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I’m about to buy myself a power mitre saw. I’ve been thinking about the DeWalt 12 inch units. One is a compound mitre (approx $300) the other a sliding compound mitre (approx $600).
I’ll be cutting mainly interior partition wall studs (major renovation in my house), PVC for plumbing, mouldings and trim, and making my own deck.
Do you think I need the sliding untit? If I buy the non-slider will there be something that I’ll be kicking myself about that I’ll want the slider?
Appreciative of all opinions.
Phil
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Phil, I own both the DeWalt saws you mention and use the fixed head most of the time. The only time I need the slider is to cut wide material such as 1x10 or 1x12 fascia. If you do crown moulding the tilt to either side is nice, but for the uses you listed I would get the non-slider, it's a nice saw. Greg
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If you could afford it I would get the slide. I owned one (had it stolen) and really miss it. I think if you are going to get a tool get the most versatile one you can get. The slide allows you many more cutting options. Most can mitre a 2 x 8, the ability to cross cut 12 inches is great for shelving, I even used mine to cross cut 24" when making cabinets, I just flipped the panel and lined the blade up with the kerf and got a very clean straight edge. I just about quit using my radial arm saw.
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Phil, I agree with Greg, I own the fixed saw and it works well. Primarily, it's used as a cutoff saw in my shop. I considered the slider but decided additional expense/complexity wasn't worth it for my application. For fine work I'm using a Forrest 80 tooth? thin rim blade, it tends to pull to the side on thick hardwood, probably blade flex,it has not proven to be a big problem. Best of luck on your project!
*I've got the DeWalt 12" CMS and love it. The slider would be very nice, but... You can live without the slider unless you are a trimmer. You can also buy more tools with the money you save. Just went thru the cost-benefit calcs. with a friend who wants one too. The CMSs have knocked the radials out of the market.j wells
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Consider the slider as an alternative to the radial arm saw. I have the Milwaukee compound mitre (not slider) and it is more than adequate. If I have to do something larger, I use my $50 circle saw, this package adds up to less than the slider.
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Phil I too own the DeWalt compound mitre and wouldn't want the slider.
The non-slider does all I need and when it doesn't my trusty Milwaukee circular saw does the rest.
As someone mentioned earlier put the difference into your project or purchase another tool.
Good-luck.
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O.K. You got me, but I didn't see any owners of a slide saw in the mix. I still contend that for the money a slider does a great job. I can handle a skil saw with great ease with either hand, but I can't match rails. I will only say that sliders are great tools and thinking iof getting maximum use out of my $ I would get a slider, assuming that the extra $200-$300 isn't a problem. Otherwise, I agree, get the best, biggest non-slider available.
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The one and only reason you may need a power miter is that you can use a smaller blade to get a longer cut. The problems with power miters is that they have more moving parts than a standard miter, and therefore are more prone to coming out of alignment. If amps, space and money are not issues, I would get the largest blade you can (16") and just go with that.
However, I do own, use and enjoy sliders, and find them quite nice. I hope this is too ambivalent, but I do try to be fair handed in the issue
*i've used both types and i would get the slider if i could just for the convience in crosscuting larger stock
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Be careful about cutting PVC. I did a lot of PVC work in a shop (table saw and sliding compound mitre) - pipe and sheet. Those saw blades were never the same after cutting a lot of PVC. They still worked but not as fast. I theorized that the high pressures at the tip of each tooth released chlorine compounds from the PVC which dulled the tips. I know that a small PVC fire will release enough hydrochloric acid fumes to dull, corrode, and rust any unoiled tool in a large area - had it happen twice. So consider keeping one blade for wood and a beater blade for PVC - therefore consider the ease of blade changes in each unit. I wondered at the time if a slower speed (like in a handheld worm-drive circular saw) would not be as dulling to the blades but never set about ruining enough blades to find out. Look at blade prices - those big blades aren't cheap.
-David
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Dave,
I bought Delta blades as replacements for my grizzly planer. The were so sharp they could not be TOUCHED without getting cut. My conclusion was that Delta was serious about its planer.
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David, I put in a lot of underground PVC and I can tell you that cutting PVC is the "kiss of death" for a sawblade at any speed.........
*Phil-I just recently had the same choice to make; slider or not. I chose to buy the slider to have the extra options that the slider provides. I purchased a Makita LS1013 10" combo slider from Tool Crib of the North for $499.00. They paid the freight & I paid no tax. It's a great saw and was recently reviewed in American Woodworker and given the top billing. Good luck
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I recently picked up a new DeWalt non-sliding miter saw w/12" blade and I love it. The larger blade size allows you to cut through 4x4's and other larger boards that most miter saws will not do. The only reason you may want a sliding saw is if you are working with wide panels such as 10" or wider I would guess. I personally do not encounter this much at all and for the few times I do, my skillsaw works just dandy. I think you will be better off saving the extra dough and sticking with the non-slider. With it's extra capacity, it will serve you well. It really is an all around good miter saw.
Pete Draganic
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I have the Dewalt 12" slider which I like a great deal. If you can afford it buy it. As with many things in life it tends to follow the 80-20 rule. A compound miter saw for $300 will do 80% of what you need to do. Based on the 80-20 rule the next 20% will cost you $1200 more. In that respect the slider option, for another $300 gets you most of that next 20%, so maybe its a bargain. Anyway I certainly am not sorry that I bought the sliding compound saw, as it made framing a whole lot easier for me. Being somewhat anal rentitive, I have yet to get my skill level with my 7 1/4" circular saw to a satisfactory level that matches what I could do with the slider. I guess it all comes down to your personal preferences and how badly do you think you need that saw. Personally I have never regretted buying a too nice of a tool.
*I have wished only a time or two for a slider; my cms is a great tool, and has as an added benefit fairly light weight, when not outfitted with all the accessory gizmo's, so it's easy to pack up and lug back to the truck. I'd be real surprised if it didn't do everything you want it to.Brad
*Philly D., sounds like a good fixed miter saw would work for you, if home projects are as far as you are going. I do trimming for a living, and would be lost without a CMS and CMS slider. I've got the DeWalt CMs, a real workhorse as everyone on this posting seems to agree; a Delta 10" CMS slider w/ built in stand (a real piece of crap, but it keeps my guys from standing in line waiting to cut); a Bosch slider, nice but way overpriced and the sliding extension table isn't flush with the saw base; but the only saw for real work in every situation is the 12" Makita dual CMS. 15 amps and a highly superior blade cuts through white oak like butter,even at compound angles. This is one case where bigger is much better and not a lot more expensive (cheaper even than the DeWalt dually and with more amps). No one could ever be sorry for buying this saw. Well, until a more powerful one comes along.
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I'm about to buy myself a power mitre saw. I've been thinking about the DeWalt 12 inch units. One is a compound mitre (approx $300) the other a sliding compound mitre (approx $600).
I'll be cutting mainly interior partition wall studs (major renovation in my house), PVC for plumbing, mouldings and trim, and making my own deck.
Do you think I need the sliding untit? If I buy the non-slider will there be something that I'll be kicking myself about that I'll want the slider?
Appreciative of all opinions.
Phil
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I have used both the makita and dewalt I find the Dewalt much better built and easer to use. Well worth the extra money as you have fewer problems with little things going wrong.