DW745 vs. DWE7480 – What’s the Difference?

DeWalt makes table saws and their accessories to suit all kinds of users from DIYers to professional woodworkers and even contractors. Better yet, they also have a huge variety of products to choose from.

But if you are looking for something fast and easy to use, is more portable and does not require you to part with thousands of dollars, you will in many instances need to pick between their DeWalt DW745 and DWE7480.

Both are fantastic table saws that are not only well-built and powerful but also have all the necessary features for fast, easy and efficient cutting.

To help you pick between them, here we highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each and also explain the few differences between the two as most of their features are the same.

DeWalt DW745

Photo: DeWalt

A while back the DW745 was almost the automatic choice for anyone looking for a powerful portable table saw. Since it has been around for much longer than the DWE7480, it is a tried and tested model that has won the trust of many woodworkers over the years.

This powerful table saw runs on a 15-amp motor and is capable of generating speeds of up to 3,850 RPM which might be less than what you get on the newer DWE7480 model, but it is still more than enough for all typical cuts done on a table saw.

Its portable design will also include an advanced railing system that allows users to set it up to suit a particular application for maximum efficiency and accuracy. And with its heavy-duty overall construction, it is built to last for years.

When compared to the DWE7480, this is also a more portable saw as it weighs less, and it is slightly smaller to make it easy to carry from one job site to the other.

Many woodworkers and DIYers will love that it allows for 0 to 45-degrees bevel cuts and that it has some adjustable rear feet that will make it easy to keep it level on any surface.

But the absence of dado blade capacity might be a significant drawback. The relatively smaller rip capacity, when compared to the DWE7480, is also a demerit for many users.

Pros:

• Small and portable
• More affordable
• Heavy-duty overall construction
• Advanced railing system
• Tested and proven model has been around longer

Cons:

• No dado blade capacity
• Smaller rip capacity

DeWalt DWE7480

Photo: DeWalt

DeWalt is always improving their products and the DWE7480 is enough evidence of this because it tries to address most of the shortcomings of its predecessors like the DW745.

It is also a well-built saw that features heavy-duty components to ensure a lifetime of great service. And with its powerful 15-amp motor that delivers up to 4,800 RPM, this table saw can handle almost any cut.

Also, it will have a relatively larger rip capacity which many woodworkers, and this is more so the professionals that deal with larger workpieces will love a lot. Generally, this will be the better saw among the two for heavy-duty applications.

You can always be confident of getting smoother, more accurate and significantly faster cuts when using this saw thanks to the uniquely designed telescoping fence rail system, and like the DW745, it will also allow for 0 to 45-degree bevel cuts.

Despite the all-metal frame, this is still a portable enough table saw that might be a little on the heavy side but should still be easy enough to carry around.

Price seems to be its greatest shortcoming when compared to the DW745 as it costs significantly more, and some users will also not like that it does not come with a stand despite the extra cost.

Pros:

• Faster and more precise cuts
• Larger rip capacity
• Great for heavy-duty use
• Highly versatile design

Cons:

• Relatively pricier
• Stand not included despite the higher price tag

Comparison Chart

DeWalt DW745 vs. DeWalt DWE7480

Sticking with DeWalt is almost a guarantee that you will end up with a good table saw. And when you have to pick between two of their most popular models like the DW745 and DWE7480, you need to know what sets them apart. Here are a few important points to watch out for to help you pick between these two.

1.Motor Power

Motor power should always be one of the first factors to consider when choosing a table saw because if what you buy does not have enough power, it will most likely fail in everything else.

But, when it comes to the motor power, there is no clear winner here as both table saws run on a powerful 15-amp motor, and so you will still be okay regardless of what you choose.

For their size and price tags, the 15-amp motors are as good as it can get and to get anything better, you would need to spend much more cash and go with a relatively larger and hence less portable table saw.

2. Speed

While the DW745 and DWE7480 might have the same motor size, the motors will not generate the same speed contrary to what some woodworkers might assume.

The motor on the DW745 is capable of delivering a no-load speed of up to 3,850 RPM which is close to 1,000 RPM less than the 4,800 RPMs you will get from the DWE7480.

A higher motor speed means that the latter will cut relatively faster and more efficiently than the former and will also be more versatile as it means it will be ideal for cutting more material types from the softest to the hardest woods.

