Customer Reviews

DEWALT DW746 Woodworker 10-Inch Left Tilt 1-3/4-Horsepower Intermediate Saw (No Fence), 115-Volt 1-Phase

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've been using my DeWalt table saw for about 7 months and feel like I can now due a reasonable review of the product.
*** SETUP ***
The setup of the saw took me about 3 hours. The directions were pretty good, but a few more pictures would have really helped at one point. The quality of the material really shows up. Rating - 4.5 Stars.
*** FENCE ***
The fence is very good. This is the first time I've been able to replicate cuts with dead on accuracy after moving the fence for other cuts. My only complaint is that I had intended to get an Incra fence at sometime in the future, but it's going to be very hard to justify that expense now! Rating - 5 stars.
*** POWER ***
This saw has excellent power given that it only requires a standard 120 volt outlet. I was also extremely impressed at how quiet is runs. I do a lot of 3/4" solid oak work and it never bogs down on me. Rating - 5 stars.
*** Day-to-Day ***
This is a pleasure to use. It's easy to setup depth, blade angle and the dust collection port works well with my shop vac. Rating - 5 stars.
*** Additions to consider ***
I bought the portable base - if you have limited space it's a necessity. I also bought a Forrest WW2 thin kerf blade - the blade that comes with it is OK for basic combination cuts. The Forrest WW2 provides me the clean cuts I need for exposed edges/corners.
<B>Overall - this is an excellent saw for the money.<B>

I was in the market a few months ago for a new saw, and decided on the DeWalt. The real driver for me was the fact that since I have limited space, the motor being inside the frame instead of hanging outside - like other contractor saws, was a great space saver. Plus, DeWalt makes good tools.

After using the saw, I must say that I'm even more impressed than I had been when it first arrived. I treated myself by getting the mobile base, the outfeed table, and the sliding table - all of them we specially designed to fit this saw, and the thought that went into the design is crystal clear.

The fence is very flexible, and when you lock it down, you can make perfectly accurate rips all day. The face moves, a la Unifence, which gives you additional flexibility when cutting rabbits or even as a cutoff block for cross cuts.

The real dream part of the saw, though, is the cross cut table. Priced competitively with other tables of the sort, it is very compact, fitting within the overall footprint of the main saw (not rails extending beyond the table of the saw. When not in use, it locks into place so you can use your full table width for other cuts. Cross cuts are smooth and accurate - which means you can also add "safe" to the list.

If you're in the market for a contractor's saw, I'd strongly encourage you to consider this one. Really first rate.

I recently purchased the DW746x saw, as a much needed upgrade to my Craftsman 10" bench saw. The Craftsman has provided me many years of service and was adequate for most of my woodworking needs, which at the time included general home improvements. As time passed my interest in woodworking increased and the need for a better saw became apparent. Being on a budget and constrained for space (garage workshop), I began researching the available contractor saws out there including: Jet JWTS-10JF, Powermatic 64A, Delta 36-650, Craftsman 22839, and Ridgid TS 2412. I reviewed many sources of information: magazines, websites and Amazon online reviews. Finally, after much debate I purchased the DW746x with the 30" rails. Below are some of the key points I encountered in my saw purchase, delivery and setup.

Good:
1. As usual the purchasing experience on Amazon was excellent and delivery was within 5 business days(no I am not an employee of Amazon or Dewalt). The delivery guy unloaded the saw and wheeled it right into my garage.
2. Saw setup was straight forward, but I suggest that you read all of the directions before you begin assembly. BTW, it will take several hours, so take your time and get it right the first time.
3. The cast tabletop was flat to 1/64-1/100" front to back and perfectly flat left to right. The pressed wings were another story, toss them.
4. The blade run out prior to adjustment was less than 1/64" over 3 board feet. After adjustment it was right on.

