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Needing to upgrade my HF sliding compound miter saw to? *Help*

7K views 37 replies 23 participants last post by  BobM001 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I'm finely to the point, where I am sick and tired of having to resquare my table to the blade and not knowing if my cuts are truely 45s. The marker on the turn table is about a 1/6" or better off from the factory mark of 0 according to my square. My dad is wanting to build bird houses and I'm going to let him have it.

I've been looking at the Lowe's Kobalt SM2507LW and have read the review here on LJ, question is would this be a good upgrade from what I have now?

Thanks
 
#3 ·
DeWalt, but as always check the box for bent corners when you buy it. I prefer to inspect it at the store as well. One good drop and things can get hairy. You might also invest in the table extender for it if you cut long pieces.
 
#4 ·
If I was going to replace mine I would go with the new Bosch 12-in Dual-Bevel Glide Miter Saw GCM12SD. Great looking tool and fits into a much more compact space than the DeWalt 12 sliding one I have now.
 
#7 ·
Cabmaker, yeah I agree am working on weeding all that HF crap out. Belg1960, as for as compact, yeah that'd be more to my liking on the Bosch.

So it's looking like either the dewalt or the bosch then.
 
#8 ·
Check out the pawn shops I've seen a almost new Dewalt 12" with lazers for $229.00. And a lot of other brands. They will let run them. Times are hard !!! Note the newer Dewalts have a short slide and cuts 60 d to the left the older ones have a longer slide and cuts 60 d to the right. both cuts the same width. I've owned both and i pefer the longer slide
 
#9 ·
I have two….a Delta slider for precision work, and a HF 12" slider for rough work. HF works great and cost about 1/4 the Delta. I ran the crap out of the HF when I was framing my shop…and it has held up just fine…but then, I don't care if the framing lumber cuts are not exactly square.

BruceM
 
#12 ·
Our small shop we use a 12" dewalt slider and a 10 hitachi slider. I love them both as they both work great. I personally think if u are going with a slider u need to be in the 400.00 range to ensure quality and precision. Personally i like looking at CL for good deals, many times good quality.tools can be had at 1/2 retail, or maybe a little more.
 
#13 · (Edited by Moderator)
I've had/used a few different ones (Dewalt, Delta, etc.) and have no complaints about the Bosch ones (currently own the 12" 5312 rail version… not the fancy new GCM12SD):



I'm with cabmaker on this sentiment, Buy once, buy right.

If it's ever an important tool or something that I'll use often or in critical situations, I buy the best I can afford. I have been burnt too many times trying to make tools that weren't supposed to do something work or fixing the work from an imprecise tool. That doesn't mean buy the most expensive, just the best one you can get for what you need it for… even if it means saving up for it.
 
#15 ·
Blackie - If you've got a decent table saw, you could skip a new slider altogether and use the TS with a crosscut sled. Most decent TS are more accurate than sliders in general. If not, I'm not sure the Kobalt would be a significant step up from the HF.
 
#16 ·
I own the GCM12SD, It's a really good tool, it's just that, the dust collection port is pretty flimsy (don't all mitre saws have HORRIBLE dust collection?) because its some cheap rubbery plastic with some PVC pipe.
That arm is amazing.
I really recommend the bosch,
 
#17 ·
Knotscott, once again one of the best suggestions among all others here, due to the lack of room in my little shop doing away with the miter saw altogether might be my best solution only not so sure if my table saw would be considered anything to brag about LOL it's the Hitachi C10FL in which I just upgraded the fence from the factory to the Delta 36 T-30.

Once again thanks everyone great ideas and heading me in the right direction, all makes perfect since to do it right.

Blackie
 
#18 ·
+1 to knotscott. I sold my 12" dewalt slider recently when I started cleaning up the shop with things I don't use/need. I don't really do moldings, or beveled cuts on really long pieces - so everything that I need to cut miters/bevels on I can do safely and more precisely on the TS with a sled.
 
#19 ·
I do have one concern about the sled though, I'll be cutting alot of 10 and 12 footers how well will it work for those?
 
#20 · (Edited by Moderator)
Yeah, a sled and other set ups are a great idea except they don't work in all situations (well, not easily of course).

If you're going to be cutting long moldings and trim, I'd say get a good miter saw as you originally planned to.

Nothing is worse [while working] than a tool you don't trust.
 
#21 ·
The Kobalt, Craftsman and several other labels I've seen look like they all come off the same assembly line somewhere in China. I own the Craftsman SCMS, and I DO NOT use it for precision work. To me it's simply a cut-off saw. All precision work is done on the table saw. I have used the Dewalt saws, and although much more costly, I think it's worth the spend. Choose carefully-you'll be using this too a long time!
 
#24 ·
ah. ok, for a 10-12 footers you WOULD want a miter saw ;)

in that case, if you really want an UPGRADE, I'd recommend not looking at the lower-cost options out there as they will not be that much of an upgrade and you'll be back at this same spot in a little while.
 
#25 ·
Machine Auto part Engineering Composite material Font


"I'm finely to the point, where I am sick and tired of having to resquare my table to the blade and not knowing if my cuts are truely 45s"

I completely understand this frustration. Move up a notch Randy and leave the wannabees in the saw dust.
Spendy, no doubt, but worth every cent and the resale is incredibly high.

Money well spent.
 

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#26 ·
For what it's worth, I have seen the Kobalt slider, and it makes the Harbor Freight model seem like a top end saw. The Kobalt's motion was jerky, and rough.

My HF 12" slider used to get out of square pretty regularly. I took the fence bolts off, dabbed some Loctite blue thread locker on them, and squared the fence, locking it down with the thread locker. That seems to have done the trick. And that was no shock to me, HF does not seem to use much thread locker on anything.

If you have reached your last straw with the HF saw, you might want to be kind to whomever you sell it to and do the thread locker / squaring thing on the fence before letting it go…

I have been looking at several other models of sliders that have piqued my interest, but I just don't have the cash for them yet…

The contenders for my money are…
Hitachi C12LSH 15 Amp 12-Inch Dual Bevel Sliding Compound Miter saw with Laser Guide and Digital Bevel Display

Bosch GCM12SD 120-Volt 12-Inch DB Glide Miter Saw.

And at the steep end of the scale… Festool Kapex KS 120 Sliding Compound Miter Saw.

Honestly the Festool is WAY out of my price range. The reviews on the Hitachi are hit or miss, mostly hit. Looks like there are a couple of reviewers out there that got bad ones though… Same with the Bosch. I guess for me it will come down to brand familiarity. I have a few Hitachi tools that I really like the fit and finish on, and the function is spot on…
 
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