The DeWalt DWE7491 (aka DWE7491RS, DWE7491X) Table Saw Review
The DWE7491RS is an excellent consumer table saw that can meet the needs of the jobsite and be further fine-tuned to meet the minimal needs of entry-level woodworking. Home DIYers will appreciate the pro-sumer (pro consumer) build quality and if the rolling stand is purchased, the ease of transporting an otherwise bulky tool. This is an excellent first table saw or upgrade from a lower cost, economic table saw model (like the craftsman, harbor freight, etc…).
Recommendation
If you can purchase the saw with the rolling stand for less than $600, it’s a good deal and you should take advantage of it.
If the price is hovering in the $650 to $700 range, you will want to wait for the price to drop or consider purchasing a slightly more expensive table saw.
By increasing your budget to $900, you can get the performance and safety of a SawStop, the CTS-120A60 Compact model. For those with a flexible budget, the extra $200 goes a long way in getting a safer power tool.
Price History
It’s rare for the DWE7491RS to drop below $500 with shipping, so if you’re able to find it for that, it’s definitely a good time to buy. Anything for around $650 or less is what the price hovers around.
Anything in the $650+ range, we’d recommend waiting to buy. Otherwise, if your budget allows, considering something like the SawStop CTS-120-A60 may be a better option.
See the table below for information about the price history.
Date | DWE7491RS Price |
|---|---|
December 1, 2023 | $ 629.00 |
November 1, 2023 | $ 550.00 |
October 1, 2023 | $ 550.00 |
September 1, 2023 | $ 474.00 |
August 1, 2023 | $ 550.00 |
July 1, 2023 | $ 629.00 |
June 1, 2023 | $ 629.00 |
May 1, 2023 | $ 550.00 |
April 1, 2023 | $ 550.00 |
March, 1, 2023 | $ 550.00 |
February 1, 2023 | $ 550.00 |
January 1, 2023 | $ 645.00 |
December 1, 2022 | $ 585.00 |
2 Top Perks - Why You’ll Love the DWE7491RS Table Saw
The benefits of the DWE7491RS are abundant when compared to cheaper table saws. The rack and pinion fence, composite table top, metal components, etc. are all huge upgrades compared to saws at a lower price point.
However, all of those features are standard for purchasing a table saw in the $500+ range. Here are a few of the points we noted when comparing this to other table saws of the same price.
Good Quality Fence
It’s not a professional T-Square fence on ball bearings, but this is one of the highest quality fences you’ll find on a jobsite saw. The rack and pinion design for this fence should be standard on any jobsite saw in our opinion.
Clamp style fences are inaccurate at best, and dangerous at worst. This, combined with other reasons, is why we recommend against cheap table saws like the Crafstman….
You can do fine woodworking on this DeWalt table saw, although you’ll need to spend some time dialing in a few of the components, including the fence. Out of the box, the fence is within an acceptable tolerance for jobsite or weekend DIY projects. However, to get the most out of the saw, for any project, you’ll want to spend some time aligning it square to the miter slots.
High Quality Stand
The stand makes a difference, especially compared with almost every other jobsite saw that uses a scissor-style stand. The stand on the DWE7491RS is easier to assemble, is easier to deploy, and all-around a better performing stand than any others we’ve tested.
Not to mention it looks better too.
1 Point where the DWE7491RS falls short
The DWE7491RS meets the quality and standards we would expect from a saw in the $600-$700 price range. As for its performance out of the box, the only disappointment was the miter gauge.
Plastic Miter Gauge
At the same time we purchased the DWE7491RS, we also purchased the smaller 8.25” Dewalt Table Saw, the compact DWE7485. We noticed that on the 10” model, the DWE7491RS, it comes with a cheaper feeling, plastic miter gauge.
With the DWE7485, 8.25” model table saw, you get a metal miter gauge. The pictures online vary and aren’t exactly the same, so your mileage may vary.
Home Depot’s website shows the metal miter gauge in one picture and then lists the plastic one in another picture. Amazon only shows the metal miter gauge.
Regardless, why not only include the metal miter gauge Black & Decker? For those who don’t know, Stanley Black & Decker owns the Dewalt brand.
4 Tweaks to enhance your DWE7491RS table saw’s performance
Dial the saw and other components in to a true zero or perfect 90
Our measurements out of the box may not be the same for everyone, and regardless of how accurate it feels, you’ll be able to get the saw more accurate than the factory.
Misalignment, even by a small degree, can lead to errors in your work, which will affect the quality and fit of the final product.
To align your table saw, here are the high level steps;
Align the fence to the nearest miter slot, allow for a few thousandths of an inch of variance away from the miter slot at the rear of the table saw.
Adjust the blade to a perfect 90 and adjust the 90 degree stop.
Adjust the blade to a perfect 45 and adjust the 45 degree stop.
Generously wax the table top and fence
Use a paste wax or Bostik GlideCote on the table top surface and rip fence to help reduce friction. A smooth surface helps the wood glide along the surface, requiring less force from you and providing you with more control over the material.
Additionally, this helps to protect the surfaces from corrosion and wear, thus prolonging the life of your table saw.
Purchase or build a zero clearance insert
A zero clearance insert improves the quality of your cuts by supporting the understand of the material all the way up to the blade’s edge. You’ll benefit from cleaner cuts with less tear-out. This is especially helpful on materials that are more prone to tear-out, like when cutting against the grain on plywood.
Build a crosscut sled
Given the low quality miter gauge included with the DWE7491, we’d recommend building a crosscut sled - especially if you don’t have a miter saw or radial arm saw.
The crosscut sled provides a stable and precise way to make straight, perpendicular cuts, rather than using the miter gauge. Never free-hand cut a piece of wood on the table saw - this is extremely unsafe.
The crosscut sled helps to increase safety by keeping your hands farther from the blade and by providing more control over the material being cut.