5. I was surprised at how quiet the saw runs. It was actually quieter than my old Craftsman by far and quieter than most of my other power tools.
6. The mobile base is a must, especially in a small shop like my own. The base is solid when cutting and rolls well when necessary.
7. The freebie multi purpose blade was adequate for rough cutting. I plan on using a better blade such as the Forrester II or one of several Freuds.
8. Dust collection is good. Most chips and dust are directed into a chute enclosing the blade that attached to a vacuum hook up.
9. As mentioned by other reviewers, although the fence was good, I have replaced the fence with an Incra TS-IIIa.
10. Cutting was smooth and effort less. I cut several test pieces from various sized and types of stock with no burns, saw hesitation or bogging.

Bad:
1. The pressed metal extension wings are cheap, weak and barely adequate for use. I plan on replacing them with a combination of cast wings, sliding table and extension router table. So for me this was not a biggie.
2. The 30" rails were damaged during shipment. The box was ripped open and the rails were banged around, from the looks of it, quite a bit. I will be returning these to Amazon/Dewalt.
3. The measuring tape on the rails was worn off and faded, probably due to the rough shipping. The tape also had not been installed straight; it instead was wandering on the rail. Not very good for measuring, although I wouldn't rely on it any way.
4. The miter gauge was heavy and adequate. I will be replacing this also (Incra 3000).

All in all I think this is a very good saw and should give me many years of good service, especially with a few after market upgrades. I will let you all know the results of the Amazon/Dewalt return and replacement process.

Overall the saw is great but the fence design is very poor. The fence face is .060" out of parralel to the table. I was sent a new fence rail and new aluminum rail because they had a problem with the old design. The only thing they did was gring the aluminum rail to make it flat. That does not overcome the poor overall fence design. The only way I can make the rail parallel to the table is to shim the left bold with washers and then only tighten the butterfly nuts just barely tight. I still have to keep a check on this. My last conversation with Dewalt they indicated that the marketing manager was going to get in touch with me. As a former marketing manager, I know how that works. Have a product problem too expensive to fix, ignore it as long as possible until you can come up with a new design. Other minor suggestions for future modifications. (1) Find a way to make the blade guard easier to put on and off. I know two others who leave it off because of the nuisance of putting it on and off. Not good. I use mine as the result of a potentially serious kickback I once had. (2) Very minor but still a nuisance. Move the hook that holds the blade wrenches down a couple of inches. All in all, I like the say but that fence still annoys me. Knowing then what I know now I would have gone with the Delta Unisaw, even though I would have to wire for 240v.

I recently purchased the DW-746X. I had been looking for a table saw to replace my Delta 10" bench saw that I had made into a somewhat adequate table saw. I had been looking at Jet and Delta. Then I saw the ad for the DeWALT 746. A local building supply chain was having TOOL DAYS and the DeWALT rep was there. I knew the 746 was on back order but I told him I was interested in one and he said if I would buy today (you know that old sales pitch) he would GET me a saw. So I did...and I haven't looked back. I got the saw and a single cast iron wing which I put on the left side of the saw. I then drilled a couple of holes and put the stamped steel wing that it replaced on the RIGHT side of the saw, making a 51" table. WOW...it is great. The 30T DeWALT blade that came with the saw was very sharp and cut the wood like hot butter. I did replace it with a 60T Systimatic blade but I don't think I would have had to. The saw is sooo quiet and the fence is superior. It may not be a Biesmeyer but it is more than adequate, highly accurate and stays put when you clamp it down. The 1 3/4 hp motor is very powerful and I especially like the big knee-kick on/off switch. It has a massive cast-iron trunion and has a hookup for a shop-vac to suck up the sawdust. I have only a hobby workshop but I see no reason why this DW-746 would not last several lifetimes for all but the high-production cabinet maker. I'm sure my grandson will inherit this when I'm finished with it. DeWALT has a winner here and I can recommend this saw.

My woodworking hobby outgrew my starter saw a few years ago, but circumstances did not allow me to buy a new saw until this year. Since I really wanted to take my time with this decision, I studied the market, put my hands on every saw I could, and read everything I could find on the web about table saw features. Since I work in a library, I also had access to every table saw review in most of the woodworking magazines.

