Need help choosing a miter saw

[Moltar]

I'm in the market for a miter saw. The thing is I don't know what size and style I really need. A full feature, 12", dual compound, sliding miter saw is within my budget, but do I really need one that large? I'm torn because while I can afford the top of the line models, the price jump from a non-sliding 10" model to the 12" sliding models is huge. Also the price of blades between the two is huge in some cases.

[Ray-CA]

I've built a ton of stuff with a 10-inch Delta non-sliding saw. One bonus is that my table saw and the miter-saw can use the same blades. Plus, it's lighter than the 12-inch, sliding models.

Ray

[rcleaver]

Check out this one:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98194

[dxdexter]

I highly recommend the Makita 10" LS1013. It is a dual slider and will tilt both ways and has plenty of power. I have owned mine since 2001 and have had no problems what so ever. If you intend on frequent cutting of larger sections such as 6x6's then the 12" is the way to go, otherwise the 10" will be more than adequate for most jobs. No matter what size you choose, I would recommend you get a slider. You wouldn't regret it.

[Moltar]

Being able to use the same blade for the miter saw and the table saw is one of the most important advantages for me. Thats another thing thats making it more difficult.

I've also looked at that harbor freight model (even though I'll be buying a higher quality brand regardless) and the sliding action was smooth and tight, but the fit and finish wasn't all there and the spring return mechanism felt very cheap.

[T56 Impala]

I have a PC 3807 that I really like. You said you need a 12" so the 3807 won't work but I will say that PC makes some really good tools. Once you spend a little time and tune a saw correctly, most decent, name brand SCMS will do a great job.

The biggest error I see people make with them is blade choice. Wrong blase or worse, cheap blades. Spend the money on a good saw and on a great blade. You will do just fine!

[Moltar]

I have a PC 3807 that I really like. You said you need a 12" so the 3807 won't work but I will say that PC makes some really good tools. Once you spend a little time and tune a saw correctly, most decent, name brand SCMS will do a great job.

The biggest error I see people make with them is blade choice. Wrong blase or worse, cheap blades. Spend the money on a good saw and on a great blade. You will do just fine!

Well actually I'm trying to figure out if I do need a 12" or not. As far as portability goes, that's not really an issue for me since it will be setup in my garage semi permanently on a station similar to what Norm uses on the New Yankee Workshop.

[Bolster]

I rebuilt a house with a non-sliding 12" Makita.

Upside 1: It was always extremely accurate and reliable.

Upside 2: Easy to carry around.

Downside 1: Even with 12" blade, some tall baseboard would not get cut all the way through because the motor housing would hit the baseboard before the cut completed. So then I would have to use a saw or knife to knick off the remaining 1/4".

Downside 2: It was a single compound, not a dual compound. While that's great for accuracy, durability, and easy reset to zero, there were times I had to flip the work around and engage in foolishness because it wouldn't tilt both ways.

Seems to me a sliding 12" would be major overkill for most work. Either nonsliding 12 or sliding 10 is what I'd go for.

[T56 Impala]

I built one of those stations in my old garage. It works out nicely! Norm is the man! Watching his shows actually got me into woodworking.

Anyway, I vote for a PC. That said, Makita LS1013 is a 10" inch saw that thinks its a 12" saw! I would say it can cut slightly larger stock than any 10" saw on the market. Its a good choice too.

Price was THE major factor in mine. My wife picked it up at Costco a few years back as a Christmas present for me. It was the last one they had in stock and was marked down to......$199! She actually sweat talked them into letting her have it for a little over $125! (It was close to a $700 back then!) There is a reason I love my wife and I don't have to try to search for it! (She also got me my tool box at a HUGE discount, and our Sony 46" LCD, and my Impala, and her current A4..... )She is one heck of a sales person sometimes.

[mdale]

I'm also in the market for a 10" miter saw and have been looking at a makita ls1013fl and was wondering what a good blade would be for it.

[Bolster]

I purchased a red Freud blade for mine, as sold at HD, and could not be happier. Smooove cuts.

