DW745 Compact
Job Site Table Saw

The DW745 compact job site table saw is a scaled down version of Dewalt's popular DW744 job site saw. Geared toward trim carpenters and other professional contractors, it's light weight allows easy transport up stairs and around obstacles normally encountered at work sites.

What's good for contractors is also good for homeowners, especially those looking for a portable table saw that can be stored under a bench or thrown in the trunk of the car.

See the Dewalt dw745 at Amazon and read over 60 user/owner reviews.

Many of us don't have access to a big enough work area to warrant the purchase of a larger saw, or may not even need all the features and extra working surface a stationary saw provides.

But that doesn't mean that the dw745 can't do the bigger jobs too. A friend of mine recently finished a complete kitchen makeover which included constructing a really nice set of cabinets.

The full sheets were broken down into slightly oversized panels with a straight edge and circular saw, then trimmed to final dimension with the dewalt. He also made the face frames and a simple but elegant set of shaker style doors out of maple.

Features

This saw has a few unique features that set it apart from others in this class and are key to it's success in the marketplace.

• Rack and pinion fence system.
• 16 inch rip capacity.
• Roll bar style base for added protection on the job.
• 15 amp motor
• Friction reducing coating on table.
• 2 1/2 inch dust port for hookup to shop vac.
• Adjustable rear feet for leveling on uneven ground.
• Weight - 45lbs.
• Comes with 3-year limited warranty.

Likes

• Fence — Probably the single most loved feature on this saw is the rack and pinion fence. It is easy to adjust, accurate and stays where it's put.
• 15 amp motor — More than enough power for most jobs.
• Roll bar base — Makes it easy to lift and carry. Has holes in bottom for mounting to sawhorses or stand and is good protection for job site applications.
• Small and light — Lots of praise for it's portability and light weight. One fellow even had it up on his scaffold.

Dislikes

• Blade — Most were unhappy with the blade and changed it out for a thin kerf combination blade.
• Can't use dado blade — The arbor is too short to accept a full dado blade.
• Miter gauge — Most everyone hated the miter gauge and thought it was cheaply made and flimsy.
• Noise level — The majority found the saw to be quite noisy and recommended hearing protection.
• Small table — About 50 percent thought the table was too small. Also, a few complained about the 16 inch rip capacity being limiting.
• Price — The price was another thing that bothered some reviewers, although most bought the saw on sale at online retailers like Amazon.

Bottom line

If the majority rules, then the majority would say that this is an excellent portable table saw with a lot of great features, with it's biggest selling point being the rack and pinion rip fence.

While some complained about the noise level, it should be noted that these types of saws use universal motors similar to routers and cut-off saws and are inherently noisy.

One has to remember that the DW745 wasn't designed to rip full sheets of plywood, and the fact that it can't use a full dado head doesn't bother most people that buy this saw.

What attracts people to this saw is it's powerful motor, superb fence, small footprint and light weight -- all of which make it perfect for the finish carpenter or odd jobs around the house.

In a nutshell, it does what it was designed to do, and it does it well.

I appreciate your feedback. If you have any questions or comments about this article, please don't hesitate to contact me and let me know your thoughts.