need recommendation for miter saw

[Diane Maluso]

Hi, folks. I could use some help for a friend of mine. She's trying to decide which miter saw to buy. Her goals are to use it to cut flooring materials, make flower planters, and other projects. She wants a reliable saw that's safe and well-built for under $400. She can buy locally at Tool Crib, Sears, and Home Depot. I told her to just buy a Makita, btw. She's asking whether a Bosch is any good and has gotten a strong sales pitch on the Ridgid at Home Depot.

The saw should cut compound miters and whether or not it slides depends on the capacity, I guess. My instinct is to go smaller and sliding rather than a 12" blade.

She's very inexperienced with power tools so any help is greatly appreciated. We'd especially be glad to see actual model numbers, even!

Thanks.

Diane

[Dave Anderson]

Hey Di,

As you may remember from the BP days, I spent 18 months "researching" miter saws before I made the buy. Believe me, I looked at all of 'em - Bosch, DeWalt, PC, Hitachi, etc., and of course Makita.

I bought the Makita LS1220 (now the 1221). Didn't want a slider because they take up too much room. I really liked the soft-start and blade brake features of the Makita. Also, I just liked the way it looked and its feel over the other "finalists." It is one of the most accurate tools I own. For what it's worth - I'm not a big fan of these Laser saws.

Since your friend is a beginner, I think a soft-start saw would appeal to her.

Of course you and I are a bit prejudiced toward Makita so if you have a store that has a variety - I think the best thing your friend could do is go there and do the "touchy-feely" on as many as she can. The one that feels the best to her will be the right one. You have to like the tools you have or you just won't use them. :D

[Scott Coffelt]

consider not buying a sliding, as it adds some complexity to the use at first. I personally have the Dewalt DW705, I like it a bunch. I have not used the others so I have no opinions of them, other than the all make some good tools. You get more cutting capacity with a 12", so I would at least recommend that.

The only two things I do not like on the Dewalt is the quick start, it can jump a little whereas a soft start would be a nice benny and the dust collection, though most lack in this department. Everything else I think is top notch.

[Phil Phelps]

You have $400. I'd spend it on a slider. Amazon.com has these two...
Hitachi C8FB2 8 1/2" SCMS for $ 369.99 W/bkade or
Bosch 3915 10" SCMS for $ 389.99
I think either one is a great saw for the money. The Hatachi is a little smaller but super for trim work.

Now. About the saftey of saws......I'll get back to ya', Diane.

[Glenn Clabo]

Diane,
I agree with Dave...soft start and non slider. It makes things less complicated. All those sliding parts and that quick jerk can cause problems. I'd go with the one that starts with M.

[Rob Russell]

Diane,

I pretty strongly disagree with many of the opinions posted so far.

I bought the DW708. Yeah, I know it's a 12" slider, more than your friend wants to spend and probably heavier than she wants to lug around - but I only wanted to buy 1 saw and the Hitachi 12" slider wasn't out then. If you told me I had to either lose some of the stock thickness I could cut (going from a 12" blade to a smaller diameter blade) or some of the stock width (going from the slider to a straight compound miter), I'd stay with the slider.

The difference in depth of cut between the 12" and the smaller saws is useful, but I haven't yet had a cut where I buried the blade unless I was stacking pieces to make multiple cuts at the same time. I have used the sliding feature a number of times to cut bevelled miters on stock that even a 12" compound miter saw wouldn't do.

I think there is going to be a bit of a learning curve for any saw that she buys, whether it be a straight compound chop saw or a slider. To me, that's a non-issue.

If your friend won't go for a 708 or the big Hitachi slider, I'd still steer towards a smaller slider. This is the sort of tool that you only want to buy once and I feel that the slider offers a lot more potential as a long-term, only-gonna-buy-this-once saw.

Brand-wise, I'd say any of the Dewalt, Hitachi, Makita ones are good. I'm happy with the Dewalt, but could see being happy with any of the big names.

