10" VS 12" Compound Miter Saw

[Jim Dannels]

My 8 1/4" Craftsman CMS is dying.
Since I have a Ramp & Deck project to do this summer am going to buy a new CMS. The saw would then be in my shop. Wife`s only insistance is that my new saw be laser guided. Am debating between Hitachi & Dewalt saws.
Other than the advantage of having same size blades on my Table & Miter Saw. What advantages would one have over the other?

[Don Baer]

Jim;
I have the DeWalt 10" CMS and love it. It is probubly the most used saw in my shop. There has been 1 instance where I could have used the 12". In that case I used my table saw.

[Jim Becker]

For a CMS, I like the 12" versions due to extra width and depth on crosscutting. For a slider, (SCMS) this is less of an issue and a 10" would serve most folks well.

[Andy London]

For deck building, definetly the 12", really handy in 4 X 4's especially when you miter. I've had the 12" Dewalt since the first came out , I even used it in my picture framing business for the first year, built 10 homes with it including trimming and a couple dozen decks. Other than a recall on the arbor and a couple sets of brushes it still works perfect.

I also have their 10" which I now use for picture framing and their 12" slider which I like for cross cutting.

Andy

[Mike Alagna]

I think it really comes down to what you are going to use it for. If you are going to be doing a lot of trim work and large crown and bases then I woudl say a 12". If you are just doing some basic cuts on smaller size stock then a 10" will probably do. I have a Dewalt 12" and love it but there are plenty of times I wish I had the 12" slider. It really comes down to the use.

[Ken Garlock]

I have had the 10" Mikita SCMS for about 4 years. As a hobbist, I don't put much wear on it; however I have never had a problem cutting any board on it including PT 4X4 in a single cut. :cool:

Also, the blade that comes with the Mikita is a good blade. When it wears out in a couple years, you can replace it with a Forrest. ;)

[Jim Dannels]

My home is 45" above grade, as it was flooded in the 93 flood.
My parents and the wife`s mother are getting into their late 80`s.
So I intend to build 50' of ramp and a 16'X28' deck.
There is 124' of fence to go in but I don`t intend to use the saw much on that, since I`ll go with vinyl fencing for low maintainence.
Once the deck is done the saw will see general shop use. I have no intent to do a lot of crown moulding at this time.

[Per Swenson]

Jim,

I made do with a 10 inch SCMS of one brand or another for years,

using the, " if there is a will there is a way principle."

So when the next opportunity to justify a new saw presented itself,

I purchased a 12. On its first day at the job, that thought ran again

through my pointy head. Why on these little green acres, did I not get one

like this in the first place?



Because I am not clairvoyant and neither is any one else.

The fact is you never know just what job is on the horizon.

Remember the book of "I nevers" is never completed.

This may or may not help in your decision.

Per

[Richard Wolf]

I find myself agreeing with Per most of the time, I guess we think the same. If you can anyway afford it, buy a 12" SLIDE COMPOUND MITER SAW. This type of saw is a work horse for most contractors. Why? Because it can do it all, cut 4X4s, cut crown, cut 2 X 12s, and anything you throw at it. I realize I'm a contractor, but I have three of them.
Also, you should be using a different blade on the SCMS than your table saw so size is not a issue,(in this case).
I'm also still out on the laser, most only read from one side of the blade. Their is also a problem with parallex (sp.). The laser line moves to the right as you lower the blade. The laser is thicker than a pencil line so you are not sure where your line is. I wouldn't let the laser be the final decession.
I'm partial to the Dewalt, but also have and like the Bosch.

Richard

[Christian Aufreiter]

I find myself agreeing with Per most of the time, I guess we think the same.

I guess there's one major difference:
You use a Dewalt SCMS while Per definitely recommends Makita. :rolleyes: ;)
Now that both of you are professionals who build wonderful "stuff", how can somebody like me decide between Dewalt and Makita? :confused: :eek:


Regards,

Christian

[Don Baer]

I'm also still out on the laser, most only read from one side of the blade. Their is also a problem with parallex (sp.). The laser line moves to the right as you lower the blade. The laser is thicker than a pencil line so you are not sure where your line is. I wouldn't let the laser be the final decession.
I'm partial to the Dewalt, but also have and like the Bosch.

