Best Miter saw options?

I just have to say.  I can't wait to hear from one of you that ordered the makita already.  I am planning to sell my bosch sliding saw and mobile base for the new Makita and a built-in miter saw station in my shop.  I like the simple design and improved dust collection of the makita over the bosch glide. 
 
I bought the Kapex about 6 months ago. Have been very impressed so far. I did not know about anyone having motor issues before I purchased, so hopefully I don't experience that issue.
I had the Makita ls1016. I bought that about 1.5 years ago. Was very happy with that saw at first. It developed a blade chatter. I switched blades and the problem.was still there. I put both blades on my buddies scms, and no issue. The problem is definitely in the saw. Makita said I had to use their blade and sent me one(for a fee of course). Still the same issue. They then sent me the inner and outer washers and a new bolt, still the same. I was then told must have experienced a kickback and bent the arbor a bit. I can assure you, no kickback had occurred.
With every miter saw I have owned, which pretty much covers all major brands, they all grabbed the small cutoffs or returns at some point. My Kapex has not done this any more or less then my other saws.

I had 2 DeWalt scms and the base broke in half on both of them. Was told I was putting to heavy of lumber on them. These were used for trim only.
All companies will try to minimize, ignore or pass the blame if they can.
Festool claims to be the best engineered and this justifies the cost of the tool. I have a few of their tools and am quite impressed overall.
Hopefully they will acknowledge and come up with a solution for this issue especially since they cost so much more. I don't have an issue spending the money,if the quality and durability are there.

 
Short review. Got the Makita and used all day yesterday. I'm likening it to a fully loaded truck vs the Kapex as zoomy sports.  car.
Makita cuts super smooth. Smoother than the Kapex.
I would say not as ridgid on the slide. A little drift on some big miters on 5/4 material. Not bad, just not the train track performance of the Kapex.
Laser is ok for matching miters, but no where's near the accuracy of the Kapex; however, I can see the blade of the Makita much better. Need to peruse the manual for adjustment options.
Dust collection was 80% of the Kapex. Adequate. I'm running a split hose and had tools hooked up to the other end, so on reduced suction anyway.
Did not worry one bit the motor was gonna unexpectedly grenade. That was nice.
Left it sitting on the job site with a cable through it vs. throwing it in the van. I can absorb a $540 theft loss a little bit easier than a $1600 loss; however, no local purchase options yet for the Makita.
Fixed the idiot button with some 2p-10. Grab, squeeze and cut. Like it should be. Seriously contemplating, modding the Kapex's to remove the horribly over complicated safety trigger.
The full 60 degree both ways is wonderful. I need to use that today on some 1x8 bead board at 51.5 degrees going up along a stair skirt. Should make that pretty easy.
Old Kapex will get sent in to repair head spring which no longer lifts the head. Kinda neutral at this point. That will be warranty trip #3. New Kapex is still a warranty virgin. We shall see.
If you have any questions, Ill try to answer later tonight.
 
KFirestone said:
I don't have an issue spending the money,if the quality and durability are there.

+1.

I didn't really appreciate the saying that buy the best tools you can afford...until I bought the Festool Kapex, Sawstop and the Veritas tools (planes, etc.). They save me a lot of time in getting the finest results possible in my work.

As long as the Kapex lasts, I will not consider any other brands.

Incidentally, both the Kapex and SawStop (fitted with the over-arm tube) have the best dust collection among all other saws I have used. That alone is worth sticking with them.
 
My LS1019L shows up Friday, I'll take some video and pics. Try and post either Friday or Saturday.
 
So my saw arrived yesterday, was a little worried when I saw the box...
0SBunaw.jpg

but it turned out okay
UyRK9mv.jpg


Putting the saw together I did have the infuriating event of the head of the bolt that holds the blade rounding off some. (No I didn't turn it like a regular right handed bolt :) ) Works for now and is secure, but I'm not changing blades to my Diablo 90 tooth until I have a new bolt.

I haven't ran the saw too much but the stock blade does okay. No adjustments were needed to make it square (miter or bevel) I'm not a huge fan of lasers, but if you were to frame with it, I can see how it would be handy. Motor start is smooth, brake doesn't seem as good as kapex. Also I only cut some small pieces of 18mm ply, so haven't tested the grunt.

IWQWPSP.jpg


Dust collection:
Currently I have it hooked up with a 36mm x 3.5m hose. It has performed pretty well. I may do a good cleanup tomorrow then go through 10 cross cuts on a 2x4 and weigh how much I can collect off the area. I won't expect much. Most importantly, seems to do quite well on airborne dust. The design of the adapter leaves something to be desired for my setup, with it coming out the back, you can't get too close to the wall. In my case I actually had to move my table off the wall, the adapter begs for some 3d printed mods.
itFclEL.jpg


Seems solid, not as nice as the Kapex, but cost/performance ratio kills the Kapex.
 
