Synopsis: Every of the sliders examined right here can crosscut inventory over a foot vast, and plenty of of them are designed to hug tight to a wall and save house. Every yielded furniture-quality cuts. The variations between them got here all the way down to footprint, ergonomics, and different particulars which may make a distinction relying in your choice.
Fashions examined embrace Makita LS1219L (greatest total); Bosch GCM12SD; Delta 26-2251; DeWalt DWS780; Grizzly Professional T31635; Metabo HPT C12RSH2; Ridgid R4222; Ridgid R4251 (greatest worth); SkilSaw SPT8801.
If you wish to work simply with vast inventory, put money into a 12-in. sliding compound miter noticed. In contrast with the winner from the final assessment we did of miter saws, the non-sliding Bosch CM12, the sliders on this subject have an additional 5 in. or extra of crosscut capability. Every of those sliders can crosscut inventory over a foot vast. That’s glorious, and the additional width doesn’t come on the expense of efficiency, both.
Every noticed I examined for this assessment was dependable sufficient to yield furniture-quality cuts each time. Each mannequin can deal with each tough reducing huge boards and sizing panels to closing size. What’s extra, their bevel and tilt mechanisms allow them to lower easy or compound angles with a flip of a deal with or twist of a knob. These are succesful, versatile machines, and there are many choices to select from. So, for those who’re available in the market for one, I’ll offer you some steerage on which noticed may be proper or flawed for you. Amongst this group of saws, there is no such thing as a poor selection. Whereas evaluating them, I discovered all had excessive accuracy and good energy. Tables had been flat, fences had been coplanar back and forth and sq. to the tables, and sliding motion was correct and clean. Even with a full thickness 80-tooth blade, all of them simply sliced by way of 8-in.-wide 8/4 pink oak with a single lower with out bogging or making a tough lower. Cuts in 8/4 Jap white pine had been equally good. Nobody noticed had make-or-break lower capability relative to the others.
Despite the fact that efficiency was primarily equivalent, the saws should not the identical. The largest speedy distinction amongst them is their slide mechanisms, particularly how a lot room every takes up. I a lot most popular the slides that don’t want clearance behind the noticed, a space-saving innovation that enables the device to sit down very shut and even flush to a wall. A few fashions accomplish this by way of rods mounted alongside the blade. The Bosch, the Delta, and one of many Ridgids make use of articulating arms.
The remainder of the saws have rods that stretch behind the machine, requiring a foot or so of clearance to the wall. That’s lots of misplaced house with none profit.
No sliding mechanism proved extra inherently correct than one other. All of them traveled true and had been sufficiently inflexible, making all of them as much as the duty of furniture-quality cuts. A high quality blade with a damaging hook angle is essential; I just like the Ridge Carbide RS1000 Tremendous Miter.
High saws stick near the wall
The saws with articulating arms want no clearance behind the noticed, that means they’ll hug tight to a wall to save lots of house. In distinction, these with telescoping arms want as much as 47 in. from entrance to again. In a small store, this may make an enormous distinction.
Moreover, I consider poor cuts with miter saws occur extra due to the operator than the machine. It’s key to make use of good reducing practices, equivalent to pushing immediately in keeping with the blade moderately than to at least one aspect or one other, very similar to with a handsaw. Any of those saws will deflect or lower off line for those who don’t transfer the blade in a managed method. Additionally, take small bites in thick hardwood moderately than attempting to plow by way of the board in a single cross. A little bit of finesse and use of greatest practices will make one in every of these saws a valued performer in even the fussiest store. In the long run, it’s the small particulars that make a few of these saws sing. Take, as an example, ergonomics. Handles which can be snug to grip result in higher management, as do triggers and set off locks which can be simple to interact concurrently. Effectively-placed adjusters should not solely extra handy, however additionally they enhance accuracy because you’re not contorting your physique to set them whereas hoping the setting is spot-on.
On some saws, I truly needed to transfer round behind the noticed to have sufficient muscle to launch the adjustment and safe it once more. That was irritating. Though you may get used to any of those setups, with such strong selections within the subject, you shouldn’t must. Lighting is vital for correct reducing. A number of of those saws have LED lights that forged the blade’s shadow onto the board, for a really correct lower line and sufficient total gentle to see what’s occurring. Different saws shine a laser immediately onto the board. I’m usually not a fan of those as a result of they’re seldom correct sufficient for the work I do. Metabo’s laser is the standout as a result of it may be so simply adjusted. The Bosch has neither an LED nor a laser.
Rollie exhibits you get higher cuts from any miter noticed.
Options to think about
Handles
There’s a spread of deal with sizes and trigger-lock choices, together with buttons exterior the deal with, buttons subsequent to the set off, and slides. Johnson discovered some intuitive, some a bit clunky, however virtually none had been so awkward that he wouldn’t get used to them.
