Compound Miter Saw Suggestions

[rodster_67]

I'm thinking of getting rid of my old 10" 2hp Craftsman chop saw mainly due to the fact that it has a cast base and is -heavy-! I don't have a dedicated area to use it so I have to lug it around to where I need it and it is a beast.

Thinking about a sliding compound saw replacement but never owing one I don't know the advantages/disadvantages.

At this point I would just be happy with a replacement that is easier to carry around but thought I'd ask for suggestions before I pull the trigger.

It's not something that I use a lot so I don't need a contractor grade but not interested in a cheaply built unit.

Thanks.

 

[gdocktor3]

I have a 10" Ryobi sliding compound that I used professionally for a few years. Never let me down and worked just as well as my coworkers Dewalt. I don't do carpentry any longer, but still works every time I need it. I would recommend going that route since you're not using it professionally. On another note, I see contractors at my work using harbor freight miter saw's all day long. Though I wouldn't buy one, they do work. One reason you want to spend the money on a good one is to get exact angles. A lot of cheaper miter saw's read incorrect angles and tend to move during use.

 

[rodster_67]

I agree, I don't use it a lot but when I do, I prefer exact angles! If it was just for rough work or framing cheap would be fine but I will need it for molding too.

Thanks for the input.

How heavy is your Ryobi? Some folks say the sliding saws take up more room but I think I'm willing to sacrifice that in order to have more cutting capacity.

I remember having to flip boards over to get through them the whole way and don't want to to that anymore either.

 

[Rarified27]

Everything below is based on the anticipation that you don't want to buy another one of these saws for a long time.

A new house pushed me toward upgrading to a DeWalt 779 (12" slider) and WOW, what a difference.

I went from a rock solid 10", non-sliding, non-compound miter saw to the DeWalt. It's a tremendous improvement and not bad at $399.

The $599 DeWalt 780 is the same saw with a light that I don't need, so the $200 savings is worth it.

I briefly owned a DeWalt 709, which is a nearly useless version of the 779- I would not recommend it (no bevel stops, no slide lock, no top carry handle, no cam lock and a few other things that were missing).

Also, not having to lift boards past 6" to complete a cut is so much easier and much more safe.

If you don't need the slide and the cam lock miter adjustment isn't a big deal (I won't go back to a knob after using it), then I'd recommend DeWalt's 715/716 or the Hitachi models in 10 or 12".

Don't forget a good blade as well!

 

[cgrutt]

I've had two Bosch saws and both were great. I still have one of them. Wouldn't call them light but much smaller and easier to handle than the Craftsman radial arm saw they replaced. No matter what you buy be sure to get a good blade for it. I use Forrest blades for both this and my table saw.

 

[gdocktor3]

How heavy is your Ryobi? Some folks say the sliding saws take up more room but I think I'm willing to sacrifice that in order to have more cutting capacity.
.

Well it's not light, but not terribly heavy. I'm not home right now, but I think this is the one I own. http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/m/photos/0,,20671394_21277963,00.html
As mentioned, a good blade makes all the difference. I generally use the Diablo blades, but also have the cheap Avanti blades from Home Depot for rough cuts and bs. They have good deals on 2 packs and are perfect throw away blades.

 

[Finky198]

I have the Dewalt 780 its awesome machine but just like the 779 they are expensive and kind heavy. hey you cant have your cake and eat it to ( as much as i hate this stupid statement )

^^^ id agree buy a brand name Saw that will fit your needs (capacity wise) and Spend the extra dime on quality Blades, I like the diablo, but i do a lot of framing and non finish work...

 

[Toolfool]

Dewalt.

 

[Dirtydan69]

Bosch 12" on a gravity rise stand. 800 total but its a dream in my opinion. No reaching around behind the saw for any changes or adjustments. All controls in front.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00V4DIQP8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

www.amazon.com/Bosch-T4B-Gravity-Ri...469_img_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1P32QSGKS49F64AZD19V

If you're a prime member free shipping.

 

[shawhite]

Might want to look into the 8 1/2 sliders. They are sold by most major brands. Unless you are doing a lot of crown then I would go with a 10in. I'm partial to the Bosch glider in the 10in category simply for the small footprint. Not to mention the 8 1/2 are a lot lighter

 

[drink]

I'm thinking of getting rid of my old 10" 2hp Craftsman chop saw mainly due to the fact that it has a cast base and is -heavy-! I don't have a dedicated area to use it so I have to lug it around to where I need it and it is a beast.

