Let's Talk About Miter Saws

[Smiles79]

I have a deck build coming up, and I've been looking for an excuse to buy a miter saw. Found this Metabo HPT 12" slider on a delta rolling stand for $235.

Good deal? Is this a decent saw?

Thanks!

https://imgur.com/a/6NeYcU8

 

[karoc]

Know nothing about that saw since never owned or used one. But if you break that setup down into stand and miter saw then check price of two components it’s a heck of deal. Myself I have Dewalt and Makita non slider, but I want a slider

 

[mike93lx]

I have that saw on a similar stand

I like it, but it's huge and heavy. After owning a 12" slider for a while, I don't think I would do the same again. A 10" slider has almost all the capacity but is a good amount lighter

 

[Smiles79]

I have that saw on a similar stand

I like it, but it's huge and heavy. After owning a 12" slider for a while, I don't think I would do the same again. A 10" slider has almost all the capacity but is a good amount lighter

Does that saw seem accurate?

 

[mike93lx]

Does that saw seem accurate?

Yes. Haven't had any issues after getting it setup.

 

[txvwnut]

That looks to be a smoking deal as long as the saw hasn't been abused. I paid more than that for my Dewalt miter saw ten years ago.

 

[Augus7us]

That is a nice saw for the price, the stand is a bonus and probably costs 200 new. Agree on the heavy comments but rolling it out on the stand will make that easy.

The nice thing about this and the Hitachi's is that they use an articulated arm instead of slide tubes. This means you don't need the 6 or 8" of clearance behind the saw like my rigid and many others.

 

[mike93lx]

The nice thing about this and the Hitachi's is that they use an articulated arm instead of slide tubes. This means you don't need the 6 or 8" of clearance behind the saw like my rigid and many others.

A great feature when it's built into a bench against the wall, but much less useful in a portable arrangement.

@Smiles79 if you grab it, I find storage is much easier with the saw rotated all the way to the right. It cuts the depth a good amount

 

[whateg01]

That is a nice saw for the price, the stand is a bonus and probably costs 200 new. Agree on the heavy comments but rolling it out on the stand will make that easy.

The nice thing about this and the Hitachi's is that they use an articulated arm instead of slide tubes. This means you don't need the 6 or 8" of clearance behind the saw like my rigid and many others.

That HPT uses slides, but it places them Forward instead of poking out the back. It's not like a Bosch.

 

[Augus7us]

Yeah I googled metabo and ended up looking at a hitachi. Seems most are moving to some type of articulated arm or forward facing tubes. Even the Hercules...

If you want portability don't buy a 12" sliding mitre saw, I have a non sliding 10" ryobi I can carry in one had and will cut most stuff for diy around the house. A new 10" ryobi is under 200 new.

 

[mike93lx]

Yeah I googled metabo and ended up looking at a hitachi. Seems most are moving to some type of articulated arm or forward facing tubes. Even the Hercules...

If you want portability don't buy a 12" sliding mitre saw, I have a non sliding 10" ryobi I can carry in one had and will cut most stuff for diy around the house. A new 10" ryobi is under 200 new.

Metabo and Hitachi are one in the same

 

[Augus7us]

Hitachi owns Metabo, that doesn't make them the same saw. You're welcome to go look at pictures of both saws if you like. What does this have to do with the OP's question again?

 

[mike93lx]

Hitachi owns Metabo, that doesn't make them the same saw. You're welcome to go look at pictures of both saws if you like. What does this have to do with the OP's question again?

Because that same saw was branded as a hitachi. Like the one in my garage

 

[engineer2]

Menards has a $449 Metabo saw that looks just like it on sale for $266.
I'd say it's a good deal with the stand especially if the blade is sharp.

 

[legenddc]

Does that saw seem accurate?

Accurate all depends on what you're building. For a deck almost any miter saw should do just fine.

 

[tarbellb]

One of the best miter saws on the market, period.

Festool copied them, that says something

That saw and stand are a excellent combo and a smoking deal

Run and throw money at them

 

[MushCreek]

On a good stand, a 12" saw isn't too much. I have a 12" Ridgid slider on the Ridgid stand, and I can set it up or break it down in 30 seconds. It has 12" wheels, which are great on rough ground. When storing mine, I rotate it 60 degrees to the right to make it as small as possible.

What the OP posted looks like a good deal to me.

 

[Retired dozer fixer]

Great deal as long as it hasn’t been left out in the rain

 

[Renegade1LI]

Looks like a great deal, ask if you can make a few cuts and then you'll know if it's ok.

 

[seber]

I've been using a Hitachi for 20 years. Still works like new. I think Metabo and Hitachi have always been the best bang for buck power tools on the market.

 

[Retroman]

Bought a Dewalt 12" slider less than a year ago not real happy with it.
Just bought a used Hitachi C 8FB 8" slider made in Japan. It had been neglected barely slid or beveled so spent few hours cleaning her up put $40 worth of parts into and got a fantastic lightweight slider for $100. So the Dewalt will probably be going up for sale.

Yes I think that 10" is a good deal at that price with the stand.

 

[wandrur]

Know nothing about that saw since never owned or used one. But if you break that setup down into stand and miter saw then check price of two components it’s a heck of deal. Myself I have Dewalt and Makita non slider, but I want a slider

Great deal as long as it hasn’t been left out in the rain

Looks like a great deal, ask if you can make a few cuts and then you'll know if it's ok.

Agreed with everything above here.

I bought a 12" DeWalt (non-slider) in October 2022 on sale for $300.

I say you throw down the cash and walk away happy. Seems like a great deal, provided there are no issues.

