anyone have a miter saw with a laser ?? if so which one ? i am considering the hitachi 10″ any comments would be appreciated
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I have one and love it. I've used it everything from decks to crown to laminate flooring. The laser works good accept in bright sun. Go for it. If you don't like there's always ebay.
I have the 10 inch Hitachi slider with the laser -- love it! The laser is pretty accurate, but it depends what you're cutting. The best thing is that it reminds you when your fingers are in the cut line. The Hitachi has a belt drive that is very smooth.
Billy
I've got a laser on my 12" compound miter saw and I love it. Before I bought it, I thought it was a bit gimmicky, but I figured I didn't have to use it if I didn't like it. Anyway, I use it all of the time.
To do it again, I would look for 2 additional features (in this order): 1) there should be a way to turn the laser on without turning the saw on so a piece can be positioned before cutting and 2) a laser on both sides of the cut would be nice for those rare occasions when the scrap is to the left of the blade.
-Don
Hi Don,
You can turn on the laser in the Hitachi without pulling the trigger... but you need to remember to turn it off!
Two lasers would be nice.
Billy
Two lasers would be nice, but I love my 10" Hitachi anyway. I've adjusted my cutting technique so first, rough cut is from the right, slide the material to the left, and the important cut is made with the laser. Any length stops go on the left fence.
The laser is not that important for square cuts, but is great for angles. .6 degrees or 19.3 degrees, or any scribed angles. No trial-and-error, just swing the saw to your pencil line and cut. That alone must save me dozens of 10-second steps alone. 2 minutes a day, in a month you've paid the cost of the laser. If you don't like it, turn it off.
Plus, any laser toys make you look like a real pro to the homeowner.
Im with Mike, I love my Hitachi 10, I use the laser all the time. I wish it had 2 Im spoiled now I guess, I used to work with none.
For the deflection, I just zero the laser and its understood that I will set my material based on the laser mark close to the fence, not the mark way out- I havent seen much difference, but I do this just to play it safe... some say the mark is of like a 64th at 12 inches or something. -but a slider isnt for furniture.
Oh and be careful, I have a habit of sticking my head way down to check the mark, and Ive gotten hit in the eye from crouching, it feels like looking at a welding arc.
-zen
I wouldn't spend extra to get a laser but they are harmless. Got one on mitre saw but it catches sawdust and is hard to see as a result. Handy on angle cuts as mentioned already.
Wally
I've got a Ridgid with the laser and I think the only thing it is good for is holding the blade on. It shines about a sixteenth from where the actual cut is going to be and when you are set up outside, you wouldn't even know it's there. But the saw was reasonably priced and does ok in the basics. I think the twin lasers might be ok, except being able to use that feature outside.
I have the original PC LaserLoc saw, and love it. Too bad it doesn't do compound cuts but it's a great saw. Was just ahead of it's time I guess...
GIMMICK
Mr T
I can't afford to be affordable anymore
DITTO
What the HECK was I thinking?
Edited 1/28/2005 4:21 pm ET by Heck
I looked at the Ryobi when it was introduced at the NAHB show, and it struck me that it couldn't truly be accurate. After looking closely I approached the sales dude, made my case and his eyes got big with that "I never thought of that" look.So, "Gimmick" indeed on the Ryobi. But....it's a Ryobi, so thats par for the course, I guess.Now I haven't seen the others, but it IS possible to have a laser set up that would be very accurate and very useful. I would put the laser switch on the trigger, but have it as a light momentary switch that would come on well before the trigger was pulled enuf to start the blade.Jake Gulick
[email protected]
CarriageHouse Design
Black Rock, CT
Every carpenter who has used my saw with the laser says "I thought it was a gimmick. Now I see how that could be handy."
So I guess you guys haven't had the pleasure of using one yet?
I have the same one Mike has, and everyone bows and some start to cry when they see my slider.
but I guess you guys havent used one yet.
Mike, when my eyeball, my instinct, and 30 years of hands on start to fail me, maybe I'll need a laser crutch to saw by.
But not 'till then!
What the HECK was I thinking?
I got a 12" Makita chopsaw off a guy last year for a hundred bucks.
He just had to have that laser thing.
I guess there is something good about 'em.Men come of age at sixty,
Women at fifteen.
James Stephens
While the Hitachi is a very good saw I would not pay for a laser. The two saws I have that came with a laser I have removed them. They are useless out side. If a saw had 2 lasers and could be turned on with out starting the blade they would be great for the first cut. When I am trimming a lot of my cuts are paper thin. How wide is that line?
The laser is about as wide as a ball point pen. The line can be zeroed anywhere you want it like 'windage' If I am trimming 64ths I know where the blade will land in relation to the laser because I zeroed it myself. You can use the laser for either side of the kerf, but it would be nice to have two so that you could line up with each side of the kerf.
