Does there exist a decent SMALL miter saw (power variety). I’m thinking something lightweight, not TOO expensive (under $300, certainly), with reasonable precision. And using no larger than an 8″ blade, so the whole unit is light and compact. Able to cut 2x material, maybe up to 6″ wide at a 90, and do 45s on standard baseboard, etc.
Ideal would be a slide unit based on a 5.5″ saw, but that’s probably asking too much.
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Replies
I think a lot of people like the Makita slider. I only have a bigger DeWalt, but check this one out.
http://www.makita.com/menu.php?pg=product_det&tag=LS0714
That little Makita is sweet, but around $450. Gotta start saving my soda bottles again.
-Norm
I used to have a sliding Hitachi before I got my Dewalt. 8" blade if I remember right.
Hands down I got much better cuts from that small Hitachi than the 12" Dewalt I have now.
I recently thought about buying another one, the blade wobble on the 12" saw is driving me nuts. It was around $300 when I bought it before.
Matt- Woods favorite carpenter.
One of my saws is the 12 inch dewalt. I managed to lessen the wobble alot by tightening two allen screws on the left side of the slide mechanism. I also quit buying thin kerf blades.
Have a good day
Cliffy
I saw a new green ryobi miter saw on tv... it looked small... should be in home depot soon. I also have been in the market for a long time for a small miter saw... I know makita has a small 16lb miter saw in japan. would like to see it here.
I saw a new green ryobi miter saw on tv...
I think I saw the same one- the hot blond "color assistant" on that Color Splash show was using it. I thought it said Ryobi, but HD doesn't have it yet, nor does their website show it."Brilliance!! That's all I can say- Sheer, unadulterated brilliance!!" Wile E. Coyote- Super Genius
Saw a $99 chop saw in the Lowes circular today. Brand name Firestorm. I have not used it so can't recommend it. Been using one of their little table saws temporarily for a couple weeks. Blade is solid and cuts straight, fence is already sloppy. Miter guage is sloppy too. Motor handles 2x4s without shutting down or blowing fuse, but does bog a little.
Don K.
EJG Homes Renovations - New Construction - Rentals
Yeah, I've got an old, cheap B&D 8" that's a fair chop saw but you can't do accurate miter work with it. Looking for something better, but don't want a behemouth -- with my strength problems and the fact that I work out of my van, I need small and light.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
92388.1 very light and handy for certain jobs.
View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles Greene
CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
Edited 11/18/2007 11:20 pm by Huck
I was going to suggest my WorkFarce 8.5" chop saw, but you said decent. It's mostly for fire blocks and such. On sale, $43, had not died yet. It's light, but I don't take it seriously. Chop a bunch of 2x with it.
It probably could do base and case. Bring the spackle. Bet there will be some deals at HD, Lowes this Xmas season. I got it after the holiday, marked down twice.
Now, the Makita 7.25" slide saw is both portable and to lust after. I can handle 28#. The big Bosch crew-served chop saw is near 70#
"Makita 7-1/2" Four Pole Slide Compound Miter Saw, Model LS0714"
<http://www.cpomakita.com/saws/miter_saws/ls0714.html>
That said, and still lusting, I bought a Makita 10" on sale. It was less. About $180 vs $470. Weight is about 25#, so it can be moved.
"Makita 10" Compound Miter Saw. Model LS1040"
<http://www.cpomakita.com/saws/miter_saws/ls1040.html>
Have seen that Craftsman saw on a few jobs. Worth a look.
The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
Yeah, nice, but a bit more than I want to spend.If anyone ever sees it on sale around $275, let me know.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
I have checked out that little sears unit that Huck posted about, it seems fine, I will get one. Just haven't got it yet. Feel pretty stupid buying another miter saw - 4 already.
Waiting for the next big shoe project.Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City
Feel pretty stupid buying another miter saw - 4 already
Yeah, I've got an old Makita 10", the Sears 7 1/4", a Bosch 10" dual-bevel scm, and a Delta 10" that I've never even taken out of the box (it was a freebie when the big box had a promotion awhile back - buy the stand and get the saw free). And now I'm looking real hard at that Makita 10", because the Bosch is awkward to lift and carry!View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
I was up to 5 before the yard sale we had a few months ago. I finally got rid of the Delta sawbuck that I've had forever. I have DW 12" 718 slider and the 12" cms (that does 90% of my work), an Hitachi 10" cms, and the little Sears 71/2". I never use the Hitachi...it's the one I loan when people ask. The Sears is surprisingly accurate and perfect for smaller trim like shoe or 21/2" casing.I may be mistaken, but I think the new DW saws have gone down in quality since their first days of the 705. And yes, forget about the thin kerf blades in a 12", I run only Forrest Chopmaster regular size kerf. No wobble there.