Lighting
A number of saws have LED lights that wash over the blade, casting a pointy shadowline for correct cuts whereas additionally offering sufficient total gentle to see what’s occurring. Lasers, then again, are seldom correct sufficient for furnishings work. The Metabo’s laser is an exception, since it may be adjusted simply.
Changes
My remaining standards had been principally a wash. All of the saws have depth stops, that are helpful for dadoes and rabbets. Nonetheless, the Metabo is the one mannequin with out a flip cease, making repetitive cuts, the aim of the cease, a a lot taller order.
Blade modifications had been tedious however usually with out drama. I wouldn’t stroll away from any of those machines due to a difficult blade change. We merely don’t change blades that always for it to be a deciding issue.
Maintain-downs are a pleasant concept, however they’re principally not value bothering with. Equally, aside from a number of saws, mud assortment, for which I attached a store vacuum, was principally underwhelming.
These saws all have assist arms that stretch from the aspect to extend the width of the mattress. A few of these labored higher than others. However for the perfect efficiency it’s worthwhile to disregard the extensions and create a miter-saw station the place the noticed is between two raised tables for max inventory assist.
Greatest total: Makita LS1219L
Value: $760
Max lower at 90°: 13-1/2 in.
Clearance to entrance of base: 22-3/4 in.
Clearance to entrance of miter lock: 35-1/4 in.
Miter vary: 60° left and proper
Miter detents: 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 31.6°, and 45° left and proper
Bevel vary: 48° left and proper
Bevel detents: 0°, 22.5°, 33.9°, and 45° left and proper
Mild: Laser
That is the noticed I need in my store. For one, it’s simple to make use of. All the controls are simple to achieve and manipulate, and the glide mechanism is each strong and clean. The deal with works effectively for righties and lefties. Then there are added bonuses that no different noticed has. As an illustration, its hold-down is great, as it could possibly transfer to totally different places, hinges for a better vary of protection, and really holds down the work. As well as, the noticed has two factors of mud assortment, letting it firmly beat the remainder of the sphere. The one draw back was the noticed’s laser, which was so faint we needed to flip off the store lights to see it. Nonetheless, all these pluses in a package deal that matches tight to the wall? That’s a winner for me.
Greatest worth: Ridgid R4251
Value: $550
Max lower at 90°: 13-1/4 in.
Clearance to entrance of base: 18 in.
Clearance to entrance of miter lock: 30 in.
Miter vary: 50° left; 60° proper
Miter detents: 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 31.6°, and 45° left and proper
Bevel vary: 47° left and proper
Bevel detents: 0°, 15°, 22.5°, and 45° left and proper
Mild: LED
The Ridgid R4251 was a pleasing shock. It makes use of two articulating arms to let it sit towards a wall. The mechanism had me skeptical, but it surely carried out excellently. The controls are conveniently positioned and simple to make use of. The bevel and tilt locks for working off of the stops had been my favourite of the sphere. Its LED leads to a pleasant, correct shadow.
Bosch GCM12SD
Value: $650
Max lower at 90°: 13-3/8 in.
Clearance to entrance of base: 13-1/2 in.
Clearance to entrance of miter lock: 26-1/2 in.
Miter vary: 52° left; 60° proper
Miter detents: 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 31.6°, and 45° left and proper
Bevel vary: 47° left and proper
Bevel detents: 0°, 33.9°, and 45° left and proper
Mild: None
Bosch has produced one other high quality miter noticed. It not solely matches tight to the wall; it additionally has the shortest distance to the miter lock. The noticed’s beneficiant miter vary is complemented by its massive collection of miter detents. Nonetheless, it falls quick in a number of areas. The deal with is properly ambidextrous, however its massive dimension could make it cumbersome for all however massive arms. I additionally discovered the miter and bevel controls, together with their locks, stiff. The noticed is the one mannequin within the subject with no gentle, both an LED or laser.
Delta 26‑2251
Value: $670
Max lower at 90°: 13-1/4 in.
Clearance to entrance of base: 18 in.
Clearance to entrance of miter lock: 30 in.
Miter vary: 50° left, 60° proper
Miter detents: 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 31.6°, and 45° left and proper; and 60° proper
Bevel vary: 47° left and proper
Bevel detents: 0°, 15°, 22.5°, and 45° left and proper
Mild: LED
The Delta was one other mannequin which you can find near a wall. It employs twin articulating arms that save house whereas yielding good, vast cuts supplied you employ good method. The noticed is tied for the second-shortest total footprint. The Delta’s ergonomics had been a deal with too. Because of handy placement and ease of use, the locks for the miter and bevel stops had been very good. Its LED leads to a pleasant, correct shadow. The mud assortment was simply barely decrease than the Makita’s, however nonetheless high quality for a miter noticed.
