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12″ CMS or 10″ SCMS

RobRing | Posted in Tools for Home Building on December 30, 2003 11:57am

A question for the trim and finish guys out there (and anyone else).  I’m looking for a miter saw to handle a bunch of molding and trim work (including crown) in my house, and to be a useful cross-cut saw in my shop. I’ve looked at several of the 12″ CMS (DeWalt, Delta, Bosch), but am being lured by the 10″ hitachi SCMS at Amazon. Besides the most obvious difference (the wider cross-cut capacity on the slider), how do these saws differ in ability, accuracy, etc? Clearly the slider is more expensive, but I’m willing to pay a bit more for added ability, as long as there aren’t significant things the 12″ CMS can do that the slider can’t.

What would you do (or what have you done?)?

Thanks.

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Replies

  1. User avater
    Sphere | Dec 31, 2003 12:49am | #1

    Compare bevel both ways, how far past 45 does it go, left hand friendly, cost of blades (if you have bunch of 10" might consider that )..weight if you have to tote it, accuracy is adjustable, repeat accuracy is what you want.

    Just got a Bosch 12 slider...it's killer good.

  2. Taylorsdad | Dec 31, 2003 04:37am | #2

    Rob,

    How much are you willing to spend?  The object is simply to get the most you can (read: highest quality) for your money.  For my money the Bosch 12" SCMS ($600) is the clear choice.  I bought the attached file from some online publication, you're welcome to it. 

    File format
    1. slykarma | Dec 31, 2003 05:24am | #3

      Random thoughts:

      single slider saws are not so accurate. I don't think there are many on the market anymore, but avoid if you see one. The single slide arm flexes under load in compound cuts.

      12" saws are heavier and more bulky to move around - except if you are comparing 12" compund to 10" slider; those are about the same

      12" blades cost more and there are fewer options available

      you said you were planning to use this in a shop, so if you came across a cut that exceeded the saw's capacity, you can run it through the table saw. So perhaps you could do without the extra capacity of a slider

      table extensions are a waste of money if you are going to use in a shop, since you will build a table for it anyway

      used radial arm saw would be a cost-effective way to get accurate, large capacity crosscuts. It can do everything a mitre saw can, and more. But not so portable...

      I've used the Hitachi compound slider but it was 3 yrs ago, not sure if it has changed. I thought it an elegant tool - not massively overbuilt (like De Walt). It did everything I wanted easily enough. Guy I worked for then still has it, says it's a reliable tool. Haven't used the Bosch. Makita and De Walt sliders are both durable; I would take the Makita over the De Walt because of the latter's belt drive system and the resultant torque reaction on startup. Makita has metal levers for adjustments, De Walt has mostly plastic.

      WallyLignum est bonum.

  3. Mooney | Dec 31, 2003 05:57am | #4

    I botum  all . Geter done .   I like a slide and a chop , but only in 12s . 10 inch is in the past like trucker phones on the wall at the truck stop. Ya gotta be a cell phone now days or a 12 incher !

    Tim Mooney

  4. Scooter1 | Dec 31, 2003 06:13am | #5

    Rob, do a search on this subject. There was a huge thread in November or December. Makita has a great rebate until 12/31 on both saws. I think the consensus was Makita, and Hitachi, with several complaints about Bosch and no one even mentioning Porter Cable.

    Regards,

    Boris

    "Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934

  5. User avater
    bstcrpntr | Dec 31, 2003 06:50am | #6

    Rob,

      Personally I like the hitachi scm.  Mine is a ten incher.   Had a dewalt scms  and the cms both were 12 inch.  Everytime someone besides me picked it up the bevel would slip a little more and cause problems, never had this problem with the hitachi.  Also though, if you pick a dewalt up by the table and not the head u will do fine.  I now have two fairly expensive framing saws, and no one touches teh hitachi but me.

    An inch to short.  That's the story of my life !

    bstcrpntr ---   I hope to grow into this name.

    1. MisterT | Dec 31, 2003 06:13pm | #7

      The 12"ers are nice but 10" will do the Job.

      (man I aint going there!!... well maybe later ;D)

      A 12" thin kerf blade will have more tendency to deflect in the cut than a 10".

      Especially in a bevel setting in a hard wood.

      10" blades will fit your table saw, but a purist may tell you that you a mitresaw blade and a rtable saw blade are two different animals and results will be compromised when they are interchanged.

      I have the hitachi DBSCMS  It works great and has verry little deflection.

      Hitachi invented the slider

      The only complaint about it is the relatively small fence.

      the new one addresses this, but it still looks rather small.

      The Bosch Looks and feels like a great saw with some great features.

      I am laery about longterm quality with the Dewalt saws.

      Some guys love em some guys hate em.

      I have used them and they did the job.

      Dont even consider the milwaukee, it is a single bevel.

      We have 2 and they loose they rigidty as the bearings wear plus the plastic motor housing flexes too much to keep things in line.

      Mr T

      Do not try this at home!

      I am an Experienced Professional!

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