Buying a Table Saw for Husband- What should I look for?

that's nice of you I'm sure hell appreciate it if hes into his tools, most table saws a basically the same but the high end pro ones are a bit more powerful and more sturdier and will have a better depth of cutting, some of the answers here have not read your question makita, dewalt, Bosch are aimed at the pro and are quite expensive and are not really what your looking for, i would suggest have a budget in mind and speak to a tool supplier local to you and tell them what your looking for and they will be able to help you out other than that roybi or mcallister are not bad as starter saws and forget people saying that the cheaper saws are dangerous they are not any saw is dangerous

you might want to have a look at these as well

http://www.diytools.co.uk/diy/Main/ShopCategory.as...

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/categories/searc...

I wouldn't buy a cheep saw. That's like buying a cheep motorcycle helmet. All bench top table saws are direct drive. This means that when you hit the start switch, the blade is instantly turning at the maxium speed. Unless you buy one of the better machines that have what is called "soft start". The cheap machines ,or saws, are dangerous. The two best bench top saws on the market today are , Porter-Cable, and Bosch. Both have soft start technology. I have owned both and My favorite is Bosch because it has a bigger table and a better fence. From time to time you can find one that has been reconditioned at there factory and is sold through Amazon . com. They carry the full factory warranty as a new one. The 4000 series saw can be purchased with out there gravity rise Mobile stand for about one hundred dollars less. Just remember that cheep table saws produce cheep stuff, while a good quality saw produces quality products. There is an old saying that goes "The bitterness of pore quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgoten"!.

I would go to the wood working section and buy patterns of things I wanted made or make a list of the wooden item's I desired which required the use of this table saw. Hey need a picnic table? Picture frames? Yard decorations? Tables? Bookshelves? Heck make him a list before the purchase and then see what you get lol have a good one:-)

What a wonderful wife you are!

The main thing is not to buy an off-brand. Personally, I would go with DeWalt or Ryobi. But that's just me. A bench-top is most likely what you want. They are not that expensive and they are very portable.

You can wait for a sale at Home Depot or Lowes to maximize your savings. Another thing not to go cheap on is the blade. Even the best saw will under perform with a junk blade.

Here is a link that talks about this kind of saw...

I agree with bobo. Buying a saw for a man is like buying a dress for a woman. Much better off to let them pick it out.

If its simple try a Mastercraft brand they are inexpensive and what is called a table top model...that is one you set on a table without a stand......he can always insert it in a table or make legs for it...using the table saw.....a 10inch is about normal for around the house repairs and or crafts...if you purchase a brand name such as Craftsman or Ryobi and such they are good but really about the same......i have a mastercraft brand....and have had it for about 12 years now....still works like new and believe me its had ALOT of Use and i mean ALOT !!! Good Luck !!!

you can get a 10 in. rigid with a fold down roll away stand for under 500 dollars...i have one in my woodshop...you can buy better but you'll spend more...

i had a ryobi for 99 bucks about 5 years ago, i cut plenty with it and it never give me any problems, later i brought a whole set of ryobi cordless tools, i am not a professional builder because of it, can't live without it

buy ryobi at homedepot

well even if its a stsrter saw 5 cuts from a cheap saw is worth on cut from a good saw i highley recormend makita ther so reliable i have alot of builders in my family and we all use them they are money well spent

go to Lowe's they have a great one for just a little over 100.00 dallors