Table saw

[FiremanT]

I bought a relatively cheap Einhall table saw from either Screwfix or Toolstation. When assembling it, I thought it seemed reasonably solid.

However, when I used it, the guides were useless, and just kept moving slightly, making a genuine paralell cut impossible. The angle acccuracy was poor, althiugh i think I now know how to adjust it. Finally, the motor seemed to be labouting, even when cutting 18mm melamine.

So I now have to disassemble and return.

Can anyone recommend a reasonable but inexpensive table saw - is there such a thing?

I am currently building a new decking area, so could use it for cutting boards lengthwise. Early next year I intend to fit a new kitchen, when it will be really useful. Beyond that it will probably mainly sit in a shed.

Thanks

 

[ETAF]

Can anyone recommend a reasonable but inexpensive table saw - is there such a thing?

probably not - What is the max budget
Just a DIYer
My son-in-law has quite a few tools mainly dewalt - BUT he has an evolution table saw and has done a lot of cabinet making work on that , and had good results
i think he has the rage5 - when it was on offer a few years back
i was thinking of a dewalt table saw , and did a lot of research - BUT they changed the rules on blade size , I have 250mm bladed in my SMS and wanted to use the same size blades , as i have a few different teeth
BUT the DWE7485 seems to be the replacement , has some good reviews on youtube etc , and often bundled with a stand for a sale price
in the end , I decided to get some guides and use a circular saw mainly for most of the DIY i do now

how useful for fitting a kitchen , not sure , i have fitted 4 kitchens and my brother has done many and we never used a table saw, a plunge saw and a router was used , even the plung saw we may not have needed - BUT the router and guide for joining worktops etc

 

[^woody^]

I have a DeWalt model for the exact reason of crap guides on most table saws.

The DeWalt has a rack and pinion guide and it's solid, easy to adjust and precise. I think Bosch have or were releasing something similar, but either way you're looking at around £400 or so for the Dewalt.

 

[FiremanT]

probably not - What is the max budget
Just a DIYer
My son-in-law has quite a few tools mainly dewalt - BUT he has an evolution table saw and has done a lot of cabinet making work on that , and had good results
i think he has the rage5 - when it was on offer a few years back
i was thinking of a dewalt table saw , and did a lot of research - BUT they changed the rules on blade size , I have 250mm bladed in my SMS and wanted to use the same size blades , as i have a few different teeth
BUT the DWE7485 seems to be the replacement , has some good reviews on youtube etc , and often bundled with a stand for a sale price
in the end , I decided to get some guides and use a circular saw mainly for most of the DIY i do now

how useful for fitting a kitchen , not sure , i have fitted 4 kitchens and my brother has done many and we never used a table saw, a plunge saw and a router was used , even the plung saw we may not have needed - BUT the router and guide for joining worktops etc

Thanks.
I have no real maximum budget, but obviously want to spend no more than I have to. But it is clearly pointless buying cheap if the work cannot be done.
I had seen the Evolution Fury, but looks very similar to the Einhall. I did wonder if they are all basically the same and rebadged?

The Rage 5 does look different and heavier? Although about 50% more.

When you say “guides” do you mean tracks? To be honest, I have only ever seen circular saw tracks once, and not in actual action. I had thought you have to use a plunge saw? I will have to look at some YouTubes.

One of the most useful uses for a table saw is cutting a narrow strip of a fairly narrow board. One cannot do that with a circular saw - does a track system enable it?

 

[ETAF]

i meant a normal circular saw with a metal guide next to it - NOT a track/Plunge saw
so i meant this , sort of thing , I purchased from FFX when it was on offer - NOT suggesting this

VJS/CG/50 - Varijig clamp guide 50 inch

Varijig clamp guide 50 inch

www.trend-uk.com

BUT no good for small items - great for cutting 8x4 sheets down , which i have done quite a few times when building built in furniture - like window boxes - made 2 , big cupboard, here under projects , toilet vanity units , shelving etc etc

One of the most useful uses for a table saw is cutting a narrow strip of a fairly narrow board. One cannot do that with a circular saw - does a track system enable it?

