DEWALT 10 Inch Job Site Table Saw DWE7491RS
DEWALT 10″ Job Site Table Saw with 32 – 1/2″ Rip Capacity, and Rolling Stand
DEWALT recently redesigned their job site table saws to incorporate more safety features, tool free adjustments and better on-board accessory storage.
The new DEWALT 10 Inch Job Site Table Saw DWE7491RS is a serious saw, weighing 90 pounds with the rolling stand and touting a 15 amp, 4800 rpms motor. We took it to the job-site to see if it was worthy.
Safety First: Four Prong Approach
I am a proponent of safety and feel that DEWALT put some serious thought and innovation regarding safety into their new table saws. There are four major components that I think DEWALT did well to address affordable job-site table-saw safety.
1. Power Loss Reset:
DEWALT completely redesigned their power switch to include Power Loss Reset. This feature automatically resets the saw to off if the power is interrupted whether it is a tripped circuit, unplugged cord or unexpected power loss.
Prior to deploying the power loss reset feature there had been many job site horror stories of unattended table saws starting up upon power restoration. Sometimes this restart caused damage or personal injury. This usually happened when the saw operator did not think to turn off the tool before walking away to go restore power. In the meantime other people have leaned on, temporarily placed tools or even building materials on the saw, a blade spinning disaster waiting to happen.
Part of this redesign now means that the power switch is electronic and the saw operator now has to push a green “on” button as opposed to pulling on the “red” power lever as was the case with older models. The power switch also has a flip over safety cover that can be secured with a pad lock.
2. Site-Pro Guarding System:
The site-Pro system allows for allows the blade guard and riving knife to be installed tool free. A lever located near the front of the tool, close to the operator allows for quick and easy changes. the blade guard always seemed to be an after thought for tool manufacturers. This guard has had some thought put into it.
The riving knife mirrors the saw blade and does a real nice job at keeping the slot cut from the kerf from closing behind the blade on a rip, it also helps prevent a bind between the blade and fence from getting caught by the teeth on the back of the blade.
3. Improvements to Fence: Wider Rip Capacity
The fence is still controlled by the rack and pinion gears that DEWALT table saws are famous for, these gears allow fast, smooth operation and micro-adjustments. Additionally, the fence has a flip over support with two positions; the lower position supports material when the fence is extended beyond the table top and the upper position is used to rip narrow boards with the blade guard installed. In previous models thin rips would we not possible as the blade guard interfered with the fence.
One very impressive and new feature to the fence is that it now telescopes out to extend for a 32-inch wide rip to the right of the blade and 22-inch rip to the left of the blade.
4. Dust Collection:
DEWALT table saws have always had the 2-1/2 dust port at the lower rear end of the tool. The DWE7491RS also has a 1-1/2 – inch dust port off the top of the blade guard allowing dual dust collection capabilities. The operator can now capture dust above the blade as well as lower in the blade housing which is the best way to ensure you are collecting dust effectively. The only catch is you need to rig the dust collection up yourself.
One nice accessory that DEWALT may want to consider offering is a series of splitters or “Y” connectors to be used on these two dust ports that fit 2 and 4-inch shop dust collector hoses as well as shop vacuums.
Video Review
Other Table Saw Features:
As mentioned above the DWE7491RS saw will rip to 32-inches. It’s table measures 21-7/8″ X 26 – 3/8″ and has a 3-1/8 inch depth of cut at ninety degrees and a 2-1/4-inch cut at forty-five degrees. The saw will accept a 13/16 – inch dado but does not come with a dado plate, or a place to stow it, which is unfortunate.
The DWE7491RS has decent on board storage of all the accessories but we were unimpressed with the blade guard storage which seemed a bit flimsy. There is a lot of plastic utilized on this saw and I’m sure it was don4e on purpose to keep the weight of this saw down. None the less the plastic gives off the impression of cheap. The fence is one area where I feel they should have used less plastic, especially where the fence clamps onto the table and stows.
The cord wrap was well thought out an conveniently located but we wish the cord were a few feet longer.
The rolling stand is awesome and ingeniously designed with heavy duty levers that allow the operator to use their foot to deploy the lower legs. the best part of the rolling stand was the stability it provided when ripping a 4 x 8 sheet of 3/4-inch plywood – very impressive.
We found the stand to stow, transport and deploy quickly, easily and efficiently.
The DEWALT 10 Inch Job Site Table Saw DWE7491RS is the Cadillac of job-site saws, with new and improved safety features at an affordable price. If you are in the market for a serious job-site saw this one is worth a look.
Summary of Features:
- Rack & Pinion Telescoping Fence System
- Patented material support, can be used for narrow rip cuts.
- 32-1/2″ Rip capacity
- On Board Storage System provides easy access to the Blade Guard Assembly, fence, riving knife, miter guage, wrenches, push stick, and cord wrap when not in use.
- Rolling stand designed for easy set up and breakdown with excellent stability
- Flip over ripping fence allows for narrow rip cuts
- 15 Amp Motor
- 2-1/2″ Dust Collection Port and 1-1/2″ port on blade guard
- 3-1/8″ depth of cut at 90 and 2-1/4″ at 45
- 21-7/8″ X 26 – 3/8″ table provides superior material support