Miter Saws

[kuschneider]

You can track down a miter saw off craigslist easy peazy, maybe upgrade the blade if need be. I have an old 10" Delta Shopmaster, did a lot with it, include framing the interior walls of my hunting place. Did the baseboards of my current 2 story house with a finished basement. Added a 12" sliding compound Ryobi to the mix. A good stand is essential. I have a finish blade on the big saw, and just construction blade on the small saw.

 

[BigBlue1]

I got mine via menards for just over $300. They go on sales at Home Depot, but I never saw it that cheap at those stores.

The 12" Cruzer sliding compound miter saw? Never seen it that cheap at Menards or anywhere. Must have been a rare deal. $499 is the cheapest I found in the past 6 months, with 11% rebate from Menards or HD.

Rob

 

[goeduck]

I have about a 10 year old Hitachi 12" sliding compound miter saw that I mounted on a Bosch foldable stand that I love. I am confused on Metabo and Hitachi going forward. I do not know if they merged or what. I bought a framing nailer and an electric drill from Metabo thinking they were Hitachi per the advertisements. Quality is great but batteries and chargers are different. Same voltage. WTF?

 

[buck12]

Now that the OP has bought a saw, I do not feel like I am hi jacking the thread. What is the best general purpose miter saw that will not break the bank?

I bought a 12” Dewalt sliding saw last summer to replace an old Craftsman saw. I am very pleased with the saw. It came with a cheap contractors blade which I never installed. I instead bought and installed a carbide Harbor Freight blade. It is the blue blade. I think I paid about $30 for it.

I have used the blade to install trim, shelving, ship ladder, etc for our entire cabin. I also have built two workbenches at the cabin using this blade as well as just general cutting. The blade has been really good until last night. I had a little trim left to finish up the loft and the blade seemed very dull. It just did not cut as well as it has been cutting.

Two weeks ago I used the saw to install laminate flooring in the loft and I suppose that dulled the blade. I just need a blade for general construction and trim work, no fine wood working.

My next project is a privacy fence at our house which the original Dewalt blade will work for but I would like to get another good all around blade. Recommendations appreciated.

 

[Rebeldad1]

Dewalt has a DEWALT Construction 12-in 60-Tooth Tungsten Carbide-Tipped Steel Miter Saw Blade
Amazon $40.00 free shipping

 

[czechsonofagun]

Years back I bough for 50 bucks radial arm saw made by Sears. It does everything miter saw will do and more.

 

[Rebeldad1]

Years back I bough for 50 bucks radial arm saw made by Sears. It does everything miter saw will do and more.

I can pick my miter saw up with 1 hand.
Put it in the back of the truck
Take it into a house
set it up outside. etc
but would love to have a radial arm saw...if I had the room

 

[buck12]

Radial arm saws are great but take valuable floor space. A friend offered me a free older Craftsman radial arm saw last week. He had the saw stored in a shed at a house that he has been renting out. He is selling the house and getting his stuff out of the shed and does not want the saw in his current shop.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I sold my last radial arm saw about 2 weeks after I bought my first sliding miter saw. About 30 years ago. Never thought about it again.

 

[czechsonofagun]

There was a recall on radial saw due to high number of injuries. If you get one, check with Sears using the serial number. I got new table and redesigned blade cover for free.

 

[PILOON]

I have done a lot of DIY work, built 5 houses and renovations for many years.
The only injury I ever sustained from power tools was a from a radial arm saw.
And from the original De Walt built like an armored truck. All cast iron structure and heavy.
I was ripping a board and the saw grabbed it and drove it into my rib cage and bruised me.
Being 'bit once' I then always stood off to the side but again it grabbed a board and drove it across the room.
Ripping sure was not their strong point.

Sold it!
Bought a good chop saw and HD table saw instead.

Yes, recalls on some more cheaply made versions, many of which used a bent aluminum like structure.
Added is that accurate set up for precise work is almost impossible.
My De Walt came from a picture frame shop that never ever was able to make a decent 45 deg cut for framing. (and I tried also)

 

[jaydee325]

Radial arm saws are great but take valuable floor space. A friend offered me a free older Craftsman radial arm saw last week. He had the saw stored in a shed at a house that he has been renting out. He is selling the house and getting his stuff out of the shed and does not want the saw in his current shop.

This is me also. Was moving to a smaller house/property and just did not have the room for the radial arm saw. Tried to sell it, but there was a glut of them on Craigs List, so it was recycled!

 

[BigBlue1]

I have the shop space if anyone wants to offload an old-school radial arm saw! Promise I'll give it a good home.

 

[kenmac]

You say occasional use. I bought a HF 10'' compound slide about 15 years ago. Cheapest one they made.
I built a den and cut all the trim for it. I have cut I don't know how many 4x4 post for fencing. I have really been impressed.
Using this thing around the farm, I never expected it to last this long. Especially cutting as many 4x4 post as I have.

It doesn't have a large enough stop /fence ? to be able to cut crown molding. But I don't expect to be cutting any

 

[PILOON]

Lucky me.
My current radial is a Makita, 12 inch slider that cuts 4 x 4's left or right @ 45 deg's.
Even has a laser to aim. (never use it)
I was a swap as a friend wanted my earlier Makita 10 inch as it was more compact.

Due to weird circumstances, (like right time right place), my total investment is actually $200. all told, both saws.

Blades came next. 12" aren't given away, but on a liquidation table I got a nice 12' finishing blade with one tooth knocked off, clerk dropped it!---$$12.00!

Most miter saws are cast from white metal, not aluminum.
One must be very careful lugging them from and to job sites.
I went so far as to custom build a plywood carry tote 'box' to protect mine in transit.
You never know, bumping down a country road anything can fall off of an upper shelf and put that saw out of alignment.
After some 12 years of contracting it remained as accurate as when new.