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Video Roundup: Testing 12-in Sliding Compound-Miter Saws

A carpenter reviews six of these big chopsaws and reveals the positive and negative attributes of each

by Kit Camp

A 12-in. sliding compound miter saw is among the most versatile—and perhaps most expensive—power tool you'll keep in your shop or haul to a jobsite. In this series of video tool reviews, carpenter Kit Camp tests the newest models from Dewalt, Bosch, Makita, Hitachi, Ridgid, and Craftsman, and gives it to you straight: Some features are well-worth the money, while a few fall short of their promise.

Click on the manufacturer name to watch a video review of each saw:

Manufacturer	Model	Video Length
DeWalt	DW718	1:31
Bosch	5412L	1:44
Makita	LS1214FL	1:54
Hitachi	C12LSH	1:58
Ridgid	MS1290LZA	1:16
Craftsman	21206	1:46

Picking a "Best Overall" wasn't an easy task. To find out which of the saws came out on top, read Testing 12-in. Sliding Compound-Miter Saws from Fine Homebuilding issue #194 (April/May 2008), pp. 70-75.

Photo by: Justin Fink

From Fine Homebuilding194 March 5, 2008

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Product Finder: Related Products

(1 user review) Ridgid - MS1290LZA 12-in. Sliding Compound-Miter Saw
The Ridgid's fit and finish are second to none, and it’s a solid performer in nearly every area

Festool - Kapex KS 120 10-in. Sliding Compound-Miter Saw
Engineered to be lightweight and compact the Festool Kapex KS 120 sliding compound miter saw has fixed rails and a sliding head that makes precise cuts and accurate bevels making it a good saw in the workshop or jobsite

Craftsman - 21206 12-in. Sliding Compound-Miter Saw
The Craftsman is relatively quiet and powerful, and it has a large, easily readable miter scale

(1 user review) DeWalt - DW718 12-in. Sliding Compound-Miter Saw
This saw is lightweight, compact, and an excellent choice for those who install a lot of tall baseboard and large crown molding

Hitachi - C12LSH 12-in. Sliding Compound-Miter Saw
Hitachi’s saw is huge and has some distinctive features to go along with its futuristic look; the most notable feature is the digital readout for the miter and bevel scales, which might point to the future of these tools