Thinking about a sliding compound saw replacement but never owing one I don't know the advantages/disadvantages.

At this point I would just be happy with a replacement that is easier to carry around but thought I'd ask for suggestions before I pull the trigger.

It's not something that I use a lot so I don't need a contractor grade but not interested in a cheaply built unit.

Thanks.

I'm old fashioned when it come to power tools. Yes, I do own some battery powered power tools but most of mine are corded. My miter saw is a 10" Makita compound saw. When I did trim I typically installed the small types of interior trim instead of the big stuff so I didn't have a need for a big saw. I would do stuff like base boards, windows, cased openings, some doors, etc. When framing I would use my Skilsaw with a speed square, and some saw horses.

Some people in the past complained about the 12" blades having problems and some of the other guys have mentioned the quality of the 12" blades also. I've watched some people install exterior siding with mitered outside corners that did good with a 12" sliding saw and some people frame with them also. It just cost more. You can get some fancy looking cuts though.

 

[Jim Johnstone]

I have the dewalt 780 with the hydraulic rise stand. I love that it's so easy to lower and raise and with that stand I can store the saw vertically so it takes up less space.

 

[rvieceli]

The older I get, the heavier stuff gets.

If you think that your current saw works fine. You might just want to take a look at the folding stands that have wheels. they are easy to move around with the saw on and usually fold up to create a two wheel dolly.

Take the cash and get a really good blade for the saw.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-Mobile-Miter-Saw-Stand-AC9945/202673168

 

[finn]

O just picked up the 10" Bosch sliding compound saw to replace the Makita LS1013 that let out all the smoke from the windings.

The Bosch is on sale at Menards for 11%off, plus another 2 or 3% if you use your Menards card.

That's far better than I could find on the internet.

The Bosch has a smaller footprint, but it's still no lightweight.

 

[Ghost11]

I have dewalt, works great. The new bosch saws with that robot arm are insanely smooth but salesman said they get out of adjustment easier then dewalt. Makita good too. Good luck

 

[Skin]

Note that im not a carpenter or expert but I recently went through this trying to decide on a 10" sliding miter for some house stuff. Read through as much as I could find on Bosch, Makita, Hitachi and Dewalt. Ultimately purchased a DeWalt DW717.

Team yellow had far fewer out of box complaints, way more sales/reviews with the vast majority being positive, has the excellent shadow line system as a cheap option, and its not made in China. Im satisfied personally the quality is fine and the cut is spot on right out of the box.

The thing that killed the Bosch glide for me wasn't just complaints of alignment but weight. Even the 10" is nearly 80 pounds and I wanted to be able to move the saw around without murdering my back. Hitachi is made in China and I couldn't really find much about their recent models and Makita, well from everything I read their saw design got worse comparative to prior models and they went from Japan to China for manufacturing.

 

[rrich1]

If you have a menards around I would look at the masterforce 10" dual slide/dual bevel miter saw. Has a small footprint and not that heavy. It is $300 before rebate.

 

[gdocktor3]

It's 2016. I'm pretty sure you'd be happy with any name brand saw these days. Buy the one you can afford or justify paying for.

 

[rodster_67]

Wow, lots of good info! I read each post, twice and googled the saws mentioned. I was doing good until I got to drink's avatar then forgot what I was looking for.

Pretty sure I want to move up to a double bevel saw. Seems every time I use my current saw I'd like that feature.

Guessing I might be stuck with 'heavy' and may have to consider a stand. I can probably live with a heavy saw if I get more features. Will check out a 8 1/2 saws too.

No Menards nearby. Just picked up an Avanti 60 tooth Ultra Finish blade for my circ saw. Looks like a quality piece and it got good reviews. I guess time will tell.

Thanks for all of the good info, I'm off to do more researching and figure out what I really need.

 

[BigSteve63]

Everything below is based on the anticipation that you don't want to buy another one of these saws for a long time.

A new house pushed me toward upgrading to a DeWalt 779 (12" slider) and WOW, what a difference.

I went from a rock solid 10", non-sliding, non-compound miter saw to the DeWalt and it's a tremendous improvement and not bad at $399.

The $599 DeWalt 780 is the same saw with a light that I don't need, so the $200 savings is worth it.

I briefly owned a DeWalt 709, which is a nearly useless version of the 779- I would not recommend it (no bevel stops, no slide lock, no top carry handle, no cam lock and a few other things that were missing).

