Recommendation for 2nd miter saw or ???
RonMiller
| Posted in Tools for Home Building on
I have a 12″ compound sliding DeWalt for standard trim, etc. work. But I also do alot of smaller jobs (such as rental unit repairs) where lugging that thing with its wheeled stand is just too much.
What alternatives are there? Craftsman makes a 7 1/4″ for under $100 thats 16 lbs. The Bosch Finecut gets mixed reviews on mitering. I’m looking for something small, light, and that will give a decent (not perfect) cut on quarter round, 2-1/4″ base, etc. Would a good handsaw and miterbox be best?
Replies
I have a 10" and a 12". I bought the 12" to replace the 10", but I find myself using the smaller one more often because of its lighter weight and greater portability. If I had to replace it, I would seriously consider a 7-1/4 sliding compound miter saw since it would probably handle 90% of my needs.
I looked at the Craftsman 7-1/4 miter saw. The price is right. You could spend that much on a good handsaw and miter box. But it doesn't seem to have a handle in the front so I don't think it would be very convenient to swing it left/right for miters. You might want to take a look at it in person.
My brother-in-law bought a Craftsman 7 1/4" sliding compound mitre saw about a month ago. He has a Dewalt 705 12" non slider and a Makita 10" slider. Guess which one comes out of his truck the most these days? I don't know how robust the thing is but so far he says he's in love with the little thing.
Would a good handsaw and miterbox be best?
It's been a long time since I used a small backsaw and a wooden box to miter trim. It's a minor pain, as I recall.
You have to hold the workpiece tight against the back of the box with your thumb while you gently push and pull the saw. It takes quite a few strokes to make a nice cut.
If you only have two or three cuts to make, you might be happier using a miter box and a short backsaw, particularly if you can find those items for a few bucks, used.
But if you buy used make sure that the backsaw is sharp and the teeth still have a good set. The saw will refuse to cut otherwise, just bind up half way through. I can't imagine what it costs to get one of those saws re-sharpened properly, if you can find someone to do it.
Why settle for just decent cuts when you can have perfect ones?
Hitachi C10FCE2 is a great little saw and weighs only 26lbs.
10" blade handles up to 2 1/2" stock standing up against the fence, 5 3/4" flat.
Miters 52° to both sides, bevels 45° to left only.
Unlike the stiff spring of the small Craftsman, the Hitachi has a nice smooth feel to it.
I Have the earlier C10FCH with a nice laser line and I love it.
$150 to your door from Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Hitachi-C10FCE2-10-Inch-Compound-Miter/dp/B000V5Z6RG
I think that's still too much as I bought what I believe is one of those without the laser on sale at Lowes a couple months back for the exact same purpose of lugging up stairs.
Seems with tax I got out of there for under $120.
Nice saw by the way.
Hey....
14 new from $118.96
Edited 10/14/2009 8:33 pm ET by rez
I have the Craftsman sliding 7 1/4" and I like it quite a bit, I've had it for about a year and it has held up well. I use it more often than my DeWalt 12" I'd say..I've brought it on several jobsites and other carpenters and had compliments for it after using it.
How's the arm holding up hauling it around all the time.
I've had a number of folk tell me slider's can get knocked out of whack pretty easily when moved around allot.
The arm is holding up well and it's staying in alignment well. The only thing that has gotten beat up is that the screws on the guard loosened, I didn't notice and when I went to cut I cut the plastic guard...wasn't a big deal ordered a new one from Sears for 5 bucks. The saw has seen near daily use some months and has been in and out of the truck constantly...and I'm regrettably hard on things as well, even though I'd rather not I tend to rush and throw them around a bit so it is holding up well considering that.
dang, that's a good report.
Makes me wish I'd gone that route instead.
Hitachi 8.5" slider. IMHO the best slider bar none.You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.
Marv
I've still got my first-generation Hitachi. Man, were they radical when they came out! The only slider for a long time.I wish it was more powerful, and had a larger capacity, but then I wouldn't have my 8 1/2" Hitachi anymore, would I?I've got a POS DW 12" slider that I bought for scarfing some 4x6s, but I rarely use it for trim, since the fence leans back so much.AitchKay
I got mine at Lowe's too; sale price and rebate brought it down to about $100. Unbelievably low price for a very nice tool.BruceT
I have the Ridgid 12" slider and just bought a recon Hitachi 10" for 89.00 from toolsteal.com
I have a couple 10" Makita. I think the fence on it is the best of all I have seen.
I know what you mean. Lugging the big saw can be a pain for the second strey little stuff.
I also use the DW 12'' slider as my main saw. For little jobs I use a DW 10''. I got the DW because the tables of both saws are the same heights. I can use both saws on the same stand without changing the outfeeds.
For qtr.round I use a little miterbox (homemade) and a dovetail saw. I drag it around the floor with me and cut the mouldings in place.
Another great tool for paint grade qtr rnd are miter shears. I got mine at Lee valley but others might carry them. It makes short work of qrt rnd. They cut sharp miters in softwood but dull quickly with hardwood trim.
Here's a link to the shears, http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=32192&cat=1,51222&ap=2
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I have the same pair for punchout work. Measure the 1/4 round by holding it in place, , hold your finger on the cut line and squeeze. EZPZ
I also have a DW 12" slider and a Makita 10" slider which is much lighter to carry around, its a good ideal to have a extra mitre saw in case you have two jobs on the go.
I have two miter saw setups that i use. Like you, I do complete new-home trim, major remodels, and tiny little repair jobs.
For the big jobs, I have a 10" Hitachi slider, with the fold-up stand, and a few jigs and such to go along with it.
And for the small jobs, I have one of those yellow plastic miter "box" things that the big box stores sell for maybe $10.
It can be, when used properly, just as accurate, so long as what you need are 90's and 45's. And with a little experience, adding a shim here or there will net a 46 or 47.
The things wear out and break if your not careful, but for $10, and almost NO setup time, very little toolbox space, and extremely light weight -- it works for me.
I won't be laughing at the lies when I'm gone,
And I can't question how or when or why when I'm gone;
I can't live proud enough to die when I'm gone,
So I guess I'll have to do it while I'm here. (Phil Ochs)
I have the Bosch Fine Cut and you can do decent work on it, if you're careful and take your time. Dull blades, tend to deflect, and sharp blades deflect if you try to brute force the cut.
Like any saw, you need to check it and set it up to be sure it is at 90, and 45. And, it has the added benefit, of being a flush trim saw.
Where did you find a Craftsmen 7 1/4 for $100. I've been eyeing one for awhile now.
I was at the local Sears store and it was about $75.
Couldn't tell from your first post. Your 7 1/4 Craftsman is a slider? I got a mailer this week that lists a regular 7 1/4 for $74.99 (#21180), and a 7 1/4 slider for $119.99. (#21194) Both look like pretty good deals.
oldfred
I had a DW 718 then I bought a makita 714 now the 718 ain't no more,
here it is collecting dust
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtmGHPjyWQo
Edited 10/17/2009 12:00 am ET by chairmon
Thanks for the dust collection video. That's the miter saw I'm thinking about getting. I'll take your video as an endorsement.