Milter saw recommendations

[Dido]

Hi, everyone!
New to this forum. I'd like to buy a 12-inch miter saw. My previous Makita was great, but it's time has gone, so I'm looking for a new one. Still considering Makita, because it satisfied me. Are there any miter saw owners? Especially interested in Dewalt, Bosch, Hitachi.

 

[MushCreek]

I don't see much love for them, but my Ridgid has been great. Their rolling stand is great, too, and pretty much a necessity for a 63 lb. saw. I got my saw for $350 when they were having a sale; normally $600. It has stayed dead nuts accurate despite being moved all over my property while building our house. I bought the stand used for $80. It has 12" wheels, ideal if you're moving it around a rough construction site. I can set it up in under a minute.

 

[Honkey84]

I've got the Bosch dual compound miter saw with the articulating arm. It's alright, I had the Dewalt dual compound miter saw and to be honest, I liked it better than this one.

Both are excellent machines, but i felt I could sneak up on cuts easier with Dewalts blade guide, seemed more accurate.

 

[jar944]

Non slider: dewalt dw716.. the default trim carpenter's saw.

Slider: they all ****. Bosch or dewalt **** the least

 

[Roju1985]

Non slider: dewalt dw716.. the default trim carpenter's saw.

Slider: they all ****. Bosch or dewalt **** the least

DW716 owner. The festool was the only slider I considered based on reputation alone, never used one before but obviously cost turned me away.

 

[pelletman]

Dewalt sliding 12" compound is the nicest I have ever used.

 

[The Cobbler]

I have 2 - 12" dewalts,and a 10"
they have made literally hundreds of thousands of cuts probably. replaced a switch in the older dewalt.
yeah, I like them

 

[Desertskyy]

Non slider: dewalt dw716.. the default trim carpenter's saw.

Slider: they all ****. Bosch or dewalt **** the least

I own the same Like it a lot!!

 

[MKSJ]

I have the DEWALT 12-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw, Double Bevel (DWS780) with Miter Saw Stand (DWX723). At the time the stand was free with purchase of the miter saw, works well and doesn't take up much space. Had the non-slider version for years, but the slider handles bigger stock. No complaints. Looked at the Feestool at 2X the price, couldn't justify the additional spend factor.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Slider: they all ****. Bosch or dewalt **** the least

My brother has a 10" Dewalt slider and it isn't bad, so I can confirm.

 

[Movin/on]

I've got 3 miter saws and depending on the project I switch between them.
Rolling outdoor saw for construction I use the Rigid 12" slider with the folding/rolling stand. (but not for finish trim work too much variation between cuts). For that I use a fixed miter cutting 8 ft fixed bench with a Dewalt 12" compound. Bench is also my router table. Putting on saw horses I use a 10" very old and heavy Makita.
But my table saw and a radial arm saw are also on casters so they also get used at times for longer width miter projects.

Movin/on

 

[Den69rs96]

I have 12 inch compound Craftsman miter saw that I purchased back 2003-2004. I love using it and its cut a lot of boards. If it dies, I would replace it with the 12 inch DeWalt dual bevel sliding compound saw.

 

[Max]

I have had a DeWalt DW705 saw for many years. It is a large blade, non-sliding, compound saw. It tends to sit (maybe for years), then it gets worked hard for a week or three, then it sits. It's been flawless.

When I bought the DeWalt, I avoided sliders thinking that they would be loose and sloppy. However, I built a deck with my brother-in-law using his Ryobi slider and it worked great. If I had to do it over again I'd still get a DeWalt, but I'd get a slider this time and avoid the large blade.

- Max

 

[lardy1]

I cheaped out on a Craftsman slider and regretted it ever since. The most inaccurate ************* I ever owned. I have a Dewalt non-slider that's a pretty good saw.

Back in the late 80's I bought a bottom of the line Black & Decker for around a hundred dollars. I used that saw through around 15 years of residential contracting. I think that saw today probably sells for around sixty bucks. I ended up telling my buddy to just keep that saw after the second time he borrowed it.