I never use the (Hitachi 10" cms) it's the one I loan when people ask
Whoa - and to think I almost bought that hitachi! Can you elaborate? Thanks for the heads-up.View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
I think it was another model than the one they have out there now. It was about 5 years ago and cheap, I think $150 at Lowes. I bought it as a back up. It cuts fine but I don't like the way you get to the miter detent. There's no lever release or anything to make it swing easy, it's just loosen the handle and force it over.I'm so used to my DW 705, it's like an extension of my right hand. It's about all I ever really use. The slider is nice to have when I'm doing the wide stuff I will admit.
I checked out the little Craftsman unit over lunch and I gotta say that it's a lot of saw for $89. Question is whether it's quite enough -- seems just not quite as solid/precision as, say the $150ish Ryobi 10" unit, which would be my other choice at this juncture.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
I like mine. But I have to say, I don't use it a whole bunch - mainly its for those jobs where I just need to make a few cuts, and don't want to carry a heavier saw. View Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product†– Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
Yeah, from a weight/bulk (and price) perspective it's perfect. Just a hair cheesy, and, lacking a slide, a bit underpowered in terms of workpiece size.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
(But the fact that several of you folks here find it acceptable means a lot -- my tolerance for cheesy tools is probably a lot higher than most here.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
Noone said that it was "THE" saw to have. Or the best saw out there.
For people who already have their own quality saw - for their own use - it's a lot of saw for the money if you only have a couple of cuts in a remod situation.
I view it as a "go to" shoe saw, or to just grab and go for a single door install.
Instead of "lugging" one of my other real saws.
I am actually holding off buying it, hoping someone will create a better one within the parameters of what it offers. (weight)
I would think that a HO would go ahead and buy any of a number of better 10" units already available. And a trim carpenter has his setup set already. As a remodeller I just want something light and small to whip out real quick, I've got 3 other 10" units, I just don't want to set them up for a door install. I think this is where this unit fits.
JMHO.Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City
My problem is no permanent shop (tools stored on shelves in garage), often operating out of my minivan. Physical size/weight is a major concern for me, since any tool must be lugged out and set up before use, then put away after, and my arms aren't all that strong.So the Sears unit is perfect from a size/weight standpoint (actually seems lighter than my crummy old B&D unit), just a little less substantial than I'd like. I could manage with one of the smaller 10" units as well, though.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
@@@ Yeah, nice, but a bit more than I want to spend.If anyone ever sees it on sale around $275, let me know.@@@Let us all know. At that price I would make room for another chop saw.The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
This is not the answer you want, but I have an old Delta 8 1/4 , green paint, one of the oldest miter saws. Have used it for so many cuts, very light and accurate, cuts a bit less than a 2x6. Paid around $250 back then. a little workhorse
Nothing wrong with having more than one chopsaw, when I'm doing lotsa trim, use 2 or 3 at once, set for different angles of cut
delta used to make a belt driven 10" chop saw. it doesn't bevel but it has high rpms, has some power, is smooth as anything, and is light and small. problem is they stopped making them. I have one I won't part with but a friend of mine sometimes finds these things on e-bay. he is a railing installer and swears by these saws.
best of luck,
Jason
"it aint the work I mind,
It's the feeling of falling further behind."
Bozini Latini
http://www.ingrainedwoodworking.com
I bought a Ryobi 10" saw a few years ago for about $69 at Home Depot. All I needed was a cheap, light saw that I could throw in the truck for smaller jobs when I didn't want to drag around my 12" Dewalt saw that is bolted to a big folding, wheeled stand. To my surprise, once I put a nicer blade on it, it cut pretty well and had enough power for most things I needed it for. I have ended up using it all the time and it's still going strong. I'm pretty sure you can still get mine or a compound bevel for under $100.
Jamie
Yeah, I'm looking at the next step up Ryobi -- same box with a laser, for about $150 at HD. The non-laser unit is like $109 or some such.Also was looking at a Hitachi for around $150 at Lowes. But the Ryobi looks a bit more solid, though.Also saw a $200 Hitachi contractor's TS at Lowes that's real tempting. Built in folding stand.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
DanH,
Have you thought about a cordless miter saw? I know Ryobi and Bosch make them, maybe Makita too.
I havn't tried one but I just looked up the price on the Bosch...$180! That price is saw only but I have 2 of the Bosch 18v kits, 4 batts. and 2 chargers. Maybe I should get it.
Now that you mention it, I have been wanting a small miter saw to have with me just in case....
and it is getting close to christmas....
Hmmmmmm....
gk
I would use it rarely enough that the cordless doesn't make much sense -- batteries would always be dead.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
yeah thats my concern too. sounds like a great idea but i dont have any other bosch 18v tools.
DanH,
Oh, I almost forgot to mention. We have 2 of the Hitachi C8FB2 8-1/2" SCMS's: twin guide rails, dual angle, single bevel, 38.5 pounds. Cuts material 2-1/2" thick and 12" wide. A real work horse that can take heavy abuse and stay accurate. Our oldest is about 10-12 years old, had brushes replaced, slide is beginning to get a little stiff and the blade brake kicks in late half the time. Great saw though, just over $300.
Good luck
GK