Richard

My neighbor got a new CMS and it came with the spinning type lazer sight and there is quite a bit of Paralex so I was turned off with the Idea. My New Skll Jig saw has a built in Lazer that is dead on accurate but the lazer is integral to the saw.

Shop Notes Vol 14 Issue 81 had an article on after market Lazers for CMS's and the one by Lazerkerf www.lazerkerf.com (http://www.lazerkerf.com/) looks like it solves this problem. It even comes in two differant width beams one for standard blades and one for thin kerf blades.

[Richard Wolf]

I guess there's one major difference:
You use a Dewalt SCMS while Per definitely recommends Makita. :rolleyes: ;)
Now that both of you are professionals who build wonderful "stuff", how can somebody like me decide between Dewalt and Makita? :confused: :eek:


Regards,

Christian

Christian, all the major manufactures have good saws, I don't think you can really go wrong. Installing railings makes me look for high fences, and the ability to cut past 45 degrees, which is why I like the Dewalt.

Richard

[Per Swenson]

Christian,

Richard has it right, thay are all good at this level.

I like mine... because its mine.

Really for me its ergonomics, portability, and customer sevice.

In the end it is just a saw.

Actually Its the yellow, I prefer that color on a dress.

Per

[Michael Perata]

I recently purchased a Delta 12" CMS. Like all of the 12" CMSs I have had in the past, there is significant blade deflection off 90d.

If you decide to go with a 12"er, find a set of blade dampeners (http://www.forrestblades.com/dampner.htm), you'll find the kerf very much improved.

[Richard Wolf]

I recently purchased a Delta 12" CMS. Like all of the 12" CMSs I have had in the past, there is significant blade deflection off 90d.

If you decide to go with a 12"er, find a set of blade dampeners (http://www.forrestblades.com/dampner.htm) (http://www.forrestblades.com/dampner.htm%29), you'll find the kerf very much improved.

Two points on blade deflection,1) use full thickness blades, I see zero advantage to a thinkerf blade.
2) A CMS is more likely to deflect than a SCMS because of the attack angle the blade makes to the cut.

Richard

[Christopher Stahl]

I have a Makita LS1013 10" slider that works great. Makita has the motor at a 45 degree so you can cut 45 degrees bevels in both directions. Also, I couldn't justify going with the 12" version which only cuts an additional 1/4 inch. The 10" is great.

I picked one up at the Grizzly tent sale for 20% off and has a $75 mail rebate. Effective price of $316. Can't beat that.

[Jerry Crawford]

Old military axiom: Bigger is almost always better. If your going to err, err on the side of power. ;)

[JayStPeter]

I used a 10" for a few years and now own a 12". I just finished a deck and really can't imagine having used the 10" on it. I flipped the 6x6 and 2x12 boards to complete cuts, but otherwise was able to cut everything, including 45s on the decking boards that wouldn't have been possible with the 10".
As for lasers. I have the Delta twin laser saw. I haven't really found any use for the laser in my shop. I do use it when rough cutting, but wouldn't have paid for it for that. But, it ruled for building the deck. It really helped out when I was positioning 16 and 20' boards. I did two piece "picture frame" around the deck and it was awesome for cutting the 45s on 18' pieces.

Jay

[Gary Sostrin]

I too have a Makita LS1013 and I think it is great. The Makita has a 10 inch blade which is the same size as my PM66. I have interchanged a plywood/particle/fine crosscut saw blades between the two. If you buy a 12 inch saw, you are stuck. Also the 12 " blades are much more expensive so its better in buying one size blade then 2.

[Keith Foster]

I'm not a contractor...

But I have two DeWalt 12" CMS (one at the farm and the other at the house). :D Best tool purchase I've ever made. Had a 10" (not a DeWalt - but a sliding). I like the 12" much better.