Sliding Compound Miter Saw (SCMS)

M

MacMitch

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Mar 17, 2007
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The DeWalt 12" saw I have used for the last 14 years is about worn out, and I am tired of carrying the thing between multiple work sites on my 12 acres home/business. I have no plans to cut thick wood or cut big fancy crown molding, my house & business are more Shaker or Dutch Colonial, flat boards for trim.

I am thinking about the Makita LS0714. the major features I like: around 28 lbs (about the same weight as dog food bags I'm use to), good dust extraction port that apparently works well without heavy suction, accurate, cheaper/smaller kerf 7 1/2 blades, four steel poles, clean cuts, gets very good reviews...

I do frequent small/medium construction projects at different locations, this type saw sees regular use. I am working my way out of the construction projects and more into cabinet making and furniture. I am trying to do more work in the shop I am trying to finish up. I think one of these saws on a Grizzly H7657 or Denali Mitre Saw Stand might suit me well. The Kapex is more than I need.

I found this post and the other one within this one:
http://festoolownersgroup.com/other-tools-accessories/best-scmscms-for-non-festoolian/

Anything else out there I should think about?
 
I have this Makita saw and it is a great piece of kit but as Warner points out you are limited in depth of cut.

It is real good for small trim and small cornice moulding and I use it for fitting kitchen trims such as kick boards, infils and the like. Even though its depth of cut is limited it will still crosscut 300mm (oops 12") [big grin]

If you are not thinking of using for "bigger" cross cutting, I would highly recommend it

Guy
 
I have the 12" Dewalt Mitre saw (not a slider), but in about 14 years of projects I almost never cut anything thicker than 1 1/2". The occasional 4/4 ( 3 1/2") and once a bunch of 6x6 ( just did it with a reciprocating saw). The 4x4 & 6x6 I have used did not need to be cut accurately any way. I guess builders and carpenters frequently need to cut thick fancy molding but I will never be doing that. 99% of what I have done in the past is just cutting dimensioned lumber to length, 2x? being the thickest. I don't see me needing to cut anything wider than 12" either. I have a INCA band saw that I can cut thicker or wider things with if I have to. Other than crown molding I can't figure out what might require cutting thicker pieces?

I have a home, shop, building for my business, dog kennels with small building, decks, storage sheds... I currently have improvement projects going on in three different locations. A mitre saw that I could move around and set up quickly on a nice stand for cutting lumber is my most frequent usage, mostly 2X4, 2x6 up to maybe 2x10. I use simple 1x3 for trim. Plywood I cut on a table with my TS55. I rip long boards on my table saw. I cut Hardi  board with a circle saw & diamond blade.

Don't most wood workers cut larger pieces of solid wood with a band saw? I finished a basement, built a two story 60x40 ' building, made a new room in attic space for my daughter, built a wood shed, two animal buildings...I don't remember ever thinking I needed a large capacity mitre saw. I do remember wishing I had a smaller sliding saw on many an occasion.

Is there any other sliding saw with a small blade I should consider?
 
Well, there is the original SCMS...

tylertool_2137_377629121


8-1/2", 31#, 9.2 amps

And you can buy a brand new one for just $203 delivered here if you act fast and type NEWYEAR30 in the code box at check-out.

Of course now it's probably made in China like nearly everything but the Kapex...
 
I will second the Hitachi 8 1/2".

I had one years ago, the pea green looking one and like a fool sold it when I got my first 12" saw.

That Hitachi would be a great compliment to my Kapex.

200 bucks is tempting, no I have to go pick up 3 cabinet saws this week, no. [big grin]
 
I would hesitate on Hitachi.I have read very bad reviews on that saw.Go to amazon and read the reviews,not like the original model.
But i do have the 8.5" DeWalt slide saw.Really like it.Not too big but can cut a lot of trim.It only bevel one way but it never stopped me to do anything.
The Makita seems to be allright based on the reviews that i read.But 7.25" is somewhat small for my kind of work.
 
My only knowledge of Hitachi tools is anecdotal because I don't actually use them, but I sell them. Since they went to the wacked-out inner city tennis shoe designer look, nobody seems to like their performance. I don't know if they are performing poorly or if people just get a bad feeling about them. My observation is that people who loved their old models don't like the new ones. I think they shot themselves in the foot (wacked-out tennis shoe designer reference).

Tom
 
The LS0714 is a great saw.  It's dust extraction is on par with the Kapex, it cut quality is the same or better than the Kapex ( and blades are $50 dollars cheaper), and you can easily carry it in one hand and store it on a 12" shelf above your head.  The fence is on the small side, the outriggers are OK, the stock clamp is slow but pretty good.

Considering it is only about twice the size of my skill saw and maybe three times as heavy it is really a step up in cut quality for those jobs you don't want to bring out the big miter saw and stand.  I think it would be a great tool in your arsenal and it sounds like a good fit for your applications. 
 
I have a Hitachi 12" compound miter - not a slider - and I truly hate this tool. It is loud as hell, dusty beyond belief and does not cut square. In addition, it is ugly. I have to recalibrate the lasers frequently, god knows why. I have had such a bad experience, but have used the darn thing for 5 years. Although I am a home hobby person, I could see the Kapex being the one and final ever miter saw for me. Now the new Bosch is tempting, but I'm waiting to see how it does for a while. If I get a new saw it will be super accurate, give great quality cuts and collect dust. Seems like a lot to ask.

 
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