Sawbosch 4100 10-inch Worksite Table Saw By Bosch - Model: 4100

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Rating:	5 (Excellent) 4 (Good) 3 (Average) 2 (Poor) 1 (Very Poor)
Summary:
Review:

Squarelock Rip Fence is engineered for maximum trueness. Additional precision improvements-include single point bevel movement and improved miter system with t-slots.
Durable sub-base-increases tool life by handling job-site abuse.
Integrated carry handles-increases portability.
Single point bevel movement for consistent accuracy.
1-Year warranty.

Nothing can substitute for a full-size cabinet saw, but for me, an amateur woodworker with a very small shop space, this is a pretty good option. Overall build quality is pretty good for the price point. The motor is more powerful than I had expected, ripping 2 inch oak with no taxing (this is with an aftermarket blade). It also runs more quietly and with considerably less vibration than other comparable saws I have used.

My primary criticism is the rip fence. It cannot slide and be locked down with a guarantee of precision. I did spend some time adjusting it, including the tension spring on the outfeed side, and it still needs to be checked for square if you're doing something that requires a high degree of precision. For general purpose use it is acceptable, but frustrating to set properly for precise use.

Unlike others, I found the guard system to be surprisingly useful. It is the first table saw guard I have actually used (as opposed to throwing in a box with all those other unused safety devices). It takes a bit of reading and fiddling to get it attached properly.

This is my first table saw. Or rather it's my third as I had to return the first two. I wanted something to redo my interior trim and then to have around for future projects. My first two attempts were a $130 Harbor Freight cheapo (fence not accurate and just generally a poor design) and a SKIL 3400 which is supposedly a $200 saw but the design/quality of the blade guard/antikickbacks was poor and impossible to adjust to blade. I understand now why most are forced to run the saw with these features removed.

After this experience I went to the local big box store which had the Bosch and Hitachi so I could view in person. The fence on the $225 Hitachi would go out of square when tightened. I was blown away by the quality of the Bosch and I wanted a saw with safety features that I wasn't going to be forced to remove.

I got this saw from Amazon in 2 days via Prime. I've no idea how much it cost them as it's HEAVY. I opted for the saw without the gravity stand as I'm short on space. The other saws I tried I could carry around myself easily. The Bosch requires 2 people. I can barely pick it up, it's that beefy. Heavy is good in terms of accuracy when the saw is running. If you need to move it around solo you will need the gravity stand. I may end up buying it.

The quality of the unit and fit and finish is simply top-notch. If you appreciate things that are well made and well designed, this is the saw for you. It comes with a quick install guide. Reading this I had the riving knife, guard assembly and anti-kickbacks installed first time in under 5 minutes, no adjustment required, everything is just correct. How amazing is that? Now I know how it works, it's 30 second job to remove/reinstall them. Also the blade guard is a totally different design that just works.

The fence is fabulous also. Smooth sliding and doesn't loose accuracy when you lock it down.

[...]

It's a $400 saw, you can get cheaper ones for sure but this product redefines the saying "you get what you pay for".

I bought this saw about a month ago. We use it for framing and siding. I bought it after talking to Gary Katz about the guard system. The problem with table saws in general is that the guards are a joke and on the jobsite we aren't going to bother with it if it is a hassle. Because of this, I wasn't comfortable having a table saw on site often.

After using this to cut rips of sheathing, lots of exterior trim, etc I have to say that the guard works perfectly for what we do. We don't set up the saw for dados (which the guard doesn't work well with according to a review in Professional Deck Builder) so that isn't a problem. It doesn't work as well when making super thin rips.

The saw has a soft start feature which is nice, it is quiet and really light weight. Overall we are very pleased with this saw. We put it in a Rosseau table and it works great for us.

I owned and liked the earlier model, but traded up to a Powermatic cast iron table top saw. For safety reasons, I later bought the 4100, and use it often for stiles, rails, and small sheetgoods. If you can buy the 4100 'Bosch-refurbished,' do so, as I did.

You can read about kickback repeatedly, but once you've experienced it, you then truly understand and respect its potential danger. Despite using care and mechanical devices when ripping, I have been hit hard and fast via kickback. So what? you say.

The pitch you have likely heard about riving knives ("RK") is not hype. If you understand the physics, the merits of an RK are obvious. Or, try ripping with an RK-equipped TS, and you can virtually feel the increased safety. The 4100 is at least $2000 cheaper than any other RK-equipped table saw worth having. The blade guard and pawls are as ingenious as the gravity stand under the saw--brilliantly engineered. The safety devices are so easy/flexible to use that you may actually do so.

The 4100 does have T slots (vs. the 4000). And if you've read about a problem with the lateral table extension, it would only arise if you bought it as old stock from a retailer--and Bosch will correct the problem quickly and gratis.

Although the Bosch has a certain toy-like quality (nothing about it is heavy or really solid feeling), it is a precision machine. With the use of a quality blade, inset cabinetry can be cut flawlessly.

P.S.
Revisiting kickback . . . I believe the documentation instructs the user to be sure the fence is parallel to the blade. That information is technically incorrect and flat out wrong if you are not using a riving knife--where you will bind the blade, burn wood, and jamb the splitter. Verify that the blade is parallel with the table slot; then, using the slot as a guide, be sure the far end of the fence moves away from the blade, if only just discernably so.

Actually I own the previous model of this saw (4000-09 with Gravity Rise Stand). The 4000-09 has been an outstanding saw, but the improvements made in the 4100 have me thinking seriously about upgrading.

1) Rip fence holder was relocated to the right side. A small change, but it fixes the awkward left side location.

2) New guard system that includes a riving knife. The guard has independent left right sections that allowing the fence to get closer to the blade. The guard can be reconfigured into a blade height riving knive allowing safer non-through cuts. The Riving knife can be adjusted with just a quarter turn knob.

The guard on the older 4000-09 is very good, but it needs to be removed for non-through cuts. This is true of almost all other saws. Removal of the guard requires using an allen wrench near the sharp blade teeth. The new guard system is a great improvement.

3) Finger hole in throat guard allows easy removal. Blade changes will be much easier.

4) Digital rip fence on the 4100 DG-09. The rip fence on the old 4000 is very accurate, but the addtion of a digital read out might be handy.

Did I say accuracy? Yes, the 4000-09 saw has been super accurate. I'd expect the 4100 to be even better.