The Delta 36-725T2 won because it solves the two biggest frustrations woodworkers have with table saws: noise and instability. Its belt-driven induction motor runs 10 to 20 decibels quieter than every jobsite saw we evaluated. Projects For All, who has owned one for five years, says you can hold a normal conversation while the saw runs. Try that with a Skil or DeWalt.
The Biesemeyer-style fence is the other half of the equation. Both 731 Woodworks and Projects For All singled it out as the best fence system under $1,000. It pulls itself perfectly straight the moment it locks down, eliminating the micro-adjustments that eat time on cheaper saws. Projects For All tested it repeatedly over five years and says the alignment has never drifted.
Then there's the cast-iron top. At 220 pounds, the Delta doesn't wobble, walk, or vibrate during cuts. That mass translates directly to cleaner edges on furniture-grade stock. It also accepts a full 13/16-inch dado stack, so you can cut grooves and rabbets without buying a separate router setup.
The Delta sits at $699, which puts it squarely in the mainstream premium tier. You're paying roughly twice what the Skil costs, but you're getting a fundamentally different class of tool: a contractor saw designed for a permanent workshop, not a portable box you fold up after each use.
What It Won't Do
The Delta's weak points are small but annoying. Projects For All reports that the plastic end-cap on the fence handle cracked after years of use because a metal bolt presses directly against the plastic interior. The adhesive bevel gauge sticker simply fell off when the glue dried out. And the cast-iron top rusted where he forgot to apply wax. These are maintenance items, not deal-breakers, but they remind you that $699 doesn't buy perfection. The stamped steel extension wings are also slightly warped (off by 10-14 thousandths), so if you need dead-flat across the full table width, you'll be shimming.
The Skil TS6307-00 earned Best Value because it delivers the one feature that matters most (a precise, reliable fence) at a price point where most competitors cut corners on exactly that component. 731 Woodworks tested the rack-and-pinion fence out of the box and found it perfectly parallel to the blade with zero adjustment needed. Kings Fine Woodworking confirmed the same finding in their 10-saw comparison.
At $299, you get a full 10-inch blade (not the 8-1/4-inch compromise of the similarly priced DeWalt DWE7485), a 15-amp motor that 731 Woodworks pushed through dense exotic hardwoods without bogging, and a built-in folding stand that deploys or stows in seconds. That folding stand alone eliminates a $50-100 accessory purchase that other saws require.
The Skil also accepts up to a 5/8-inch dado stack. That's unusual for a compact saw at this price, and it means beginners can learn joinery techniques without upgrading to a more expensive platform. 731 Woodworks specifically called this out as a feature that separates the Skil from its budget competition.
What It Won't Do
The stock blade is genuinely bad. 731 Woodworks described it as feeling like stamped metal, and plywood cuts showed severe tear-out and splintering. Budget $25-30 for a Diablo or Freud blade on day one. The included miter gauge is tiny and cheap, the throat plate lets thin offcuts drop into the saw body, and the plastic push stick could shatter if it contacts the spinning blade. The universal motor is also painfully loud. If noise bothers you, this saw will test your patience every time you flip the switch.
Who Should Buy Which
Delta 36-725T2
The quietest, most stable table saw under $1,000
- You have a dedicated garage or workshop and don't need to move the saw
- You build furniture, cabinets, or do fine woodworking that demands precision
- Noise matters to you, whether that's neighbors, family, or your own ears
- You want a saw that accepts a full dado stack for joinery
- You're ready to invest in a tool you'll keep for 5-10+ years
Skil TS6307-00
The budget table saw that punches way above $299
- You're starting out in woodworking and need a capable saw under $350
- Your workspace doubles as a garage, and the saw needs to fold away
- You do general DIY, home improvement, and occasional furniture projects
- Portability matters because you work on different project sites
- You want a full 10-inch blade, not the limited 8-1/4-inch format