ok guys, sound off....

I'm in need of a miter saw. I managed to limp through with a very low quality <$150 model when building my fence, (borrowed from a buddy), but now I'm in search of something that will actually cut consistant angles when called apon.

I'm not a rich man, so I'm looking for bang for buck on this one.

Please give me your personal choice in manufacturer. Model #s would be fantasic.

TIA

I did the floors and molding with this one, I was going to buy the Dewalt, but it was several hundred more for just about the same features. I bought an upgraded blade and it cuts great!

Hitachi
12" Dual Bevel Compound Miter Saw w/ Laser

Item #: 157783 Model: C12FDH

$199 at lowes

I don't have a particalar model to recommend. My price range though would be in the $150-$200 price range. I would get one of the ones that allow you to slide the blade foward and back. Obviously this would be for a lower brand name model but I have had good success with this. I remember seeing a Kobalt for that price range which had this feature and laser. What can I say I have low budgets and have to work with what I can.

Also my local home depot has their 12" dual rigid saw on clearance for $249 from $349. I haven't got it all setup yet, but it seems like it is a pretty nice saw.

If I was in the market today, here is the one I would buy: http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-4212L-12-Inch-Compound-Tracking/dp/B0007LQQ0U/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1225122625&sr=8-3. Bosch 12-inch dual compound with a laser. I have an older version of this saw in my woodworking shop now and have been very happy with it. I tweaked the setup on the saw when I first took it out of the box six years ago and have not had to touch it again. Very well made.

The blade that comes with the saw is actually OK. You should be aware, though, that good blades for 12" miter saws are expensive. Resharpening can be pricey, too, with all the teeth on these blades.

If I couldn't afford the Bosch, I would probably look seriously at the Ridgid saws at Home Depot. I haven't used a Ridgid miter saw but I own a couple of other Ridgid power tools (trim router, reciprocating saw, belt sander) and have found them to be a good bang for the buck.

I like to drool over the >$500 models but I need to be realistic. I'm not a contractor, and will not be compensating with money earned using it.

If I could keep it around $300, I'd be happy.

The canadian Lowes site is pointless. I'll check HD and see what they've got this week.

I don't have a particalar model to recommend. My price range though would be in the $150-$200 price range. I would get one of the ones that allow you to slide the blade foward and back. ......

Hi Oman,

That type of saw you are describing is called a sliding compound miter saw.

I would look at used in that price range. Kijiji (popular in my area) or Craigslist.

A miter saw is a precision tool.... I don't have any recommendations for one in that price range.

I bought a Makita LS1013 something or other last year. It was about $500US IIRC. It is very accurate, and comes with a nice 80 tooth 10" blade.

I got by with my 10" $79 ryobi miter saw. I had bought it a couple years before the basement project but never even opened it until this year.

It did the job for everything except the 2x8's I used for the riser and the stair treads. For the riser, I had to flip the boards. I used a table saw for the hardwood flooring.

If I had to do it again for my basement project, I would have splurged (no more than $200-250) and got a 12" or a low end compound miter saw.

I also have a ryobi one. it works great for the little jobs. My next purchase would definitely be one that slides. I have used a few of the sliding one and it's opens tons of new ways of doing things. It's probably either going to be Hitachi or DeWalt.

If I had to do it again for my basement project, I would have splurged (no more than $200-250) and got a 12" or a low end compound miter saw.

You, too? There is not a month that goes by that I don't curse the decision to save a few dollars and get a 10" miter saw.

Okay - maybe "every month" is a bit of an exaggeration. But still, not being able to cut a 6" piece of dimensional lumber at 45 degrees drives me nuts. I bought the saw when I built my deck in Louisiana, and I quickly found out how much of a limitation a 10" saw really is, cutting a fair amount of 5/4 x 6" deck boards. Just yesterday my wife and I were decking the dog's pen (so they don't so muddy in the rain and snow) and again found myself cursing the inability to cut a simple 27 degree angle on a 5/4 x 6" deck board without having to flip it over.

Whatever brand you decide to buy ... make sure you get a 12" saw.

in your price range, a sliding compound miter would be out of the question (unless you go used).

