Sliding Compound Miter saw - Dewalt? Bosch? Rigid? - - Do I need a Laser?

[LSU]

I’m trying to decide whether to purchase a DEWALT DW718R 12-in Double Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw or the Bosch 5312-RT 12".

I think I’m going to buy one or the other from CPO on line. The price is almost identical.

The only real difference I’m seeing is the laser feature on the Bosch. (I’ve never used a Miter saw with a laser but as the eyes get older I’m thinking this might be a nice option to have.

The saw will be used for general duty building (trim, fences, 2x4’s, etc.)

I’m open to suggestions and I’d appreciate if anyone has a similar saw by Rigid. I recently bought two Rigid drills (1/2” drill driver) and a cordless screw gun/drill in a combo pack. So far, I’ve been very impressed.

Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[APEowner]

I don't have any direct experience with either of those saws but I can tell yoi that I love the laser on my Porter-Cable compond miter. It's a huge time saver and I think it's safer. I almost never mark a cut anymore. I just lay the tape on the board and line the laser up with the measurement. You do need to remember to remove the tape though. I think it's safer because knowing that everything between the two lines is going to dissapear discourages one from putting one's hand in that area.

 

[bimmerZ5]

the ridgid equivalent is nice because the table is massive which some people may enjoy. both Dewalt and Bosch are good. my miter saw is a Hitachi, but I own several Dewalt and Bosch power tools and like both brands. if I had to pick one of the 2, I'd get the bosch, just because all the Bosch power tools I've owned just seem to be better engineered with attention to details.

as far as laser is concerned, I like the feature and use it all the time, but it has its drawbacks. 1) you're going to align it to either the left or right side of the blade. so, it's not useful if you have it setup for right hand cuts but need to do a left hand cut. you could realign it, but that just slows you down. I just setup for what I use most, and go the old fashion way by bringing the blade down for the other cuts. 2) most lasers become hard to see in bright sun light. if you only use it indoors or under some shade, it's not a problem. but if you're set up at a job site outdoors under bright sun light, I don't even bother turning the laser on.

 

[LSU]

Thanks for both of your comments. I always am grateful when I get comments that bring up issues that I've not thought about before.

I'm pretty certain that I'm going to get one with a laser and both of your comments confirm I'm making the right decision.

Can you both eloborate a little more on aligning the laser?

Thanks.

 

[mobiledynamics]

Between the 2, I'd choose the Dewalt.
Not sure what part of the country you are, but every once in awhile Lowers or Home Depot will run specials and throw in the stand for free. Those extension fences are generally $200+ alone in value

 

[acer66]

Bosch because it has the Up-front bevel lock lever and range selector knob which I wish my saw would have.
Laser is also good, I thought I would never use it on mine but it is handy.

If you have to move the saw around the gravity rise stand from Bosch is also great but a little heavy to load on anything higher than a regular truck/van yourself.

 

[Imcrazy]

I have the Dewalt and it works fine. To me the 12" was a better feature since I mostly cut regular lumber instead of trim.

The Dewalt uses a light and the shadow of the blade instead of the laser.

 

[RKA]

I grew tired of the laser because it washed out in the sun (Makita). I upsized the saw to a 12 and ended up with the DWS780 and their LED light and like it much better than the laser. As mentioned you don't need to align (aim) the laser to match the cutting edge of the blade and it won't fall out of alignment with the blade if moved around. The LED system casts a shadow on the work piece (both sides), never needs aligning and lights up the work area if you are working in a dim environment. The only two things I've found that I don't like about the saw are the rough castings underneath. When I pick the saw up, I'm constantly pricking my fingers. Need to dremel those things down. And the slides aren't as smooth as my Makita was. Not even in the same neighborhood. It hasn't been a problem in use, but gosh was that Makita 4 rail nice!

 

[jim2664258]

A couple comments, I have the 12" Bosch (5412L model I believe). First, it is a fantastic saw. I don't doubt the DeWalt one is too, but I've never used it.