 

[IRQVET]

I just retired my Evolution Rage 10 compound miter saw and upgraded to a 12 inch Dewalt 779. I think I need to ditch the stock blade, but I'm not 100% sure which blade and tooth count I should go with?

I just upgraded my table saw to a Diablo Combination 50 tooth blade. But not sure what to do about the new miter saw?

 

[Git]

Festool copied them, that says something

Although I would not recommend the Kapex, not sure where you came up with that?

 

[jar944]

I just retired my Evolution Rage 10 compound miter saw and upgraded to a 12 inch Dewalt 779. I think I need to ditch the stock blade, but I'm not 100% sure which blade and tooth count I should go with?

I just upgraded my table saw to a Diablo Combination 50 tooth blade. But not sure what to do about the new miter saw?

What are you cutting?

That will generally dictate the blade type and tooth count.

 

[IRQVET]

What are you cutting?

That will generally dictate the blade type and tooth count.

Just starting out in wood working, so I have no clue. I know with my table saw someone suggested using a combination blade around 50 tooth count, wasn't sure if a miter saw had a similar recommendation- like a well rounded blade that does everything pretty good, but not to a higher finish level of a pro?

 

[jar944]

Just starting out in wood working, so I have no clue. I know with my table saw someone suggested using a combination blade around 50 tooth count, wasn't sure if a miter saw had a similar recommendation- like a well rounded blade that does everything pretty good, but not to a higher finish level of a pro?

It's hard to recommend a generic do all blade. Cutting construction lumber and trim requires different blades. You can do use one blade for everything but it won't be good at anything.

 

[Digital Ranger]

10 inch basic Dewalt has been wonderful for our house build. I put it on a Rigid stand and it's been a good combo for us. If you can score both on a sale, nothing wrong with it.

 

[tarmy]

Just starting out in wood working, so I have no clue. I know with my table saw someone suggested using a combination blade around 50 tooth count, wasn't sure if a miter saw had a similar recommendation- like a well rounded blade that does everything pretty good, but not to a higher finish level of a pro?

Miter saws use a thin kerf blade…get a good quality carbide tipped 60-80 tooth blade. Good blades can be sharpened and with last a long time.
Read up about blades for the various uses/wood types. Radial arm saws use a reverse hook design for example. Starting out get the best decent blade you can afford….and figure things out from there.

I use Oldhams and CMT carbide blades

 

[seber]

Miter saws do not need combination blades. They only do cross cuts. As Tarmy said, 60 or 80 tooth. Quality will be determined by the type of work you do. Cabinetry is a lot different than carpentry.

 

[IRQVET]

Been looking at CMT or Diablo. Tooth count is was kinda hanging me up, not at the skill level where I'd be attacking finished carpentry. I'm just starting out in woodworking.

 

[whateg01]

Miter saws do not need combination blades. They only do cross cuts. As Tarmy said, 60 or 80 tooth. Quality will be determined by the type of work you do. Cabinetry is a lot different than carpentry.

You haven't seen me put a 75 degree miter on the end of a 2x4!

 

[jar944]

Miter saws use a thin kerf blade…get a good quality carbide tipped 60-80 tooth blade. Good blades can be sharpened and with last a long time.
Read up about blades for the various uses/wood types. Radial arm saws use a reverse hook design for example. Starting out get the best decent blade you can afford….and figure things out from there.

I use Oldhams and CMT carbide blades

There is no reason to use a thin kerf blade on a miter saw, there isn't a power advantage using a thin kerf instead of a full kerf. The advantage of full kerf blades is they deflect less.

 

[tarbellb]

Although I would not recommend the Kapex, not sure where you came up with that?

When looking at the main difference in how these saws operate- the fixed rail that protrudes towards the user

They copied the Hitachi C12RHS which came out before the Kapex.

 

[danski0224]

When looking at the main difference in how these saws operate- the fixed rail that protrudes towards the user

That design takes up a whole lot less space.

 

[jar944]

When looking at the main difference in how these saws operate- the fixed rail that protrudes towards the user

They copied the Hitachi C12RHS which came out before the Kapex.

That overall form factor has been around for 30+ years.

What design do you believe originated with Hitachi.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

2002 Dewalt corded from HD buy good blades and right blade for the material you are cutting. Multiple DIY renovation projects over 20 years. Amazing it costs $275 new back then I would assume it would costs at least $500 now.

 

[tarbellb]

That overall form factor has been around for 30+ years.

What design do you believe originated with Hitachi.

I haven't seen that form factor on a consumer grade saw before the Hitachi

Wouldn't be surprised if a different mfg brought this to market first? I just have only seen the Hitachi

What I was pointing was that Kapex/Festool fan boys may think it was a novel idea, but in fact the Hitachi executed this design very well , for (much) less money, and before Festool

 

[LOW1]

Bring a speed square and some wood scraps and confirm that it actually cuts at 90 and 45 degrees.

Unless it’s been in a flood, dropped from a roof or stolen it’s hard to go wrong at that price.

 

[SwissMetric]

The miter saw of the 1st post must be a Hitachi (maybe sold as Metabo in some markets???), all Metabo miter saws I know look different than the one pictured and are typically dark green with some grey metallic aluminium diecast parts. The Metabo I know are quite reliable, excepted the laser. Here referring to the European models as I'm in Switzerland.
Some power tools are obviously only availabe in some regions and also the voltage is different in the U.S. Didn't notice many changes since Hitachi acquired Metabo and I don't know Hitachi power tools well enough to comment them, formerly they were light green but they're not very common here though already sold in the 90's.