Good Morning,
I plan on purchasing a 12″ dual bevel sliding compound miter saw as a replacement for my kaput Delta radial arm saw. It seem that the two leading contenders are the DeWalt DW718 and Hitachi C12LSH. Does anyone have experience with either of these saws? Any opinions? Thanks.
Replies
You didn't mention the Milwaukee 6955-20. It's a great machine. I picked one up in November at Home Depot. Nice and smooth. Gets great reviews.
Actually I'm thinking of selling my DW718 for the Milwaukee machine. I was going to get a Bosch, but after viewing the FHB review and watching the video and how they rated it above the Bosch, I was pretty sold on the Milwaukee. I like the incandescent lights and especially the dust port. If you have anything else to add, let me know.I like the DW718 ok, but it seems to wobble, even when i put on tested blades. I liked my old DW 705 so much that when I decided on a slider, DW was the natural choice. I haven't been that taken with it. Trim is what I do and I want the best.r
Lots of people like the Bosch too.
Ask and you shall receive:
Here’s FHB contributor Kit Camp’s take. The videos are worth a watch before you buy.
Enjoy!
Robyn
And a review of the Milwaukee that wasn't included because it wasn't out yet.
http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/tools/video/milwaukee-tool-12-in-sliding-compound-miter-saw-review.aspx
Right! I forgot about that one. Thanks for including the link to the video and Kit's follow-up review.Robyn
Hello. I'm a DIYr but I do have the DeWalt 718. I like it but it is heavy.
Dont know if this will help but received an email from Ridgid saying their 12in dual bevel sliding miter saw was 399.00 down from 549 for only the next 2 weeks.
If I needed a new saw I'd probably spring for this one.Seems like Amazon has the best price too...If I could addord the Festool I'd shoot for that but this Milwaukee seems to rock
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001BANY24?tag=clifforenova-20&FestcaFmp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=B001BANY24&adid=042GZQ50WACDJD6XCX7M&
FrF
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
You'll find a lot of different opinions on miter saws here, as with any tool. But that will give you some ideas of what to look for.
I have the Bosch 5412L (minus the L because I don't use the laser) and I like it for the most part. Sure is nice to have the bevel controls right up front, instead of having to reach around the back of the tool to change settings.
Only thing I don't like is the fence isn't quite true. When tuning it I have to get one side of the fence square to the blade, tighten that side real tight, then force the other side square with the blade. But I've found at least one issue with every miter saw I've owned.
If I was shopping for a miter saw today, I'd surely check out the Milwaukee 12" slider. On the other hand, I'm more inclined to buy my tools used, and haven't seen one on ebay or craigs list, so maybe not.
Happy Shopping!
~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.net
See my work - TedsCarpentry.com
I am looking for a 12" also. I only look at the dual bevel sliding models.
I have a bosch and I really like it. I do have a couple glitches that I would like them to correct.
The slider for the guide has flattened and so I have to replace it because it catches every time I push it down. I can't tell you how annoying this is. It's the first design element I'm considering in my search.
The spring clip for tightening the stop jammed the saw a couple months in and I ended up removing it completely and just being careful when I tighten it. Honestly don't remember what it was in there for - don't miss it.
On the positive - being able to change the handle is a big help when cutting production quantities.
It also has a solid chute for the dust collection and it works decently. the Dewalt had a flexible one that would suck into itself when hooked up to a shop vac.
I am not going to get another bosch just because I want a comparison but they do put together a nice machine.
Just my 2 cents somewhat randomly expressed. I know you weren't looking at bosch as a contender but I figured if others express what they know about their saws than I can make a decision off of advice given to you.
I use to use a Hitachi and liked it but can't stand all the electronic #### they are wrapping in plastic on it now. And the Dewalt - gets the job done for maybe 10% more than it's worth. It is nice to have tools that look like bumblebees though.
G'luck
My main beef with all of these saws is the wimpy sliding fence. On my DW, it leans back 1/16" at the top. So did the one on the sales floor.
The Bosch on the floor was a little better, but what good is that? If it's not dead square to the table, you can't cut base standing up, you have to lay it flat, and do all of your miters with the bevel settings. That gets old real fast.
I haven't been able to look at the Festo -- they don't keep one on the floor, only special-order, but I'd be surprised if they had the same problem. That would make the Festo worth the money.
AitchKay
I have the Ridgid currently and it has performed flawlessly. It is easy to adjust and has good power. I bought it when they first came out. I owned the Dewalt DW 708 which was their original 12" slider. Had a problem and took it to the local repair center and had a new one sitting on my backporch 3 days later. Very good service from Dewalt on that deal. I am sure the latest Dewalt is much improved over my old 708. If I was to buy a new one today and money was not a concern I would have the new Milwaukee. All 3 of the above saws are good products as far as I am concerned and I am a trim carpenter so I use mine everyday. That Hitachi is just to mickey mouse for me. JMO
I have the DW.