Also, not having to lift boards past 6" to complete a cut is so much easier and much more safe.

If you don't need the slide and the cam lock miter adjustment isn't a big deal (I won't go back to a knob after using it), then I'd recommend DeWalt's 715/716 or the Hitachi models in 10 or 12".

Don't forget a good blade as well!

Also just bought the DWS779 and absolutely love it. Needed to be able to cut stair treads - my 10" saw wasn't working and the circular saw was way to time consuming. I wound up ordering the handle, power supply, and LED light for mine. For just about $60, was able to get the features of the $599 version and was a very easy install.

Steve

 

[Rarified27]

Also just bought the DWS779 and absolutely love it. Needed to be able to cut stair treads - my 10" saw wasn't working and the circular saw was way to time consuming. I wound up ordering the handle, power supply, and LED light for mine. For just about $60, was able to get the features of the $599 version and was a very easy install.

Steve

I didn't know that was a possibility- sounds like a much better deal!

Did you find the light making a big difference?

 

[TheGrooveking]

I have three, my old Makita 8-1/4" non-compound, my DeWalt DW705 - made in the USA and my Milwaukee 12" 6955 compound on a Ridgid AC9945 miter saw stand. The Milwaukee needed tweaking out of the box but once that was done its been flawless and Ridgid stand I like better than the Bosch.

TheGrooveking

 

[tatra]

Just bought the 12 inch Bosch axial glide saw and gravity rise base
. Have not used it yet but that gravity rise is something I should have bought for my old slider. Had the one where you have to remove the tool first then fold the legs. Got old real fast. I like the Bosch as I don't have to be concerned about clearance for the slide rails.

 

[jhelrey]

I have the Kobalt one. Mine is the 10 inch. Works great once setup

 

[ItsNemo]

I'm waiting for a sale on the Dewalt DWS780 as a supplement to my Makita LS1040. The LS1040 has been a great little chop saw, it's stayed bang on accurate, is light to carry around with one handle and cuts nice. Thing is, anything beyond a 2x6 and you have to flip and do two cuts and you can't mitre/bevel much. However for cross cutting 2x4's, it goes all day long.

 

[crewchief888]

i have a kobalt 10" compound slider mounted on a generic stand.
fine for my occasional use.

 

[neoOberon]

I have the 12" Bosch Glide and love it! But it may be more than you're looking for...but the space it saves against the wall is a nice plus.

An option you may want to consider is a Rage mitre saw; can be used to cuts all sorts of materials. I'm hoping to add one to my "dream shop" some day.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0040MZIIS/?tag=atomicindus08-20


Video Reviews...I'm a huge fan of Ultimate Handyman's reviews; they do a nice job showing how tools preform, unlike some other so called reviewers. Just my 2cents.

 

[rodster_67]

More good info, thanks!

The Rage looks interesting and yes those are great reviews. I also like the Tool Select reviews although most are older and it seems they haven't done any recently.

 

[1dwn5up]

Dewalt Mitre Saw with Free Stand on sale now $599 + free stand worth $200. I think it expires in June.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-1...y-Duty-Miter-Saw-Stand-DWS780DWX723/203068923

Only thing is the stand is the one which Tatra mentions:

"Have not used it yet but that gravity rise is something I should have bought for my old slider. Had the one where you have to remove the tool first then fold the legs. Got old real fast."

I wonder if you can switch it out for the rolling stand which is the same price.

 

[txbonds]

Dewalt Mitre Saw with Free Stand on sale now $599 + free stand worth $200. I think it expires in June.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-1...y-Duty-Miter-Saw-Stand-DWS780DWX723/203068923

Only thing is the stand is the one which Tatra mentions:

"Have not used it yet but that gravity rise is something I should have bought for my old slider. Had the one where you have to remove the tool first then fold the legs. Got old real fast."

I wonder if you can switch it out for the rolling stand which is the same price.

I bought this exact setup last year while building a deck. The stand is nice but it sucked not having wheels. However I ended up returning it after only a couple of months because the base of the saw cracked in 3 places. Not sure why as it wasn't abused. I ended up exchanging for the dewalt 12" non sliding with a delta mobile base. Saved about $200 and has worked fine. In hindsight I sort of wish I'd gotten another slider but one like the hitachi or Bosch that you can push against a wall since I'm using primarily in a shop setting now.