Eventually I came up with the following criteria:

- I have a one car garage for a workshop, so space was a big issue. I was only looking at saws with 30" capacity to the right of the blade. I also limited my search to saws that could be pushed flat against a wall if need be. This left only hybrids and cabinet saws to consider.

- I wanted the most powerful motor I could get without having to switch to 240 volts, yet have the option to rewire the saw for 240v later if I so choose (thus eliminating 3hp saws).

- I wanted a solid fence that was accurate and DID NOT DEFLECT when locked down.

- I wanted some decent dust collection abilities.

- I wanted a quieter saw with less vibration than my old Delta contractor's saw.

- I wanted to spend less than $1000 to get the saw, yet have lots of options for upgrading/outfitting later.

Eventually I chose the DeWalt 746, and here are my observations:

The saw package arrived in relatively undamaged crating (seven days after I ordered it from Amazon), and the saw was in perfect condition. Here's a tip - I ordered this saw over the phone and was given the option to pay $25 to have the saw delivered on the ground in my shop - well worth it! Assembly was not too bad (3 hrs), but the manual could have been a bit better. In my mind it was a bit too small and the illustrations corresponding to each step of assembly were not always on the same page! This saw is heavy and the cabinet/stand is very stiff and strong. I feel that the base of this saw is a much better design than the open stand of my old Delta. The saw also runs very smoothly - it is A LOT quieter than my last saw and vibration is at a minimum. The motor is about as powerful as you can get while running 120v without popping breakers left and right (which I have read is a common problem with the 2hp motors running 120v). I have not had any problems ripping 8/4 white oak with a good sharp blade... Speaking of blades, the one that came with this saw is inferior. I will keep it just for those instances where I want to cut treated lumber for outside projects or some other such task not requiring precision or smooth cuts. I have always wanted a Biesenmeyer fence, but I read good things about the DeWalt fence on this saw and was eager to try it for myself. I am pleased to say that it is a very sturdy (and heavy) fence with some ingenious features. Most importantly this fence operates very smoothly, it does not deflect when locked down, it was easy to adjust square to the miter slot and blade, and zeroing the fence scale could not have been easier. I did have to fuss with it a bit to get the fence face set 90 degree to the table, but once I got it there it seems to hold the setting well. Dust collection on this saw is absolutely excellent. I hooked up my Fein Turbo II vacuum and basically no significant sawdust escapes. I couldn't be happier in that department. As for safety features, I like splitters and hate blade guards so I was pleased to find that the splitter/blade guard on this saw is able to be separated (I did just that). The splitter is easily adjustable and works well.

As far as downsides go... Well, as I mentioned earlier the assembly manual could have been way better and the blade that came with the saw is junk. Also (and I read this several places ahead of time) the table is not absolutely flat. Using a straightedge I found a couple of hollows in the surface. I don't think they are significant enough to throw off the accuracy of what I am doing with this saw, but be forwarned that if you use a tablesaw to cut something more intricate than tenons you may have a problem with this. Unlike other reviewers I didn't have too much of a problem with the steel extension wings that came with this saw. When installed properly are they perfectly level to the main table? Yes. Are they perfectly flat? No, but acceptible for what they are. I wanted a good saw that could be upgraded and these are good enough for temporary use. In fact there are a host of great accessories/upgrades available for this saw. I already installed a cast iron router table wing (made by Bench Dog) and soon I plan to order the DeWalt cast iron wing for the other side of the saw.

When it comes down to it, I am very pleased with this saw. The features all met or exceeded my personal needs. This is important, because I have no doubt I could have gotten a saw that performed nearly as well for a lot less money, but it would have failed to meet one or more of MY criteria. As for the price - I bought mine at a time when the saw was on sale and the mobile base was included (see my separate review of the mobile base). The sale price coupled with Amazon's ongoing deal of 25 dollars off any order over 199 gave me this saw at more than a seventy dollar discount. If your needs are similar to mine, then take a close look at this saw. I highly recommend it!