It's the first big slider I've had so I can't comment on others but I like it plenty.
Only strike would be the dust collection--sorta works--has this wierd little 'pocket' to suck up dust..
Easily adjusted.
I like the handle flat.
Cut just about anything!
Got the dw708, echo the dust collection "chute/scoop" total junk, good attachments for hold down, crown moulding attach. Easy to adjust to a gnats rear. Rear bar that supports the base has stressed the base with cracks....I dont have this perm. mounted......I schlep it about, problably my fault not using clamps on my work bench. Have to carry it by the base. the dw does cut very good.!!
I have some milw. tools they are study and dependable ....the milw. saw does look good on the video.!!$$
good luck
Edited 4/3/2009 12:36 am ET by willyx2
I got lucky when I picked my Milwaukee up. I had been thinking of upgrading from my old late 80's Craftsman 10" non-slider. The thing just kept chugging, and I was comfortable I could work accuratly with it, so the itch to upgrade wasn't strong enough.
I went into my local Home Depot one late November evening, and when I came upon the Milwaukee display, they had a sale on it for $499! I just couldn't pass it up. Now it's back to $649, but after using it, I wouldn't hesitate to spend that either. It's that good!
And, the dust collection is actually very good for a miter saw. My only complaint is that there is no port for a vacuum hose. The bag works great, but I would like to connect my shop vac. I just stick the hose in the bag and zip tie it, but that makes it difficult to use the shop vac for other duties.
Apparently now they have made a port for the vac hose to attatch on.
No to the Hitach. I still swear by my 8 1/2" hitach but the 12 always needs adjustments and it weights a ton. I do alot of trim and big trim at that. I have the dewalt and I won't do crown or big base without it. It does like 6 1/2" base standing up. I planning on getting a second one so I can have one in my shop because of the cross cut capability. The saw has a small foot print compared to other 12s and its easy to carry. I have alot of Bosch tools but no way to the 12' chop. My buddy went through two trying to make a square cut. It always needed adjustments. Hope it helps. derek [email protected]
Edited 4/3/2009 2:52 pm ET by HOMEDIMENSIONS
"...I won't do crown or big base without it."Does that mean your fence is square to the table? I haven't found one yet that was. Fine for large crown, but useless for base.AitchKay
Yes I have no problems with my fence. The dewalt has a nice set of crown stops that attach to the side of the base of the saw which I use on small jobs when I don't make a sled for the crown. So your saying that all the saws in your past, that when your putting a square on the base that the back fence isn't 90 degrees. If so then you have had some bad luck. If everything is square but your not getting square cuts then your cutting too fast and/or your blade is the issue.Derek Weiss [email protected]
"When the job is perfect, we're almost done."
Yep, I'm talking walk right into the showroom and hold a square up to the fence. I haven't tried more than six saws, but it's obvious that the sliding fences are a weak design point. AitchKay
I must have lucked out. Both my Dewalts are dead on square and they both have the sliding fence. I read it with machinists square that sits in a drawer, not my used & banged up speed square or sliding combo.This being said in no way negates from what you say. In fact I would be more inclined to believe your statements than not. I do believe that after a company (like DeWalt) makes a very good, dependable tool like the 705 and it is one of, if not THE, biggest seller they've ever had, they dumb-down the quality or sub it out to a manufacturer that is not as careful and good as the original.
I cut most of my base standing (I have the big DELTA Industrial 12" Dual Bevel Miter Saw 36-412 that got killed after B&D took ownership of Delta--it will cut a 1x8 standing). I did a test cut this week on a 1x5 standing-- a wedge like this will show the two cuts to be parallel... and pieces cut will look like this if lined up on a flat surface:
Wow. Then what about making a true sub fence for your saw of choice?Derek Weiss [email protected]
"When the job is perfect, we're almost done."
That's what I've done, make a sub-fence, and shim it plumb. But you know how that goes, it's a PITA. The factory fences slide for a reason, because they get in the way. So you have to remove your sub-fence for some apps, then re-install/re-tweak it, and all that.My first chop saw was the old Rockwell 9", marketed to match up with the old cast-iron Rockwell 9" Contractors Saw (which I still have), so that both table saw and chop saw could use the same blades.That old '70s chop saw came with a particleboard table, which would last forever when casing doors, but get wiped out by one attic job, with weird angle cuts. Then it became a dangerous PITA.The turret table with replaceable inserts was, I think Makita's upgrade, and no one's looked back since.Now, sliding fences are replacing sacrificial ones, but I'm still waiting for them to get the bugs out.AitchKay
I picked up a 10 inch Makita cause that's the only one in the town I live in and in the middle of the trim job, when my trust old 12 dewalt non slider ate it's fence.
