Boogerman
Well-known member
Reading the "which miter saw" thread got me thinking about my saw, and it's use.
I have owned a Makita 10" double tilt, compound slider saw for about 27 years. It replaced a similar single tilt Makita. I recently got one of the 12" slider Dewalts, because it was like new and $75. I've only used it a few times so far. Not sure I like it better than the Makita.
I'm not a professional carpenter or woodworker, but I'm quite a way outside of the typical DIY class. This saw has been used continuously for those 27 years. I've done all the framing and remodel work on 2 houses with it. This included maple hardwood flooring in one house. Trimmed both those remodels with wood trim. Built a lot of particle board melamine cabinetry. I operated a low volume cabinetry shop and used it in that for a while. Did occasional remodel type work for others. Then, constructed two larger houses, about 4200 sf. Used the saw for minor framing, had the major framing subcontracted. Built all the trim myself, from 4/4 random boards to finish, and used the saw for all cuts. Oak flooring throughout both houses except for entries, baths and kitchens which were tile. Built a finished 2700 sf detached garage/shop with it at one, architecturally finished like the house. Built a lot of melamine finish particle board cabinetry for both houses and the shop. Used it to cut 1x lumber for complex concrete forms for a few years. Occasionally cut extruded aluminum and plastic also. Built another 3000 sf house and 2000 sf finished shop with it, and hand framed the complex roof so a lot of framing cuts with it. Again all hardwood floors, pre-finished this time which is supposed to be hard on blades. Built all the trim again. Continued to use it for particle board shelving and dimensional lumber for specialty concrete forms. Throughout all these house projects, it was used near daily in my shop, doing all the typical cuts needed for general contractor and milwright work.
Here's the kicker: I was just thinking about this, it still has the ORIGINAL Makita blade on it. I bought a new blade awhile back, when I did the pre-finished hickory floor, thinking the silica impregnated finish would ruin the blade. It still cuts, essentially like new. I have solvent cleaned buildup off it a few times, and probably honed the carbide tips with a diamond touchup a few times, but this is the original blade. 27 years of pretty solid use. No coddling, cut everything that comes it's way, including used, dirty, composite and pre-finished wood. I've even hit a few light nails with it. Cut quite a bit of 2 1/2 and 3" thick walnut planks also.
In the same time frame, I've probably gone through a half dozen carbide skillsaw blades, mostly because I hit steel or concrete with them. And, gone through a couple cutting hardi plank. Most framing lumber has been skillsaw cut, although I use the miter for angles and repetitive cutoffs. I've also probably worn out two or three blades on my unisaw, and used a half dozen others that I still have and trade off depending on the cutting being done.
Is this blade life exceptional in this application? How often do you change a miter saw blade if not damaged by abuse?
I have owned a Makita 10" double tilt, compound slider saw for about 27 years. It replaced a similar single tilt Makita. I recently got one of the 12" slider Dewalts, because it was like new and $75. I've only used it a few times so far. Not sure I like it better than the Makita.
I'm not a professional carpenter or woodworker, but I'm quite a way outside of the typical DIY class. This saw has been used continuously for those 27 years. I've done all the framing and remodel work on 2 houses with it. This included maple hardwood flooring in one house. Trimmed both those remodels with wood trim. Built a lot of particle board melamine cabinetry. I operated a low volume cabinetry shop and used it in that for a while. Did occasional remodel type work for others. Then, constructed two larger houses, about 4200 sf. Used the saw for minor framing, had the major framing subcontracted. Built all the trim myself, from 4/4 random boards to finish, and used the saw for all cuts. Oak flooring throughout both houses except for entries, baths and kitchens which were tile. Built a finished 2700 sf detached garage/shop with it at one, architecturally finished like the house. Built a lot of melamine finish particle board cabinetry for both houses and the shop. Used it to cut 1x lumber for complex concrete forms for a few years. Occasionally cut extruded aluminum and plastic also. Built another 3000 sf house and 2000 sf finished shop with it, and hand framed the complex roof so a lot of framing cuts with it. Again all hardwood floors, pre-finished this time which is supposed to be hard on blades. Built all the trim again. Continued to use it for particle board shelving and dimensional lumber for specialty concrete forms. Throughout all these house projects, it was used near daily in my shop, doing all the typical cuts needed for general contractor and milwright work.
Here's the kicker: I was just thinking about this, it still has the ORIGINAL Makita blade on it. I bought a new blade awhile back, when I did the pre-finished hickory floor, thinking the silica impregnated finish would ruin the blade. It still cuts, essentially like new. I have solvent cleaned buildup off it a few times, and probably honed the carbide tips with a diamond touchup a few times, but this is the original blade. 27 years of pretty solid use. No coddling, cut everything that comes it's way, including used, dirty, composite and pre-finished wood. I've even hit a few light nails with it. Cut quite a bit of 2 1/2 and 3" thick walnut planks also.
In the same time frame, I've probably gone through a half dozen carbide skillsaw blades, mostly because I hit steel or concrete with them. And, gone through a couple cutting hardi plank. Most framing lumber has been skillsaw cut, although I use the miter for angles and repetitive cutoffs. I've also probably worn out two or three blades on my unisaw, and used a half dozen others that I still have and trade off depending on the cutting being done.
Is this blade life exceptional in this application? How often do you change a miter saw blade if not damaged by abuse?
