Greeting Folks,
I will be doing some home improvements in every room of my house. I plan on installng chair rail, replacing toe molding, installing Wainscoting (sp), and possibly installing crown moulding in a room with a vaulted ceiling (yes I know this requires heavy-duty triganometry and thanks to this forum I have the website that explains how bookmarked!) What I’m trying to figure out is what type of mitre saw to buy. I have done some research and I’ve decided on Makita. What I can’t decide is wether I should get a compound, a double compound, or a sliding double compound. Also 10″ or 12″? If you folks could give me some advice I would truely appreciate it!
$ Bill
Replies
Bill,
Someone else posted rescently on this very topic. If you don`t get much of a response try searching for similar threads.
I personally own the Makita LS1211 sliding dual compound miter saw. I love it and if it dies I will replace it without test driving any of the others.
As far as you are concerned, you need a compound saw for the cathedral ceiling... ya might as well go for the dual cmpd so you need not flip the workpeice...the slide feature is a must....and why not get the biggest blade available? I am so good at spending others money.
But seriously, I love the saw and if cost is not a concern....go for it!
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
I have owned, or used several sliding compound miter saws over the years and I've come to be most fond of the 10" Makita double compound slider for several reasons:
To begin with, for the work you described, there is really no reason to step up to a 12"...the machine and the blades just cost more. ( Actually, my first slider was an 8 1/4" Hitachi and it's amazing how much you can do with those smaller saws).
The Makita, in addition to being a nice durable saw with a soft start, maintains it's detents pretty well without getting gunked up and sloppy. I've had mine for 2 years now and have used it for framing and finish work...No problems.
It does need a larger dust bag.
Buy good quality blades.
Have fun!
Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with a piece of chalk and cut it with an axe.
I needed a miter saw to put beadboard wainscoting around a bathroom with lots of corners and built-ins. This time, I thought, I'll worry less about cost and get the tool I think is the highest quality and most flexible. Based on many reviews and much in-store fondling, I ended up with the Makita LS1013 (sliding double compound 10").
It works great, but if I had it to do over I'd get a non-sliding double 12" (probably the Delta -- I liked their gauge, stops, knobs, etc.).
Reasons:
- experience shows I just don't need the extra width capacity
- I'd rather miter 5.5" baseboard standing up than beveling -- more convenient, and, I think, more accurate
- slider makes the saw heavier and more awkward to lug around (haven't gouged a door frame yet, but it's just a matter of time)
- I can't put it as close to the wall in the shop
- it costs more
But like I say, it works great. So will yours, whichever you end up with. Good luck!
lj
i agree about the portability. but i have to say, i picked up the dewalt 12in sliding compound and it has saved me so much time. of course i am buiding a house. i say think of the future. if you will use the saw for other stuff down the rode. this saw makes short work out of stuff that i used to do with a jig and skill saw or flip over on my old 10in. you may also be able to cut waynscot panels to length after ripping on the table saw.
Unless you have wide crown, you can cut it upside down and backwards in a 10" miter saw. Simalarly you can cut your baseboard standing up if it is not too high. I had a 10" non compound b&d saw once. It was mostly aluminum and easy to handle. I sold it and bought a 12" compound miter and not too happy with it. There are more things to get out of adjustment, 12" blades are more expensive and not as varied. The weight is higher etc.
My 10" had a freud f80 hyperfinish trim blade in it. What a blade! It was sweet!
Well, I would say a 10" slider would be nice if you dont mind carrying it around and spending a pile of money. But just make sure its a quality tool. Rather have a good tool with limitations than a fancy one with problems.
Ditto what he said about Freud saw blades. It's amazing how good a cut you can get with those things.
RedneckExtraordinaire
Which saw did you buy that you weren't happy with?$ Bill
Bosch 3912 12" compound. It works Ok, but seems to need periodic adjustments to stay square. I had to space out the roller for the guard, otherwise it jammed a lot. Overall it's OK for what I do. It just doesn't have the feel of a finely crafted tool. I like my tools to weigh less too. The thing is heavy, and loud. It cuts everything acurately and without slowing much, so it's more of a feeling than a concrete problem. What was nice was the price. I forget what it cost, but it was marked down severly at Lowes. I think it was somewhere in the $150 range. Since I forgot the savings, maybe you will forget the expense. Truth is you could do everything you asked about with this saw. I think the sliders are nice, but maybe overkill for some jobs.
a compound saw would be nice, a basic 10" regular mitre saw will do.
You'll find out the profiles won't match when you do the vaulted ceiling.
You could do all that you said with what seems to be an industry standard. The DeWalt 12" CMS. non-slider for around $300. Leaves more money for other tools. Jeff "That's like hypnotizing chickens........."
Lust for Life
Are you pointing at the DW706 double-compound saw Jeff - that's beginning to look like a winner among the guys I bump into around here. Apparently it can also produce better cuts because you don't need a negative hook blade, you use the same blades as the table-saw..
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
Phill....I meant the old single bevel.....705...I think. Just think better deal for the money.........but that's not to say the new double bevel won't replace mine when it dies!
Wonder what the new one will go for recond....after a few more hit the market? Jeff "That's like hypnotizing chickens........."
I bought a 10 inch Hitachi double sliding compound miter saw and I love it. It can do a lot of things. Had I not bought the Hitachi, I was going to buy the Makita you described. I think either saw would be a good choice.
However, a SCMS is indeed awkward to transport, and heavy. In your case, except for the crown moulding, you most likely coud cut all your other trim that you mentioned with a simple 10 inch, powered miter saw. It would not even have to be a compound miter saw.
I would suggest that you first visit your local tool rental store and see what brands they carry and how much they charge to rent. You may be better off renting a regular miter saw or a SCMS from them and doing this job with that. If you like how the tool performed, and think you will have a future use for such a toy...er...tool, then go ahead and buy one. If this is your only job that you envision the need for such a tool, then I would think twice before making such a large purchase.
The tool rental stores in my area all carry top named brand tools (Milwaulkee, DeWalt, Makita) and they are kept in good working condition. I believe a SCMS rental is only $25 or $30 for a full 24 hour day....far less than the $500 -$600 price tag you'll have to shell out for a brand newie!
LOL.
Davo
I do mostly finish work here in New Zealand.I own a Hitachi C10SC 10" single compound drop saw.I love it! It's bang on accurate all the time,never gone out of whack,it's light ( all aluminum construction),small enough to set up on one plank over a pair of saw horses and to throw into the car(I don't him and haw about taking it on the spur of the moment,I just chuck it into the car),it was a third of the cost of a dual slider(here in New Zealand anyway),and no one else on site wants to use it because it lacks the bells and whistles of the firms new(and already roughed up and inaccurate) Makita dual slider,which means it's not getting the snot wrung out of it. I've used DeWalt and Makita sliders and was never impressed with them. Just my opinion.