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Miter Saw recommendations - mgbgt - 10-16-2017

I need to replace my old harbor freight miter saw with a decent (NOT top top of the line) saw. what is everyone's recommendations? I would like to stay under $300.00 but might go a little more to get a good saw. I don't do a lot of crown molding and the like, just general shop use with occasional trim being cut. I've spent a lot of time reading reviews on the web and Dewalt, Hitachi and Makita seem to rise to the top on a consistent basis. If you make a suggestion, please let me know your likes as well as dislikes about the suggestion.

Thanks

RE: Miter Saw recommendations - stav - 10-16-2017

I'd check the local classifieds/Craigslist. When I was looking for a miter saw, I found Dewalt 12" non slider with a Sawhelper Ultrafence for $120. The saw isn't perfect, but it cuts square and holds its settings. The Ultrafence is a pricey accessory to a miter saw that has come in handy many times while I have been replacing the base boards in my house.

RE: Miter Saw recommendations - daddo - 10-16-2017

(10-16-2017, 07:37 AM)stav Wrote: I'd check the local classifieds/Craigslist. When I was looking for a miter saw, I found Dewalt 12" non slider with a Sawhelper Ultrafence for $120. The saw isn't perfect, but it cuts square and holds its settings. The Ultrafence is a pricey accessory to a miter saw that has come in handy many times while I have been replacing the base boards in my house.

 I agree.
 I have a Dewalt 10" non-slider and though it fills my needs 90% of the time, there are times I wish it did more.  The 12" would be perfect, but if it did slide, it would be more than perfect- if that is possible.

RE: Miter Saw recommendations - Tapper - 10-16-2017

(10-16-2017, 07:02 AM)mgbgt Wrote: I need to replace my old harbor freight miter saw with a decent (NOT top top of the line) saw. what is everyone's recommendations? I would like to stay under $300.00 but might go a little more to get a good saw. I don't do a lot of crown molding and the like, just general shop use with occasional trim being cut. I've spent a lot of time reading reviews on the web and Dewalt, Hitachi and Makita seem to rise to the top on a consistent basis. If you make a suggestion, please let me know your likes as well as dislikes about the suggestion.

Thanks

I don't know what miter saws cost these days, but I have a 12" Dewalt miter saw and a 12" Milwaukee SCMS. I've had the Dewalt for at least 15+ years now with absolutely no problems whatsoever. Were I in the market today for just a miter saw, I'd probably go for the 12" Dewalt dual compound model. The reason is that you often find a need to cut miters both ways, left or right. My Milwaukee has this feature and on occasion I've used it a lot. My Dewalt, an older model, only tilts right.

Ergonomics are important to me on any tool. I prefer the "D" handle grip on a miter saw; it just feels more comfortable and is easier for me to use. I DO NOT like the "pistol grips" - just do not feel comfortable - YMMV.

In my view you can't go wrong with either of these saws.

Doug

RE: Miter Saw recommendations - Pirate - 10-17-2017

Might be time to step up to a "good" Ras, that can do more than a scms.

RE: Miter Saw recommendations - Mr Eddie - 10-17-2017

I have owned a Makita LS1013 for more than 10 years and it's been an outstanding saw.  Cuts dead nuts square and I can nibble away the tiniest sliver of wood if I'm sneaking up on fitting a board.  Would buy this saw again in a heart beat.  I think I paid around $350-$400 when I bought it new.

Lonnie

PS  There are many on this forum who will ding the miter saw as a tool for "rough cutting" but my experience is they can be very, very precise when setup properly.

RE: Miter Saw recommendations - Lynden - 10-17-2017

I've had a 12" Makita LS1221 miter saw since 2009. It's been a good saw. For what I do, I don't need a slider. Also, I have a track saw.

https://www.amazon.com/Makita-LS1221-12-Inch-Compound-Miter/dp/B0000DD5S7

If you need to go cheaper, the Makita LS1040 and the Hitachi C10FCE2 are good choices.

RE: Miter Saw recommendations - Admiral - 10-17-2017

For what its worth, my default choice would be a 12" non-slider.  I bought a Bosch to trim out my prior house, and never really needed the extra crosscut capacity a slider offers, what the 12" could do was enough.  I squared it up 15 years ago, and its as true today as it was then.  I don't have personal experience with sliders, but my intuition tells me there's too many moving parts to go out of alignment, so I would say keep it simple, unless you need the extra CC capacity.  Funny, when I relo'd back to NJ, I trimmed out my current house with a Stanley miter box!

RE: Miter Saw recommendations - MstrCarpenter - 10-17-2017

I have an old 10" Makita; all cast iron, always cuts true, heavy as hell. My favorites are the 15" Hitachi's. I have three aging from 4 years to about 15 years. All of them are basically identical. They'll chomp through 2 x 10's  then miter 1/2 x 6 speed base and 5-1/4" crown. You'll need an extra full bodied sharp blade to shave miters on 1 x 6  oak base. Everything else is easy but use 12 ga. extension cords.

RE: Miter Saw recommendations - Cooler - 10-18-2017

Of the miter saws I looked at only the Dewalt has a stamped index for angles.  Stampings are almost 100% repeatable and can be very accurate.  The other saws use "as cast" indents that cannot be nearly as accurate.  I bought the Dewalt.

Dewalt miter saw index (note that it is adjustable for true zero).
[Image: dewalt-dw708-blade.jpg]
This Bosch miter saw has "as cast" index for angles and is not adjustable for true zero and is typical of the other saws I looked at.
[Image: 000346374490.jpg]