 

[rodster_67]

I bought this exact setup last year while building a deck. The stand is nice but it sucked not having wheels. However I ended up returning it after only a couple of months because the base of the saw cracked in 3 places. Not sure why as it wasn't abused. I ended up exchanging for the dewalt 12" non sliding with a delta mobile base. Saved about $200 and has worked fine. In hindsight I sort of wish I'd gotten another slider but one like the hitachi or Bosch that you can push against a wall since I'm using primarily in a shop setting now.

Yea, for my purpose, I think wheels would be big plus as well as a saw that can fit up against the wall.

I'll be doing a lot of shoe molding soon and my 10" chop saw is plenty big and may have to pick up a nice miter box and saw for the tiny pieces. Not getting my hand that close to the blade.

The Evolution Rage saw looks interesting. Might be nice to have a multi-purpose saw? I don't cut a lot of metal but when I do it's usually hacksaw time.

I might be building a few aluminum screen frames so the rage would be handy for that. Hmmmm

Obviously it's not a 'one size fits all' situation.

 

[guy48065]

What's the weight?

Since you mention weight/portability is a big factor you should definitely shop the specs when making out your "short list". I considered replacing my Makita LS1013 10" sliding compound for a newer one with lasers, worklights and other assorted bells & whistles but I couldn't lift them. That Makita is accurate, smooth and rugged and only weighs 46 pounds. What's yours weigh?

 

[rodster_67]

55 pounds but part of the problem there is no handle or hand holds to carry it, you just have to grab it by the base and that seems to add another 10 pounds!

Pretty heavy considering it's just an old chop saw with limited capabilities compared to the new sliders. Found the receipt and it was around $250 new.


(Not my saw, picture lifted from internet)

 

[saewoody]

I've been using the 12" sliding compound miter saw from HF for a few years for DIY type stuff. I replaced the first one under the extended warranty because one of the cast guides on the base broke. I don't know how; didn't really affect the use of the saw. Both saws seemed to work just fine. Not sure I would want it for professional use, but for around the house it's fine for any DIY project. I'm not sure how accurate the angle markings are, but I suppose they should be checked occasionally on any saw.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

Do you guys know if you can get the rolling stand instead of the fixed one at HD for the DW780 "deal"?

 

[Jim Johnstone]

Do you guys know if you can get the rolling stand instead of the fixed one at HD for the DW780 "deal"?

I did when I bought my 780, but it was advertised with the rolling jobsite stand. Guess all you could do is speak to the manager and see if they will substitute it. I have a feeling they would.

Just looked it up, the difference in price at the Canadian home depot app is $10 between the fixed stand and the rolling stand. If needed maybe you could return the fixed stand and buy the roller and cover the difference.

 

[BigSteve63]

I didn't know that was a possibility- sounds like a much better deal!

Did you find the light making a big difference?

Rarified27 - sorry for missing this!

I will say that the LED light made a lot more difference than I expected. It really allows you to see the cut line, even in noonday sun. Again, the install was very simple; I did order a Molex connector to match what was factory installed on the LED power supply(OCD), but it could have been easily done with **** connectors. Will try to remember to take a couple of pics of the light in action.

Steve

 

[Finky198]

^yeah I think people who haven't tried the light don't really know what their missing
when you building framing or even doing trim it just make the whole process much more visible and simpler to make small adjustments...


^^
yes from what I remember it was buy the saw and get either stand for Free.

if you get the lowes 10% off coupon Homedepot will usually cross honor it, so you can buy Saw, Stand(free) , and Blade. all for 10% off its a great deal

I bought about 6 blades of dif (Tooth#s) at the time and that was almost 4 years ago
I have not even come close to needing any replacements....

 

[Jim Johnstone]

^yeah I think people who haven't tried the light don't really know what their missing
when you building framing or even doing trim it just make the whole process much more visible and simpler to make small adjustments...

I'll third this, even in bright daylight you can see the shadow line.

 

[Rarified27]

Rarified27 - sorry for missing this!

I will say that the LED light made a lot more difference than I expected. It really allows you to see the cut line, even in noonday sun. Again, the install was very simple; I did order a Molex connector to match what was factory installed on the LED power supply(OCD), but it could have been easily done with **** connectors. Will try to remember to take a couple of pics of the light in action.

Steve

Something you definitely can't determine in a store- thanks! I passed on it thinking I'd never be able to see it outside.

Any chance you could post the links for the parts you bought to upgrade your saw with the light?

I think a lot of us on here would love to make that change.