[boiler7904]

You can't really go wrong with any of the miter saws that Bosch, DeWalt, Hitachi or Makita make. The new Milwaukees are supposed to be good too. If money were no object, people have nothing but rave reviews for the Festool Kapex but to me, $1300 is nuts to spend on a saw.

Blade size and sliding / non-sliding is going to depend on what you plan to do with it. Go to a real tool store that has all of them lined up and play with each one that you are considering and narrow them down based on whatever criteria you want - comfort, dust collection, lasers, digital readouts, etc. Once you get a hands on feel for the tools, compare specs, read reviews online, visit woodworking forums, and see if they have the capacity to do what you want / need to do. Then after you narrow things down again, go back to the store and really study the 2 or 3 that you are really serious about. See if the store will let you demo those units in the store so you can get a real feel for them.

I'd be more concerned with getting the right blade(s) than being able to share it with your tablesaw. You aren't going to use a fine tooth finish blade to rip 2xs and the coarse tooth blade from the TS shouldn't really be used for finish trim and moldings.

It's not a simple purchase to make. Take your time. You don't want buyer's remorse right after you get the saw home.

[Bolster]

You can't really go wrong with any of the miter saws that Bosch, DeWalt, Hitachi or Makita make. The new Milwaukees are supposed to be good too.

That's where I net out, too. I think the miter saw has had such a long gestation that most of the respectable-brand saws out there are pretty good. So then it becomes a decision based on capacity and flexibility, balanced against size and price.

Also don't forget to read Fine Woodworking's reviews, they generally steer you right.

[Moltar]

I think I've narrowed my list down to these two:
Bosch 4212L 12" 15-Amp Dual-Bevel Compound Laser Miter Saw (Non-sliding)
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=94008-353-4212L&lpage=none

Hitachi C12LSH12" Sliding Laser Miter Saw http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=118985-67702-C12LSH&lpage=none

They both have mixed reviews but I own two cordless drills from Hitachi and a router from Bosch and like using them.

Or I could spend the extra money and get this Bosch sliding model:http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-5412L-12-Inch-Bevel-Tracking/dp/B0007LQPUQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1233892501&sr=1-2

[Vinko]

What about the Ridgid? Have you looked at those? I was thinking of getting a 10" saw myself, but keep looking on craigslist hoping to find a nice old Craftsman.

[rsanter]

I have the dewalt non sliding version and added the laser to it.
excellent saw and had done lots of work for me.
I would like to have had the sliding version but cannot justify the price difference, that and I do have a radial arm saw if I really needed

bob

[Vinko]

We were doing a lot of 2 x 12 cutting over the past month. For ceiling beams. With a 30 year old skill saw. A nice mitre saw would've been nice!

[Atlascycle]

I have the Craftsman Professional 12" dual sliding compound miter saw.

it is a great saw but a 12" slider will take up a lot of room on a bench, mine needs a lot of clearance behind it. if i had it to do over again I would not get the slider.


Jason

[sputnikv8]

I picked up a delta 12", non sliding, single bevel, laser model 3 years ago. I've used it mostly for rough framing, mdf molding and a handful of "fine" woodworking projects. I've been more than happy with it. When I was comparing models, it beat out the others that I looked at because of the angle locking mechanism and the bevel adjuster.

I just liked the feel of the controls on it. I haven't looked at any of the current models so I can't say how it compares now.

[NSXSOON]

Like has been said above, spend the money on a good blade. Most of the name brand saws are very accurate and well made so choose one that has the features you like.

The blade is what really makes the saw. A friend who has a cabinet shop told me to buy a Forrest blade for my table saw and miter saw years ago. I have always used better quality blades like Frued but the Forrest blades make them all seem inferior.

This is the blade I use on my Makita 10" compound slide saw and will never regret spending the money on it:

http://www.amazon.com/Forrest-CM10806105-Chopmaster-10-Inch-Radial/dp/B0000223VW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1233939812&sr=1-3

I have the Forrest Woodworker II on my 5hp Powermatic table saw and liked it so much I bought a second so I always have one on while the other is out for sharpening back at the Forrest factory.

