-
Be sure to read this post! Beware of scammers. https://www.indianagunowners.com/threads/classifieds-new-online-payment-guidelines-rules-paypal-venmo-zelle-etc.511734/
Miter Saw
- Thread starter historian
- Start date
The #1 community for Gun Owners in Indiana
Member Benefits:
Fewer Ads! Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership Discuss anti-gun legislation Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses Discover free outdoor shooting areas View up to date on firearm-related events Share photos & video with other members ...and so much more!
Member Benefits:
A good brand 12". If you have the money, buy a sliding compound miter saw. I 'think' that a 12" will cut a 4X6. In fact, I know it will. You get out to a 2X8, though...and you have to do 2 cuts. I think it advertises on the side how big a board it will cut w/o issue.
I don't know which brand is better. Dewalt, Porter Cable, Bosch, Makita all come to mind as good brands. I'm a big fan of buying once and being done with it(although oddly I didn't do that on reloading stuff...lol) so I tend to stay away from Harbor Freight or other store brands. Craftsman isn't what it once was. Not sure who makes their tools anymore. I'm afraid its probably a bit better than Harbor Freight but I very well could be wrong. Harbor Freight stuff might suit you fine if you only use it once every few months. Mine tends to sit for months at a time, then I pull it out and do some major project, then put it away again for a few months. I have non sliding compound Makita miter saw. 12". It keeps on coming back for more. Its about 5-10 yrs old.
I don't know which brand is better. Dewalt, Porter Cable, Bosch, Makita all come to mind as good brands. I'm a big fan of buying once and being done with it(although oddly I didn't do that on reloading stuff...lol) so I tend to stay away from Harbor Freight or other store brands. Craftsman isn't what it once was. Not sure who makes their tools anymore. I'm afraid its probably a bit better than Harbor Freight but I very well could be wrong. Harbor Freight stuff might suit you fine if you only use it once every few months. Mine tends to sit for months at a time, then I pull it out and do some major project, then put it away again for a few months. I have non sliding compound Makita miter saw. 12". It keeps on coming back for more. Its about 5-10 yrs old.
Yah, a laser guide would be nice. I do most of my cutting outside but if in a shop, I could see that being very nice...
raptrbreth
Sharpshooter
Ding, ding, ding. I got mine on the cheap for a barely use one with a light and a laser.
THIS.
My Delta compound mitre saw (15+ years old) always leave a little bit on 6" lumber and boards (or is it 8" ?). That's why I wish I had a sliding model.
It does cut 4"x4"s without any problem; pretty sure it's just a 10" blade.
Soon the coffee will kick in and I'll start remembering.
Most of the saws out there will do the job okay for most homeowners. Brands like Porter-Cable, Rigid, Dewalt, Ryobi are probably getting the components from the same suppliers and maybe even having them manufactured in the same place.
I have many brands of tools in my shop. I try to buy a particular tool from a company that built it's name on that tool. So for Rigid, I buy hand tools, mostly plumbing. For Porter Cable, I buy electric sanders, for Milwaukee I buy drills and my Sawzall, of course.
Everyone wants to get in the game. Like I said, most of it is probably serviceable for most homeowners but like my guns, I don't want the equipment to be a limiting factor. So I tend to buy the better stuff.
I think Bosch is doing pretty well. Hitachi may be fine, I don't know much about them. DeWalt is what it is. I have a few, but nothing that gets used on a regular basis.
I will not buy anything with a motor or anything that requires precision out of from Harbor Freight. When it comes to cutting wood, I want multiple, repetitive cuts. Loose shafts and out of round shafts will not produce good results no matter how good the operator is.
I have many brands of tools in my shop. I try to buy a particular tool from a company that built it's name on that tool. So for Rigid, I buy hand tools, mostly plumbing. For Porter Cable, I buy electric sanders, for Milwaukee I buy drills and my Sawzall, of course.
Everyone wants to get in the game. Like I said, most of it is probably serviceable for most homeowners but like my guns, I don't want the equipment to be a limiting factor. So I tend to buy the better stuff.
I think Bosch is doing pretty well. Hitachi may be fine, I don't know much about them. DeWalt is what it is. I have a few, but nothing that gets used on a regular basis.
I will not buy anything with a motor or anything that requires precision out of from Harbor Freight. When it comes to cutting wood, I want multiple, repetitive cuts. Loose shafts and out of round shafts will not produce good results no matter how good the operator is.
I bought a used Porter-Cable non-sliding compound 12" from a member here. The laser is truly a time saver. I still have an old Makita 10" non-compound that I bought at Sams for $50 that's still going strong and is great for simple 2x4 projects.
Dewalt used to make some of the highest quality woodworking tools in the cabinet industry. Radial arms saws, drill presses, etc. Fast forward to the 90's when Black and Decker bought them and they started introducing their "yellow" tools. They were basically B&D tools with yellow housings. Then they added some robustness to the tools with better bearings and motors.
I don't know how they are now, but they seem to be working well for a lot of people. I would draw an analogy to a Taurus revolver. A lot of people here would never own one because, well, it's a Taurus. They have "heard" and "read" things about them. Others have owned them for years and they have been a perfectly serviceable firearm for them.
I wouldn't be afraid of DeWalt. They just wouldn't be my first choice.
I have a lot of Porter cable tools that I beat the crap out of when I was still in a service truck. The only one that went Poo was the battery drill. It was still viable but the battery's were toast. I burned down 3 sets with them (2) and decided to step up from the 12V package to a 14 in a Dewalt. They did not live as long as the Porters did. Junk by comparison.
Milwaukee or Ridgid are my go to brands for hand held Batt/elect tools now. Tough as nails.
DeWalt and porter cable are actually now both Black and Decker holdings and I believe are currently made in the same factory.
Hoosier Carry
Expert
Alternative to a stand would be to build your own workstation with a couple base cabinets and a top. Allowing for the miter to sit low and flush with the table top. Then your material will flat across the table and you can make your cuts. Lot of ideas out there if you search rolling miter station.
That is a good idea for a permanent set up.
I have a block I made to hold the work level with the saw.
HubertGummer
Master
They are and the parent company has lowered the quality of Porter Cable. The Idea is that DeWalt is top of the line, Porter cable is consumer grade.
I love my Porter Cable power tools that were made before the merger.
Sawzall and 1/2" combo drill hammer drill. Both have been worked hard. Very hard. (2) 3/8" hand drills and yes, worked very hard and still kick tail. These are probably 20 years old.
Hoosier Carry
Expert
I actually built a station where there is a floating shelf in the center. I can take the shelf out and lay my contractor table saw in the hole, and I have a nice table for ripping. Same table but 2 saws interchangeable.
I was a carpenter for a lot of years and a hobby woodworker for even longer. My dad has a ten inch marital fixed and I've used Hitachi as well as Craftsman and Delta. I personally own an older Dewalt DW 708 twelve inch slide miter that I've used to cut everything from siding to crown moulding. It has served me well for 14 years now. Blades are not way out of hand price wise and being able to cut larger pieces of lumber was a need for me. Full disclosure I haven't used a Ridgid saw but love their cordless tools. My big complaint with Dewalt is their cords, the deteriorate a lot faster than my other tools(Milwaukee,Makita) that being said it's not hard to replace them. Hope this helps.
