Best Miter saw for beginner

[racerboy]

Hi everyone
I am considering taking on a project of building my own shed (16x24). I even went as far as purchasing some plans for it. I am definitely not a carpenter, but I have always wanted to be able to do some basic woodworking DIY projects. Anyway, I already own a table saw and a circular saw, but I'd like to add a miter saw to my tool chest. Any recommendations for a newbie? I'd like to keep the price between $300-$400, if possible.

Thanks!

Frank

 

[Ton ton]

DeWalt or Makita. Definitely go with a reputable brand name.

 

[beatle]

Dewalt and Makita both make good products. I love my sliding 10" Bosch, though it is over budget. I built my shed and a few pieces of furniture with a Ridgid and would buy that saw again if I were starting out as I think it was a great value for money. I initially tried going cheaper with a Ryobi saw and took it back right away. My Ridgid was a non-sliding 10" miter saw with a laser. I believe it was similar/identical to this one: https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-...w-with-LED-Cut-Line-Indicator-R4113/306939250

I would also budget for a stand, but no need to spend a bundle. I had a perfectly serviceable Ryobi stand that was on clearance and I had no issues with it. A wheeled stand is nice but not necessary. Budget for a nicer crosscut blade ($30-$40) if/when you start using it for projects that need a nicer finish. The stock blade will be fine for construction.

 

[Next]

Dewalts on sale


I've been looking for a month, Dewalt or Bosch, but which one.....I don't know.

 

[racerboy]

A local guy on CL has a brand-new Dewalt DWS780 for $340. Is this a good buy? I thought a 10" saw was better for a beginner? Am I wrong on that?

 

[vwpieces]

A local guy on CL has a brand-new Dewalt DWS780 for $340. Is this a good buy? I thought a 10" saw was better for a beginner? Am I wrong on that?

Yeah, if New in box and no tax.
They are $500 on amazon + tax.

 

[lardy1]

If buying new, at least give Ryobi a look. It has been awhile but they used to build a decent budget saw.

 

[racerboy]

Also, I was just going through the cut list for this project, and it looks like the biggest pieces to cut will be about 20 pieces of 2x8 and 10 pieces of 4x4. Everything else looks like 2x4. Does this make the 12" blade a better choice, even for a newbie?

I could foresee having to cut some 6x6 in the future as well (not necessarily for this project).

 

[exmaxima1]

As you discovered, you may not need a sliding miter saw and could use a cheaper standard saw. In fact, in some cases a 12-inch standard (non-sliding) will almost match a 10-inch slider and will cost less. I've used a DeWalt 12-inch at work and it is indestructible. It was used almost exclusively for cutting heavy aluminum extrusions and only needed a new switch after years of abuse like that.

 

[nadogail]

My Harbor Freight 12" saw has exceeded my expectations, I use it for both rough and trim work.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

Like others have mentioned Dewalt or Makita. I have the Dewalt corded 12 inch saw single bevel from 2002 and still going. When you do any trim work you will appreciate.

 

[tyyost]

I know you said building a shed, but what are you anticipating cutting with the saw?

Think about your uses for the saw, and then buy accordingly. I have a non-sliding 12” DeWalt, it’s right for me, but at times I have wished for a different saw. Projects I use my saw on include interior trim, flooring, deck work, including composite and wood decking, vinyl railing, and cabinet work. I use an it with an inexpensive Ryobi stand.

I‘m no weakling but if I had a bigger/sliding saw I’d need a rolling stand like a MSUV or Bosch gravity rise to get the most out of it. I find unless I need it for the work I can get by incredibly well with a good circular saw and a 12” speed square as a crosscut guide, especially when framing like shed building. This is GJ, so by all means buy a miter saw, but think about the jobs you plan to do in the future and buy enough saw for the job. They are simple tools, so you may be able to get by with a Hf saw that you adjust to cut well and use occasionally or you may have bigger projects where an investment in a good slider may pay off building cabinets for your kitchen.