The table saw blade:

http://www.amazon.com/Forrest-WW10407125-Woodworker-10-Inch-8-Inch/dp/B0000223VQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1233939812&sr=1-1

[shopnut]

I bought a 10" sliding and it has done everything for me. I can cut up to 12" wide boards. Get a laser guided one or add a laser to it - it is the single best feature for hitting your mark. And you can make a tick mark anywhere on the face of the board. Irwin sells a laser that mounts next to the blade and centrifugal force turns it on.

I recommend the slide feature too. It even allowed me to cut some crude rabbits before (not the furry kind). The compound feature barely gets used - but when you need it you need it. My saw is mounted on a roll-around fold-up stand with extender arms to support the long boards.

[musgofasta]

I have a 12'' non-sliding Porter Cable I got for free in trade. It's a beast in both size and weight, but the price was right. Performed flawlessly for hardwood floors, crown molding, and baseboards.

My friend just got the 10'' sliding Dewalt. Smaller, lighter, bigger cuts...it's VERY nice.

I would go 10'' sliding Miter...pick a color or find a great deal.

[Moltar]

I still haven't picked one yet. I'm starting to consider a Ridgid model now.

[mkdive]

Im thinking of getting the Hitachi C12FDH today. Looks like a good saw. Anyone here have that model? I can pick it up for $199.00. I looked at it yesterday. Cant believe I walked away from the store without it. Today, I think Im going back and picking it up, maybe a bench top table saw and router also. I have lots of hand power tools, Im thinking it time to get some bench top tools. Wife is already finding/thinking of stuff for me to make around the house!

[35mastr]

I have a 10 inch Dewalt that I completley remodeled my house with from the studs to finish.

If I were to do it all again.I would have bought a sliding compound Dewalt.

Like mentioned before.Trim canbe a real pain in th but.If you do any crown molding that would be a better saw.

Also if you want to blow through a 2x12 it would be a snap.

I learned my lesson along time ago with any equipment.Is that I always buy the biggest that your wallet will allow.Nothing worse than having to buy the same thing because you bought it too small and now it wont perform as you had planned.

[Vinko]

Also if you want to blow through a 2x12 it would be a snap.

I learned my lesson along time ago with any equipment.Is that I always buy the biggest that your wallet will allow.Nothing worse than having to buy the same thing because you bought it too small and now it wont perform as you had planned.

this is my thinking too. We've added about 10 2 x 12's in the last month to a loft roof. I had to cut them with a skilsaw. I hate skilsaws.

I keep saying that I'll never have need for such and such again. Why invest in it. Then I need that damn tool again. And I don't have it.

This has happened with a table saw more times than I can count.

[35mastr]

this is my thinking too. We've added about 10 2 x 12's in the last month to a loft roof. I had to cut them with a skilsaw. I hate skilsaws.

I keep saying that I'll never have need for such and such again. Why invest in it. Then I need that damn tool again. And I don't have it.

This has happened with a table saw more times than I can count.

Thats why I dont mess around any more when it comes to equipment.The biggest and best that you can afford.

[JayL]

Here are some Hitachi Miter Saws discounted 10% w/ Free Tool Rebate.

http://www.coastaltool.com/a/hitachi/hitachi.htm

[Moltar]

It would be a good deal getting 10% off plus getting a free router or sander but it still can't beat Lowes price on any of those.

[trackwelder]

I have a Dewalt 12" sliding double bevel compound with the folding stand. Its got to be at least ten years old and has been lent out to several family members and friends and it keeps going strong. No complaints at all and I have made thousands of cuts with it. Don't buy to small you will regret it.

[Moltar]

Well I finally bit the bullet and bought the Hitachi 12" sliding model. Lowes had it marked down to $418. It seems pretty good so far even though I haven't dialed it in yet.

[eville]

The 10" makita shown here (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=100031202&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_sku=100031202&ci_src=14110944&cm_mmc=shopping-_-google-_-D25X-_-100031202)is on sale for $399 at my local HD. I picked it up last night. Got a deck to build next month.