It would depend on the owner as to where in the laser line that the cut would land, but at that point you are really splitting hairs. (which I do all the time)
Oh and the Hitachi, you dont have to take the laser off, it is an independent switch.
-zen
I have not used the newer Hitachi only seen it on the shelf. The other 3 saws I have used with laser's have not been adjustable ( the ridged is a good example) , and the line is wider than the blade. You and I are in agreement about twin laser's. One on each side would be nice. Once you reverse the cut the laser is out of position. I believe that in the next few years we will see a better laser system on those commercial saw's . Not just a promotional selling point four more features.
I have the Hitachi with the laser and I like it. When I bought it I thought the laser would be a gimmick that I wouldn't use, but it turns out to be pretty damn useful. And I often hold stock with my fingers (I know i shouldn't do it) and it is good to know exactly where is the cut line. Still got all 10 fingers.
Billy
Its coming pretty rapidly now, Delta made a laser saw like 10 years ago, I remember seeing Norm show and he always had the latest stuff. The laser saw didnt take on the market at that time. Now since they have, just this year Delta came back with a duel laser saw, and I think that will be the way the market goes.
I bought my Hitachi based on a ton of reviews, and weighing what specs I really needed out of the top saws, the laser was just an extra, so for the extra $60 bucks I just bought it. It was still almost 100 cheaper than the Bosch, and now the word is that the Bosch has a lot of problems.
-zen
"saw with a laser ?? if so which one ? i am considering"
Why?
what's so hard about actually touching the blade to the lumber first?
no lazer can be so accurate as actually kissing the stock with the blade .....
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA
Another non-believer? Jeff, come over to the dark side! Where lasers are your friend!
The laser line is a bit fat when you want to make furniture-grade trim cuts, and it is kind of useless outside on sunny days. For square cuts the laser is not that helpful.
BUT, you know when you have to scribe the end of a shelf to the wall at maybe 1 degree, maybe 1/2 a degree? Or when you bisect an angle on a stair skirt or handrail at some weird angle? Or any of the other million times you have to make a cut that's not square and not a 45? That's where the laser SAVES TIME.
Yeah, anyone who calls themselves a carpenter can get the saw close to the line, make a trial cut a quarter inch off the line, loosen the miter arm and tap to the left, make a trial cut, oops too much, back to the right. OR you can set your laser right on that weird angle line you marked on the board and you're good to go. Slow or fast. Your choice.
I own alot of miter saws and not one has a lazer .After reading your comments i am thinking of rigging all my saws with lazers.they sound like the would pay for themselvesin no time with all the scribing and bisecting i seem to do.Could see how a slider would benifit from the installation of a laser THANX for the info
Cam, glad to help, but I don't have any experience with the add-on lasers. From what I've heard they may not be as accurate as the built-in one on the Hitachi. But hey, go for it and let us know how it works out! Maybe I'll install lasers on my stone--age saws too.
well i was lucky enough to get the new dewalt 8 1/4 sliding coumpound a year before it was released and it did not come with a laser. but still love my ls 1011
>>> no lazer can be so accurate as actually kissing the stock with the blade .....
AMEN. Same technique all the time, right, left, inside, outside, no swicth to turn on or off, no calibration or recalibration. KISS :-)
Lasers ARE gimmicks.
But these amateurs will never understand!!
the only/best way to see where the blade is going is to bring it to the stock.
Doesn't take any more time and is 100% accurate.
but bright red lights will always mesmerize the savages!
OOOOOOOOOOOO!
look a red line!
Mr T
I can't afford to be affordable anymore
Now, L.E.D.'s, I LIKE L.E.D.'s!Men come of age at sixty,
Women at fifteen.
James Stephens
He he, you guys remind me of an old-time carpenter I used to know. Used to talk about how they don't build things like they used to, and now guys have these fancy Japanese saws that do all the work for you. He used to cut everything with a hand saw, before skilsaws even.
Then my buddy and I show up with my compound miter saw and proceed to build him a new set of front steps in a couple of hours. Didn't hear much about the "fancy Japanese saws" after that.
There will always be early adopters of new technology, and those who insist the old way is the only way. I decided to take a chance on the laser, simple little $100 experiment, figuring I could always turn it off if I didn't like it. Turns out I like it.
Have any of you guys poo-pooing the laser actually tried one? Like, used it for a while? I didn't think so!
Happy stone age sawing,
Mike
I'VE USED HITACHI SLIDE MITER SAWS FOR YEARS. THE HITACHI C10FSH W/LASER IS BY FAR THE BEST. THE LASER CAN BE ADJUSTED VERY EASILY FOR LEFT OR RIGHT SIDE OF BLADE AND IS DEADS BALLS. ALSO, YOU CAN USE YOUR TAPE ALONG BOARD &ALIGN W LASER &CUT,NO NEED FOR TICK MARKS.