I love the saw. Perfect. if the 12 is as good you should look at a Makita.
The blade alone is fantastic.
Got parts for the Dewalt with no hassle and got it going but it is the truck saw.I wish we would have brought the Makita today as I helped stick frame an Octagone roof, at a friends house. Many compound cuts with an old beater no name mitre saw.
Now you've got me wound & worried about the squareness of my fences. I checked them both maybe....2 years ago? Do they slip out of square you think?Here I sit on an Easter Sunday with both DW saws on a job in Center City Philadelphia and I'm in a basement room somewhere in the burbs anticipating the huge rack of ribs in the fridge awaiting a later appointment with the smoker. Chocolate eggs are a thing of the past on Easter for me now that the two knee kickers are galoots both bigger than me. Beer & ribs and thank you Jesus is more the order of the day. The splendid dawn of a new day momentarily fills our corner of the world, I quickly inhale the sharp cold air and taste the outcome of the beans ground only a few minutes before. The blossomed dogwood tree now hides the vigilant squirrels who pause, look my way, and seem to cackle, "Silly man...silly silly man." I stretch my gauzy eyes up to the sky and wonder..."Is my fence square?"Profundity abounds.Part of me doesn't want to know because ultimately my cuts are true and in the end, nobody knows if my fence is indeed square. I've been told that I'm out of whack, my deck of cards isn't full, I'm playing shortstop out in left field, I'm skewed, out there, and even nuts.
But never, never have I been told that my fence may be out of square.The cold morning deck bites the pads of my bare feet. Empires are toppling elsewhere, wars and rumors of wars, lies upon lies. Would it be all their fences were unaligned & out of square? Where does it start?I sip my coffee slowly.Silly man...silly silly man.
I can tell from here you’re half a bubble off, I’ll bet your porch light’s been out for a few years, and I’ve got a feeling your elevator doesn’t go all the way up.AitchKay
LOL...all good ones. C'mon folks, keep 'em coming.
That's deep, standing on the edge, I'm getting vertigo deep.
Your lack of anality is impressive. Is it possible your lack of attention to incredibly minute detail allows you to finish a job in a reasonable amount of time?
"Is it possible your lack of attention to incredibly minute detail allows you to finish a job in a reasonable amount of time?"Quite the opposite my friend. I will never be a rich man because of my obsessive nature towards a finished product. Is it ever really finished? What I'm revealing is the quarrel within. You see something before it's taken shape and learn to work in a backward direction. Settling for something less than your vision is a sin in my book.
Unfortunately, I'm cut from the same cloth. Painstaking attention to detail, ecstatic customers, accolades from my peers, on the verge of poverty...
It's great you can visualize the finished product before starting, I don't have a clue what it's going to look like till the last few nails go in.
Visualization doesn't pay the the bills, it may help a little but ultimately it's all that stuff between the green and red lights that counts. I can sure identify with you on that.
Ain't it the truth!?AitchKay
I have the de Walt one and a friend has the bosch and Ive used it a little. but If I needed to buy a new one I would consider the milwaukeey one . its a nice saw and has some nice features.
Carpentry and remodeling
Vic Vardamis
Bangor Me
I was in HD this morning and they have the Ridgid 12" slider for 399.00. The Milwaukee and Dewalt were there to, both at 649.00. I was hoping to sell my Ridgid to buy the Milwaukee, but at 399.00 that shoots my resale value.
Is this saw going to mount in a shop, or be loaded into a truck daily?
My DW718 gets loaded and unloaded every day, finish work. Its the smallest of the lot and is about the only one that will cut a 12" stair tread at 45deg. The beauty of the DW is being able to lift the saw guard and hold it with your thumb. Eyeballing the sawcut without bending over or getting on your knees saves a lot of sawdust and your back.
A buddy of mine has the Hitachi 12" with the digital. 2 days after he started working with us he bought a 10" hitachi slider and left the 12" in his shop. He loves Hitachi, but I can't get used to them, then again, I'm 6'-01" and he's 5'-07"
I like the look of the Milwaukee but have not seen it in action. This is the first year for this saw, next year or the year after would be a better time to consider the Milwaukee. They will have the bugs, if any, worked out by then.
Edited 4/4/2009 5:57 am by gordsco
Take a look at the hitachi 10". More saw than you will ever need and very accurate and bulletproof.
Am I the only one here that uses makitas?
I have two.. an older one without lights or lasers "retired" to framing and rough stuff, and a newer one with lights and lasers for finish.
Both have been great saws.
agreed i have the makita 12" and i love it i have used the rigid machine and for the money it is hard to beat