 

[Rabid Badger]

If you have the cash get the Makita. Otherwise, go DeWalt.

 

[MarvinBerry]

Dewalt 12 slider is basically the one to get if you want a slider. Used my buddy's a lot, great saw, accurate enough for trim but crazy heavy. Not something you want to move a lot unless your Popeye. Ended up buying a hitachi 10 non slider for myself because I move it constantly & don't need the extra capacity.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

Nice info. Thanks

 

[thin_concrete]

I have the Bosch GCM 12”SD sliding compound miter saw and love it. Solidly built and I like the dual bevel. The DeWalt gets a lot of love for good reason, but don’t discount the Bosch.

 

[TLCObsession]

10" Hitachi belt drive slider. Love it.

It really depends what you are doing with it though. Most of the jobs where a 12" are nice are a different than where a slider is nice. Building Decks, small timber framing joints, a 12" is nice. The 10" is nice for finish carpentry and flooring. Some people like a bigger saw for cutting crown standing up.

Kind of a preference thing in many cases.

 

[FTWingRiders]

My Dewalt finally burned up, so after much research, reading and checking them in person I finally went with the Makita LS1219L 12” dual bevel sliding compound.. yeah, not cheap.. but seriously an awesome saw. Most reviews mentioned that dust collection was the biggest problem, and it’s true.. I use a hood and vac hooked up and it makes it manageable. Minimal deflection of the blade, cuts true and as smooth as butter. Worth every penny. IMHO..

 

[tomsatx]

Do you own a table saw or plan to in the future? Most are 10" blade and may reduce the need for another size if you go with a 10 inch model. At least it seems to me, another blade size creates more blades to buy and store and I've been happy with a 10" ridgid dual bevel even cutting larger 2x beams for my remodel. 12" costs more too. I used circular saw for anything above 2x8" for framing doors. Paid $120 on sale. Sliding bevels get silly in price, I can live with what I paid and has lifetime warranty plus I got a circular saw too for my 18v tools at the time, also ridgid.

Really depends on what your cutting. If I were to buy another for the remodel cutting up to 2x12s, the Dewalt and Makitas with slider would be my preference. I like their hold downs better and crown molding option. They apply pressure from above not from the side like ridgids. Also if cutting 4x lumber you are looking at 12" or probably a slider or worm saw.

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[Randall3rd]

I have the Bosch GCM 12”SD sliding compound miter saw and love it. Solidly built and I like the dual bevel. The DeWalt gets a lot of love for good reason, but don’t discount the Bosch.

I have the same one, it’s great pushed up against the wall on my bench. Takes up way less room than the Dewalt Slider.

 

[Farmall450]

Non slider: dewalt dw716.. the default trim carpenter's saw.

Slider: they all ****. Bosch or dewalt **** the least

This seems to be fact. Just picked up an older Bosch for $100 at the Pawnshop for my brother; it was a $600 saw new. Very nice, but my next saw will be a 716 or the slider.

Currently have the 20v 7-1/4 slider and it serves my purposes quite well.

 

[Vbwiley92]

I have the DWS779 (older version of the DWS780) on the Ridgid mobile stand and I love it. Only complaint is the weight.

Biggest question you have to answer is how do you plan to set it up. The dewalt slider takes a up a lot of room and therefore not great for a permanent miter station unless you have a lot of room. Some of other brands out there don't need much space and therefore better suited for that type of set up.

The price and versatility is why I went with the dewalt. I don't have the room for multiple miter saws, so I got the best of both works with mine.

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[Dido]

Thanks for so many replies, as I see most of you use Dewalt. I know that it's a popular brand, but didn't expect that so many of you use Dewalt's tools.

