In 2010 it will be mandatory for all table saws to have riving knives in order to meet UL approval. Craftsman, while not the first to do so, has added theirs early and done it in a way that really makes for some seriously advantageous upgrades to an already decent table saw. The Craftsman Professional table saw is a robust 10-inch model that has the latest safety features plus enough power to get most common jobs accomplished around the house or on the job site.
The new Craftsman Professional Table Saw has a lot of the power and features of a full-size table saw, but in a much more compact and portable job site design. Regarding portability, a telescoping handle and 6-inch wheels ensures that you can roll this saw around like a piece of luggage. On-board storage means that it’s just that much more convenient. The new 3 position tool-less blade guard and separate riving knife meshes versatility with safety and does a great job of providing safety features that are actual safe AND convenient (imagine that!).
Craftsman Professional Table Saw Quick Specs
- 15 AMP, 5,000 RPM
- 3 position tool-less blade guard can be used as a spreader and guard for through cuts, a riving knife for non-through cuts, and easily removed for dado cuts
- Steel tubing roll cage wraps around the saw’s cabinet for added durability
- Telescoping handle and 6-inch wheels for easy portability
- Right sliding table extension extends up to a 24 in. rip capacity
- Expandable rear out feed support for ripping operations
- Accepts 6 in. stacked dado set-up to 1/2 in.
- Self-aligning rip fence clamps on front and rear of table for cutting accuracy
- 3/4 in. T-slot miter gauge and dual T-slot miter grooves
- 2-1/2in. dust port for easy attachment of dust collection
- On-board storage for Miter Gauge, Push Stick, Power Cord and Blade Wrenches
- Includes: 36 Tooth Carbide Blade, Rip Fence, Miter Gauge, Blade Wrenches, Push Stick, Blade Guard, Anti-kickback Pawls, and Hex Key
What I liked was the tool-less nature of removing the blade guard and how easy it was to simply raise and lower the riving knife as needed. Once in the position you liked (relative to the blade) the knife would then rise up and down with the blade. It was also nice to be able to disengage the lock on the table decking and extend the right side so that it had a full 24-inches of clearance. The back deck of the saw has a movable rear out feed support which does well to catch wood as it travels out of the blade and extends past the saw.
What really took the cake, however was the portability of this saw. Now it would be 10x better if a collapsible stand were part of the $279 price, but the base saw does have oversized wheels and a pull out handle. That’s almost as good (not quite, but you will still be able to roll this system to several jobsites). About the only thing we noted with this saw that needed some tweaking was the ripping fence. The fence moved easily enough, but had a lot of play in it and we suspect getting truly precise measurements may be tough as a result.
This is a promising new addition for Craftsman and we’re looking forward to doing a full review as soon as we can get our hands on one.