As far as the laser - the line does wash out in full sun. Also, the battery doesn't really seem to last very long so that is a bit of an irritation. As far as alignment with the blade cut, the left/right stuff is true but there is a second issue: the kerf of the blade you are using. I've found that with some blades the laser is dead-on marking the edge of the blade, but if you use a thicker kerf blade it will be off just a bit. You can account for that, or just do it the old-fashioned way for those blades, but still worth noting.

I find that I mark the piece I am going to cut the same way using either methd (just a small mark on the edge of the piece) and then use/don't use the laser as I see fit.

One feature on my saw that I really like is the ability to rotate and lock in the handle to different positions. VERY useful depending on what angles you are cutting pieces, especially if you have a lot of repetitive cuts. That feature might be one of the differences between the 53xx and 54xx models, not sure -- either that or the 10/12" blade.

 

[LSU]

Double post - please see below.

 

[LSU]

Okay, a few more questions:

1. Does the laser run on a battery or is it 110v?

2. I'd buy a Dewalt in a heartbeat if I could get a free stand? Any idea how often these deals come around? Any idea how I could find out when the "stand" is going to be part of the deal? My local Lowe's and HD generally have the power cords cut off the tools so the employees don't plug them in and hurt themselves. I don't have much faith in anything they tell me.

3. I've got a work bench with sufficient space to use the saw but would be interested in a collapsible support. I've seen and used the Dewalt one and liked it. Most likely my saw would live on a side bench in my workshop but I'd sure like to have a portable stand that I could use. A friend of mine attached his to a Workmate which seems to work well. It is a little low for me. The issue with the stand would be the ability to store it when I'm not using it.

4. Anyone every build or see a homemade stand for one of these that would fold up nicely?

As I stated earlier, I really appreciate the serious Reponses and comments. Sometimes I read comments that say "you're an idiot if you buy a . . ." The nice thing about this thread is the serious answers I've been getting.

Thanks.

 

[jim2664258]

Bosch laser runs on a battery, I imagine they all do due to the way they are mounted (on the arbor). Lowe's has in the past run promos for a free stand with the Bosch saw too, but I honestly don't pay too much attention -- I don't think it is very frequent. I have noticed that sometimes Bosch and DeWalt react to each other's promos and essentially match it within several weeks when it is running at a place like Lowe's.

I do think when the free stand promos are offered, the free stand is the fixed-base version, not the collapsible/wheelable versions that cost a lot more.

I would love to have the new Bosch T4B stand, but it is WAY pricey. Instead I use a Delta foldup stand I bought off CL (even those are like $200 new) and it works great. Anything homemade would be in the workbench category I would think. Another issue you did not mention is support for long pieces you need to cut - you can get by using something like roller stands but that would be a pita to keep setting up.

I used a WorkMate as well until I got a dedicated stand - there is no comparison, especially if you get a collapsible stand that has pull-out supports for long pieces.

 

[LSU]

Jim, thanks, good comments.

The workmate is too low for me.

The Dewalt stand I used had the pull out "extensions". Really cool.

I've never seen a non folding stand but I'm sure glad you pointed that out to me because I would have assumed all the stands would have folded.

I'm not sure I can I could build a suitable homemade stand that would fold any better than factory made ones. I could make up one for my workbench with the extensions. My work bench is about 12' long so I've got quite a bit of room but this would take up my workbench top.

 

[boiler7904]

I’m trying to decide whether to purchase a DEWALT DW718R 12-in Double Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw or the Bosch 5312-RT 12".

I think I’m going to buy one or the other from CPO on line. The price is almost identical.

The only real difference I’m seeing is the laser feature on the Bosch. (I’ve never used a Miter saw with a laser but as the eyes get older I’m thinking this might be a nice option to have.

The saw will be used for general duty building (trim, fences, 2x4’s, etc.)

I’m open to suggestions and I’d appreciate if anyone has a similar saw by Rigid. I recently bought two Rigid drills (1/2” drill driver) and a cordless screw gun/drill in a combo pack. So far, I’ve been very impressed.

Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Okay, a few more questions:

1. Does the laser run on a battery or is it 110v?

2. I'd buy a Dewalt in a heartbeat if I could get a free stand? Any idea how often these deals come around? Any idea how I could find out when the "stand" is going to be part of the deal? My local Lowe's and HD generally have the power cords cut off the tools so the employees don't plug them in and hurt themselves. I don't have much faith in anything they tell me.

