Mitersaw for trim work

[Jmonnty]

My Makita miter saw was lost in a shop fire in March. I have a house to trim out in the next couple weeks.
What do you recommend, budget is around $1000?
I used my hk55 to make the door frames and window casings.

 

[The Cobbler]

I like DeWalt miter saws I have a 10" & 12" non slider

 

[LXCam]

It’s pretty hard to bet the value of a dewalt 779. I’ve done thousands of dead nuts on cuts and only just recently needed to do a little fine tuning to dial it back in.

Both depot and lowes run pretty regularly sales on them. You just need to check both the deal of the days sections at both.

12 in. Double-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw

Get precision and accuracy for tough jobs with this Sliding Compound Miter Saw. This miter saw is designed with an advanced 15 Amp, 3,800 rpm motor that delivers power and durability. Tall sliding fences support 7-1/2 in. of crown nested and up to 2x14 dimensional lumbers at 90° and 2x10 at 45°...

www.dewalt.com

 

[tarbellb]

Makita rail forward 1019L is a winner, similar to the Kapex.

If you want to save some cash, well below $1000 is the MetaboHPT rail forward

Dewalt also makes a helluva a tough saw that wont leave you stranded,
but uses the tradition (huge footprint) rail back design.

 

[Kscardsfan]

All I see guys using around here professionally is Makita or DeWalt, and that includes the guys who run strictly Milwaukee for everything else in their lives.

 

[finn]

I have a 10” Bosch wall hugger sliding compound miter saw and a Dewalt 12” non sliding. Also still have my thirty year old Delta non compound that I keep at a property across the country.

One thing to consider is size and portability. The Bosch lives outside on a stand under a tarp for now since the Sauna I’m finishing by the lake isn’t large enough to work in and it’s a pain in the **** to move around with the stand I have. I could make most, if not all of the cuts with that ancient, noisy, inaccurate Delta if it wasn’t 2000 miles away.

I had a Makita 12” slider until the armature failed and I scrapped it. Nice smooth saw….until it wasn’t. It lacked the wall hugger feature of the Bosch, though.

 

[tarbellb]

Milwaukee is NOT known to make good miter saws, both the older corded ones (massive and clumsy) and the M18 I had, which has tons of slop in the rails

 

[Kscardsfan]

Milwaukee is NOT known to make good miter saws, both the older corded ones (massive and clumsy) and the M18 I had, which has tons of slop in the rails

Seems to be the common complaint I hear about them as well.

 

[Kscardsfan]

I have a 10” Bosch wall hugger sliding compound miter saw and a Dewalt 12” non sliding. Also still have my thirty year old Delta non compound that I keep at a property across the country.

One thing to consider is size and portability. The Bosch lives outside on a stand under a tarp for now since the Sauna I’m finishing by the lake isn’t large enough to work in and it’s a pain in the **** to move around with the stand I have. I could make most, if not all of the cuts with that ancient, noisy, inaccurate Delta if it wasn’t 2000 miles away.

I had a Makita 12” slider until the armature failed and I scrapped it. Nice smooth saw….until it wasn’t. It lacked the wall hugger feature of the Bosch, though.

How do you like the Bosch robot saw?

 

[finn]

How do you like the Bosch robot saw?

It’s great, but I’m no professional carpenter, so what do I know?

It’s a great space saver compared to my old Makita, which helps when working in a small room.

 

[Fixr]

Most likely way outdated, but my old green Hitachi 8-1/2 inch slider has maintained square and common angle settings for upwards of 20 years. Those cuts fit together every time.

86.7 or 91.2 degree cuts to fit a tweaked corner in an old house aren't quite as slick. That probably applies to any miter saw.

And besides, I'm not sure that there is a current version of my saw under the Metabo HPT (Hitachi Power Tools) name. I just posted because I'm still really happy with the old thing.

 

[jar944]

How do you like the Bosch robot saw?

I don't like my bosh glide. I have 4 miter saws and it's my least favorite. I really should sell it.

For trim/moulding finish carpentry a dewalt 716.

 

[Steve_P]

So, he wants a saw for trim work. Does he really need a 12" sliding saw??? I know this is GJ, but....

 

[The Cobbler]

re above post ... depends on the size of trim he's installing

 

[finn]

So, he wants a saw for trim work. Does he really need a 12" sliding saw??? I know this is GJ, but....

I’ve run into a couple of cuts where I wished I had sprung for the 12” Bosch slider instead of the 10”, but I could live with a smaller (7 1/2”?) for a lot of what I do. Portability is a virtue. I’ve been cutting t&g birch for the sauna changing room walls and ceiling that has a mono pitch ceiling / roof lately. The 10” won’t do a complete 15 degree cut on a 5” or 6” board without resetting the work or finishing with a circular saw, which is a pita.

