Appeal for help…
So, I’ve read the most recent threads about Mitre saws and am still not sure what to get to replace the Makita LS 1011 that got boosted from my truck a few weeks ago.
You can spit on me and call me names, but I’m gonna buy one from Home Depot this week becasue they’ve got that no payments, no interest till June 04 promo going on, and I’m so far in the hole right now that I can’t come up with the scratch, and my Mastercard is about to collapse with all the weight on it.
I’ve been using my buddy’s LS 1013 pretty heavily and I like it except for two things.
The biggest problem is the fence is too low, especially on the right hand side. I wouldn’t have been so aware of that except that I started using his 12 non-slidng Makita (I forget the model number) which has a nice htall fence, but doesn’t slide. The other minor thing about the 1013 is that it gets gritty feeling if you don’t keep it really clean.
But I love the soft start.
I’ve been thinking about the Dewalt 12″ slider, but wanted to get some really hard and critcal thoughts about it before I bought one untested. I think the fence is great, just from looking at it in the store, but the table feels a little tight. Cna you make near-detente adjustments OK? And how is the motor? The start-up? The noise? The weight? How does it hold up over time?
I know nothing about the Bosches and have seen some kind words about them here. Any heavy users of Bosch sliders out there? What can you tell me?
I’ve got till Saturday to buy.
Thanks in advance,
Steve
Replies
hey steve, i have the dw 12 inch non slider compound, and a buddy of mine has the same saw 5 years older, and we agree its a great saw, he and i are both fuyssy trim guys
Steve,
I have the dewalt 12" SCMS, have had it for about 4 years. Good choice for the saw that can do everything. I just bought the Dewalt 10" CMS because of weight and size. It's capacity will take care of most of my needs. No need to haul the big boy around all the time.
I like the fence system. I have never had any problems with Dewalt switches. Maybe I'm lucky, or maybe I don't use my tools like a pro... I think you can adjust the table's swing resistance with a nut, but not for sure. My 12" has never bothered me, but my 10" swings like butter, so now that I'm getting used to that saw, I might be looking more closely at my 12". Near detent adjustments are not a big problem. The weight and size of the saw both require consideration, but then again most SCMS's are big and heavy. The noise is not objectionable, but mine is louder than the LS1013 that I have used. The belt drive seems to give a quasi soft start. I notice a big difference when using the 12" Dewalt fixed head saw of my 10". I guess there's enough slop in the belt that it doesn't jolt as much.
Overall I like the saw. It's big and heavy, but if you need the capacity I would recommend it.
Jon Blakemore
Thanks for your thoughts jon,
I was thinking just the opposite of what you got would be the ideal two-saw set-up: 12" CMS for big crowns and such, plus 10" scms for wide flat stock. That's what my buddy has and sets both of them (Makitas) up at the same time on the same trojan saw stand.
I don't like that Trojan saw stand. He sold me his old-stlye dewalt saw stand for 50 bucks. But now I've seen the new dewalt stand and I want it bad...but not 200 clams bad.
Steve
Steve: I've had my DW slider for about 4 years, give or take a few months. I've used it from framing to finish. It was dead on out of the box. Table adjustment remains smooth and easy even when it covered with sawdust. Near detent adjustment work great. I can dial in 1/4 degree no problem. Tall fence is nice. I'd agree with Jon's post on the semi-soft start. It's nowhere as loud or jumpy as my 12" stationary DW, but it's not the quietest saw either. Has not been in the shop for repairs.
On the less than positive side it's heavy and kind of akward to move from job to job. I hate carrying it up steps but then I hate carry anything over 20 pounds up steps. The main thing I do not like is the bevel adjustment for odd angles. Hard to see the scale without strange neck contortions. I'm used to it so it doesn't really bother me that much anymore. Bevel cuts on wide material feel a little soft and wavery (if that's a word) but over time I been able to get used to that and compensate.
Now, I've used DW miter saws about 90% of the time so comparing to other saws I won't do. On the few occasions I used the Makita 10" slider I liked it and had no complaints. Hopefully some Bosch guys will give you some input on the Bosch slider. It looks like a nice saw as well. Hope this helps with your decision.