3. I've got a work bench with sufficient space to use the saw but would be interested in a collapsible support. I've seen and used the Dewalt one and liked it. Most likely my saw would live on a side bench in my workshop but I'd sure like to have a portable stand that I could use. A friend of mine attached his to a Workmate which seems to work well. It is a little low for me. The issue with the stand would be the ability to store it when I'm not using it.

4. Anyone every build or see a homemade stand for one of these that would fold up nicely?

As I stated earlier, I really appreciate the serious Reponses and comments. Sometimes I read comments that say "you're an idiot if you buy a . . ." The nice thing about this thread is the serious answers I've been getting.

Thanks.

I've had a DeWalt 718 for a couple of years and like it.

So far I've used it for cutting framing lumber, cabinet parts for two large storage projects in the house, crown molding, baseboard, and misc. trim.

Some answers to your questions:

1. The laser accessory for the Dewalt saw runs off 110 running through the tool. Take a look at this link.

Dewalt Laser Accessory

If you look up the installation instructions on Dewalt's website, you'll learn that the black box is the power source and switch that mounts where a blank cover plate is on the motor housing near the handle. The yellow box is the laser assembly that mounts in place of a removable cover on the front end of the upper (metal) blade guard. The wiring and push connectors for all power is already installed at both locations. Just unbolt the covers, connect the wires, and bolt the laser components in place. Mounting is shown much more clearly for the LED worklight.

I chose the LED worklight over the laser since it lights up the work area and casts a shadow over the blade kerf to show where the cut line is. Not 100% accurate but gets you in the ballpark for finetuning - just like a laser.

Dewalt LED Worklight Accessory

2. Free stand deals are usually only for new saws. The 718R is a factory reconditioned unit. I know a lot of people have had good results mounting Dewalt and Bosch saws on the Ridgid MSUV rolling stand which can usually be purchased at a deep discount around the holidays.

3. I've thought about buying something like the Dewalt DWX724 portable stand but don't use my saw away from my garage (yet) so doesn't make sense for me to spend the money right now.

4. I built something very similar to this. Adds a lot of useful storage yet doesn't take up a lot of space in my fairly narrow garage when pushed up against a wall.

Miter Saw Cart

 

[RKA]

The LED system just powers off the 110v supply for the saw, no batteries. You'd have to look more carefully at dewalt's other saws with laser to see how that works as I'm not sure.

The free stand deals typically happen 1-2x's a year (or close to that). Around the holidays would be a pretty good bet I suppose.

The folding stands are nice for storage. They collapse down to a ~9"x9"x??"L form factor that you can place vertically in any corner of your shop or basement. They take up minimal footprint or you can toss it on a shelf or hook it on large hooks you might use for ladders. And being made mostly of aluminum, it's reasonably lightweight. Anything I would or could build wouldn't be this lightweight and mounting on a workbench is great, unless you want mobility.

I did get a T4B, and in retrospect, I wish I had gotten a DW723 or similar for it's lighter weight and compact form factor. The T4B is nice, but most of the time I have to wheel it up and down out of the basement. A 35 lb folding stand is easier to manage than a 65 lb stand on wheels when it comes to stairs. In both cases the saw has to come off the stand, but the quick mounts make that simple enough.

 

[DekeT]

Never used a laser cut saw. I think it would be useful for framing. I would not even consider it for fine woodworking on moulding, trim, etc. Electronics are cheaper than good tooling but rarely make up for it. Buy yourself a good solid saw and some prescription safety glasses instead.

 

[bimmerZ5]

about the laser alignment: you'll need to align it either to the left or right cutting edge of the blade and this will change with different blades that have a different kerf thickness. i usually clamp down a piece of scrap and cut a kerf into it (not all the way through) and then align the laser to one of the edges. for me, i find i do more left hand cuts than right. so, what i mean by that is if you have the laser aligned to the left side, then the piece you're keeping is on the left. if you wanted to keep the right side piece, it wouldn't be cut incorrectly since the thickness of the blade would cut into it.

on my hitachi, the laser is powered off the 110v power cord along with the motor. no batteries involved. i got my hitachi because it was a good deal ($299 at costco), from a reputable place, and the "slider" can be configured to not slide out the back minimizing the amount of clearance you need in the back. the fence can be adjusted vertically too if you want to cut something 7" tall. the only thing i don't like about my hitachi is that it is very heavy.

if you want a nice stand, i really like the bosch gravity rise stands.... i'm hunting for a good deal on the Bosch table saw (9100 series) with the stand.