My old, now defunct Makita slider was a 12”, as is my non sliding Dewalt. That comes with the baggage of a tool that is difficult to drag around at my age.

 

[Terra Nova]

I would echo the recommendations for Dewalt or Bosch. I am a Milwaukee fan and have a corded Milwaukee 12" mitersaw and would have a hard time recommending it. Unless you need to capacity consider a 10" over a 12" as well.

12" Dual-Bevel Compound Miter Saw

www.milwaukeetool.com

 

[Firebrick43]

I don't like my bosh glide. I have 4 miter saws and it's my least favorite. I really should sell it.

For trim/moulding finish carpentry a dewalt 716.

Why? A friend (12")and I (10") both have them as shop saws and they are wonderful.

They **** to move being so heavy. A Makita is a much better saw for taking to a job site or one you have to get out when you want to use it, but the glide mechanism on a shop saw works so well and allows it to be against the wall

 

[Renegade1LI]

I really like my dewalt cordless for trim work, light, portable and accurate. Unless you need more capacity than 8" otherwise it's a good trim saw. Plus i have the cordless ts which is also nice for trim.

 

[jar944]

Why? A friend (12")and I (10") both have them as shop saws and they are wonderful.

They **** to move being so heavy. A Makita is a much better saw for taking to a job site or one you have to get out when you want to use it, but the glide mechanism on a shop saw works so well and allows it to be against the wall

Flex in the mechanism. I disliked it from day one. My dewalt 781 has less flex as a slider than the bosch and my 716 is considerably more rigid than any slider I've tried (but still not close to the rigidity of a omga miter saw)

I prefer a non slider for anything that is small enough not to need the extra cut capacity which is 95+% of trim/moulding.

If i'm in my shop I preferred a ts sled when I had a cabinet saw and now my sliding tablesaw over any jobsite miter saw (still haven't picked up a omga) for most crosscuts.

 

[Kscardsfan]

So, he wants a saw for trim work. Does he really need a 12" sliding saw??? I know this is GJ, but....

Hard to hang crown with a small saw. And I can always cut smaller stuff with a big saw, its a real sob to cut bigger stuff with a small saw.

 

[Firebrick43]

Flex in the mechanism i disliked it from day one. My dewalt 781 has less flex as a slider and my 716 is considerably more rigid than any slider.

I prefer a non slider for anything that is small enough not to need the extra cut capacity. Or if I'm in my shop a ts sled when I had a cabinet saw and now my sliding tablesaw.

I heard some of the early ones had slop in some of the pivots.

My buddy that has the 12” one we put an indicator on the blade and pulled sideways with a fish scale (can’t remember number now but was 10 or 20 lbs).

It had less flex than is earlier dewalt slider and his “upstairs” makita. Mine is the same.

I do wish I had a straight 12” chop saw. A neighbor has a late 90’s delta that is like a brick ********* but alas I only have so much room.

 

[jar944]

I heard some of the early ones had slop in some of the pivots.

My buddy that has the 12” one we put an indicator on the blade and pulled sideways with a fish scale (can’t remember number now but was 10 or 20 lbs).

It had less flex than is earlier dewalt slider and his “upstairs” makita. Mine is the same.

I do wish I had a straight 12” chop saw. A neighbor has a late 90’s delta that is like a brick ********* but alas I only have so much room.

I got mine in 2017 iirc, the center pivoting table is lower than the outer wings, which is irritating, and you have to concentrate with zero English on the handle to make a full capacity straight cut (simple straight 90) any compound miter will flex.

I have two 12" chop saws, those get used way more.

 

[jar944]

Hard to hang crown with a small saw. And I can always cut smaller stuff with a big saw, its a real sob to cut bigger stuff with a small saw.

Unless it's really really big crown a 12" chop saw will cut it nested without issues. Its usually the 9+" baseboard that needs a slider.

 

[Kscardsfan]

Unless it's really really big crown a 12" chop saw will cut it nested without issues. Its usually the 9+" baseboard that needs a slider.

Around here all the McMansion spec homes used that stupid tall designer crown and then it was a 50/50 shot with the base and casing whether it was the over top ornate detailed stuff or flat boards for that "craftsman" look.

 

[jar944]

Around here all the McMansion spec homes used that stupid tall designer crown and then it was a 50/50 shot with the base and casing whether it was the over top ornate detailed stuff or flat boards for that "craftsman" look.

Lol. Enough money to be tacky, but not enough to put in real moulding like a multi layered cornice.

 

[Jmonnty]

So, he wants a saw for trim work. Does he really need a 12" sliding saw??? I know this is GJ, but....

No I didn't need a 12"
My baseboards are 6/4x6, stair rises are 7".