 

[Desertskyy]

I have this Dewalt 12in DW716 XPS

I am very pleased with it

 

[theoldwizard1]

Hi everyone
I am considering taking on a project of building my own shed (16x24). I even went as far as purchasing some plans for it. I am definitely not a carpenter, but I have always wanted to be able to do some basic woodworking DIY projects. Anyway, I already own a table saw and a circular saw, but I'd like to add a miter saw to my tool chest.

It will likely gather a lot of dust before you use it again !

A miter saw needs a good work stand. You can spend just as much or more than your budget on just the stand.

 

[Rabid Badger]

I have both a 10-inch DWS713 and a big daddy 12-inch DWS779.

For anyone not framing homes for a living I'll recommend the 713 every time. It's more rigid, which makes precision cuts easier. It's also hard to overstate how much smaller, lighter and handier it is than the 779. Put the money you save toward a table or track saw and don't look back.

If you can swing the extra $60, the Makita LS1040 is better made than the DWS713.

 

[tarbellb]

My opinion most versatile saw is a 10" slider

Interchangeable blades with your TS
90% the cut capacity of a 12"
more accurate
lighter
cheaper

Great notable sliders on the market:
_ Makita 1019
_ Dewalt dw717
_ skip the Bosch axial...
_ Hitachi (er Metabo) C10FSHCT
or
get your hands on a Ryobi, they seem ok

Dont forget unless you are doing really fine woodworking most any will do
AND you can always flip a piece over and cut both sides meaning 4x4s etc..

 

[johnu]

It will likely gather a lot of dust before you use it again.

Yup, I needed a Miter saw for redecking my deck surface.

Sold it when I was done. My table saw and circular saw take care of the majority of my needs.

 

[racerboy]

Thanks everyone for all the feedback.

The primary work I would use the miter saw on this project was to build the trusses for the shed. Those ‘W’ trusses in the plan seem to have the most angles. I also always wanted one, so was almost using the shed project as an “excuse” to buy one. I know that for a lot of the work, a circular saw would probably suffice, but I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not that adept at using a circular saw. I don’t know that I ever learned how to set the depth properly or cut in a straight line. To complicate things, I have a brachial plexus injury so my right arm is partially paralyzed. I like the idea of using the miter because I think it would be physically easier to use. Perhaps I’m mistaken, but I’d still like to get one.

 

[Kscardsfan]

When I was running trim we used Makita and DeWalt sliders exclusively. We tried a rigid and it just couldn’t take commercial, 40+ hour per week work. It would’ve probably been fine for a homeowner saw though. Like everyone else says, stick to a name brand and get a good stand for it, otherwise you’ll just be using a heavy, inaccurate chop saw.

 

[xjfish]

I love my old Delta non slider. Solid and basic. Have seen them sell used on the cheap frequently.

 

[PoorUB]

A miter saw needs a good work stand. You can spend just as much or more than your budget on just the stand.

I have had a 12" DeWalt miter saw for 25 years. I finally bought a stand for it this spring. I bought the higher priced DeWalt stand for $200.

When you are young and spry you can set the saw on the ground. Now at 62 years old a stand seemed like a good idea.

 

[lardy1]

Thanks everyone for all the feedback.

The primary work I would use the miter saw on this project was to build the trusses for the shed. Those ‘W’ trusses in the plan seem to have the most angles.

If those angles are greater than about 50 degrees (depending on the saw), you will not be able to cut them with a miter saw without fabricating a jig. If you simply want the saw I think most of us understand. But be aware of the limitations of whatever it is you buy and what it is you want to do.

Building a shed is a great opportunity to refine those circular saw skills. Probably more practical also.

 

[tyyost]

I’d suggest trying the speed square with the circular saw to help you square up your cuts.

Speed square video

Also, given your injury consider setup of the saw and work area. even the small saws need to be given a stable working area to be accurate.

 

[racerboy]

I ordered the Makita 1019LS with the stand. A bit over the budget I wanted to spend but that’s ok. I don’t mind spending a bit more for tools that will last a long time.