I would not look at a 12" either ($$$), as a nice 10" would get you by.

Look for one with Dual Bevel (can angle and rotate it both sides). Makes it easier. the Laser guide is nice too, but not a necessity.

Quality Brands include:
Makita,
Bosch,
Milwaukee
DeWalt

but you probably knew that.
Old

Kobalt brand from Lowes has a lifetime warrantee. If something is wrong, you get a replacement one onsite, no wait. I think it is around 150$... might be worth it to try it out for a few days, then return it if it sucks.

I have a compound 10" Delta that I bought back in 1993 for ~ $175 (sry.. don't know the model #) and it has served me well. It's heavy too; weighs about 30 pounds and I still use it today. A 12" would be nice for 2x6's. Regardless of a 10 or 12, just make sure you get one that miters and bevels at the same time...
The other posters here have listed the brands I'd go with today...Not sure if B&D makes a miter saw, but I'd stay away from anything they make!

2nd. on the Rigid! I have it and it is a wonderful tool. Also the lifetime warrantee fron Home Depot is GOLDEN! JB

Makita is excellent. (my #1 pick)
Bosch


Dewalt used to be pretty good but this year's model of their 12 inch sliding compound saw is not up to par (poor quality considering how expensive it is)

I would also stay away from Hitachi.

Lasers are nice gimmicks - I would not base my decision for a good 12 inch miter on one, however.

If you need to cut 2x12s, etc. (ie: large dimensional lumber) you want to go with 12 inch sliding model as it really allows you to cut just about everything.

Check out amazon as they have a fairly competitve price on the Makita - as well as free super saver shipping and no tax. HD/Lowes can't touch that.

I'm tired of fooling with the Craftsman 10" dual miter saw that I have. It's worked well, but it's too small for some boards and I really want a sliding model.

The tips on bevel both ways are really good...you will use it quite more than you think.

Before I build my stage and riser, I want to have a 10" or 12" sliding miter saw, with a really good blade. I'm not happy that I saved some money and didn't buy the slider.

It also helps to have a good stand as well...

CJ

In a previous life I spoke at length with the marketing manager for the Dewalt chop saw rollout. He freely admitted that he would spend his money on a Makita.

I had and burned through a Dewalt saw. Then bought a Makita for some oak crown I was installing. Amazing difference in performance.

Sliding dual compound is what would be my first choice would be. Just like a Porche would be my first choice in sports car. :)

Back to reality.... Is a 12" necessary if you do go for the sliding model 10"...?

I could see myself extending buget a little, but the full blown 12" with all the options is just not going to happen.

Thanks for the feedback guys

Makita is excellent. (my #1 pick)
Bosch


Dewalt used to be pretty good but this year's model of their 12 inch sliding compound saw is not up to par (poor quality considering how expensive it is)

I would also stay away from Hitachi.

Lasers are nice gimmicks - I would not base my decision for a good 12 inch miter on one, however.

If you need to cut 2x12s, etc. (ie: large dimensional lumber) you want to go with 12 inch sliding model as it really allows you to cut just about everything.

Check out amazon as they have a fairly competitve price on the Makita - as well as free super saver shipping and no tax. HD/Lowes can't touch that.

I have to agree with you on the DeWalt. Seems that lately their tools have been built with cheap plastics.

I have an old 10+ yr old 12" sliding compound Craftsman miter that has served me well. I believe the price at the time was almost $700?? cut a lot of boards with this thing, however Craftsman is another brand I would avoid. Cheap plastics now-a-days.

I do agree that Makita seems to have the best miters now-a-days.
Old

Sliding dual compound is what would be my first choice would be. Just like a Porche would be my first choice in sports car. :)

Back to reality.... Is a 12" necessary if you do go for the sliding model 10"...?

I could see myself extending buget a little, but the full blown 12" with all the options is just not going to happen.

Thanks for the feedback guys

A 12" is really only necessary if you want to cut a lot of BIG stuff (2x10s, 2x12s, etc.)

There is a rather decent price difference between the 2 sizes.

Go with the Makita 10", then. You won't be sorry!