 

[Desertskyy]

I have a Dewalt DWS716XPS 12" Double bevel-non slider

The XPS shadow light works great. Worth buying one with this feature

Been very reliable for me.

 

[Kscardsfan]

Lol. Enough money to be tacky, but not enough to put in real moulding like a multi layered cornice.

Nailed it.

 

[AEAdam]

I would not consider a non sliding saw. I have a 25 yr old Bosch which has been brilliant. Note: as with all tools, your satisfaction with the tool will be largely based on the blade it comes with. I use a whacky negative rake Diablo designed specifically for sliders. It’s awesome but expensive.

I’d almost recommend choosing a saw to match the base you have or the base you want. I put off buying this $350 Bosch base. Dumb. The base is a game changer. Pretty sure some parts of my saw are magnesium to reduce weight. It’s still very heavy. The base is stable and awesome. Unless you have a permanent bench for your saw, I’d start with a high quality base and go from there.

 

[signcrafter]

Most likely way outdated, but my old green Hitachi 8-1/2 inch slider has maintained square and common angle settings for upwards of 20 years. Those cuts fit together every time.

86.7 or 91.2 degree cuts to fit a tweaked corner in an old house aren't quite as slick. That probably applies to any miter saw.

And besides, I'm not sure that there is a current version of my saw under the Metabo HPT (Hitachi Power Tools) name. I just posted because I'm still really happy with the old thing.

That hitachi is the best miter saw I have ever used, and I've used a bunch. Loved mine besides it was crazy heavy, heavier then my 12" sliders. But saw cut amazing. Wish I still had it but somebody else wanted it more then me I guess.

So, he wants a saw for trim work. Does he really need a 12" sliding saw??? I know this is GJ, but....

Depends on what he is doing. I have a 12" bosch fixed for the last 20 years and about 10 years ago I had to go get a slider for trim work because my 12" didn't have enough capacity. I was trimming out free standing 2x6 walls with a 1x10 oak on top as a cap. My 12" couldn't cut it on a 45 degree angle. Bought the bosch glider and love it. I want to add a small cordless slider but have all milwaukee batteries and the milwuakee doesn't get great reviews. And it's expensive compared to the dewalt cordless. I've used the dewalt cordless 7 1/4"(I think) slider and it was a nice saw. I have the ridgid stand for mine and it's nice but still a pain to move around and why I want a small cordless for when I don't need the capacity of the big boy.

 

[AEAdam]

So, he wants a saw for trim work. Does he really need a 12" sliding saw??? I know this is GJ, but....

My slider is 10" which is a little nicer due to lower tip speed.

Sliders cut differently than a chop saw, which can only plunge cut. They may be designed to cut 2x12s, but that's not the only thing they do. You can cut a corner out of something. I've set my depth and created grooves or tenons. They are more like a safer version of a radial arm saw than a chop saw in my opinion.

 

[mike93lx]

That hitachi is the best miter saw I have ever used, and I've used a bunch. Loved mine besides it was crazy heavy, heavier then my 12" sliders. But saw cut amazing. Wish I still had it but somebody else wanted it more then me I guess.

I have a Hitachi 12" slider... It's huge and heavy, but has treated me well.

Its on the 1st gen ridgid MSUV. Outfeed support for trim is fine, but it ***** for heavier stuff.

 

[jar944]

I would not consider a non sliding saw.

Really depends on what you are trying to do. If your goal is perfect cuts, the saw with the most rigid frame will be the most consistent and easiest to cut with. Any increase in flexibility also increases the user skill requirements to make a straight cut. To be fair there is not a single job site miter saw that can actually make perfect cuts consistently which is the reason shops go to something like the omga line of saws.

 

[AEAdam]

Really depends on what you are trying to do. If your goal is perfect cuts, the saw with the most rigid frame will be the most consistent and easiest to cut with. Any increase in flexibility also increases the user skill requirements to make a straight cut. To be fair there is not a single job site miter saw that can actually make perfect cuts consistently which is the reason shops go to something like the omga line of saws.

Glad you mentioned omga. My brother worked in a shop with saws like that. For us, Japanese and German tools are top of the line. But the next level up are Swiss and Italian tools, believe it or not.

The Italian saws my brother used were all belt drive. The saws had a stiff trunion with precision bearings. The cut surfaces felt like glass and were finish ready. Our saws typically mount on the motor shaft and use the motor’s bearings.

Looks like DeWalt has a belt drive saw. I’d be interested in checking that out.

That said, I’ve done an awful lot of woodwork. I don’t typically expose end grain. My Bosch has been more than good enough.

 

[dnschmidt]

DeWalt owns this category just like Milwaukee owns Sawzalls. Each manufacturer has something they do better than the rest and for DeWalt that's their compound sliding miter saws.