Hello everyone. First let me say that I just joined Lumberjocks a couple of days ago and really appreciate the 'welcome' messages I got within a few hours. Thanks !!!
I'd like some opinions and suggestions from the guys (and gals) who know these newer saws.
Anyway, I need a compound miter saw to install 5.25 baseboards and crown molding (plus eventual projects to follow). I want it to be a 'sliding' miter to increase its versatility. Eventually I'll be building a large deck out back and want to be able to handle the larger pieces (2×8's or 10's or even 12's).
Consumer Reports' site recommends the Bosch 4410L (is that last year's model?). I'm not locked in on this model or brand.
I'm a novice true but want something I can grow with and not have to replace anytime soon.
I have a budget of about $700 for the saw and any after market accessories like blades. I think I can forgo the stand for now. I have a sturdy table I can secure it to.
of walt make of good models .qui are strapping man and precise. after giving council on machines these delicate .ayant a dewalt has my work I peus to say that C is a good machine
I am biased and a true deWalt guy. I owned the non-sliding 12" mitre saw since 2001 and just recently upgraded to the sliding DW716R (R for reconditioned). I upgraded and got the laser guide which is nice as well. There was a promotion running where you got the saw and stand for a lower package price, but I cannot find it anymore and I already had a stand so didn't need another one.
The saw has a built in work holder that pivots around from the back and the spec sheet says you can cut up a 2×10. My only complaint is that the work area in front of the fence is only about 4" wide except for a 4" wide section that juts out where the saw blade cuts. So only for 4" in the center of the saw do you have the entire board supported. Since I am on a stand this is not really a problem for me.
I have been using the deWalt factory blades and never had a problem.
I have never had a problem with any deWalt tool and usually get the reconditioned ones if available.
Anyway, I have been purchasing all my power tools from toolking.com for the last couple of years, always free shipping and the best prices I have found. Plus the free gifts are nifty too. Can never have enough LED work lights…
I didn't mean for that to sound like a commercial…good luck in your search.
Here's my take on the Hitachi 12 inch SCMS " I bought last fall.
If you use the search engine on Lj's you can pick up more comments on various offering as well.
I second the Dewalt recommendation. I have the first Dewalt 12" slider model and have been very impressed with it. I am still using the Dewalt factory blade and it cuts very nice. I aslwo have an after market laser on it. That is great for rough cuts, i.e. the deck boards, but I don't trust it for fine cuts for furniture.
I also have the Dewalt mitersaw stand and I wouldn't waste my money on it if I were you. It is not on wheels for one thing. That would be more handy. Also the wood supports are flimsy I think. If you needed a stand, I like the looks of the Ridgid.
OK time to go against the flow. I did exhaustive research before i bought my SCMS. The new DeWalt, while chock full of some great features takes a serious hit for accuracy and fit and finish of the parts. I tossed it out of the running right away. For me it was the BOSCH or the Makita. As far as quality, features, fit and finish and accuracy they both were equal. I liked the feel of the Makita better, and I also liked the light and the laser, and the fact that you don't have to spin the blade to see the laser. I know allot of guys think that lasers are a gimmick, but if you have it tweaked properly it can be a very handy feature. I bought the 12" Makita SCMS. paid around $600 for it. The blade it came with is decent and I am still using it. When it gets dull I will probably replace it with a Forrest Chopmaster. It was dead on accurate right out of the box, and 10 minutes after I bought it i was cutting miters on 10" wide AZEK laying flat on the saw table, and you couldn't pass a piece of paper between the finished joint! I love the saw and highly recommend it.
I will add the the Hitachi can accurately determine not only the side to side angles by digital readout to .5 degrees but also the compound angle with similar accuracy and from in front of the saw.
I believe Dewalt still expects you to make this adjustment from the rear of the machine.
That is a huge pain if you are doing many at a time. Mouldings come to mind.
Yesterday afternoon I cut 45 bevels with my Hitachi for a siding design.
If I was setting it each time with the Dewalt it would have taken much longer and the accuracy would have suffered.
Secondly, the Hitachi has a forward adjustable slider so rather than having to park the saw an extra 12-18" from the wall you can cut that distance down by at least half.
In a small shop like mine that is a plus.
There is also a 5 year guarantee which may come in handy, maybe not, but it indicates to me the confidence Hitachi has in their engineering.