I guess you need to decide if you want a sliding miter saw or not. My recommendation for a 12" model was for a stationary chop saw (compound miter saw). I would not recommend a 10" chop saw, since it is not able to cut 6" lumber on a bias.

If you are contemplating a sliding saw, then I'll have to defer on the size question.

Sliding dual compound is what would be my first choice would be. Just like a Porche would be my first choice in sports car.

Back to reality.... Is a 12" necessary if you do go for the sliding model 10"...?

A good sliding compound miter saw is a joy to use and is certainly as versatile as anything that can be carried in the back of a truck. In my experience, however, an "inexpensive" slider is a royal pain in the neck and, quite honestly, a waste of a fairly large amount of money. (I owned one that fell into the "inexpensive" category, so I'm a little sensitive about this subject.) A miter saw absolutely, positively must be capable of making accurate and repeatable cuts. An inexpensive slider won't do this. Adjust the thing to cut a perfect 90-degrees. Change the setting to make a miter, and then move it back to your 90-degree setting. You will find that the same setting no longer produces an accurate 90-degree cut. If you're building a deck, you can probably live with 89.5-degrees. If you're trimming a room or installing crown molding, you have to know that 90-degrees is really 90-degrees.

If you can afford to pop for a good slider from Bosch or Makita, go for it. You'll be thrilled with your purchase. If you need to make a budget-sensitive decision, I strongly recommend a 12" dual compound saw (not a slider).

OK, I'll step off of my soap box now ...

I guess you need to decide if you want a sliding miter saw or not. My recommendation for a 12" model was for a stationary chop saw (compound miter saw). I would not recommend a 10" chop saw, since it is not able to cut 6" lumber on a bias.

If you are contemplating a sliding saw, then I'll have to defer on the size question.

I'm thinking that I'll need the ability to cut 6" lumber in the short term. Possibly 8" or larger down the road when I get into a new place. Although, I can't see myself needing precision angled cuts on such large lumber.

So I think I'll put my focus in the direction of a 10" slider. I'm a huge fan of being able to check my cutting angle compared to my drawn lines with the sliding action. That saved my arse with the fence I just finished.

An inexpensive slider won't do this. Adjust the thing to cut a perfect 90-degrees. Change the setting to make a miter, and then move it back to your 90-degree setting. You will find that the same setting no longer produces an accurate 90-degree cut.

If you can afford to pop for a good slider from Bosch or Makita, go for it. You'll be thrilled with your purchase. If you need to make a budget-sensitive decision, I strongly recommend a 12" dual compound saw (not a slider)...

Ok, just so I'm clear... You're saying that the sliding motion is flimsy and inaccurate with cheaper saws...? I thought it was the accuracy of the deck that I needed to be concerned about...

He means that a quality 12" dual sliding compound miter saw is a LOT more expensive than the equivalent non-slider.

I would say just go for the 12" compound miter - you'll love it.

craigs list for your area is a good place to look first

Ok, just so I'm clear... You're saying that the sliding motion is flimsy and inaccurate with cheaper saws...? I thought it was the accuracy of the deck that I needed to be concerned about...

Well, the inaccuracy builds up from several sources, but I think you've gotten the basic point I was trying to convey. The slide mechanism has a little slop in it. The bars on which the head slides flex a little. The pivot point that allows the blade to plunge into the wood has a little slop in it. The detents that are supposed to lock the table at common settings (90-degrees, 45-degrees, etc.) have a little slop, and/or can be easily thrown out of adjustment by the long lever of the slide bars. etc., etc., etc.

A sliding saw is a relatively complex machine. For it to be able to deliver accurate, repeatable cuts, a lot of parts have to be well designed and well made. The sheer number of precision parts makes the saws expensive to produce. A compound miter saw that doesn't slide needs fewer precision parts, which makes it possible to find a good, accurate non-sliding saw at a lower price point. A slider that occupies the same price point almost certainly has compromised on the quality of the parts.

I have personal experience with this, having bought -- and sold -- an "inexpensive" 10" slider from a major manufacturer. Until I'm ready to drop a wad of cash on a Bosch or Makita slider, I will stick with my 12" dual-compound miter saw.

