Making That Tough Power Tool Decision

The really tough decision in trying to decide between two different brand power tools (e.g., table saws with stands) is not the price as you might think. How much you have to spend in getting a particular type of power tool is pretty well decided early in your decision making and search process. If you can only afford to spend (e.g., $700 for the table saw and stand), then your search process has already eliminated those power tools of this type that will cost you more than $700. No, the toughest decision is trying to decide after you have narrowed down your search to the last two tool finalists and find that each tool has a different "special" feature that you really, really want but neither tool has both features. For example: You are buying a table saw with stand and you have narrowed your search down to two different table saws. The Bosch 4100-09 table saw has a Smart Guard Safety System which you really like but the DeWALT DW744XRS has a rack and pinion rip fence that you also really, really like. When this happens, we reach an impasse. Most of us will go back and forth in our minds trying to decide which tool to get. Procrastination is probably the best way to describe it, and it accomplishes little. So what do you do?

The answer: Just ask yourself these questions. "Which feature is most critical to what I need the power tool for?" (The answer to that question in most cases makes the decision for you.) If it doesn't because you feel both features are critical, then ask yourself this question. "Which of these critical features will I use the most? (Your answer will make the decision for you.)

For more information on table saws, you will want to check out this article on Bosch 4100-09 Tablesaw.