I know it has been beaten to almost death but in comparing the major brand new versions to the last models it seems like the 5400 series Bosch and DeWalt 71x series offer the choice of using them like a standard cms “chop” mode as well as slider. Am I reading this wrong? This looks like a plus to me.
Am considering adding a slider to the DW 705 and Hitachi 10″. Have opportunity for a 10′ Bosch 4410 for $338, Makita 12″ slider for $300, Bosch 5412L for $580. Both new. Really think the Bosch beats the older Makita.
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Don't all sliders allow you to lock the rails resulting in basic CMS utility?
JT
That's what I was asking. I looked at a DW708 and and it looks like the bottom of the blade just goes below the plate and would hit the table if lowered any more and pulled away from the fence. The 718 when pushed back toward the fence will drop down just like my 705. The rails are much shorter because the blade goes below the table if I am understanding it right.
Bosch manuals talk to using them in the "chop mode".
Not sure, but my older Bosch 10" slider (3915?), you can lock the rails at any given point and use it just like a non-slider.One thing it does do that not all do is it has an adjustment to stop the blade at a certain depth of cut - allowing you to do dados and otherwise for rough lap-joints on in the field.JT
Thanks, most I have looked at have an adjustment to do dadoes/half laps. The question is how much below the table the blade can go. Depending on the fence you could do much larger stock the deeper it goes. I have been wanting the slider but have not been able to justify it.
Funny thing is, most folks have a basic and lust after the slider. I started with my Bosch 10" slider and lusted after something lighter weight.I ended up buying the Bosch 12 volt cordless CMS. It rocks, weighs 25 lbs, and will handle just about anything you need to do with it. I've done entire basement remodels with it. I wouldn't use it for deck building or 4x4 trimming - but for trim, studs it's great.If you are looking at a slider - HD has the previous Dewalt 12" #708 for $384, down from what used to be $549-599. Even though the new one looks cool, for the price diff, the old one is quite the value.Jt
Checked the three local (35 mi radius) Saturday and all gone, both Lowes also. Heavy duty tools did not get any, had 12 or so 705S on hand. Mark said the DW sales guy was by yesterday and tried to sell him a bunch. He is my source for very good price on 4410 non laser or Makita 12" non laser. Tool King has the 5410l for about 575 delivered.
The difference in the Bosch 10 vs 12 is being able to cut a 2x on a 45 at 45. The 12 does 1 5/8 and the 10 only does 1 1/4. Both will cut 4x4 at 0 bev.
Don't overlook the free 12 volt Bosch impact at HDtools as well.Because I already have the older Bosch slider, I haven't looked much in detail at any of the models these last few years. If I could get the older Dewalt 12" slider for $300 or less, I'd do it and sell my Bosch, but barring that, I'm ok for a little while...JT
I am pretty sure his combo on the 4410 and impact are gone. I think the saw he was going to sell me was one that was split from the combo (I probably bought the impact).
For those who like the DW705 ( and I do not know many who do not) they have the DW705S ( not sure what the difference is on the S) for $179. You have to put it in your cart and put in discount code DW705s to get the $100 off his standard price. He had a good pile of them yesterday.
http://www.heavydutytools.net/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=444
My two cents worth is you don't need a 12" slider if you have a 10" slider. The extra width capacity gained is so small it's not worth it. Either a 10" slider or a 12" compound will meet most needs. 12" slider is just more weight, not to mention more expensive blades with fewer choices.
It's not very likely you'd get a situation where a 12" slider could make a cut that a 10" wouldn't. For those occasional times it makes better sense to use a radial arm saw, table saw, or just set a straight edge and cut with circ saw. Or rent a big slider if one job requires lots of such cuts.
Hang onto the cash, or if you really must spend it, I can send details of the "Send a Carpenter to Mexico in January Dream Foundation".
My two saws are not sliders, just cms. Unless I was running several crews I would not get both 10 and 12 inch sliders. Agree that there is not a large difference in capacity. The weight dif can be significant if taking it to jobsite. Guess I need to layout all the pros and cons. So far the Bosch looks best, lots of great features. I have a radial arm at home but hardly ever use it.
i use a 12 scms everyday on kitchen cabinet installations, which in some cases involve some custom work onsite as well as solid maple, cherry or oak prefinished crown(the big stuff)
i chose the dewalt 2 years ago, and have never regretted it
the dado feature is handy once in a while but the depth adjustment is a little tricky
the slider can be locked at any position, which is handy when cutting crownsitting on a homemade jig to hold it
the fence hieght is really good, my other scms, a 10 makita, has very low fences
Thanks!
I have a little slider experience, 4 of 'em from 7 1/2" to 12". All of them are good for something, but only the 12" DeWalt is good for everything. It even cuts crown crown standing up.IMO, and experience, SCMSs are one case where bigger is better. I don't want to be standing in front of the cut bench, looking at a piece of 8/4 hard maple that needs a smoothly cut, unburnt, compound vee notch in the end, and wishing I had a bigger more powerful saw.The new DeWalts feel sweet, but they've lost the great little 1/4° and 1/2° pointer, what's up with that? What in the gosh darn golly have you done to Rez?
I purchased the new DW718 a few weeks ago and have build shelves, cut crown, chopped a 45 degree bevel on a 3" x 12" mantle top, cut a mess of oak for misc. builtins, and a few other things. After two weeks it seems like a good saw for larger stuff, but not a good choice for the one saw carpenter.
It was the only saw of 4 sliders on site that would cut the mantle, but only after removing the dust collector POS. The 16" cross cut capacity is only if you install a 1-1/2" auxillary bed and remove the top of the fence so a board can be indexed on a small secondary fence.
The dust collector is so small as to be almost useless and since it had to be removed to cut a large board it's hard to see any difference. The dust is still blown back in your face more than any saw I've ever used. I'm about to make a semi flexible dust deflector to at least encourage more of the dust to drop down.
Other than that it's about like the older DW708 with a bigger bite.
Good cutting,
Don
Hey Steve, I'm seriously thinking of getting one of those Dewalt scms next month. Whta's the model number of yours that you bought two years back?
Paul
mines a dw708, but i think there's a newer model out now
but to be fair, they are all good, we also use a couple of makita 1013's, pc's both 10 inch and a dewalt 12 nonslider
my 708 is just my favourite, especially on the hitachi stand we bought for it