If you've decided to do those home improvement projects that you've always been talking about, then you may need to get one of those portable table saws to make the work easier. Clearly, there are plenty of things to take into consideration when looking for the best table saws; so what is it that you really need to know?
Essentially, you use portable table saws when you need to be able to move your saw around, which limits the capacity of them somewhat. They will be fully equipped to handle the light to medium sized jobs that you'll need it for around the home; but they would struggle a little if you had many large outdoor projects to do.
The best table saws will be adjustable, both up and down, and they'll be made of lightweight materials; making them easier to move if you have to move them on a regular basis. Because you're going to be using this at home, and you'll be using lower powered portable table saws than people in the industry, you'll be happy to know that they don't add too much to your next electricity bill, which may have negated the whole reason for doing it as a DIY project in the first place.
Typical portable table saws consist of a narrower table, usually made of a lightweight material like aluminum. Mounted on an arbor is a 10" in diameter, circular saw blade. They have a folding mobile base, usually a stand mounted on a couple of wheels, for ease of transport. Finally, there's the small electric motor, similar to that found in many of the hand tools that you already have.
Although a portable saw isn't quite up to the same specifications as a table saw used by a professional, it still has many of the same features, and they're going to be features that you'll quickly see the benefit of having.
You'll have the table providing support for the wood that you're cutting. You'll be able to control the cutting depth and angle by adjusting the height and angle of the blade. Of course, you'll be able to take the saw to the wood, rather than the wood to the saw, which may have caused you problems in the past.
If you really want one of the best table saws, and are prepared to pay a little bit more, you'll go for a model that has all the features. Your new portable table saw will have a miter gauge, extra blades, a rip fence, a blade guard assembly, and will be fully collapsible for ease of storage, and ease of transport if you decide that you have to help someone out with their projects.
If you do spend wisely, and get a miter saw, you need to make sure it has a miter gauge running parallel to your blade. The miter saw will save you so much time when it comes to getting those accurate cuts that you need; that alone can make it worth spending a little extra to get.
If you need a better option, for those DIY projects, and you can't justify going to one of the bulkier table saws, then a portable table saw should be enough for most jobs that you're doing. It will have some limitations on what it can cut, and it may seem a little 'lightweight'; but they are good, and they will save you a lot of time.
If you know that you're going to be using this quite often, then think about getting a slightly more expensive model. Even if you aren't using it very often, but accuracy and the finished look are important to you, then pay a little more to make sure it's a miter saw.
There is one last major drawback with having a good miter saw that gives you that perfect finish; you may find that new projects are presenting themselves on far too regular a basis for your liking; but these things happen, when you have one of the best portable table saws available.