Those 12" saws are awfully heavy. I was a pro at one time
and I never saw a use for a big slider. I had a 12" saw and
later got an 8 1/2" slider. The 12" was great for cutting
moulding against the fence and 4×4s. The slider is more
precise has greater crosscut capacity.
When I scaled back I got rid of the 12" saw and kept the
slider.
At the end of the day I curse any tool that weighs more than
50 lbs. - but if you don't plan on moving your stuff daily
that's perhaps not something you should concern yourself
with.
I'm with Loren. I sold my Dewalt 12" Slider because I grew tired lugging that 78 pound monster around the shop.
In my opinion, the Festool Kapex is the best saw on the market and only weighs in a 45 pounds. The problem is that is costs twice your estimated budget. If I couldn't justify the Festool, I would purchase the Makita LS1214L 12-Inch Saw with Laser Guide for around $600.00 and then put it on a folding mobile stand - Ridgid make a nice one.
I guess we are talking about two different applications:
1. The trim and finish guy that moves daily and rarely cuts anything over 5".
2. The mobile builders shop that needs a saw to build fences and cut 2×10" and do a bit of trim where needed. These are 2 man shops or better.
These behemoths are not for the lone finisher with a job on the fourth floor, but that does not make them a poorer choice of saw.
I guess it depends on what you are up to.
Agreed, my mitre saw stand never moves, it has a set spot in the shop and is hooked up to the dust collector. I kept my old 12" deWalt for taking to other job sites when I have to. I did get the Rigid stand in 2002, never saw the deWalt stand so cannot comment on it.
Thanks to all for your input. You've given me a lot of info.
Additional question: the Hitachi and its digital readout, is it accurate, useful or just a selling feature?
I'm going to go with the minority here and vote for the Makita. I got a refurb LS1214F Rfrom Tyler Tool for $350 a couple of months ago and I absolutely love it. It's worth a lot more than I paid for it. Coming from a 20 year old Delta chopsaw (for the exact reason you are looking) it was a quantum leap in capability and quality. The blade that is included produces the finest cuts I've ever seen on a saw.
"Additional question: the Hitachi and its digital readout, is it accurate, useful or just a selling feature?"
Like most electronic digital devices it relies on and calibrated circuit and and pendulm weght to measure change positions. It will be accurate to it own position on the saw but you may have to tweak your balde to the device to get a near perfect 90° when setting it up.
I used a known device for mine ( wixey) to check it.
After that it's dead on.
If you have ever tried setting a bevel from the back of a Scms you will wellcome the digital read out.
As far as accuracy is concerned , what do the other companies give you to use as a guage? (Stampings., decals, etchings?)
For what it's worth, when I bought my saw they gave me the portable stand and a $100.00 rebate bringing the net price down to $600.00 with stand.
You might try shopping around the net for that price range or better.
I never really looked at the Hitachi. I like the forward mounted slider bars…thats the one knock I will give the Makita, you have to keep it far from the wall. As far as weight goes I don't go mobile with my tools much and I like the cutting capacity over portability..but i want accuracy too.
I have a 10" Makita SCMS that I bought four or five years ago. I have never regretted the purchase and was always impressed with the orginal blade that came with it. I remember that I chose the 10" because it was significantly less expensive and 12" blades cost more more too. I also thought I would never need the extra cutting height. That held true until just recently when being able to get a 6" depth cut would have made a project a little easier but not totally necessary. The only other issue is as already mentioned it takes more room behind it but that has never really caused any trouble. All in all, I am very happy with the Makita and do not regret getting the 10" model.
I am planning on buying the Bosch 4410L 10" Dual-Bevel Slide Miter saw w/Laser Tracking for my new shop. The other saw I was considering was the Maketa LS1013F 10" Dual Slide Compound Miter saw w/Fluoresent. I have other Bosch tools that I am very pleased with so decided to go with Bosch. I also liked the ajustable handle feature.
Makita 10-inch Slider-most accurate miter saw I have used. You may want to take a look at the reviews on Amazon as well as this site. I believe there are a number of good reviews on both sites. That might help you.
I have seen the Makita 10" slider in action and it is very accurate as far as I could tell. Only one I have worked extensively with is the Dewalt 12" slider and I have found nothing wrong with it. For me it would be whatever I could get the better deal on between dewalt, makita, and hitachi. They all make quality miter saws from what I have read and reviews as well as what I have seen.
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