 

[Steevo]

That DeWalt LED worklight is nice.
I'll have to see if they have it to fit my 12" DeWalt sliding saw.
Mine is the earlier version, with the two sliding rails over/under one another rather than side-by-side.
By the way, I love my DeWalt 12" sliding saw, have had it for at least 9 years and have used the heck out of it to cut everything from 2x12 rough lumber to fine mouldings, to styrofoam concrete forms, to laminate flooring, to aluminum.
I also have the DeWalt 4-legged saw stand with the slide-out supports, and that is a great thing, too, though not as portable as some.

 

[EvilWelder]

I am not a carpenter, but I have the Ridgid and I like it. The laser drives me bat **** because it is not where I think it should be in relation to the blade. I have never had or needed a laser so I would be perfectly fine with out it.

 

[APEowner]

Again I don't have experience with either of the saws that the OP is looking at so my comment here is getting a little off track but...

On my Porter-Cable the laser is powered by the 110VAC line and actually projects two very bright lines, one on each side of the blade. Anything in between the lines disappears when you make the cut. It's extremely accurate and repeatable. When doing finicky trim work I can take fractions of a blade width off easily. I use it almost exclusively outdoors while wearing tinted safety glasses and I've never had a problem seeing the lines.

I'm sure I would be much less enamored of the idea if I had to pick which side of the blade it was on and mess around with aligning it.

 

[LSU]

Thanks for all the comments.

Boiler, the Saw Cart looks very nice but I'm looking for something that I can throw in my truck. After looking at the website I realized that the folding factory ones are probably what I need.

I think I'm going to spend this weekend looking at some saws in person.

After reading the comments I think I'm going to get a saw with a laser. Most of the time I'll be using it indoors.

I'm not going to be doing fine woodworking (or at least not too fine) so I guess I will stick with the factory blade for now.

I'll say it again, I'm thankful for the great comments. I've learned a lot from reading the comments and the comments gave me some new things to think about.

Threads like this one are the reason I read Garage Journal.

 

[JASTECH]

I had the DeWalt and my Dad has the Rigid. I didn't like the lock on the rear of my DeWalt, after my accident didn't like it even more. I took it back to HD and ordered the Hitachi with Laser and LCD screen for alignments. It is smoother and cuts better with same blade. I do have one of the DeWalt Heavy Duty LED light/line still in package if anybody wants PM me, think I have 2 in packages, lol

 

[Chadwilliam1]

I have the DW718 and I built my own workbench. Mine has the LED light which IMO is much better than a laser. No alignment needed plus it cast a shadow on both side of the blade. You wont always be able to cut on your left. Usually you will but not always. I found that aligning lasers is a pain. Also you can buy attatchments to put on the side of the blade to add a laser Irwin makes them. My drill press has a battery powered laser that has been dead for 4 years because I always forget to turn it off. Which is why the Dewalt is a big plus running of 110v.

I suggest a 10" saw. Unless you are cutting big trim or wide boards its a waste. With a 10" you get less blade wobble which means a smoother cut and blades are cheaper. At the time I bought mine I didnt own a table saw so I needed the capacity.

You wont regret any of the saws you listed its a tough decision and the reason I chose the Dewalt was it was on sale. I have had it for 3+ years now and I really like it. I did have to adjust the settings to get my cuts straight but in the 3 years I have not had to re adjust it. I periodically check it.

Here are a few pictures of my saw stand and what the light looks like.

I have 10'4" to the left of the blade but I can go up to 13' before I hit my compressor. I have 5'6" of table to the right but I can go to almost 8" before I hit the wall. This has worked perfectly fine for me, The longest boards I get are 16' and they are hell to get in my basement.