Yep, a table saw would be good for that , although a plunge saw can do that - only need to look at peter millard youtube videos to see plunge/track saws in action

if you have no budget , then personally , I am biased , i would look at the dewalt table saws (I just have all dewalt tools pretty much now , only because i bought into the cordless system years ago, although my SDS and SMS are corded ) or other brands that are used by the trade - Milwaukee, Mikita etc

As ^woody^ suggests and i saw on lots of youtube videos the dewalt had good reviews - and i would have purchased a corded version so brand was not critical as if cordless - it was on offer with a stand at FFX - only issue was they where out of stock and it took 6mths before it came into stock - and by then i had done the work

originally I wanted a table saw with a 250mm blade - but that got crazy priced and then the rules changed about size of blade and table

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

One of the most useful uses for a table saw is cutting a narrow strip of a fairly narrow board. One cannot do that with a circular saw - does a track system enable it?

I made one of these -

It does most of what I might need.

 

[ETAF]

i kept meaning to do that , great idea , i have a few templates i use for setting the guides i have , one for the dewalt baldes, 1 for the freud blades and 1 for the saxton blades as they all have different kerfs, and i used to use different blades - NOW i pretty much use saxton blades as they are cheaper than having the Freud blades sharpened , which i did once the 250mm blades and the 165 blades about 6 in all (24,40, 60,80 teeth blades)

one of many comparison videos on youtube

and comments on the rack and pinion system, and the poor guides on the Einhell

you dont say what einhell model you have

 

[johnny2007]

Whatever you go for, you'll need a good blade to get a clean and effortless cut.
I only use freud blades and cuts are superclean, motor doesn't struggle and nothing vibrates.
I have used einhell and erbauer table saws and I didn't have any trouble with the guides.
Mind you, I fitted my freud blades on them.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Only a DIYer but I have the Titan and get consistently parallel results with that. Or perhaps I've got low standards?

 

[FiremanT]

i meant a normal circular saw with a metal guide next to it - NOT a track/Plunge saw
so i meant this , sort of thing , I purchased from FFX when it was on offer - NOT suggesting this

VJS/CG/50 - Varijig clamp guide 50 inch

Varijig clamp guide 50 inch

www.trend-uk.com

BUT no good for small items - great for cutting 8x4 sheets down , which i have done quite a few times when building built in furniture - like window boxes - made 2 , big cupboard, here under projects , toilet vanity units , shelving etc etc


Yep, a table saw would be good for that , although a plunge saw can do that - only need to look at peter millard youtube videos to see plunge/track saws in action

if you have no budget , then personally , I am biased , i would look at the dewalt table saws (I just have all dewalt tools pretty much now , only because i bought into the cordless system years ago, although my SDS and SMS are corded ) or other brands that are used by the trade - Milwaukee, Mikita etc

As ^woody^ suggests and i saw on lots of youtube videos the dewalt had good reviews - and i would have purchased a corded version so brand was not critical as if cordless - it was on offer with a stand at FFX - only issue was they where out of stock and it took 6mths before it came into stock - and by then i had done the work

originally I wanted a table saw with a 250mm blade - but that got crazy priced and then the rules changed about size of blade and table

Thanks. I too have lots of DeWalt cordless stuff - only because my firm supplies DeWalt drill to us, so I have their batteries and chargers.

I saw a £400 DeWalt table, and thought I would probably go for it - I just bought a DeWalt chop saw, and is so much better than my old one.

However, I watched a YT video, comparing DeWalt, Evolution, Einhall and Skil. E came a poor 4th, I want surprised. I had asssumed Evolution was similar, but it pipped the DeWalt. Based on that video, I may go for the Evolution, it has rack and pinion, plus a large table - among other benefits. About £400/450

 

[ETAF]

i was surprised at that as well, is that the video i posted
I know my SMS 778 is better the evolution rage5 or 255 version

there are a lot of other videos - also have a look at some of the blade reviews - i spent out on freud blades and then on here recommended saxtonblades and I get good results with saxtonblades - which happen to be around (last time i sharpened - 2022) was the same as the cost to sharpen the freud blades - NO idea on current prices - which have just gone up

 

[foxhole]

Have Never needed a table saw during a kitchen install , or needed to rip decking boards, a circular saw would probably suit you better.