Table Saw

I'm in the market for a new table saw but I don't really know what to look for. My budget is around $400 but of course cheaper (price, not quality) is better. I'm not a hardcore carpenter, just need one for little diy projects here and there. What are some good features that I should look for?
Can anyone recommend a particular model/brand? Pics would help. maybe some experiences with different table saws?
Thanks in advance,
Khris

 

I just bought the Dewalt table saw with the rack and pinion adjustable rack and it's the sickest thing ever. You can sight in the measurement eye on the rack so it's dead accurate.

 

I looked at the Rigid too. The one thing I REALLY liked about the Dewalt saw was that the fence is secured and adjusted on BOTH sides. So when you crank down the fence it is being moved, by solid aluminum gears, on both sides. I found that the fence on most other saws only secures on one side leaving a little play in the back part of the fence. I chose the Dewalt almost 100% on this feature. I mostly build speaker enclosures that need to be air tight so accuracy is a must.

 

I bought a Delta. It broke. Piece of shit. Made in China. You get what you pay for with power tools.

 

Make sure it will rip 24" Then you can rip any width sheet good. If you think you're gonna be ripping plywood. I guess it's really what you are gong to use it for.
A good solid base/stand. Despite it's small table and short fence, the older DeWalt portable @24" is a good saw & stand. We use it at work. I don't think the newer DeWalts will rip 24"

 

Buy a decent used one - your money will go a lot further. craigslist is your friend. There's a lot of stuff for sale out there at the moment.

 

Yeah, what he said. Lot's of people buy the big tools, never use them and sell them after a few years.

 

Being a cabinetmaker I use a tablesaw everyday and have used many different brands. When I started I purchased the Dewalt for a job site saw and loved it. Like any contractor saw it was underpowered but was able to cut anything i threw at it. Love the rack and pinon fence, much easier and accurate to adjust than the bosch, but the gravity stand on the bosch is much nicer than the dewalt. With any saw purchased the blades are alway junk. Its a great idea to invest in a good blade such as forest, tenryu, cmt and many others.

 

i got the good portable rigid a couple years ago. Works like a champ. I worked constuction for a while and the saw was used regularly and held up awesome. Ive built speaker boxes and even used it on trim pieces and if you pay attention to what your doing the fense is secure enough and never moved on me. I even ripped some vinyl siding, very accurate. Oh and rigid has a lifetime warranty on everything, but i havent needed it.

 

I install cabinets for a living and have used a Dewalt for the past two years. i like it because it is small and very portable. the fence definately isn't as nice as it was when i first bought it. it is hard to adjust. i've broken every lever on the saw. i can't lift or lower the blade on it because the crank broke. it was very stiff and one day it just snapped. i clean it off very well everyday with my compressor. but overall it has been a good saw. i seem to be hard on all my tools