Thank you to all my fellow GJ members for the information/guidance. Once it gets here, I’m sure that I will have lots of questions on how to actually use it. lol

 

[racerboy]

I also ordered a speed square yo help hone my circular saw skills. My saw is a Craftsman from about 25 yr ago. I should probably get a new blade for that as well as I start my woodworking education journey.

 

[redragoon]

I bought a sliding 10" Ryobi that was on sale for ~$120. Power is similar to my dad's 20yr old Dewalt, but the quality is not as good. Once I got the fences aligned, it cuts well. I just don't use it enough to justify a better miter saw yet. Most of my cutting is on my table saw.

 

[shawhite]

The makita is a nice choice.

 

[stonesfan68]

If buying new, at least give Ryobi a look. It has been awhile but they used to build a decent budget saw.

I bought a sliding 10" Ryobi that was on sale for ~$120. Power is similar to my dad's 20yr old Dewalt, but the quality is not as good. Once I got the fences aligned, it cuts well. I just don't use it enough to justify a better miter saw yet. Most of my cutting is on my table saw.

I would second this. I have a Ryobi 10" sliding miter saw that has done everything I've ever asked it to do. I changed the factory blade to a 60-tooth blade and it cuts straight and true with just a little bit of setup. I had to redo my entire downstairs trim after a flood and it did a great job. If I was going to be a professional finish carpenter or even a more serious hobbyist then I'd invest in a Bosch or DeWalt.

Ryobi 10in Sliding Miter Saw

 

[tarbellb]

That Makita is NICE

Bought the same setup up 10 years ago, but the older double slide model.

Used and abused, still accurate and reliable.

Good choice

 

[tyyost]

I ordered the Makita 1019LS with the stand. A bit over the budget I wanted to spend but that’s ok. I don’t mind spending a bit more for tools that will last a long time.

Thank you to all my fellow GJ members for the information/guidance. Once it gets here, I’m sure that I will have lots of questions on how to actually use it. lol

Great choice. That saw will serve you well for a lifetime, and the stand will make it easy for you to set up, tune, and use. The Makitas also usually come with a good blade, so your learning curve will be a bit easier.

While you wait it may serve you to search YouTube for videos on tuning up and squaring up the saw once it’s out of the box. You will gain a better understanding of the tool and your cuts will give you the results you‘re looking for if you take the time to check and adjust it out of the box. Most saws are close, but shipping, unpacking, etc can leave you chasing your tail if you jump right to to a project.

 

[racerboy]

Great choice. That saw will serve you well for a lifetime, and the stand will make it easy for you to set up, tune, and use. The Makitas also usually come with a good blade, so your learning curve will be a bit easier.

While you wait it may serve you to search YouTube for videos on tuning up and squaring up the saw once it’s out of the box. You will gain a better understanding of the tool and your cuts will give you the results you‘re looking for if you take the time to check and adjust it out of the box. Most saws are close, but shipping, unpacking, etc can leave you chasing your tail if you jump right to to a project.

Will do! Thanks for all the tips! I've also been watching some shed-building videos. I will definitely start a new thread once I get all the tools and materials and start building it. I'm hoping to get started on it next week and get it done while the weather is still mild (I'm on northern NJ).

 

[racerboy]

Just arrived! I think the stand is coming tomorrow, though.

 

[lardy1]

That's a really nice saw.

 

[M635_Guy]

I ordered the Makita 1019LS with the stand. A bit over the budget I wanted to spend but that’s ok. I don’t mind spending a bit more for tools that will last a long time.

Thank you to all my fellow GJ members for the information/guidance. Once it gets here, I’m sure that I will have lots of questions on how to actually use it. lol

That's a nice saw. Since you have a table saw already you're probably already aware of the deal about taking the time to get it nicely dialed-in before going to town with it.

My old Craftsman 10" doesn't have a bunch of adjustment, though it did come out of the box shockingly-well dialed in.