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Miter saws: reviews on DIY grades are all over the place Login/Join 
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Picture of Leemur
posted
Was looking at Dewalt, Metabo and Bosch 10” sliding models. Seems the lasers all suck, the blades don’t track well or the fence is crap. I just want one that’s reasonably accurate and the blade changes are simple. Is there such a thing without spending $1000 or more?
 
Posts: 13740 | Location: Shenandoah Valley, VA | Registered: October 16, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I have been very happy with my hand me down DeWalt. The person I got the DeWalt from went with the Bosch and is very happy with it.
If it is a Metabo HPT don’t bother with it. Those are the old Hitachi Power Tool line. While decent the DeWalt and Bosch are better.
If it is the regular made in Germany Metabo I have not used their saw but every other Metabo tool I have used (all in a full scale commercial metal shop) were top notch.


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Posts: 25408 | Registered: September 06, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I've been happy with my Delta Cruzer. It gets the job done, for homeowner/DIY use at least, without breaking the bank.
 
Posts: 32494 | Location: Northwest Arkansas | Registered: January 06, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
goodheart
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Makita makes a very good sliding miter saw.
Look at the LS1019L.


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Posts: 18044 | Location: One hop from Paradise | Registered: July 27, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Unless you're building high-end furniture, pretty much any $300-$700 saw is going to be fine. I had a straight DeWalt for years.

While I was working at the lumber yard, they got in a bunch of "909" branded tools (no idea who makes them) and they had a sliding compound miter at a very attractive price. I've been pleased with it as well.

I do recommend the slider for the extra capacity.




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Posts: 15209 | Location: Downeast Maine | Registered: March 10, 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I agree with Paul. I have a Makita sliding compound miter saw. Have had it 18 years or so... only sees occasional use and I am not building anything that needs a high degree of accuracy but it has worked great. It is solid, I am sure in skilled hands it is all you really need.

quote:
Originally posted by PHPaul:
Unless you're building high-end furniture, pretty much any $300-$700 saw is going to be fine. I had a straight DeWalt for years.

While I was working at the lumber yard, they got in a bunch of "909" branded tools (no idea who makes them) and they had a sliding compound miter at a very attractive price. I've been pleased with it as well.

I do recommend the slider for the extra capacity.




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Posts: 640 | Location: Central Illinois | Registered: May 20, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Unless you need real precision, I'd get a Makita as a first choice. Anything better than that is gonna cost real dollars.




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Posts: 8657 | Location: Nowhere the constitution is not honored | Registered: February 01, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by sjtill:
Makita makes a very good sliding miter saw.
Look at the LS1019L.

I have an older version of that same saw, w/o the laser, and it's been a great saw. It'll probably outlive me.

The Makita 10" sliding compound miter saws have always been regarded as one of the better ones, in part due to their unique (?) dual-rail mechanism.



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Posts: 26009 | Location: S.E. Michigan | Registered: January 06, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I have 2 makita's in my cabinet shop for basic tasks but there is nothing better then an omga but you will pay thousands for it.

https://www.omgainc.com/8-single-mitre-saws
 
Posts: 5587 | Registered: February 09, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I have had a 12 inch Dewalt for only a year and a half but love it so far. 4x4s are a piece of cake and will cut at least a 2x6s without having to slide. I have mostly used it for framing and vinyl siding so far.

It doesn't have a laser. LED lights light up the general area of the work leaving a shadow of the blade on the work piece to mark the cut... at least on my model, no laser. Since it is a shadow of the actual blade there is no error. It does work outside in full sunlight, but is better if set up in the shade.


have



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Posts: 4128 | Location: Middle Tennessee | Registered: February 07, 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Any of the big names (Dewalt, Makita, even Rigid) have very competent 12" sliding mitre saws. Any of them can be had for <$1k. Just budget enough extra $$$ to buy yourself a really nice blade (~$100-$150) for your more finished cuts. As for the laser issue, put a speed square in you back pocket, a tape measure on your front pocket, and a pencil behind your ear, and mark your cuts. I've never fully trusted the laser guides given the myriad of ways they can get out of alignment.


