gsmornot
Well-known member
If you go with 10" and later get a table saw too you can share blades. If you're going to remodel a house you should save up for the table saw. You will use both saws.
Miter saw....which one to choose...
- Thread starter Maexle
- Start date
Sure sounds like you are the one taking it personally that I questioned you, I just asked a simple question. I'm glad you actually posted some information this time, which I can 100% respect. I'm just tired of people around here just saying X is better without offering any actual reasons. Sorry if I came off as attacking bud.
Now that that is out of the way, we can actually discuss the merits of each saw.
1) Frankly, I could care less where its made. A performer is a performer.
2) If tight quarters is important to you, then by all means. I think its a great innovation though.
3) I don't like the locked in fence on the one side on the Milwaukee. Its a stupid design and I hope they change it on the next iteration.
4) agree with this, again, a dumb oversight.
6) I think you would have to be blind to have any problems with either saw. I personally prefer the Milwaukee over the Bosch on this topic.
7) I really don't understand how this could be a negative. That is like saying digital readout levels that people need for ultra precise work are not as good as using just a bubble. And on top of that, who wouldn't want a redundant system on anything? Would you prefer that your brakes on your car were not a redundant system?
8) I agree here for those that are using indoors and have a dust collection system setup. For me though, I use outside or just in garage and the bag serves quite well. Otherwise I just shoot it into the grass/dirt and don't worry about it.
9) I believe I stated in my review that I prefer the Bosch handle. I use both hands no problem with the Milwaukee, but prefer the Bosch.
10) Unless we are looking at two totally different saws, I just pulled up the Harbor Freight 12" Slider and the Milwaukee 6955-20 and they don't even remotely look alike to me. Motor is orientated completely different, the entire sliding mechanism is different, carry handle is different, basically, not even close in resemblance other than being a 12" slider. Maybe I am blind though.
Fit and finish on mine is perfect. And it was dead square out of the box and built like a tank. Also, just a quick glance looks like the Bosch is ~$700? If he can get the Milwaukee for $450, there is no possible way you could justify a $250 price difference between the two. That is a top-of-the-line stand worth of difference.
And for the record, I never said you were making stuff up, I just questioned whether you actually had real-world experience with the saws rather than the arm-chair reviewers that seem to be everywhere online these days that simply read spec sheets online and don't actually use the saws. Again, not trying to attack you, just tired of opinions with no backup (which your second response actually provided, thank you). So in the end, my question got the info and discussion I wanted
1Garageman
Well-known member
F-117HWK I actually see your point. You didn't want to upset him, just wanted some more information backing up his opinion, and "Southern" you did on Hell of a job!
Some people just spit out their free professional opinion on stuff in areas where they don't have any experience or knowledge to back it up. Like they slept at a Holiday Inn last night or something.
Anyway, did you look at that nice saw I found you on Craigs List? Where are you on your decision????
Some people just spit out their free professional opinion on stuff in areas where they don't have any experience or knowledge to back it up. Like they slept at a Holiday Inn last night or something.
Anyway, did you look at that nice saw I found you on Craigs List? Where are you on your decision????
Cant believe there hasnt been more mention of the Makita 10" and 12" models. I build custom furniture for a living and did the research on what is recommended, did on sight testing, and needless to say have used many compound sliders before.
Most are going to make great cuts. If you doing lots of framing (ie decks) I would consider a 12" for big lumber. But 90% only need a 10" slider.
Do yourself a favor and look at the Makita LS1016L with optional stand. High end saw at a good price.
If you go Dewalt, def get the led light marker aka laser killer.
Most are going to make great cuts. If you doing lots of framing (ie decks) I would consider a 12" for big lumber. But 90% only need a 10" slider.
Do yourself a favor and look at the Makita LS1016L with optional stand. High end saw at a good price.
If you go Dewalt, def get the led light marker aka laser killer.
JerryHondo
New member
If you have a few bucks, and you want a quality tool that will last, I would suggest the Bosch. I have used mine for about 3 years, as a work horse. Performs great. Also, I use a cool stand from Sawhelper that holds the saw and has a nice support on both side for stock. Precision tool and great stand. I cut hardwood on a daily basis and these two purchases have paid for them selves dozens of times over.
Alright, the quest is over, i purchase to today the Bosch saw with the gravity stand from fellow GJ member "mjozefow".
He's a great guy to deal with and the saw is in really good condition. Everything was like he explained in details and pictures.
Its the Bosch 5312 with the T4B gravity stand.
Works excellent and cuts beautiful.
This saw was well taken care of and works great.