My dad and I made my fence which is adjustable, It is 90 degrees to the able and is in-line with the fence. My saw is bolted down using 1/2" levelling bolts. If you notice in the corner I have two bolts a 1/2 and a 1/4. Thats because when I have to take the saw to the furthest angle the rotator hits the nut. So I have to take the nut off, so the smaller bolt just keeps force down on the saw when making those cuts. I have only had to do this once. I left extra space under the saw because my intentions were to sore blades and accessories under it but it fills up with too much saw dust.

Here is the light

This is the blade I am using at the moment. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002H4A02/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I highly recommend it. Forrest also makes very good blades but they are a little bit pricer but made in USA.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000223VX/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Sorry for the long post.

 

[coolreed]

I have an Hitachi C12RSH 15 Amp 12-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw with Laser. It is incredible. The main reason I purchased it was the slide is adjustable so you can locate it very close to your wall and save space.
Alot of great features with this model. Got it at Lowes on sale for $400.

Also, it is much cheaper than the Dewalt or Bosch models.

If I had a unlimited budget I would get the latest and greatest Bosch.

 

[ChrisF250]

I would never use a laser on a mitre saw. In my opinion it's never going to be as accurate and it's not like a circular saw where you need to adjust as you cut. I like the dewalts for their durability but the coaxial Bosch and the compact sliding hitachi both look like excellent choices.

 

[Greg_R]

IMO, the new SCMS king is the Milwaukee 6955. Prior to that it was the big Makita or Festool (depending on what you were doing). If this is for stationary in-shop use, you could consider some used industrial miter saw options (OMGA, CTD, etc.).

 

[Mudbone]

I have the DW718 and I built my own workbench. Mine has the LED light which IMO is much better than a laser.

Chad, I am curious about your saw. According to the DeWalt website, the DW780 is the only one with the shadow light. The 718 was originally designed to be used with the laser. Did you some how retro fit your 718 to use the LED shadow light?

 

[RKA]

DWS7085 is the LED accessory for the DW718. Can be purchased separately and installed yourself.

 

[Mudbone]

DWS7085 is the LED accessory for the DW718. Can be purchased separately and installed yourself.

I can see retro fitting a 718 if you already have it. But why buy the 718 and the LED when you can get the newer 780 that comes with the light for less money?

 

[RKA]

Nobody suggested getting the 718 + accessory over the 780. But I'm sure it's possible to get the 718 at a discount where the cost with accessory is cheaper than the 780, so this might be a viable option for someone. As long as they passed 1st grade math, they can figure it out.

 

[shoturtle]

The bosch is a great miter saw. And the laser comes in handy. I was considering the 12 inch Bosch, but I do not use a miter saw enough to justified the price. So I wenT with a small metabo 216 instead. And it has a laser. It comes in handy when you need to cut to an exact mark.

IMHO only the swing arm Bosch is better. Given all the features it gives.

 

[saodinh1]

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[Slider20]

I have the current version of the Bosch Sliding Miter with a 12 inch blade.

It's great, you can store it against a wall, which depending on how you use your saw may be a big plus or a a non-issue, I like to keep mine flush against the wall on a rolling tool cabinet top, the saw is super heavy so if this will be carted around, or you want to store it on a shelf I would stay away.

It's very precise and having built in extendable indeed and puffed support makes cutting much faster and easier, I like that you can dados with it, also can make some very nice half lap joints.

I upgraded from my smaller and lighter non-sliding 10" Hitachi, was a decent saw for the money, but it just could not handle larger stock, it's nice though to have a portable miter saw though.

I have not worked much with lasers so I cannot speak to that, also dust collection on the Bosch even when paired with a good shop vac isn't that great, just something to be aware of.

 

[mossyboy6]

Ill go down the bad road...

Festool Kapex.
I have used them quite a bit, and its definitely the best slider.

 

[NJ Marty]

If you have the cash I would go Festool.

https://www.festoolproducts.com/Fes...p/561287.htm?gclid=CMnhut20xsoCFdAXHwodIdoHzg

 

[pauls_workshop]

Hi, I have a Rigid 12" slider and it is really super nice. NOT for portable use really. Mine is for shop use and stays there. It is massive and heavy. But for that purpose (radial arm saw replacement), it is very nice. - Paul