This saw is incredible. I looked at everything out there, and unless you're willing to permanently install a 3hp saw, you won't find a better machine. I've had my DW746 for over a year and tricked it out with the crosscut table, 52" rails, outfeed table, and mobile base. I also installed a Rout-R-Lift router plate into the extended rail table along with an Incra Jig Ultra to double as a router table. The table is rock solid, low noise, nominal vibration, and extremely easy to operate and maintain. If you want to make cabinents perfectly square without spending $3-5k for your saw, then you'll be very happy with the DW746, King of the Garage.

I have had this saw for a bit over a year now and I am satisfied overall. It has limits but for me, they are irrelevent as my needs are met. The guy recommending the Jet must be a ringer as he labels this saw as made in China. The Jet is made in China and the Dewalt is made in the U.S. In any case, here goes:
The Good:
Runs both 120 and 220V.
Flat table.
Decent power.
Deat accurate arbor run-out.
Fairly space efficent..mobile with mobile base.
Decent fence design..but..more about this later.
Once adjusted, stays so..but..more about this later.
The Bad:
1)The fence adjustment to parallel was quite difficult and there
was a 0.0015" bow in the middle of the aluminum fence face. I
ended up getting an Accusquare fence.
2)Adjusting the tabletop for square with the blade was extremely
challenging. I think that use of Torx bolts is a bit unwise.
It makes less sense, to me, than using allen bolts.
3)Aftermarket gizmos like PALS (precision alignment for trunion
tool) won't fit this saw. Also, aftermarket precision pullys
will not fit it.
4)Choices of aftermarket additions like fences, splitters, blade
guards and so forth is extremely limited.
5) In my opinion, cast iron wings should be standard, not an
extra $200 option. The pressed steel wings now serve as
a shelf for my air cleaner.
The Ugly:
Well, nothing to say here since ugly is a matter of perception. I happen to like yellow and black though. Despite what some people opine, I have found all of my Dewalt tools to be of high quality and durable and functional as well. This saw is no exception.

Addenda:
Things I have added to this saw. The Accusquare fence, the Microjig splitter and multiple inserts for use with thin kerf blades and the Freud 508 super dado stack. The saw benefits greatly from a rear extension table or roller stands, but I'd recommend building your own rather than buying the one from Dewalt.

I've taught high school woodshop for 13 yrs and have used contractor saws in my home shop and 2 Unisaws in the school shop. Needing to upgrade the saw at home I researched the options. A Unisaw was my first choice but if I bought it I was short on funds for an upgrade fence (Beisemeyer) and sliding table. Looking at the hybrid saws brought me to the Jet and the Dewalt. Reviews of the Jet spoke of a quailty machine but with a few shortcomings such as the link belt for blade adjustment. The DW was newer on the market than the Jet so didn't have many reviews. I decided to purchase a recon unit from Toolking for just under 800.00.

The saw arrived in sturdy packing and there was nothing to make me believe it had been reconditioned for any reason. No sawdust, dents, dings etc. A few hours to assemble with decent directions. I had also purchased the 30" Beisemeyer commercial fence and Delta sliding table and Forrest blade. All this took me to under 1500.00 which was the entry level price for the Unisaw.

The saw has seen hundreds of feet of cherry and tiger maple. I built an entire set of kitchen cabinets with melamine boxes and cherry doors. The sliding table was easy to install on the Dewalt. I have not had one single problem or noticed any lack of power or performance.

I made some zero clearance inserts and a large side and outfeed table. The saw comes with some steel units that are rather light weight. The factory fence looks decent although I have never installed it.

My only recommendations for improvement would be to add a 4" or 6" dust port and larger handwheels for blade adjustment. All in all its a great value for the money. Lance A, Chico CA

It was time for a new table saw. Research showed the DW 746 offered the best combination of value/features for my needs.

Bought the saw and couldn't be happier. Setup/Assembly took about 2 hours. It is deceptively heavy. Get help when you bring it home or you will need back surgery later!

Cuts clean and straight and has all the power I could need. Power switch is a great idea to keep your hands free for work.

Just ordered the wheeled base today. No way to move this thing without it.