It's heavy, it's bulky, it's a beast and the stand is really nice. I like it.
Can't wait to start the deck now.
Thanks Mitch !
He's a great guy to deal with and the saw is in really good condition. Everything was like he explained in details and pictures.
Its the Bosch 5312 with the T4B gravity stand.
Works excellent and cuts beautiful.
This saw was well taken care of and works great.
It's heavy, it's bulky, it's a beast and the stand is really nice. I like it.
Can't wait to start the deck now.
Thanks Mitch !
slidehammer
Well-known member
Has something changed? The Bosch GCM12SDs I've seen are made in China.
I have the Hitachi you were asking about, and it's great. I have used the 708 & 718 and while they are both good saws (until something better came out they were the best) the 780 would be the one to get if you get a Dewalt at all. The 780 is also better than the less expensive slide/rails Bosch you mentioned. If there was a 'second best' saw after whatever everyone's favorite model, it's the 780. They use the light in the blade guard instead of the lasers so it's easier to see to line up cuts. Might not matter for pine, but for expensive woods and cuts you cant screw up its the best option you have.
I've done some work for Habitat sometimes, and if I get the choice, I use the miter & table saws. I've used many different model Dewalt, kobalt, HF, hitachi, & Ridgid. None are really bad, but only some I would buy out of all the ones I've used. Just considering 12" sliders, since that's all I would buy myself, I would have bought whichever was cheapest between the 780, hitachi, or ridgid. I got a great deal on the hitachi (240 i think new) so that made it easy for me. I can back it up against a wall on my workbench and still slide the whole depth.
The ridgid does have the best depth of cut (straight cut) unless the 780 is better now. I got to use a Delta RAS once, that thing was neat and now I want one of those too. Although I have the know how to set up a miter saw and check it, the RAS gave me the impression I couldn't easily correct if it was off.
If I could afford it, I'd have that Bosch today. Thing is amazing. They had one at the Lowe's here, one of the 4 stores nearby anyway. They sold the 1 in stock then the display model, for only $50 off (which is not bad really but too rich for me to get in the game).
I see mention of Milwaukee & Makita both, yet none of the HD stores near me has either one in stock to check out. ever. They have Dewalt & Ridgid, so unless you're near another store that sells either of these brands it's hard really to make a comparison good or bad.
I've done some work for Habitat sometimes, and if I get the choice, I use the miter & table saws. I've used many different model Dewalt, kobalt, HF, hitachi, & Ridgid. None are really bad, but only some I would buy out of all the ones I've used. Just considering 12" sliders, since that's all I would buy myself, I would have bought whichever was cheapest between the 780, hitachi, or ridgid. I got a great deal on the hitachi (240 i think new) so that made it easy for me. I can back it up against a wall on my workbench and still slide the whole depth.
The ridgid does have the best depth of cut (straight cut) unless the 780 is better now. I got to use a Delta RAS once, that thing was neat and now I want one of those too. Although I have the know how to set up a miter saw and check it, the RAS gave me the impression I couldn't easily correct if it was off.
If I could afford it, I'd have that Bosch today. Thing is amazing. They had one at the Lowe's here, one of the 4 stores nearby anyway. They sold the 1 in stock then the display model, for only $50 off (which is not bad really but too rich for me to get in the game).
I see mention of Milwaukee & Makita both, yet none of the HD stores near me has either one in stock to check out. ever. They have Dewalt & Ridgid, so unless you're near another store that sells either of these brands it's hard really to make a comparison good or bad.
Old thread... but a I did a google search trying to find comparative reviews and user experience reports between the Bosch 5312 vs the Bosch GCM12SD, and this thread link from Garage Journal appeared on the google results list like a Navy vessel amidst a pirate infested sea of click bait "review" sites authored by people who have never built anything in their lives other than click farms.
So I don't know where to turn for reliable comparative information, and the only Bosch 12" sliding compound miter saw that HD and Lowes carries in stock is the GCM12SD. I've never seen the 5312 in person, so I can't even guess as to what the 5312 might feel and function like.
What appeals to me about the GCM12SD is the Glide Arm assembly. In the store at least, it feels smoother to me than any of the other sliding compound miter saws displayed, including the DeWalt 780.
What does NOT appeal to me about the GCM12SD is how fussy I find some of the adjustment mechanisms to be, especially the knob and lever mechanism at the tip of the turn table. I'm sure that if I read the manual, I'd eventually figure it out, but it clearly defies intuition, because it appears that lookers who visited the saw before me already tried fooling with it, and perhaps broke it in the process. I find the mechanism in various states of inoperation in different stores who have the saw on display. Or, perhaps it works fine in one or more of the stores, but I still haven't figured it out yet. Anyway, clumsy for me, without benefit of training from a user manual.