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Posts: 33845 | Location: Orlando, FL | Registered: April 30, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Lowe’s and Home Depot are running a Black Friday special on the Dewalt 12” sliding dual-bevel saw with a stand for $399. I bought mine today to replace my crappy $60 Hitachi.
 
Posts: 1150 | Registered: October 05, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I’ve had a Dewalt 12in sliding double bevel plug in saw with a basic stand for 2 years. I love it, it’s done everything I’ve asked of it, blade changes are easy. No laser, but my general opinion of lasers are they are a waste of money.


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Posts: 2695 | Location: VA, mostly | Registered: June 14, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I have a DeWalt sliding double compound. I also added their blade light/shadow module. It works very well and is better than a laser.


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Posts: 17269 | Location: New Mexico | Registered: October 14, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by lopezp:
Lowe’s and Home Depot are running a Black Friday special on the Dewalt 12” sliding dual-bevel saw with a stand for $399. .


A real deal! I paid regular price... $499 and didn't get the stand!



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Posts: 4128 | Location: Middle Tennessee | Registered: February 07, 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I recently bought a 12-inch DeWalt non sliding. I’m kicking myself for not buying one years ago when I first started thinking about one. Just no place to put it. Now that I have it, I’ll get a space built for it.

My neighbor is an ex general contractor and currently owner of a specialty saw mill. He has 3 of the 12-inch sliding DeWalt miter saws. They have all seen heavy use and live outside year around. The slides have rust on them but the saw just glides over the slides. They just keep on working. They all see heavy use 5 days a week. Not sure what they use the miter saws for at the mill. They have big stuff for the logs they mill. I watched them split a cedar log that was a good 5 feet in diameter and 16 feet long. Impressive.


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Posts: 2505 | Location: Oregon | Registered: January 15, 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by lopezp:
Lowe’s and Home Depot are running a Black Friday special on the Dewalt 12” sliding dual-bevel saw with a stand for $399. I bought mine today to replace my crappy $60 Hitachi.


Yikes! I’d jump on that if I was still looking. I paid $325 for my non sliding 12-inch DeWalt with no stand.


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Gary
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Posts: 2505 | Location: Oregon | Registered: January 15, 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I am a hobbyist and build lots of stuff around the ranch(home additions, barns, range house, outbuildings, etc.) and and for friends and family. My saws have had a lot of hard use in SYP and PT lumber. I have a 12" DeWalt sliding compound miter on a wheeled stand for transporting around to jobs. The shadow line is a great feature for accuracy. It is built like a tank and heavy but accurate. This is my second DeWalt in 40 years, I have nothing to complain about in terms of durability. In the shop I have the new Bosch 12" compound miter saw mounted. It takes up less space than the DeWalt with it's articulating arm, rather than the sliding bars which protrude from the back. Have not used this one much but the quality and fit/finish are excellent and it was dead on square out of the box.


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Posts: 4358 | Location: Florida Panhandle | Registered: September 27, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by lopezp:
Lowe’s and Home Depot are running a Black Friday special on the Dewalt 12” sliding dual-bevel saw with a stand for $399. I bought mine today to replace my crappy $60 Hitachi.


I couldn't resist this deal, especially when you add in the 10% military discount. I have a 10" Dewalt non slider that has been fantastic, looking forward to the 12" slider.
 
Posts: 759 | Location: Athol, ID | Registered: October 07, 2011Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Caribou gorn
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I have a 12" Dewalt compound mitre, non sliding. It is not super-accurate but it's accurate enough. I have built furniture, run base trim, installed paneling, etc. It has been solid for about 5 years now. Can't complain.



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Posts: 10486 | Location: Marietta, GA | Registered: February 10, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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