Miter saws

teejk · Oct 5, 2015

I have had a Dewalt 12" single bevel for years and love it. Unfortunately when I look at the same model sold today (Dewalt 715 I think) it reeks of "cheap". I also have a $99 10" saw for the garage that works "ok" on smaller stuff like baseboard but it doesn't have that solid feel to it. 12" blades are pricey compared to 10" but somehow having that larger blade seems to be safer in my head...completing a cut on most things leaves a little more room between the table and the saw. If it helps you any, I'll add that I started woodworking with cheap stuff (Craftsman, etc.) but with time learned that "buy it once" was the most economical way to go. If I can't afford a quality tool, I wait until I can. Dewalt, Bosch, Delta, Porter Cable (on some stuff like routers but they are now owned by Dewalt so they have been "repositioned" to the bargain line). You'll find better quality I think on the older used stuff in any of those brands.

RSKY · Oct 5, 2015

As you can tell from the replies, a mitre saw is one of the most useful tools you can buy. Even the cheapest, simplest is very handy.

lostcreekranch · Oct 7, 2015

Harbor Freight has a coupon, on their 12" sliding miter saw, for $139.99.

12 in. Double-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw With Laser Guide System

I already have the Craftsman 12" slider that I bought about 5 years ago. Once I got it adjusted, it cuts well with excellent accuracy. I built a large miter saw station with 48" material support tables on both sides of the saw.

I have an upcoming project to build some flower beds with pressure treated landscape timbers and thinking the HF Miter might save wear and tear and the expensive blade on my Craftsman miter saw.

I have a Hitachi portable miter saw base with my 20+ year old Black & Decker 10" miter mounted that I can mount the HF miter saw on.

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BigBoyToys · Oct 7, 2015

I posted earlier regarding the HF saw and with the "Budget Limitation" the OP has in place, your options are limited and you have to spend your money wisely!!! As rlgustafson posted above...it's hard to beat $139 for the HF slider for occasional use and versatility.

My overall philosophy on tool purchases...

I've been fortunate enough to be able to justify in most cases, buying quality tools. My first "high end" woodworking tool was a 10" Delta Unisaw with a 52" Biesemyer fence. It's now 28 years old and this thing has cut thousands of board feet of lumber and still looks and functions like the day I bought it. With today's replacement cost of nearly DOUBLE what I paid, tools of this quality can be looked at as an investment.

Now don't get me wrong...there are times when I know I'm buying a tool that won't be used too often and will look for the best "Bang-For-The-Buck" purchase. HF has fit the bill for some of these. I have a bunch of automotive "Specialty Tools" like Ball Joint Service Kit, Bearing Separator Kit and Seal Driver Kit to mention a few that I purchased from HF. A couple others are a 20 ton press I picked up on sale with a 20% coupon for just under $200, and a stationary metal band saw that's been good for what I need it for. Would I buy them to use in a day to day business where my livelihood depended on them ...NO, but in general, for "occasional use tools", HF is hard to beat. To date they have all server me well and I haven't had to return any of them.

Here's an example of the HF press bending some 1/4" plate...Can't beat that for a couple hundred bucks!!!

Mendonsy · Oct 7, 2015

Nice bender. Did you build that yourself?

BigBoyToys · Oct 7, 2015

Mendonsy said:
Nice bender. Did you build that yourself?

Yea...shortly after purchasing a 91 YJ as a project vehicle to teach my son "automotive work", I picked up a Lincoln 180 MIG and need to do some fabrication. I bought the press and made the bender. It's been great!

He's the one using the press. He learned a ton working on the Jeep and pretty happy with the results.

RSKY · Oct 7, 2015

Nice!!

cdaigle430 · Oct 7, 2015

Bought a demo 10" craftsmen professional double bevel miter saw for $160 8 years ago.This thing has built 2 houses, remodeled one house, one garage and is now on loan to my brother in law for his two story garage. Cant kill it and its very accurat. My only gripe is the laser stopped working 4 years ago and everybody wants to borrow it . Cant wait to get it back so I can finish my breezeway trim.

teejk · Oct 7, 2015

BigBoyToys said:
I posted earlier regarding the HF saw and with the "Budget Limitation" the OP has in place, your options are limited and you have to spend your money wisely!!! As rlgustafson posted above...it's hard to beat $139 for the HF slider for occasional use and versatility.

My overall philosophy on tool purchases...

I've been fortunate enough to be able to justify in most cases, buying quality tools. My first "high end" woodworking tool was a 10" Delta Unisaw with a 52" Biesemyer fence. It's now 28 years old and this thing has cut thousands of board feet of lumber and still looks and functions like the day I bought it. With today's replacement cost of nearly DOUBLE what I paid, tools of this quality can be looked at as an investment.

Now don't get me wrong...there are times when I know I'm buying a tool that won't be used too often and will look for the best "Bang-For-The-Buck" purchase. HF has fit the bill for some of these. I have a bunch of automotive "Specialty Tools" like Ball Joint Service Kit, Bearing Separator Kit and Seal Driver Kit to mention a few that I purchased from HF. A couple others are a 20 ton press I picked up on sale with a 20% coupon for just under $200, and a stationary metal band saw that's been good for what I need it for. Would I buy them to use in a day to day business where my livelihood depended on them ...NO, but in general, for "occasional use tools", HF is hard to beat. To date they have all server me well and I haven't had to return any of them.

Here's an example of the HF press bending some 1/4" plate...Can't beat that for a couple hundred bucks!!!

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I agree on the point of "limited use tools". Sometimes I need a tool that will only be used for a specific project and can't justify the cost of one that can be used everyday. But for the ones that do get used a lot (I would say table saw, miter saw, jointer, planer, hand drills and routers) I only buy good stuff. Btw, a few on-line outfits specialize in the warranty repairs for the quality brands and I have had very good luck buying from them. I save a few pennies plus they seem to be very good at getting the bugs out before they release them back into the world.

teejk · Oct 7, 2015

cdaigle430 said:
Bought a demo 10" craftsmen professional double bevel miter saw for $160 8 years ago.This thing has built 2 houses, remodeled one house, one garage and is now on loan to my brother in law for his two story garage. Cant kill it and its very accurat. My only gripe is the laser stopped working 4 years ago and everybody wants to borrow it . Cant wait to get it back so I can finish my breezeway trim.

Craftsman once owned the world in affordable tools then they ruined it by selling junk. Glad to hear they fixed that but for many of us we'll never go back. Trust is a very fragile commodity.