Editor's Review: Testing the Best Portable Tablesaws
by Daniel S. Morrison
review date: July 1, 2005
This portable tablesaw from Makita is basically a benchtop saw that drops into a folding stand (manufactured by Rousseau and sold separately). This is the best stand we saw without wheels. Makita also has the most solid system for cutting full sheets of plywood on the best tabletop worksurface with the longest rip fence. With the saw and the stand sold separately, it's also the most expensive. The Makita 2703 was one of only two saws tested that could rip a 4x4 in half in a single pass.
On the downside, the miter gauge and blade guard are disappointing. The miter-gauge slots are too small for an aftermarket miter gauge, and the miter gauge that comes with the saw feels more like a toy than a tool--tiny, plastic, and inaccurate. Even though a lot of thought seems to have gone into designing the three-piece blade guard (each side flips forward), the guard won't flip back out of the way, and it's cumbersome to install and remove. Onboard tool storage could be better; all that's there is a slot for holding the miter gauge.
Editor Test Results:
| Overall Rating |
N/A |
| Table Flatness |
N/A |
| Blade to Miter Slot Parallel |
N/A |
| Arbor Runout |
N/A |
| Noise Rating |
90 db. |
| Portability |
3 out of 5 |
| Adjustments |
4.25 out of 5 |
Manufacturer Specifications
| Manufacturer |
Makita |
| Manufacturer's Web Site |
www.makita.com
|
| Manufacturer's Phone Number |
800-462-5482 |
| Weight |
42 lb. |
| Dimensions |
27 in. by 22 in. by 18 in. |
| Max Rip Capacity |
N/A |
| Dust Collection |
N/A |
| Fence Type |
Dead-on cam locking |
| Table Size |
27 in. by 21 in. |
| Blade Size |
10 in. |
| Blade Tilt |
Positive stops at 45 and 90 degrees |
| Horsepower |
N/A |
| Amps |
15 |
| Accessories |
Miter gauge included; stand available separately |
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