Miter Saw Recommendations

  • July 17, 2018 7:01 AM
    Message # 6384858
    Andrew Davis (Administrator)

    I am looking to purchase a new 12 inch miter saw.  Does anyone have recommendations on what brands to buy or what brands to avoid.... I am down on Hitachi, for what it is worth..... also key feature to look for (dust collection?)

  • July 18, 2018 2:24 AM
    Reply # 6386768 on 6384858
    12 inch is going to have more run out than a 10 inch due to plate thickness of the blade.  this makes glue lines in harder wood like maple more visible. 

    Regarding dust collection festool is the best. 


    I dont like the linkage system of the bosch. 


  • July 18, 2018 6:42 AM
    Reply # 6386932 on 6384858
    James Russell (Administrator)

    Check out this guide. Guide


  • July 18, 2018 9:06 PM
    Reply # 6388231 on 6384858
    Deleted user

    I have a festool and it’s a great saw. It’s light weight, small foot print,  dust collection is good (better with the big hose) and  isn’t too loud. 


    I have 2 of the Bosch axial glide at school and I’m quite pleased with them. They are half the price, dust collection is good  (not as good as festool), but it weighs a ton and is a large saw. Great donuts staying at the bench, but if you plan on doing any job site work with it, I’d lean towards the festool. 

    I do regret not considering makita when I’d bought my saws. The miter saws are made in Georgia, and they seem to be well built snd people on Instagram like them. 

    You can check out all of them at Adams Tool and Nail in Leominster. The staff is very knowledgeable and the prices are the same as everywhere else. 

  • July 19, 2018 11:16 AM
    Reply # 6388847 on 6384858
    Deleted user

    I did a fair amount of online and in store research before purchasing my latest miter saw.  I couldn't afford the festool.  I ended up liking the Bosch and Makita.  The Bosch glide mechanism never made me comfortable, but I didn't have a good reason for rejecting it.  I ended up getting the Makita.  I absolutely love it; it's accurate, tight, and smooth.  It's my second Makita miter saw.  I don't have it connected to dust collection , so I can't speak to that.  I have it mounted on a Bosch gravity rise stand that is equally amazing.  I hope to eventually have enough space to permanently mount it, but until then The Bosch stand allows very easy storage and moving.  As an aside, I used American Express membership rewards points and ordered the miter saw through Home Depot so it didn't cost me any cash.

  • August 01, 2018 7:11 PM
    Reply # 6409364 on 6384858

    You've gotten some good, thoughtful advice.  After considering the same brands that others have mentioned, I passed on the Festool as too pricey (though I have their dust collection, Domino, etc.) and selected the Bosch.  Mine is 10" and I could not be happier with it.  Although I wanted the compound mitering feature when buying, I have not had occasion to use it.

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