I am overlooking? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knotscott Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 Are you buying the DW for price, or for the portability? If it's price, I'd look to buy a full size cast iron saw with a belt drive induction motor instead...used is a viable option to stay in budget if necessary. A portable saw gives up a lot of advantages for the sake of the portability if you don't need that benefit. As far as dados go, you can do them with a router, but I generally prefer to have the mass and power of the TS on my side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 All I can say is that I got my hands on a Bosch jobsite table saw and I hate it every single day, especially sundays. Get a real saw with dado capability, even a second hand unit in good condition will make you happier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikem Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 I had a jobsite that I started out with, and almost 5 years ago, I bought a 113 series craftsman contractor saw from craigslist (cast iron top, induction belt drive motor), and paid about $100 for it. I put another $200 into with a fence and other updates. It has been a proven machine for me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 I love having a dado stack - it's one of the advantages of owning a larger saw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 Counterpoint: I haven't used my dado stack since I abandoned my old Craftsman jobsite saw in favor of a used Ridgid contractor saw, about 2 years ago. And haven't missed it yet. But man, what a difference the saw makes! I'll give up working wood before I go back to a jobsite saw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim0625 Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 I have been looking at small table saws, mainly the Dewalt dw745, because my old craftsman 10" is wearing out and becoming dangerous to use. This seems to be the one that gets good reviews, however, I see it does not have the capacity to install a dado as my craftsman did. Doing so few projects, and not really using the dado much, I would tend to use the router if I needed one for rabbets, etc. Would you consider this to be something you could live without. Do you have any other recommendation of a table saw in this price range. Price is my biggest concern at this point, next would be space in my makeshift shop. Anything I am overlooking? Thanks I like having options. If I could meet the TS need and still have the capability to use a dado stack, I'd go for it. But then, I build things where I use the dado stack fairly regularly. If you're asking the question, you probably do too. Now.... are you willing to only use the router for cutting dados or rabbets? You already know what you want to do...yes? If you've been happy with the Craftsman and want another, they are ALL over craig's list for $100-$200. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FtrPilot Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 Personally, I would not buy a saw that didn't have a dado capability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 I would want to be able to use a dado but more importantly I would want power and table size of a larger saw. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pghmyn Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 I don't have a dado stack, yet, but I do plan on getting one. I've never used a small portable table saw before but I have used an older contractor style saw for awhile before I bought my current saw. Leaps and bounds above the previous one, even though it is only a hybrid. The size and weight of the machine are enough to make this decision pay for itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 I don't have a table saw with the capability of mounting a dado set due to where I live - I don't miss it as I've never had it. To cut dadoes I just use the router table. If I can't get it on the router table I use an clamp guide in the middle of the board and use the router hand held. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knotscott Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Not what you were hoping to hear, Aaron?... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim0625 Posted March 27, 2015 Report Share Posted March 27, 2015 Many ways to do the same thing.....pick your poison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted March 28, 2015 Report Share Posted March 28, 2015 I don't have a table saw with the capability of mounting a dado set due to where I live - I don't miss it as I've never had it. To cut dadoes I just use the router table. If I can't get it on the router table I use an clamp guide in the middle of the board and use the router hand held. where do you live that a dado stack is not available? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted March 28, 2015 Report Share Posted March 28, 2015 where do you live that a dado stack is not available? Terry is East of the Great Pond. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted March 28, 2015 Report Share Posted March 28, 2015 where do you live that a dado stack is not available? UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted March 28, 2015 Report Share Posted March 28, 2015 Dado stacks are unlawful there or just not commercially available? Either one. . I don't get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted March 28, 2015 Report Share Posted March 28, 2015 Unlawful. I have heard folks from over there say you could get away with it in a home, but product is not readily available because it is forbidden in production environments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted March 28, 2015 Report Share Posted March 28, 2015 Anybody have an idea as to why? I can't force myself to believe that a dado stack is more dangerous than using a router to do the same job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted March 28, 2015 Report Share Posted March 28, 2015 They are not allowed in commercial shops and haven't been for many years. You can do what you want in home shops but most if not all table saws sold in the EU (Europe) have not got sufficient length on the arbor to fit a dado stack. You can get a new arbor made of course, you can buy dado stacks and use them in your home shop. My particular table saw can't be fitted with a longer arbor. If you did the dado blade would hit the sliding table. Sliding tables are fitted to many table saws in the EU. The sliding tables are designed so that they almost touch a regular 1/8" blade. No zero clearnce insert required although I've made them for mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted March 28, 2015 Report Share Posted March 28, 2015 http://www.greatbritishwoodshop.co.uk/Tools/HealthandSafety/tabid/418/language/en-US/Default.aspx 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted March 28, 2015 Report Share Posted March 28, 2015 That's a good link from Carus that explains it. I'd forgotten about the 10 second ruling. This states that machinery should come to a stop within 10 seconds usually using a brake on the motor. The dado head potentially having a greater mass and therefore much more inertia than an 1/8" blade would be more difficult to stop within that time. My 1/8" blade stops in about 2 or 3 seconds but even if it stops within the 10 second limit or indeed 2 seconds it would still do much damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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