DeWalt DWS780
Value: $680
Max lower at 90°: 13-3/4 in.
Clearance to entrance of base: 28-3/4 in.
Clearance to entrance of miter lock: 41-3/4 in.
Miter vary: 50° left; 60° proper
Miter detents: 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 31.6°, and 45° left and proper
Bevel vary: 49° left and proper
Bevel detents: 0° and one movable cease on both sides
Mild: LED
This noticed produced good outcomes and has some constructive options, just like the miter vary, high quality locking hold-down, and stout side-support extensions. Its mud assortment can also be on par with the Delta’s. Nonetheless, it has no bevel stops, simply two adjustable stops left and proper. A few of its controls are awkward to achieve.
Word: DeWalt recalled this mannequin offered in North America between April 2019 and Might 2022 as a result of the plastic rear guard meeting can break, exposing the blade. Customers are suggested to get a free restore package from DeWalt or take it to a DeWalt service heart for a free restore. DeWalt has taken faulty items off retailer cabinets. At present out there items incorporate a repair.
Grizzly PRO T31635
Value: $430
Max lower at 90°: 13-3/8 in.
Clearance to entrance of base: 34 in.
Clearance to entrance of miter lock: 45-1/2 in.
Miter vary: 52° left; 60° proper
Miter detents: 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 31.6°, and 45° left and proper
Bevel vary: 45° left and proper
Bevel detents: 0°
Mild: Laser and LED
This noticed performs effectively and the ergonomics are good. I appreciated the simply accessed controls and good, ambidextrous deal with. The Grizzly employs two lights, a laser to information the lower and an LED to light up the reducing floor. The visibility is nice, though the LED doesn’t forged a shadow, it simply lights up the reducing space. The miter vary and variety of detents are good. Nonetheless, the bevel vary extends to solely 45° on both sides and has no constructive stops. The noticed requires a great deal of clearance from the wall, which, like comparable fashions, could make it difficult for smaller retailers.
Metabo HPT C12RSH2
Value: $385
Max lower at 90°: 12-1/8 in.
Clearance to entrance of base: 23-5/8 in.
Clearance to entrance of miter lock: 36-5/8 in.
Miter vary: 45° left; 57° proper
Miter detents: 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 31.6°, and 45° left and proper
Bevel vary: 45° left and proper
Bevel detents: None
Mild: Laser
This noticed has an analogous design to the perfect total Makita, but it surely falls quick due to small particulars that add up. Initially are the poor ergonomics. I discover vertical handles cumbersome. The bevel lock was irritating too. The lean lever was in the back of the noticed, that means the device can’t sit tight to the wall. There are not any bevel detents. It’s the one noticed with out a flip cease, that means you need to reset it between cuts. Nonetheless, the noticed has a compact design, and it’s essentially the most inexpensive of the bunch. The aspect extension arms have slick levelers, too.
Ridgid R4222
Value: $440
Max lower at 90°: 15-1/4 in.
Clearance to entrance of base: 31-1/2 in.
Clearance to entrance of miter lock: 46 in.
Miter vary: 70° left and proper
Miter detents: 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 31.6°, 45°, 60°, and 67.5° left and proper
Bevel vary: 48° left and proper
Bevel detents: 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 33.9°, and 45° left and proper
Mild: Laser
Particularly contemplating the worth, among the many lowest of the bunch, the Ridgid R4222 has spectacular adjustability. It has the most important crosscut capability of all of the saws. And the miter and bevel settings have the most important vary of journey, and a bevy of detents. Nonetheless, the ability change is clumsy, a foul design particularly for lefties. The adjusters are both arduous to make use of or arduous to achieve. Plus, its slider wants essentially the most room out of any of the saws.
Skilsaw SPT88-01
Value: $650
Max lower at 90°: 14 in.
Clearance to entrance of base: 27 in.
Clearance to entrance of miter lock: 41 in.
Miter vary: 50° left; 60° proper
Miter detents: 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 31.6°, and 45° left and proper
Bevel vary: 48° left and proper
Bevel detents: 0°, 22.5°, 33.9°, and 45° left and proper
Mild: LED
This noticed performs in addition to the others, however its worth and inconveniences make it arduous to advocate. So far as the positives go, the deal with is snug to grip. In use, its energy change works for each righties and lefties. Nonetheless, different ergonomics are OK at greatest. It’s additionally one other noticed with the bevel lock on the again, that means it’s a attain to get to. The device has good bevel and miter vary. It’s the one worm-drive noticed, however I didn’t discover any distinction in lower. The noticed can’t sit flush to a wall.
Roland Johnson is a contributing editor and trusted device authority who works wooden in Sauk Rapids, Minn..
Photographs: Barry NM Dima
From High-quality Woodworking #300
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