Rob

[Jim DeLaney]

My instinct is to go smaller and sliding rather than a 12" blade.Thanks.

Diane

Diane,
I'm in agreement with you on that. I'd suggest the Hitachi CF8_. I've had one for over then years, and it's been virtually bulletproof.

You mentioned planter boxes, etc. For tapered sides, the slider really works well. I make a lot of small planter boxes using 1 X 8 redwood fence boards (<$2.00 each if you're on the Left coast). I use a 10° or 15° taper on a 4-sided planter, and the Hitachi make them perfectly.

On the more elegant side, I've made some very nicf furniture and frames on it, too.

Also, for a novice, I sort of thing the smaller saw is a bit less intimidating, while giving up nearly nothing in the way of capability.

Anyway, that's my 2¢ worth...

[Von Bickley]

Diane,
I think any of the Top Name Brand saws will work for you. My favorite would be the Makita.

[Don Henthorn Smithville, TX]

Hi, folks. I could use some help for a friend of mine. She's trying to decide which miter saw to buy. Her goals are to use it to cut flooring materials, make flower planters, and other projects. She wants a reliable saw that's safe and well-built for under $400. She can buy locally at Tool Crib, Sears, and Home Depot. I told her to just buy a Makita, btw. She's asking whether a Bosch is any good and has gotten a strong sales pitch on the Ridgid at Home Depot.

The saw should cut compound miters and whether or not it slides depends on the capacity, I guess. My instinct is to go smaller and sliding rather than a 12" blade.

She's very inexperienced with power tools so any help is greatly appreciated. We'd especially be glad to see actual model numbers, even!

Thanks.

Diane

No experience with miter saws, Diane, but glad to see you post again. How is the surgery effect going?

[Howard Barlow]

If she is at $400, I agree the Hitachi 8 1/2 slider is great. DW708 if the money is there.

[Diane Maluso]

Thanks, guys. This has been a help.

Thanks for asking about the surgery stuff, Don! Here's the update. I had weight loss surgery (gastric bypass like Al Roker's) back in February. Since then I've put diabetes behind me, have my cholesterol down, have more energy than I can remember, don't get nearly as bothered by the heat, have gotten back to woodworking, paddling, sailing, and gardening, and have lost 76 lbs so far. All is well. My activity levels have really increased lately and I find that a day isn't a day without a paddle or a hike or some serious physical labor. I have to keep reminding myself not to overdo it most days! I'm hoping to lose about another 75 lbs within the next year. I've got a wild cross-country driving, paddling, and geocaching few months coming up and plan to take every advantage of a long vacation off from my job. Again, thanks for asking and thanks for the help with the miter saw. My friend and I really appreciate it.

I've attached a couple of photos to show you the surgery results! The lovely assistant is my daughter Rachel and the faithful companion is Gus. Both photos, same pants.

Diane
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<img src=http://home.twcny.rr.com/lmarvin/dianepreop.jpg><p>
<img src=http://home.twcny.rr.com/lmarvin/dirachpants.jpg>
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[Roger Myers]

Sounds like things are going really well for you...and glad to see you posting again!
I was in Ithaca last week picking my daughter up from summer college (I also did my grad work in that town) and stopped by one of the local galleries in the commons (American Crafts by robbie dein).......
Some real nice woodwork in that gallery....maybe a home for some of your work in the future!

Good luck, and good health.....enjoy all that newfound energy!

Roger

[Kevin Post]

I have the DeWalt 705S and have been pleased with it so far. Going price for this saw is $299 or less.

There were some additional factors that weighed on my decision:

I didn't really have the budget for a slider.
I didn't need a slider because I have an old DeWalt RAS if I need to cut bigger stuff.
I chose the DeWalt over the Makita because DeWalt had a promo for free stuff. I got a DeWalt random orbit sander free...
Home Depot matched a $269 sale price for the DeWalt.


Had there been no promo, I probably would have purchased a Makita. However, I am completely satisfied with the DeWalt.

-Kevin