Some saws are far more popular than others on the market and you will hear about them endlessly. Other times, there are hidden treasures that really might be a great saw or it might be a bust. So often we run to sources like Amazon – where you might find yourself more limited.
Of course, then there are stores like Lowes, Home Depot, and other similar places that have gems like the Kobalt table saw. Just because you don’t find it on Amazon, doesn’t mean it’s not worth a second glance.
In this guide, we’re going to share with you a complete Kobalt table saw review. We will talk this brand’s portable table saw KT10152, breaking down the details and looking at every little aspect. From the dust collection port to the sliding rip fence and the blade guard assembly, we’re diving into the details of the Kobalt portable table saw right here.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
About Kobalt
The Kobalt brand is a popular tool brand at Lowes. The Kobalt table saw is readily available there. The most popular Kobalt table saw is the one we’re going to check out today in this Kobalt table saw review. We’re primarily monitoring the Kobalt portable table saw 10-inch model.
Kobalt is headquartered out of Las Vegas, Nevada. This is where the Kobalt portable table saw is produced. These tools are manufactured under the umbrella of JS Tools. While the portable table saw and other tools are produced in the U.S., there are parts that are sourced from both China and Taiwan.
Kobalt Table Saw Overview
Now, let’s look at the basics of this Kobalt table saw. Remember that the Kobalt portable table is available at Lowes you can check it out here.
This outstanding saw takes up very little storage room and it comes on a folding stand that is a rolling stand as well. This Kobalt table saw sports a 15 amp motor that operates using a power cord. It has a good cutting capacity with a 30 inch rip capacity to the right of the blade. This Kobalt table saw comes with a carbide tipped blade that allows you to work with different sized materials.
In the power tool category, the Kobalt table saw really compares to its counterparts. We will compare this to some other similar saws here in just a bit!
This sturdy model has a covered power switch and a sliding fence, miter gauge, blade guard, and riving knife.
Now, let’s break down some of the details for a closer look.
Power
The Kobalt table saw is more powerful than most hand tools and certainly powerful enough to handle different sized materials and a variety of tasks. This table saw is great for DIY projects but it is portable and could handle job site use as well.
The motor is 15 amps, which equates to about 1.75 HP. This is in line with other similar table saws on the market. The power gives you the ability to handle a variety of needs without problem, making this an outstanding saw in terms of a strong motor.
You will find that when it comes to a budget friendly saw like the Kobalt table saw, this amount of power is valuable. The fast setting gives you up to 5,000 RPM as well, which is pretty awesome. It’s more than just decent power for a table saw of this size and type.
The power will give you a performance to service a wide variety of cutting and uses.
Fence
The fence is one of those features that really undermines the overall performance and quality of your saw. Without a good fence, your cutting might be more challenging but it also may not be accurate.
On the Kobalt table saw, the fence is a sliding mechanism on the table.
You get a 30 inch right rip capacity to one side of the table and a 17 inch rip capacity to the left.
The features of the fencing make adjustments and squaring to your blade really simple. When you push your wood through to the blade, you will find that accuracy and speed are both present and in good shape.
The fence is directly proportionate to the maximum cutting depth a well as the rip fence capacity. This sliding table fence is very easy to adjust as well. The capacity is such that you can handle plywood sheets
Dust Port
The dust collection system features a simple port that can be connected to a bag or a vacuum. This port will store dust and pull it away from the surface so that your workspace stays clean and the quality of your visibility is never sacrificed while you work.
The table is enhanced with a dust exit hole so that the dust inadvertently moves away from your saw blade, giving you a dust collective setup that really works for dust collection on many levels.
Miscellaneous Features
The Kobalt table saw has some miscellaneous features we want to point out as well.
Let’s start with safety features. This saw’s safety features are nothing fancy but they are sufficient and in line with the industry. The safety features include the dust collection port, as well as a push stick, a riving knife, and a quality blade guard. The blade guard covers the carbide tipped blade that comes on the table saw to keep your hands safe.
This table saw has a rolling stand with convenient storage. Tool storage products like this are hard to come by and while it’s only minimal storage, it helps with having extra accessories for the use of the Kobalt table saw. Things like extra blades or tools to change the blades come in handy here. It’s a great way to keep your items secure on the move too.
In addition, your table saw sports a miter gauge and the ability to bevel depth at 90 degrees as needed on the table saw. The locking miter gauge uses a single latch to attach to the table.
Pros and Cons
While this is a seemingly great saw, each option has its pros and cons, right?
- Budget friendly saw with rip fence miter gauge and tool storage products
- 15 amps of power handles most jobs
- Maximum cutting depth and rip capacity are comparable to others in the industry
- Comes with a push stick for your safety
- Simple to work with and operate
- Easy to adjust rip fencing system
- Some parts are sourced from China and Taiwan
- Slightly less rip ability than some competitors
- Some users mention that the rip fence slides easily, which may affect the accuracy
Previous Models
For this particular Kobalt model, there does not appear to be any previous models. However, Kobalt did make some improvements to the model in 2019 and it is much improved from prior years.
One of the most noticeable changes to this model is the removal of outfeed support. However, they also updated the fence so that it locks into place. This change will hopefully improve the problem reported for sliding of the fence by users that were working with the saw before that enhancement was made.
Kobalt Table Saw Compared to DeWalt Table Saw
One saw that you can compare the Kobalt table saw review to is the DeWalt Table Saw DWE7491RS. Both the table saws are similar in size and build so they make a good comparison for these purposes.
Here is the DeWalt table saw:
When you compare the two table saws, they both fall into the portable table saw category.
The Dewalt saw stands out slightly with about 2.5 inches more of ripping capacity with 32.5 inches, as opposed to 30 inches. This isn’t a huge difference but it could matter for some.
The DeWalt model saw uses a rack and pinion telescoping fence while the Kobalt table saw uses a simple sliding table fence instead.
The maximum cutting depth of the two is pretty similar here. The power is the same. Both saws come to you on a wheeled stand that can easily be folded up but is also stable and secure when you need it to be.
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Conclusion
If you’re looking for a good, affordable saw, this Kobalt model can certainly be a great fit. When it comes to a budget approved table saw, this model is well in line with other comparable options that fall into a similar range on the market.
With the most recent updates to the saw, it appears that the company is working hard to provide you with the best possible choice while still keeping the price low.