I am currently shopping for a sliding compound miter saw. Although I am not a builder who will be using it every day, I do want to buy a high quality saw that will last. The ones I have been looking at include Makita’s LS1013 and DeWalt’s DW708. Any advice on these or others will be appreciated. Thanks.
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Try a search out, on this forum. Not to belittle your post but this topic has been discussed several times before. You will find that each person has a position on SCMSs.
Hitachi, Bosch, and Makita make nice sliders. Each has their own little quirks. A search will provide you with more answers then you might want to know.
I have used a few. I own the 8 1/4" Hitachi which I love. Very portable, accurate, and built to last. I've tried the 10" model. Don't bother. Its belt driven, under powered, and the table is off of the 8 1/4 inch model. The 10" Makita is tops I think- it tilts both ways, where as most others only tilt one. The only drawback is the weight. It is better in the shop, because it isn't very portable.If you don't plan on moving it, I'de get the Makita. It is a great saw. Stay away from DeWalt, my personal opinion, but I think their tools are crap.
Lots of people seem to recommend the Makita, but I am not sure. I too have been looking at sliding coumpound saws, and looked at both at our local HD. The Makita seemed to have more lateral play than the stiffer DeWalt (i.e. grabbing the saw handle, I can wiggle it side to side maybe 1/16" when locked in place, as opposed to the DeWalt which I can wiggle only 1/64" maybe). I checked several different Makita LS1013 and all were the same.....seems that would affect accuracy. Anyone experience the same thing or am I over critical. -Richard
I was a little bummed out when I first got the Makita because it refused a little imput, so I don't know where you are coming from. When I want straight I get straight, when I want to fudge I fudge.
I have run both saws and I think the D runs like a tank, a nice yellow tank. Either will cut fine, but they are all tools and none are foolproof, if that is what you are looking for. The one advantage, and the only one I see, of the D is the extra compound and miter angle, and if I can work-around this site I can get past that.
Richard-
I'm wondering whether the lateral play had anything to do with the adjustment of the slider bushings? I know that the Dewalt has adjustment. Not sure about the Mak since I haven't worked with one.
Ken Hill
Hard to go wrong with either, the D has more angle on the head and base, but the M is a sweeter saw.
Bill, try searching the site lately? You can only search the archives by Flintstone mode.
I have the 8 1/2" Hitachi sliding compound miter box. works GREAT! nice size to carry around not to big but not to small. Does create a lot of dust though which the bag does not always catch, O well there is also a plastic slide on the fence that can be moved so you can cut small pieces with out them flying and hitting you. the slide needs oil every now and then but I would guess all are like that. I would go for the Hitachi
About the search, using advanced search features you can search quite well IMO.
As for the slider im partial to Hitachi... Ill avoid the yellow and black brand like I avoid cats...
Also consider your service repair station should it break down. A brand might be top notch but if the local repair people are training monkeys to repair and a mule for your customer service then avoid that brand.
I grabbed the Makita LS1211 the day it hit the market. It was the first of the dual compound saws and had a pricetag of $825. I use it virtually every day and I still love it. They have discontinued the model after tweeking it a bit. (for the better)
I have used the Dewalt and was not at all crazy about it. It feels cumbersome and has no "finesse". I believe a fellow poster refered to it as a "big yellow tank" and thats exeactly what it feels like. I don`t use my compound miter saw for framing but if you plan on doing so, perhaps the "tank" is more what you want. Although I`d recomend the Hitachi for that. The Hitachi is a workhorse.
As for me, when the time comes, I`ll go for the Makita once again.
J. D. Reynolds
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