I have the DEWALT 12-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw, Double Bevel (DWS780) with Miter Saw Stand (DWX723). At the time the stand was free with purchase of the miter saw, works well and doesn't take up much space. Had the non-slider version for years, but the slider handles bigger stock. No complaints. Looked at the Feestool at 2X the price, couldn't justify the additional spend factor.

Actually, you got to the point. I've put an eye on Dewalt DWS780 too. In the review, it's said to be large, but you say that it doesn't take much space. It's good for me because I usually need to take it with me in my trunk. My previous miter saw was good for this aim, and perfectly fitted in. The last thing I am confused about is a tilt. It's said that this saw has the capability to tilt up to 45 degrees. Have you had any trouble with tilting? What is the quality of the tilting mechanism?

 

[RKA]

It’s about perspective I think. If you compare to a 10”, which is what many are used to, a 12” is both large and heavy. But the Dewalt 780 is on the slim side...for a 12” saw. If you put it in its transport position it should fit in a trunk...I think. But lifting it in and out might strain your back a bit if it’s a tight squeeze and you find yourself angling it in. You’ll probably better off buying from a local store that will accept an open box return if you find it won’t fit. Test it right in the parking lot (because you’re not getting it home in the box!). The bevel is average imho. but that heavy head and thin slide tubes leaves room for some slop when you bevel.

 

[Prospecter]

I have owned a Dewalt 10" nonslider since I built my addition in '02. It's been a great saw. Very reliable. I bought it because family was comfortable making cuts on it, including my children. Added a Kobalt 12" slider, and that works well, too. bought that one because it was on clearance. As long as you stay away from obviously cheap, I don't think you can go wrong. However, when I am buying without an incentive price, I always opt for Hitachi these days. I like them as much as anything else I have ever owned in any category of tool, and the prices are often more reasonable IMHO.

 

[NUTTSGT]

The DeWalt DWS779 was offered on Black Friday for several hundred cheaper along with a free stand from Lowes and HD.

Lowes stand had folding legs and the HD version had fold down dolley type stand. Even being able to get an extra 10% off at Lowes with a Veteran discount, I decided to pay the little bit extra for having a stand with wheel where I could roll it verse carrying it.


I believe the only difference between the 779 and 780 is the shadow line view when cutting. Elsewhere, another member stated that the 779 could be upgraded to a 780 style with buying the parts for alot cheaper than the price difference.

 

[Farmall450]

It’s about perspective I think. If you compare to a 10”, which is what many are used to, a 12” is both large and heavy. But the Dewalt 780 is on the slim side...for a 12” saw. If you put it in its transport position it should fit in a trunk...I think. But lifting it in and out might strain your back a bit if it’s a tight squeeze and you find yourself angling it in. You’ll probably better off buying from a local store that will accept an open box return if you find it won’t fit. Test it right in the parking lot (because you’re not getting it home in the box!). The bevel is average imho. but that heavy head and thin slide tubes leaves room for some slop when you bevel.

Yeah, but outside of trim I imagine any slop you encounter is pretty negligible, and you likely lock it up all the way back for trim

 

[RKA]

Yeah, but outside of trim I imagine any slop you encounter is pretty negligible, and you likely lock it up all the way back for trim

I do use my saw for a variety of uses from construction to woodworking. If the deflection wasn’t important, I wouldn’t have brought it up. To each their own.

 

[Vbwiley92]

The upgrade is about 60 bucks for the 779. The 780 is about 11 lbs lighter as well.

The DeWalt DWS779 was offered on Black Friday for several hundred cheaper along with a free stand from Lowes and HD.

Lowes stand had folding legs and the HD version had fold down dolley type stand. Even being able to get an extra 10% off at Lowes with a Veteran discount, I decided to pay the little bit extra for having a stand with wheel where I could roll it verse carrying it.


I believe the only difference between the 779 and 780 is the shadow line view when cutting. Elsewhere, another member stated that the 779 could be upgraded to a 780 style with buying the parts for alot cheaper than the price difference.

Sent from my SM-G955U using The Garage Journal mobile app