Rugby
I've got the 12" DW double compound non slider. Really high removable fences, soft start because of the belt drive. Insanely accurate. Best saw I've ever owned or used.
Turtleneck
the only miracles I've ever produced are waiting for me at home
just picked up the Hitachi 10" scms w/lazer and couldn't be more pleased. Had to fiddle w/the lazer guide, but once set, is a boon to precision cutting - especially when cutting angles. I wouldn't stop at a compound miter saw when, for a couple hundred more, you can have it all with a scms.
regards
Dustmonkey,
Oh it's definately conna be an SCMS, dual bevel. I would buy the makita in a heartbeat if the fence was even 1 inch taller. The fence on the right side is really just useless. I wish there was a DeWalt 10" SCMS dualie. I don't really need a twelve inch blade, but I do need a high fence.
And since I can only afford what I can put off paying for for a year, my choices are limited to what I can get at home depot, whech seems to be dewalt and makita and bosch.
Steve
Love that Bosch. Fences move like the DW so they're out of your way for compound cuts. Clamp works like a champ. Preset stops for cutting 38/52 crown on the flat. All the controls up front, no more reaching behind the saw to turn some handle. Belt driven, and quiet. Liked the blade at first. Better quality than what you get on most out of the box, but I trashed it within the first week. Thin kerf blade on a 12" saw. Any little jiggle . . . I caught a piece of trim and launched it across the room and made a good divot in the drywall, which bent a tooth. So I got a Systimatic. Much better.
"The child is grown / The dream is gone / And I have become / Comfortably numb " lyrics by Roger Waters
Hey Steve,
I just bought the new Dewalt 8.5" slider last week, I don't know if they sell it at home despot yet because it was just released. I have no complaints at all except it is only a single bevel (which i knew going in), it starts smooth, it is pretty quiet, the miter and bevel adjustments are spot on and easy to operate. If this saw has the capacity you need I would definitely look into it.
Steve,
Are you able to add on your own fence to the Makita? We always used to do that to the Hitachi sliders that we had. Would usually make them out of whatever flat/straight scrap we had around ( 3/4" birch ply or so).
I have the 12" Dewalt slider. Pretty much have the same thing to say as the others.
PROS:
Cutting capacity (width, miter angle, and bevel angle). Accuracy. Fence. Ability to adjust miter angle by as little as 1/4 degree ( there is an adjustment you can make to make it go out of detent easier).
CONS:
It is a bit hard to read the bevel angle on it. I feel this was a design flaw. Mine starts rough, is loud, and seems to vibrate more than I would like. But it does cut accurate. I was quite worried about the cut accuracy due to the vibration when I first got it but have not had any problems. The Hitachis and Milwaukee all feel much smoother and are quieter.
Id say the biggest problem is the bevel guage. Play with one in the store and see if you would be able to deal with it on the job site.
I teach building construction at a vo-tech school. Have a 12" compound dewalt and the 12" slider in the shop. both get a whole lot of use and a little bit of abuse. Both are holding up pretty well.
My personal saw is a 12" porter cable. Except for the lack of a sliding mechanism, I love it. Much better than my old dewalt compound miter.
Just my opinion and experiences...happy shopping!
Thanks everyone for all the thoughtful input.
Any more Bosch users out there? Can you elaborate a little more on what precisely you like or don't like about the Bosch? What model? All I saw in the HD catalogue were Bosch non-sliders. Do they make a slider? is it a dualie?
You Makita 1013 users, have you found any way to extend the fence that doesn't interfere with the dual bevel settings? If that can be done I would probably tilt towards the Makita just for the size and noise issues.
Steve
Steve: You've probably already checked out the Bosch website, but if not, they have a "360 degree virtual tour" of the 12" slider.
http://www.boschtools.com/homepage.htm
R
Thanks for all the help everyone. I bought the makita. Weight/size was the deciding factor. I spent a half hour in home depot collapsing both of them down and thinking about hauling them up stairs and up scaffolding and up ladders and fitting them in the truck, and decided the extra size was just not worth the extra effort. Now, to track down that fence accessory that deiselpig mentioned...
Steve