Ultimate miter saw... $1,300.
http://www.mcfeelys.com/product/561287/Festool-Kapex-KS-120-Sliding-Compound-Miter-Saw

Next best thing... $615-675.
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=122915-70-DW718&lpage=none

And for the budget-minded... $199
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=157783-67702-C12FDH&lpage=none

or... $139 ($30 more with laser)
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=116704-67702-C10FCE2&lpage=none

I use a 10" craftsman sliding compund saw. It's my second one. If I had to get another one I would probably look at the Rigid or Dewalt.

The new flyer for Home Depot (Canada) came out this morning online. They're having some instant rebate deals on tools (depending on how much you spend). May be a good time to have a serious look at what you need.

I have a standard Makita 12" non sliding, compound mitre saw that I got at HD last year. I think it's the LS1221 model. Came with one of their random orbital sanders in the box for like $299 (Canadian). It was one of those end of the isle promotional deals. Works well for me I guess.

In response to the last saw in jimlab’s post – I’d definitely spend the $30 for a laster. I used an old(er) 15-inch Hitachi miter saw for my project and it worked great. It’s neither a compound saw ot a slider, and I didn’t feel the need for either feature. (I have a radial arm saw for slding needs.)

But I do get jealous when I see the lasers on the new units. Lining up your cuts precisely wien the lighting isn’t perfect takes some effort.

I bought a reconditioned RIDGID from Home Depot and it works great. They have several models -

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?keyword=ridgid+miter+saw&langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

The laser is worthless on mine. It doesn't turn on unless the blade is spinning. What am I going to do, start the blade and then line up my cut while the blade is spinning two inches from my hand?

I would also suggest you look at good used sliding compound mitre. I don't know how likely you are to find it at that price, but depends on your area, craigslist, etc. I have a regular single bevel 12" Dewalt. I use it often, but I often find myself putting things off because I don't have the cutting capacity that a sliding offers. I also hate spinning the piece around (which is what the double-bevel would offer).

I bought a reconditioned RIDGID from Home Depot and it works great. They have several models -

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?keyword=ridgid+miter+saw&langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053


I'm up in Canada and couldn't find any such comparible link on the Cdn site. Too bad... :mad: I wouldn't have any issue buying reconditioned :o

I'm up in Canada and couldn't find any such comparible link on the Cdn site. Too bad... :mad: I wouldn't have any issue buying reconditioned :o


Smoking,

Where in Ontario are u? I live near Waterloo, ON, and drove to Buffalo to the Home Depot there last fall to buy my Makita Saw. That was when the loonie was about $0.95US. I saved $200 over the Cdn HD price.

Before that saw, I had a cheap Mastercraft (cdn tire) brand 8.25" miter saw. It was fine for 2x4 lumber, but not much else.

Check out Craigslist / Kijiji for used deals.

I love my Ridgid dual compound saw from HD. The lifetime warranty does not hurt either. I also snagged the Ridgid table saw while my wife was not looking and love it also. Get yourself a nice big shop vac with some hoses and you can create a nice dustless workshop for a reasonable price.

Smoking,

Where in Ontario are u?

Check out Craigslist / Kijiji for used deals.

I'm about 45mins North of Toronto. The way gas is now a days, I'd be better off paying the extra $$$ and buying local...lol :p

Been surfing Graigslist / Kijiji, and Ebay for some time. Hoping to find something eventually.

I just came back from HD... I think I've narrowed it down to either a ridgid 12" dual compound ($299), or a the 10" dual slider model ($398). Difference being the ability to cut 8" to 12" boards respectively. Now whether or not I'll ever need to cut a 12" board is something I can't forsee. But man I'd be pissed if I couldn't do when I wanted to... :rolleyes:

I would also stay away from Hitachi.

Why?

Keep in mind that you can put in a change of address request at the post office and receive a packet of coupons that usually contains a Lowe's 10% off (total purchase) coupon, or you can register on Lowe's site if you haven't already received one.

That's how I got 10% off my DeWalt 12" compound sliding miter saw and DeWalt cordless brad nailer. :)