The Best Table Saw for Home Use in Australia — Top Picks and Buyers Guide
Do you need an alternative to a bulky cabinet saw, and an inaccurate circular saw? The best table saw for home use delivers impressive accuracy, portability, and affordability. Capable of rip cuts, cross cuts, bevels, and mitres — these machines offer remarkable grunt and speed for their modest size, permitting you to slice through dense timbers rapidly. Available in both corded and cordless options, you can select your DIY unit based on power reliability or portable freedom.
Best Table Saw Product Comparison Table
IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
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Best Corded Table Saw for Home Shop
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Best Corded Table Saw for Home Shop
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Makita MLT100N
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Features
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Check Price at Toolmart Tool Cobber Review Tool Cobber Review |
Best Budget Table Saws for Home Workshop
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Best Budget Table Saws for Home Workshop
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Metabo 610254190
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Features
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Check Price at Toolmart Tool Cobber Review Tool Cobber Review |
Best Portable Table Saw for Home Use
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Best Portable Table Saw for Home Use
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Milwaukee M18FTS210-0
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Features
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Check Price at Toolmart Tool Cobber Review Tool Cobber Review |
Best Home Table Saw for Safety
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Best Home Table Saw for Safety
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DeWalt DWE7491-XE
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Features
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Tool Cobber Review Tool Cobber Review |
Best Table Saw for Home Use in Australia Buying Guide
Whether you’re a hardcore home improver or a casual weekend DIYer — your powertool arsenal isn’t complete without the best table saw for home use.
Delivering brawn, accuracy, and impeccable finishes, these compact units offer greater precision than handheld circular saws — while boasting the capabilities of providing mitre and bevel, rip or cross cuts.
From making cabinets to building decking, crafting picture frames to creating shelving — they’re the masters of cutting versatility. Furthermore, they can tackle a multitude of materials, including timber, plastic, tile, and thin metal (with the correct blade).
And because they’re relatively lightweight for heavy-duty machines — and some models are available with cordless lithium-power — they excel at around-the-home portability and outdoor work.
When choosing your perfect home table saw, consider the following:
- Power.
- Size and weight.
- Blade size.
- Corded or cordless.
- Mitre and bevel capabilities.
What Is a Home Table Saw?
As the name suggests, a table saw is a powerful cutting tool designed to sit on a table, workbench, desk, or floor. It incorporates a perfectly flat tabletop cutting area with a circular blade partially extending above its face.
These remarkably flexible machines aim to provide accurate cutting capabilities while offering a choice of shearing options. Although they’re mainly used with timber, they can also handle some plastics and metals.
As the blade rapidly rotates around its stationary axis, you carefully guide your target material through the cutting edge. Using a combination of fences, pinions, and blade tilting — you can create anything from rip to cross cuts and bevel to mitre angles.
And, what separates home-style table units from trade machines is their size and movability.
Unlike pro-grade cabinet table saws, they require little space and can be effortlessly relocated from room to room. That said, despite being home machines, tradies often employ them as on-site portable machines where access to a cabinet saw is impossible.
How To Select a Good Table Saw for Home Use
The most powerful and hi-tech home table saw won’t be your perfect match if it doesn’t address your workspace, personal preferences, or project needs.
Here are some key considerations to think about when selecting your ideal table saw:
Power
Measured in watts for corded units and volts for battery-powered table saws — the power capacity is vital.
Perhaps most importantly, it affects the type of material that the machine can cut. For timber work, hardwoods such as maple and oak require immense brawn — instead of the relatively small grunt needed on pine. Furthermore, plastics and metals require more motor output than softwood cutting.
Additionally, if you’re planning on slicing through thick lumber — or tackling wide materials — you need a unit with significant power.
When choosing your table saw, look for machines with at least 18 volts or 1500 watts to handle most home jobs. Seriously dense material or tradies should consider 36-volt or 2000-watt capacity machines.
Size and Weight
Considering the mass and dimensions of your home-use table saw is vital — both for your convenience and that of others in your household.
Think about any workspace restrictions. Even if you have a dedicated workshop or garage for DIY, space is always going to be limited. Thankfully, even a small unit can fit neatly onto a relatively small table and prevent your wife from moaning about how you’re taking over the entire house with your tools.
Portability concerns are also a valuable factor. If you plan on using the unit in different rooms while you renovate — or need to pack away your saw when not in use to save space — look for a lightweight unit.