Apart from that, the cost of the Bosch doesn't bother me, nor does the weight. I don't plan to move the saw every day. I'd like to retire my radial saw to solely dado duty, and use a sliding compound miter saw for everything else.
While the Glide Arm to the Bosch GCM12SD feels super fantastic, the MOST IMPORTANT function of ANY angle saw in my mind has to be ACCURACY throughout the cut. An old man told me that the most important feature of a machine tool is the fence... the ability to maintain straight or angled cuts as desired.
Towards this end, I'm open to considering ANY saw of ANY brand, so feel free to make recommendations, considering the new models that have been introduced over the last three years since this thread was first created.
Thanks!
So I don't know where to turn for reliable comparative information, and the only Bosch 12" sliding compound miter saw that HD and Lowes carries in stock is the GCM12SD. I've never seen the 5312 in person, so I can't even guess as to what the 5312 might feel and function like.
What appeals to me about the GCM12SD is the Glide Arm assembly. In the store at least, it feels smoother to me than any of the other sliding compound miter saws displayed, including the DeWalt 780.
What does NOT appeal to me about the GCM12SD is how fussy I find some of the adjustment mechanisms to be, especially the knob and lever mechanism at the tip of the turn table. I'm sure that if I read the manual, I'd eventually figure it out, but it clearly defies intuition, because it appears that lookers who visited the saw before me already tried fooling with it, and perhaps broke it in the process. I find the mechanism in various states of inoperation in different stores who have the saw on display. Or, perhaps it works fine in one or more of the stores, but I still haven't figured it out yet. Anyway, clumsy for me, without benefit of training from a user manual.
Apart from that, the cost of the Bosch doesn't bother me, nor does the weight. I don't plan to move the saw every day. I'd like to retire my radial saw to solely dado duty, and use a sliding compound miter saw for everything else.
While the Glide Arm to the Bosch GCM12SD feels super fantastic, the MOST IMPORTANT function of ANY angle saw in my mind has to be ACCURACY throughout the cut. An old man told me that the most important feature of a machine tool is the fence... the ability to maintain straight or angled cuts as desired.
Towards this end, I'm open to considering ANY saw of ANY brand, so feel free to make recommendations, considering the new models that have been introduced over the last three years since this thread was first created.
Thanks!
The main advantage of the Bosch Glide over most other sliding miter saws is that it can be pushed back against the wall. If you're basically doing 90 degree cuts, it can literally be touching the wall, if you're doing 45s and other angles you will need a little more clearance behind it.
On top of that the Glide mechanism is really smooth. I upgraded a perfectly good Dewalt DW 708 when Home Depot dropped the price a couple of years ago to under $500 on one of their sales
On top of that the Glide mechanism is really smooth. I upgraded a perfectly good Dewalt DW 708 when Home Depot dropped the price a couple of years ago to under $500 on one of their sales
DeliveryGuy
Well-known member
I have the older DW718. (I think. It was the first Dewalt miter saw with the horizontal pair of glide rails, and the deep cut capacity right at the fence.)
My biggest complaint is the bevel gauge. You have to lean way over to read the gauge without parallax. Other than that, it's a great working saw.
I used the Bosch GCM12SD on a job once, just to make a few quick cuts, and I really liked the up front bevel release, and the position of the bevel gauge. That, and the glide arms go tight to a wall, which is awesome. The new generation of Dewalts aren't nearly as deep as the old ones with the vertical stacked rails, so they don't take up as much room as they used to.
I can only really comment on the Dewalt miter saws, as they're the only ones I've used extensively. It's a nice saw to use, and never leaves me frustrated, or regretting it's purchase. If I had to replace it today, I'd probably get that Bosch since I'm not brand loyal.
My biggest complaint is the bevel gauge. You have to lean way over to read the gauge without parallax. Other than that, it's a great working saw.
I used the Bosch GCM12SD on a job once, just to make a few quick cuts, and I really liked the up front bevel release, and the position of the bevel gauge. That, and the glide arms go tight to a wall, which is awesome. The new generation of Dewalts aren't nearly as deep as the old ones with the vertical stacked rails, so they don't take up as much room as they used to.
I can only really comment on the Dewalt miter saws, as they're the only ones I've used extensively. It's a nice saw to use, and never leaves me frustrated, or regretting it's purchase. If I had to replace it today, I'd probably get that Bosch since I'm not brand loyal.