3. Arbor Size

Although many woodworkers and DIYers will not put a lot of emphasis on things like the arbor size, it is also worth noting that the two saws will come with the same arbor size which further shows just how similar they are.

Both will include a 5/8-inch arbor size which for some professional woodworkers might be an important factor, and this is more so for those that like to modify their table saws.

Because the arbor size is the same, it will also mean that a blade that fits the DW745 should be able to work perfectly on the DWE7480, and so for those that have both models, it will be possible to use blades interchangeably.

4. Blade Size

The blade size is one of the main determinants of what your table saw can cut. Smaller 8-inch blades are not able to cut larger workpieces while the larger 12-inch ones will require a more powerful motor.

DeWalt seems to understand this, and so both table saws will come with a 10-inch blade which will be just perfect for most users as it can handle thicker materials without requiring a larger motor.

To make these blades even more ideal, they are both made with carbide which is a tough material that will remain sharp long and they have 24 teeth which further enhances their versatility.

5. Max Cut Depth

Given that these table saws have the same motor and blade sizes, it should also be obvious that they will deliver the same maximum cut depth or at least something close.

When at the vertical position (90°) the blades on the DW745 and DWE7480 will deliver a maximum cut depth of 3-1/8 inches and when on the 45-degree position, you can expect to get a maximum depth of 2-1/4 inches.

While these might not be the deepest cuts you can make on a table saw, for small and compact models like these, they are quite good. Furthermore, given the kinds of materials or workpieces that most DIYers and woodworkers will often cut with these saws, most will hardly ever need anything deeper than this.

6. Bevel Angle

You will never need to buy a separate saw for making bevel cuts regardless of which between these two saws you choose as they both have bevel capacity.

They will allow you to adjust the blade to an angle anywhere from 0 to 45 degrees to make the cut you want. Better yet, both have efficient blade adjustment mechanism that will make bevel cuts even faster and easier to make.

7. Max Rip Capacity

The rip capacity is one area that the two table saws seem to differ a little and should explain why you will need to pay a little extra cash to get the DWE7480.

With DeWalt’s model DW745 table saw, you will get a maximum rip capacity of 12 inches to the left side of the blade and 20 inches to the right blade side.

For the DWE7480, the maximum capacity for the left side is also 12 inches but for the right side of the blade, it seems to have a slight edge as it will allow for up to 24 inches.

Here, both models are still good enough because of their price. They will deliver a larger rip capacity than many others in their class.

8. Weight

Since these table saws have been built for portability, they will come in compact and more lightweight designs to make them easy to carry around.

However, their weights also differ because the older DW745 seems a little lighter as it weighs 45 pounds compared to the 48 pounds you get on the DWE7480.

Because both are still under 50 pounds, they will be super easy to carry around. The 3-pound weight difference might not be very significant and should hence not be what your choice is based on.

9. Dust Port

A dust port is always a must-have in your table saw and other saw types as it will save you a lot of time and effort when it comes to cleaning up afterward.

DeWalt always has you covered with most of their table saws as they will often include one. Both the DW745 and DWE7480 will include a 2.5-inch dust port.

Besides being large enough to capture all the dust from the saw, it will also be an ideal size to fit most shop vacs without having to make any modifications or use an adapter. Here, there is no winner as both models provide an efficient way to manage wood dust.

10. Price

Well, given their smaller size and smaller cutting capacity when compared to other table saw types such as the cabinet and contractor models, these portable table saws will not be expensive.

But, since the DWE7480 is the newer model of the two, you can expect to pay slightly more for it than the DW745.

At the time of writing this piece, the DWE7480 was almost $60 pricier than the DW745 which for some potential buyers makes a huge difference while for others it is insignificant. But, given the extra speed and rip capacity that the newer model provides, it is worth spending the few extra bucks.

Conclusion

DeWalt has a wide variety of benchtop table saws out there but their models DW745 and DWE7480 are among the most popular ones. Many woodworkers and DIYers love them for their portability and more powerful motors.

Regardless of which you pick between the two, you can be confident of ending up with a top-quality saw that will be handy to have in your workshop and for carrying around to different worksites.

If you are still not sure which one to buy, go for the DW745 if you are looking to save a few bucks and want something even more portable. But, if you prefer a newer model that also delivers higher no-load speeds and rip capacity, DWE7480 is your best bet.