Upgrading mitre saw, need advice/help!
Hello, Newbie here. I am looking for a new mitre saw. I’m upgrading from a 10″ Hitachi single mitre. I’m getting ready to install 4 5/8″ crown and 5 1/4 baseboards throughout my home. I bought a DeWalt mitre stand a while back. It holds my current saw. Ok, here goes. I bought a Hitachi 12″ dual bevel with laser at Lowes. After using it for about 4 days, the bevel markings started to peel off. They are made out of a foil type material with adhesive on the back. The red pointer was too low set from the factory and peeled them before I noticed it. Found the display saw at Lowe’s later was also like this. After saw dust got behind them they wouldn’t lay back down. Returned to Lowe’s and purchased the DeWalt DW716 dual bevel compound saw. After three cuts it quit. Checked the C.B. and checked the voltage at the outlet. All good. Had to take this one back to Lowe’s. Purchased a Bosch 4212L dual bevel 12″ with laser from Amazon.com, very nice saw. Removed it from the box and it was broken at the locking pin for the head assembly. Can’t transport it without the head coming up. I really liked that Bosch and may try to reorder but this time thru Lowe’s but it’s about a week wait. That’s OK but I’m wondering if the big box stores are getting the lower quality saws. Would it be better to purchase the saw straight from an authorized dealer? Each saw has had it’s own merits and I hate to condemn them just because of a one time problem, howver, i seems the quality for all is not there. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I hope to have this saw for a long time. I’m an average home owner that will probably being doing the occasional crown and base boards for the rest of the family. I don’t think I’ll be doing furniture or anything like this but who knows. Thanks in advance for everyone’s advice. Keith
Edited 7/19/2008 5:36 pm ET by hotdog2020
Replies
All I can say is I have had okay luck with buying from the box stores. I have also had good luck with amazon.
If you have an authorized service center near you, all of the saws you had could probably be repaired at no cost as they would be under warranty.
I have returned stuff to the boxes because they were defective and bought the same thing only to have to return the second one. I think the quality control is definitely poorer now days. I think the big name manufacturers make good stuff but it seems easier to get one from a whole production run that was bad.
Beware mini rant coming.
In my opinnion the quality control seems to be a low priority because the tool maker(s) are all preoccupied with buying each other out combining lines of tools, shipping all the manufacturing overseas and cutting costs, and killing our country.
Okay it's over
I would have returned that Hitachi 12" any way, It seems way too big. :^)
The dewalts seem to have a nice blend of size and functionality. I don't have a slider just a 12" single bevel Dewalt.
I definitely Try to check out the box on the big ticket items like that and make sure I can see no dents or tears from the outside. My advice buy what you like and if it's broke take it back till you get a good one.
Webby
I assume that you had the Hitachi C12FDH.
I never had that problem with mine. But the laser would not adjust far enough to get to either side of the cut.
Returned it to Lowes and the same thing. Probably made both made about the same time. But really no problem I need to cut on both side and foudn that the laser was only a "suggestion" as to where to start.
Anyway a few months latter a large commercial/industrial tool supply house had their dog and pony show/open house. Talked to the factory rep to see if there was some generic problem with the laser. He said no, but it was still in warantee and to bring it in.
Never did as I did nto think that it was worth it.
I glad that you got all of the bad luck so that the rest of us can have some good luck <G>.
But I don't see that where you got it would have anything to do with these problems. Unless you suspect a problem and ask them to check it all are going to come in a sealed box.
As the other person said a service center could have fixed those problems.
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Thanks everyone for the helpful advice. I've been looking online again and I think I'm going for the Makita LS1013FL down at HD. From the customer revues at Amazon.com. Sounds like the blade that comes with this unit is exeptional. Also, maybe a smaller 10" slider would be the ticket for me. Some people recieved a real good deal at $375 but now it's $499 like overnight the price increased. Makita must have caught on that they have a great unit. A few customers stated it's the only saw assembled in the USA. Don't know this for sure. I'm heading out the door. I keep you posted. Thanks again.!
The Home Depots around here this week marked down the Makitas from $499 to $399. I like mine.TFB (Bill)
yeah, and on the side of the box it had a $50 rebate sticker so that's 349.00 total. What a deal!
Sweet.TFB (Bill)
Try hitting enter about every five lines or so, makes it much easier to read. Do not worry about the paragraphing your English teacher tried to teach you (;-). Welcome to BT.
You really know how to pick-em. I have the 718 and no problems.
These guys are friends and my local supplier. $499 delivered.
http://tinyurl.com/6nvepf
Edited 7/19/2008 9:18 pm ET by rasconc
Thanks rasconc for the helpful link. Yeah, sometimes I get long winded. I think I'll take you up on that link. I just got back from HD thinking the Makita 1013FL would be perfect after reading all of the reviews. Oh, when I got there, they have it on sale with $100 off with a $50 rebate. $399.00 right now Saturday night. I probably should have bought it and tried to sell the cut n crown on ebay. Problem is with using the Cut N Crown jig, it won't fit under the blade arm. Maybe when I get that Gary Katz video I'll learn how to really cut crown the correct way. I know I really don't need the jig but for now I'm really use to it and it does seem to make things easier for me. I really thought about moving up to the Bosch 12" slider but I think it's probably overkill for someone like me. But then again you never know. It's good to know that you have the DeWalt 12" slider and like it. Thanks, Keith
You do need to put in the discount code to see the $499 price. Not sure how many he's got in stock. They are a small family business that I have been pimping here (:-). Everyone else here who has used them seem happy too.
Edited 7/19/2008 10:25 pm ET by rasconc
I'm really happy with the makita 10" It came dialed in pretty darn good right out of the box, and it's by far the quietest saw I've ever seen. The blade that comes with the saw is better that the chopmaster in my opinion.
I have own a Dewalt DW716 for a wile. The last 6 months it keeps coming out of square. Have had it to a repair station 3 times. Replaced bearings twice and some Aluminum Castings that they said were bent. Prior to this had good results and I take care of the saw. Someone lent me his new Ridgid saw and was kind of of impressed. Seems rugged. The Bosch even though I haven't tried it looks good also.