Just to update... I ended up buying the Bosch GCM12SD. The fact that Home Depot is pushing this model off of their limited store display space in their tool corrals in order to make more room to merchandise the Milwaukee (owned in part by Home Depot) battery operated saw, and consequently reduced the price to the Bosch in order to clearance away inventory, is what pushed me to finally pull the trigger and buy one.
So glad I did. The butter smoothness of the axial glide arm, and the fact that you dont have to make room behind the saw for rails (zero clearance to the back wall) are worth stepping up to this class leading 15 amp 12" dual bevel compound miter saw. I bought the companion Gravity Rise T4B stand to go with it. Bosch has some very innovative mechanical engineers working for them, as just like the glide arm saw, there are unique features about the Bosch stand that remain unmatched by any other portable miter saw brand I've seen, outshining the usual suspects like the DeWalt and the Ridgid stands.
In all, a good complimentary combo Bosch has going here.
On Edit... I've used the beautifully cutting Bosch 12" Glide saw a bit more over the last few days since posting, in combination with the Gravity Rise stand, which really makes it easy to raise, lower, and roll around.
I looked in the dictionary for antonyms (the opposite of) remorse... because buyer's remorse is the illness that usually shadows most of my expensive purchase decisions with that nagging "coulda gotten by without it" feeling of regret. Not so with this tool. The antonyms found in the thesaurus were few and far between, but among those listed were "happiness" and "satisfaction". And I'd say those words are dead on accurate. Just like the saw straight out of the box.
It was so nice to be able to flatly feather trim 4x6 window headers in a single pass for a gapless frame fit up. Even my wife said she was so glad I got that saw.
I've made a few mods to the T4B stand, basically adding cushioning to the scissor linkage rests, supplementing the swivel feet, and adding a tube to permanently store the dust bag, because I use a shop vac (plugged into a different branch circuit) with the saw. A few more mods to the stand are planned.
I've also watched a few videos about the saw, including the marketing video produced by DeWalt that pitted the Bosch GCM12SD against the DWS780 in an obvious attempt to try and make the DeWalt offering look better. Wow, if a person relied on that video, they would be misled.
DeWalt tries to put down Bosch's nylon slip and miter stop detent ring as being "cheap", while the miter stops in the DeWalt are carved into the rough casting of the base. But DeWalt omits the fact metal wears too, and when those detents wear out of tolerance in the DeWalt, the entire base assembly would need to be replaced, and that part alone is $218. By contrast, a new nylon detent bar from Bosch is only $5.
So glad I did. The butter smoothness of the axial glide arm, and the fact that you dont have to make room behind the saw for rails (zero clearance to the back wall) are worth stepping up to this class leading 15 amp 12" dual bevel compound miter saw. I bought the companion Gravity Rise T4B stand to go with it. Bosch has some very innovative mechanical engineers working for them, as just like the glide arm saw, there are unique features about the Bosch stand that remain unmatched by any other portable miter saw brand I've seen, outshining the usual suspects like the DeWalt and the Ridgid stands.
In all, a good complimentary combo Bosch has going here.
On Edit... I've used the beautifully cutting Bosch 12" Glide saw a bit more over the last few days since posting, in combination with the Gravity Rise stand, which really makes it easy to raise, lower, and roll around.
I looked in the dictionary for antonyms (the opposite of) remorse... because buyer's remorse is the illness that usually shadows most of my expensive purchase decisions with that nagging "coulda gotten by without it" feeling of regret. Not so with this tool. The antonyms found in the thesaurus were few and far between, but among those listed were "happiness" and "satisfaction". And I'd say those words are dead on accurate. Just like the saw straight out of the box.
It was so nice to be able to flatly feather trim 4x6 window headers in a single pass for a gapless frame fit up. Even my wife said she was so glad I got that saw.
I've made a few mods to the T4B stand, basically adding cushioning to the scissor linkage rests, supplementing the swivel feet, and adding a tube to permanently store the dust bag, because I use a shop vac (plugged into a different branch circuit) with the saw. A few more mods to the stand are planned.
I've also watched a few videos about the saw, including the marketing video produced by DeWalt that pitted the Bosch GCM12SD against the DWS780 in an obvious attempt to try and make the DeWalt offering look better. Wow, if a person relied on that video, they would be misled.
DeWalt tries to put down Bosch's nylon slip and miter stop detent ring as being "cheap", while the miter stops in the DeWalt are carved into the rough casting of the base. But DeWalt omits the fact metal wears too, and when those detents wear out of tolerance in the DeWalt, the entire base assembly would need to be replaced, and that part alone is $218. By contrast, a new nylon detent bar from Bosch is only $5.
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