Blade Size
The blade is the business end of your table saw.
Its dimensions determine your machine’s cutting depth, slicing capacity, and ripping capabilities. Basically, the deeper and wider your target material, the larger the blade you need to achieve the cut in a single pass.
However, bear in mind that size comes at a cost — metaphorically and literally.
Substantially bladed units typically have a larger overall mass and weight to accommodate the blade and house a motor powerful enough to drive the cutting edge. Of course, bigger casings and engines mean a greater impact on your wallet.
The best small table saw for home use should have a blade of about 210 mm, while for more sizeable projects, it should possess a blade of 260 mm.
Corded or Cordless
Mains lead or battery power?
Corded table saws provide the reassurance of reliable and consistent power — particularly useful for those lengthy projects and tough materials that place stress on energy consumption. However, you always need nearby access to a mains socket — and increase tripping hazards caused by an extension cord.
Cordless home table saws deliver unparalleled portability, effortless relocation around the home, and problem-free outdoor work where there is no straightforward way to hook up the machine. However, running time can be short without a bank of backup batteries — and they’re harder on your bank balance than corded units.
Mitre and Bevel Capabilities
Undoubtedly, the best table saw blades for home use boast mitring and beveling abilities.
A mitre gauge allows you to create accurate angled cuts — ideal for making picture frames, shaping moulding, or cutting skirting boards. The greater the range of angles offered by the unit — the more versatile your machine.
Similarly, a bevel function permits you to tilt the table saw blade — enabling you to make angled cuts along the timber. This is a useful feature for making novel decorative edging or manufacturing cabinets.
Our Picks of the Top Table Saws for Home Use
Wading through the multitude of table saws online to find the perfect tool for your needs can feel overwhelming. Don’t worry, I’ve made the process simple!
Below, I eliminate the dodgy and the dross and bring you only the most impressive home table saws. Whatever your skill level and project demands — there’s a suitable saw for you!
Makita MLT100N
Our Rating: 4.8
With its generous blade, premium marque, and impressive brawn — the corded MLT100N from Makita is a mighty unit for the prosumer with a home shop.
Knocking out significant grunt from its 1500-watt motor and delivering a rapid 4300 RPM — it can tackle the most hardcore of timber jobs. Its right and rear extension tables provide sufficient space for larger workpieces, while the electric brake ensures quick stops for reassuring safety.
A newly designed blade guard — shielding its generous 260 mm blade — ensures low kickback and guards against overfeeding your workpieces. Adjusting the bevel angle and calibrating the mitre gauge (0 to 60 degrees) is straightforward through its effortless control knob.
Furthermore, this table saw offers convenience and practicality for the busy DIYer or light tradie. In-built storage compartments allow you to safely store the included accessories of the TCT saw blade, rip fence, mitre gauge, push stick, wrenches, and triangular ruler.
Pros
Safety focused.
Impressive storage.
Fast operation.
Generous 620 x 610 mm table.
Two-metre cord.
Cons
Heavy at 34.8 kg.
Trade aesthetic.
Metabo TS 254 M (610254190)
Our Rating: 4.8
Hailing from a reputable manufacturer, yet at a surprisingly affordable price point — the corded TS254M from Metabo is a table saw for the serious DIYer who needs a budget machine, but will not compromise on quality.
Targeting durability, its anti-warp tubular frame delivers unit protection and durability — making it suitable for demanding work in a serious home workshop. Its powerful 1500-watt motor provides 4200 RPM — brawny cutting power that’s backed by the reassuring safety of its quick-stop motor brake.
This user-shielding focus is further enhanced by intuitive restart protection — guarding against accidental start-ups after power outages. Furthermore, welcome soft-start tech gradually builds the motor up to speed, protecting the engine’s life.
Its effortlessly adjustable rip fence with double clamping and quick fastening ensures accurate cuts — aided by the unit’s -1.5 to 46.5-degree mitre. And, despite incorporating a modest 254 mm blade — this table saw still knocks out a surprisingly rapid 56 metres-per-second cutting speed.
Pros
Easy blade exchange with spindle lock.
Generous tool storage.
Extendable table.
Lightweight at 24.4 kg.
Arrives with a carbide blade and push stick.
Cons
Liable to walk under high-speed operation.
Handles feel budget quality.
