chop saw

I use a Makita dual rail compound miter saw. Got it when my radial arm saw went south.
At the time Lowe’s had it on sale with a further 10% discount if you charged it on Lowe’s card. Saved about $100

-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.

I have my old 15 in HITACHI, the damn thing weights a 1000 lbs, well it sure feels like it :) I bought it 20 years ago to cut 6×6 and 2×6 on the flat for miters and it has served me well.

It is time I also buy a new, more versatile chop saw. The compound miter saws look very nice but do I really need to waste the money on a new saw when my current one does the trick (minus the compound miters). I have been trying to talk my wife into a new tool purchase but that is a long process :)

-- "so much to learn and so little time"..

This is the one I have been coveting.
I was kind of waiting for an improvement in the digital read out but it’s not too bad the way it is.
The advantage in a small footprint shop is the newly engineered slider that dramatically cuts down the over hang at the back of the saw letting it sit on a narrow bench.
I am at the stage where I am upgrading stuff like this so I will spend a few extra bucks this time and get the best.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

I have the Ridgid 12-inch compound miter saw (http://www.epinions.com/hmgd-Shop_Tools-All-Ridgid_MS1250_Compound_Miter_Saw/display_~reviews), and I’ve been happy with it. The only problem I’ve had was with tearout cutting mesquite molding, so I replaced the blade with a 100-tooth polished cut job. The old blade is great for soft wood.

Now I have my eye on the Ridged miter saw stand (http://www.epinions.com/RIDGID_Miter_Saw_Stand_AC9940/display_~reviews).

-- Steve B - New Life Home Improvement

I use a Delta 12” compound miter saw. The big advantage to me is Delta’s built-in two laser system. It projects a pair of lines on the stock that are adjustable to exactly match the kerf of your blade. In other words, whatever is between the red lines just disappears. Makes precise cuts a lot easier.

The saw handles up to about 8” stock. However, the laser system makes flipping a board to complete a cut MUCH easier.

The blade? Ehh…it’s ok, but I’ve got my eye on a Forrest Chopmaster as an upgrade.

-- Robert from Raymond, MS. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is therefore not a practice, but a habit." - Aristotle

I have a Makita LS1013L 10-Inch Dual Bevel Sliding Compound Miter saw. Great saw. It is mounted on a Rigid miter saw stand.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

I have a DeWalt and really like it.

-- Hope Never fails

If you get a 10 inch, you can swap blades with your table saw. (unless you have a 12 table saw.) I think most of the miter saws are good – I have a delta that works pretty well. I would recommend that you check the table and turn table for square and true, mine was a bit off. You should set up the saw when you do a cut; don’t believe that the manufacturer made it perfect.

I calibrate mine often (get a good square) and I always get square, clean cuts.

I recommend a Freud 80 tooth blade for most woods, perhaps fewer teeth for the more dense hardwoods.

Just an F.Y.I., Fine Homebuilding just reviewed miter saw stands in the August/Sept issue

http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/how-to/video/miter-saw-stands-tool-review.aspx

Here is an article on choosing and using a miter saw:

http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/how-to/articles/choosing-using-miter-saw.aspx

-- John

Thanks John and kudos to Taunton Press.
They got it right this time by not trying to pick the best solution from a limited selection of saws as they have often in the past.
I think the author, Clayton DeKorne is pretty incisive as well in pointing out what is needed in this tool.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

We have a 12” DeWalt mounted on a table top with an 8 foot table fitted with a Kreg measuring system on the fence. We also use a 10” Hitachi mounted on a Ridgid wheel stand that we take to job sites. I like the 12” DeWalt because I can zero it in both directions pretty easily. The Hitachi belongs to my son-in-law and we keep it strictily for trim work. I’ve not tried the sliding saws but have heard from others that they are harder to keep in trim.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

I have the Makita (the one Wayne posted a pic of above) and just love it…the stock blade is very good too…(usually have to put a good one on right away).

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA