DeWalt DW745 Table Saw Review: Is It Worth Buying Used in 2026?
Finlay Connolly
7 min read
Half the “2026 Reviews” of the DW745 Don’t Know It’s Basically Discontinued. Let’s Fix That.
Search “DeWalt DW745 review” right now and you’ll find a stack of articles dated January 2026 confidently discussing its “current lineup position” and comparing it to “newer models.” Several of them disclose, in small print near the bottom, that they never actually tested the saw. That’s a problem when the saw in question hasn’t been in regular DeWalt production for years.
Here’s the actual situation: the DW745 was DeWalt’s compact jobsite table saw, and it earned a genuinely loyal following for over a decade. It’s been succeeded in DeWalt’s official lineup by the DWE7485 and DWE7491RS. You can still find new old-stock units through Amazon third-party sellers and occasional retailer clearances, and a healthy population of used DW745s circulate on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist at $100–200. But if you walk into a Home Depot today looking for a new DW745 off the shelf, you’re not finding one as a current catalog item the way you would five years ago.
That distinction matters enormously for how you should think about this saw. So let’s actually answer the right questions: is the DW745 worth buying used, is it worth hunting down new-old-stock, and what should you buy instead if neither of those work out.
What the DW745 Actually Is
15-amp motor, 4,800 RPM, 45 pounds, a 16-inch rip capacity that extends via telescoping rack-and-pinion rails. Cut depth: 3.125 inches at 90 degrees, 2.25 inches at 45. Steel roll cage frame around the motor housing — a detail that matters more than it sounds, because it’s the reason this saw survives truck-bed transport and job site abuse that destroys plastic-housed competitors.
The Site-Pro Modular Guarding System was a genuine innovation when it launched — guard components that reconfigure quickly for different cut types rather than requiring full removal and reinstallation. Pro Tool Reviews called it out specifically as a standout feature in their original coverage, and it’s held up: owners on Machine Atlas and woodworking forums consistently describe it as easier to live with than guard systems on competing saws from the same era.
The fence is the best thing about this saw, and it’s not close. The rack-and-pinion telescoping fence locks at both front and rear — a detail that prevents the toe-in problems plaguing cheaper fence designs (the kind that show up consistently on saws like the Ridgid R4514). Machine Atlas’s review, which tracks long-term owner feedback, specifically notes the DW745’s fence as “a class above the fences found on most other table saws in this price category.” For a saw this compact and this old in design terms, that’s a real accomplishment.
What it doesn’t have: no dado capability. No stand included (sold separately as the DW7440RS). A miter gauge that owners across multiple forums describe as genuinely poor — no detents at common angles, requires resetting and recalibrating every time you change angle. And the rip rails, while accurate, need occasional oiling on the elevation pivot to stay smooth — a maintenance step most owners discover only after things start to feel sticky.
Should You Buy a Used DW745 in 2026?
This is the real question most people searching this term actually have. Here’s the honest framework.
At $100–200 used with the stand, it’s a genuinely good deal — assuming the unit is in working condition. One WoodworkingTalk member picked one up for $150 with stand on Facebook Marketplace specifically for a remote project and described being impressed with everything it did, with the caveat that it’s louder than a stationary cabinet saw and not a replacement for one.
What to check before buying used:
The elevation and bevel mechanism should turn smoothly without grinding. If it’s stiff, that’s usually just dried-out grease — fixable with basic lubrication — but it’s also a sign of how well the previous owner maintained it.
The rip fence should lock without play at both front and rear contact points. Test it at a few different rail positions, not just one. If it racks or shows looseness, the rack-and-pinion gear may be worn.
The riving knife and blade guard should both be present and intact. These get lost or damaged on used units more often than you’d expect, and replacements aren’t always easy to source for a discontinued model — check eBay and Amazon for DW745-specific parts availability before committing to a unit that’s missing them.
Listen to the motor at startup. It should spin up cleanly with no hesitation, grinding, or burning smell. Unlike the well-documented capacitor issues that have plagued Delta’s contractor saws, the DW745’s direct-drive motor doesn’t have a widely reported failure pattern — but any motor this age deserves a startup test before money changes hands.
What’s New-Old-Stock Actually Worth Paying?
