Although Craftsman tags the 21828 as a professional jobsite bench top saw, it is an attractive option for all users. It has some truly unique design features, most notably the wheels and the telescoping handle. People buy bench top saws because they can be picked up and moved from one jobsite to another. Mostmodels weigh around fifty pounds, but that’s still a load to lug around in your arms.With the six inch wheels and the pull out handle, the 21828 in effect becomes its own dolly.
This saw retails for under $300 and no other saw on the market has this useful feature. The motor is powerful enough for most anything and even has higher RPMs than a comparable and more expensive DeWalt model. Included accessories all have on board storage and the saw features the newer 3 position blade guards that can be removed without tools for those special cuts.
So far, this saw has been well received but Craftsman would do well to consider offering a stand as an accessory option. Many bench top saws come with stands so they can do double duty on a jobsite as well as in the shop, or they offer one as an accessory.
Pros
This saw easily compares to the Dewalt 10 inch Compact Saw and cost $100 dollars less!
Excellent saw for the money. At under $300 this saw is the cheapest good contractor saw on the market right now.
15 AMP, 5,000 RPM motor (The Dewalt has a 3850 rpm motor)
3 position tool-less blade guard can be used as a spreader and guard for through cuts, a riving knife for non-through cuts, and eaily removed for dado cuts (Dewalt has not been upgraded for the 2009 safety standards)
Steel tubing roll cage wraps around the saws cabinet for added durability
Telescoping handle and 6 in. wheels for easy portability (Dewalt has no handle or wheels)
Right sliding table extension extends up to a 24 in. rip capacity
Rear out feed support for ripping operations
Accepts 6 in. stacked dado set-up to 1/2 in.
Self-aligning rip fence clamps on front and rear of table for cutting accuracy
3/4 in. T-slot miter gauge and dual T-slot miter grooves
2 1/2in. dust port for easy attachment of dust collection
On-board storage for Miter Gauge, Push Stick, Power Cord and Blade Wrenches
Includes: 36 Tooth Carbide Blade, Rip Fence, Miter Gauge, Blade Wrenches, Push Stick, Blade Guard, Anti-kickback Pawls, and Hex Key
Cons
It does not come with a stand. A lot of contractors just plop their saw on the ground and use it there but to use a table saw safely the table should be about waist high. You will have to buy a stand or build your own stand out of a couple of 2X4’s and 1/2 inch plywood.
A good solid stand for this saw is the Bosch Gravity Rise Stand. If you want a cheaper stand the DeWalt Portable Table Saw Stand should work just fine.
