I am considering the purchase of a 12″ dual compound miter to replace my old Ryobi 10″ workhorse. Most of my jobs are interior finish work and it is only on rare occasion that I need the cutting capacity of a 12″ saw, although at times the extra 2″ would come in handy. (Maybe it’s just the tool junkie in me needing bigger, better and more!) I have read a couple of on line reviews that have commented on the fact that a thin kerfed 12″ blade will flex more than a 10″ and it is therefore more difficult to get a perfectly square cut when cutting miters or compound angles. Considering that 90-95% of my work can be accomplished with a 10″ saw am I asking for problems going with the 12″? Maybe a nice 10″ slider might be a better option. Comments? Opinions?
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I think the flex you mention is not as bad as you may think..any saw blade will have a tendency to skew out of plane if you are cutting with less than the full width of the designed kerf. I have the Bosch 12" and it is new to me..(first 12" saw) and have had no noticealbe blade flex...if ya tend to slam through a cut rather than let it cut as designed well, that's another story.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
I would go for the 10" slider. a 10" slider can cut 4x12 in one pass. Not too often that an interior trim piece would come in that size!
check the archives for threads about which is the best 10" slider, you'll find a lot. personally, I like my Makita LS 1013.
12s do good work , their just heavy.
Tim Mooney
Go try out a Dewalt 706 - pretty good saw.
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
I have a 10in compound saw that I dont use anymore, a 12in compound dewalt, and a 12 dual compound slider and both 12s are great but you dont sound like you need the weight of the 12in slider . if I were in the market for a new saw and didnt need the size, DeWALT and Bosch both make a 10in slider now . the DeWalt seems like a good saw but the Bosch has a few features like all the controls up front that the DeWALT doesn't . id probibly get that one , but thats just me.
dogboy
The dual bevel Dewalt has worked out great for us. It also allows cutting tall base standing up which saves a lot of time. It works well for everything we do when trimming houses and the crown clamps are nice when doing a house full of crown. We have had one since it came out, use it everyday and it still works great. We now have three and they are the preferred saw.
We become by effort primarily what we end up becoming
- Zig Ziglar
I have had the Dewalt 12" single compound since they first hit the market 7-8? years ago, and have never looked back. It has been over the river and through the woods with me and looks like hell now but it still cuts honest and true. You have to tune & tweek them like any other tool. I'm about to upgrade and get the Dewalt 12" slider, but I will never give up my first one. Yes, buy the saw.
just wanted to mention as i think its interisting and am wondering if anyone still has one and are they still working? My friend Robert has an older black and decker 12in miter saw , the exact saw as the DeWALT 12 single compound miter saw only its black and gray. I guess it was just before DeWALT started to make all there tools yellow and put DeWALT name on them . he also has a B&D Sawcat 8 1/4 circ saw thats the same as the yellow one with the brake. and they are still nice tools and work great and hes used them for years. anyone still have these tools ?
Dogboy
I had a 71/2" Sawcat for about 20 years and it was the best circ saw I ever owned. I have the PC and a DW, both good saws but I miss the old Cat.
The boatshop where I apprenticed had three of the Black and Decker (DW) 705's.
Great saws and they made tens of thousands of cuts.
Technique is proof of your seriousness. - Wallace Stevens
I have the Hitachi 10" slider and like it. It is light enough to carry around with out a rolling stand or set up on scaffolding. It is accurate and quiet (soft start). It even has a lazer beam that I don't use. Try picking up some of those 12" saws.
Harpo