If you find genuine new (not used, not refurbished) DW745 stock through Amazon third-party sellers, treat the price the same way you’d treat any discontinued product: pay close to or below what a current-production competitor costs, not a premium for nostalgia.
As of recent listings, new DW745 units circulate in the $250–320 range depending on the seller and whether the stand is included. At the low end of that range, it’s a legitimately strong buy for the fence quality alone. At the high end, you’re better served by a current-production saw with active manufacturer support and parts availability.
Watch out for “refurbished” or “open box” listings priced close to new. Several third-party Amazon listings blur this distinction. Confirm what you’re actually buying before paying full price for something that isn’t.
DW745 vs. Its Actual Successors
This is where most of the AI-generated “2026 review” articles get genuinely useless — they compare the DW745 to its replacement models without being clear about which one actually replaced it and why.
| DW745 | DWE7485 | DWE7491RS | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status (2026) | Discontinued / NOS only | Current production | Current production |
| Price | $250–320 (used/NOS) | ~$329–379 | ~$599–649 |
| Weight | 45 lbs | 54 lbs | 90 lbs |
| Rip capacity | 16″ | 12″ (left) | 32.5″ (right) |
| Fence | Rack & pinion, front+rear lock | Rack & pinion | Rack & pinion, telescoping |
| Stand included | No (sold separately) | No | Yes (rolling) |
| Dado capable | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Warranty | 3-year (was current) | 3-year | 3-year |
The DWE7485 is the more direct spiritual successor — compact, similarly priced once you account for inflation, still no dado capability. The DWE7491RS is a genuinely different tier — nearly double the weight, a proper rolling stand, dado support, and almost double the rip capacity. If your DW745 research is really about wanting “something like the DW745 but new,” the DWE7485 is the closer match. If you’ve outgrown the compact form factor entirely and want a real contractor-class jobsite saw, the DWE7491RS is the better target — and it’s the saw most current “best table saw” lists from 2025–2026 are actually building their recommendations around.
(For a full breakdown of the DWE7491RS specifically, including how it stacks up against Ridgid and SawStop at similar price points, see our DeWalt DWE7491RS table saw review.)
Who the DW745 Is Actually Right For Today
Buy a used DW745 if: you want a genuinely portable backup saw for occasional remote projects, trim work, or light renovation tasks, you’ve found one in good working condition for $100–200, and you’re comfortable with the idea that parts support is limited going forward. For exactly this use case — a project 600 miles from home, a quick cabinet modification, occasional trim finishing — it remains a saw that punches above its weight.
Don’t buy a DW745, used or new-old-stock, if: you need dado capability (it has none and never did), you’re setting up a primary shop saw (the rip capacity and table size are limiting for serious furniture work), or you want manufacturer warranty support and easy parts replacement going forward.
Buy the DWE7485 instead if: you want the same compact form factor and fence quality with current production support and warranty coverage, at a price not far from what a good-condition used DW745 costs anyway.
Buy the DWE7491RS instead if: you’ve decided you actually want a full contractor-class jobsite saw — dado capability, real rip capacity, a stand that doesn’t require separate purchase — and you’re willing to spend roughly double.
The Honest Take
The DW745 earned its reputation honestly. The fence really is better than most saws at its original price point, the steel roll cage really does survive abuse that kills lighter-built competitors, and the reviews from owners who’ve put years on these saws are consistently positive about the things that matter most day to day.
What it isn’t is a current product you should be researching as if you’re choosing between it and 2026’s new releases. If you stumble into a clean used unit at a fair price, it’s still a smart buy for the right job. If you’re starting from scratch with no particular attachment to the model name, you’re better served looking at what actually replaced it — and deciding from there whether you want the DWE7485’s compact philosophy or the DWE7491RS’s larger capacity.
(For more current jobsite saw options at this tier, see our best portable table saw reviews and best inexpensive table saws guide.)
Finlay Connolly is a woodworking enthusiast and power tool specialist with over a decade of hands-on experience in the workshop. As the founder and lead writer at ProTableSawReviews.com, Finlay combines expert knowledge with real-world testing to help woodworkers, DIYers, and professionals choose the best tools for the job. With a sharp eye for detail and a passion for precision, Finlay is committed to providing trustworthy, practical advice backed by years of experience and research in the field. Whether you’re cutting dados or comparing fence systems, you can count on Finlay for honest, reliable reviews that make your next cut your best one.