Milwaukee M18FTS210-0
Our Rating: 4.9
With a modest 210 mm blade size, small footprint, and weight of only 20.77 kg — the Milwaukee cordless M18FTS210-0 offers the home user the ultimate in portability.
Despite its compact proportions, this 18-volt machine can still knock out an eye-watering 6300 RPM for rapid cutting. And, thanks to an innovative non-intrusive blade guard design, it manages to deliver a category-leading rip capacity of 622 mm.
For users who love interactive electronic tech, this table saw is equipped with wireless capabilities, effortlessly connecting to One-Key apps. This permits you to monitor the efficiency, location, and performance through an enabled laptop, smartphone, or tablet — and prevent third-party use.
Under the hood, its brushless motor ensures the ultimate in battery longevity. Furthermore, with cells that use the trademarked REDLINK PLUS intelligence system — your lithium-ion batteries are shielded against over-discharge, overloading, and overheating.
Angled cuts are permitted through its 0 to 47-degree mitre and bevel feature — and the unit comes complete with a blade, wrench, and a push stick.
Pros
Five-year warranty.
Durable metal cage.
The best table saw for portable use.
Transparent guard.
Wireless connectivity.
Cons
Battery and charger purchased separately.
Small blade may be insufficient for DIYers tackling large lumber.
DeWalt DWE7491-XE
Our Rating: 4.8
The DWE7491 from DeWalt is a portable powerhouse with safety consistently at the forefront of its design.
Its large blade guard shields your fingers from the saw’s sharp teeth, while an included push stick lets you guide material safely through the blade. Rubberized feet firmly grip the work surface, and a reassuring overload protection feature defends you and the machine.
Under the hood, a beefy 2000-watt motor delivers a speedy 3800 RPM blade rotation, effortlessly tackling the toughest of hardwoods. The DWE7491 also strikes a balance between portability and stability — its 742 x 577 mm base keeps it grounded, while its manageable weight of 26.6 kg allows for easy transport between job sites.
To boost accuracy and prevent hazardous airborne detritus, an included dust extractor adaptor keeps you and your work area free from sawdust. Furthermore, the rack and pinion fence ensures precise material control, while a durable steel roll cage protects the saw from accidental bumps and scrapes.
Pros
Five-year warranty.
Durable metal cage.
The best table saw for portable use.
Transparent guard.
Wireless connectivity.
Cons
Battery and charger purchased separately.
Small blade may be insufficient for DIYers tackling large lumber.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a weekend DIYer or a prosumer-level home improver — your projects demand the power, accuracy, and portability of a table saw.
More grunty than a jigsaw and more precise than a circular saw, these relatively lightweight units take up little space, can be effortlessly moved around your home and garage, and offer useful mitre and bevel capabilities.
When choosing your ideal machine, first consider whether you want a corded machine’s power reliability or the cordless model’s convenience. Then, depending on your most common project’s demands, consider the unit’s brawn, blade size, angled cutting, and size and weight.
So, take your home sawing game to tradie pro level — use our guide to select your best table saw for home use.
Home Table Saw FAQs
What Cuts Can You Do With a Portable Home Table Saw?
Portable table saws offer a multitude of cutting options.
These include rip cuts (cutting along the grain), crosscuts (slicing across the grain), bevelled cuts (vertical plane angled cutting), and mitre cuts (horizontal plane angled cutting) — using the correct accessories supplied with your machine.
What Should You Not Cut on a Table Saw?
While many table saws can handle some metals and plastics — with the correct blade and precautions — these materials are not generally recommended for slicing with portable units. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for guidance.
Furthermore, do not attempt to make curved cuts. This can result in injury, or blade and material damage. Instead, use a jigsaw or bandsaw.
Which Is Better, a Table Saw or a Bandsaw?
If your projects involve mainly ‘square jobs’ — such as fencing, shelving, or cabinet making, you need the accuracy of a home table saw. Conversely, if your jobs demand curves or free-form shapes, you need a bandsaw.
What Are the Safety Features of a Table Saw?
Generally speaking, the majority of reputable home table saws incorporate three safety mechanisms — a riving knife, anti-kickback tech, and a blade guard.
Some more safety-focused machines also include enhanced protection features such as overheating protection, push sticks, start-up locks, and electronic brakes.
What Size of Blade Does a Home Table Saw Use?
Portable table saws use three standard blade sizes:
- 210 mm (8.25 inches).
- 254 mm (10 inches).
- 260 mm (10.25 inches).
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