Also for those interested the height is 98mm. Sets on rubber feet so you can level it with bolt tightening.
 
McNally Family said:
Spotted this today:

https://www.burnstools.com/ls1019l-10-dual-slide-compound-miter-saw

Thanks for posting that. I was the first person to buy the saw from them. I really wanted to look it over in person first so it was well worth the drive.

I'll post an update after I have a solid opinion on it's performance.
 
oneeyesquare said:
Short review. Got the Makita and used all day yesterday. I'm likening it to a fully loaded truck vs the Kapex as zoomy sports.  car.
Makita cuts super smooth. Smoother than the Kapex.
I would say not as ridgid on the slide. A little drift on some big miters on 5/4 material. Not bad, just not the train track performance of the Kapex.
Laser is ok for matching miters, but no where's near the accuracy of the Kapex; however, I can see the blade of the Makita much better. Need to peruse the manual for adjustment options.
Dust collection was 80% of the Kapex. Adequate. I'm running a split hose and had tools hooked up to the other end, so on reduced suction anyway.
Did not worry one bit the motor was gonna unexpectedly grenade. That was nice.
Left it sitting on the job site with a cable through it vs. throwing it in the van. I can absorb a $540 theft loss a little bit easier than a $1600 loss; however, no local purchase options yet for the Makita.
Fixed the idiot button with some 2p-10. Grab, squeeze and cut. Like it should be. Seriously contemplating, modding the Kapex's to remove the horribly over complicated safety trigger.
The full 60 degree both ways is wonderful. I need to use that today on some 1x8 bead board at 51.5 degrees going up along a stair skirt. Should make that pretty easy.
Old Kapex will get sent in to repair head spring which no longer lifts the head. Kinda neutral at this point. That will be warranty trip #3. New Kapex is still a warranty virgin. We shall see.
If you have any questions, Ill try to answer later tonight.

Does your saw make a dragging sound when you swing the table from 90 to 45? I just pulled it out of the box and is seems to drag on the UHMW shim. Don't know if that is by design or not?

Thanks,
Gerry
 
So to answer my own question, it is by design.

A heads up for anyone in Canada looking for this saw there are two models the 1019L and the 1019 the 1019L has the laser guide the the 1019 does not. It seems in Canada no one wants to stock the 1019L

Gerry
 
Oldwood said:
Does your saw make a dragging sound when you swing the table from 90 to 45? I just pulled it out of the box and is seems to drag on the UHMW shim. Don't know if that is by design or not?

Thanks,
Gerry

It makes a zipper sound. Like a tent zipper. Smooth action. Works great!
 
if you want the best of the best mitre saw and the saw stays stationary. go to Omga.

the whole thing is made of cast iron except the saw guard and the power on/off button

I had a T50350 and then upgraded to their double mitre saw.

You wont look at anything else ever again.

List price is $4000 USD for a base model.

 
online421 said:
if you want the best of the best mitre saw and the saw stays stationary. go to Omga.

the whole thing is made of cast iron except the saw guard and the power on/off button

I had a T50350 and then upgraded to their double mitre saw.

You wont look at anything else ever again.

List price is $4000 USD for a base model.
The Omga 1P300 is only $1747 USD.
 
ben_r_ said:
online421 said:
if you want the best of the best mitre saw and the saw stays stationary. go to Omga.

the whole thing is made of cast iron except the saw guard and the power on/off button

I had a T50350 and then upgraded to their double mitre saw.

You wont look at anything else ever again.

List price is $4000 USD for a base model.
The Omga 1P300 is only $1747 USD.

thats an option. I was referring to the T50 I had.
 
John1102 said:
I am interested in this saw however I have seen some reviews by individuals such as the wood whisperer that state the saw doesn't stay square co-planer as the blade is slid forward.  The link below is from his video on his Instagram account.  I am wanting to get this saw but not if it can't cut square I am curious what others will say on this subject or makita dealers who carry the saw. 
https://www.instagram.com/p/BX1ZVFMhTzS/?taken-by=woodwhisperer
RKA said:
6:15 in the video

This is unfortunate. Why does it seem so difficult to find an accurate SCMS for a decent price?

This Makita seemed like a contender, but I'm not satisfied with the accuracy issues I keep hearing about.

I feel like there would be more side to side deflection with the way the rails are oriented on this vs the typical side by side layout in Kapex and others.
 
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