To briefly review miter saw miter saw itself, they are generally designed to produce fast, accurate crosscuts into a workpiece, typically for framing or molding applications. Additionally, there are several types of miter saw available. The standard miter has a blade pivot from right to left to cut miters; this standard saw is however Makita becoming less popular as compound miters have more applications and are only slightly more expensive. Compound miters have the ability to bevel cut, or tip the blade to either the left or right side (0° – 50°). Some can bevel in both directions allowing operators to miter and bevel within the same cut (-50° through 50°). Lastly, a sliding miter saw is just like a compound miter but with extension rods that allow the saw blade and motor to move forward and back. This motion increases the blade cut capacity enabling the cut length to be longer than the blade diameter. Sliding compound miter saws also have a depth cut setting to cut dadoes into materials at a variety of depths – with all these perks, however, they also tend to be the most expensive.
With so much variety within the miter saw community, it can be difficult to discern which miter saw best suits your specific degree of need. It is true that professional builders generally require an entirely different saw than those craftsmen engaging only in simple home repairs. Ultimately, despite this surplus of options, there is a right miter saw for every craftsmen. Beginning, for our contractors and Bravehearts, with the most heavy-duty, high-quality miter saws on the market today, Makita, Festool, and Bosch each build machines capable of reinventing the miter saw as we know it.
Makita’s LS1016L, with a 10″ capacity is brilliantly handsome at no sacrifice to quality or functionality. As a dual-bevel sliding compound miter saw is also has some pretty exclusive technologies that quickly solidify this tool as a giant among other miters. The saw weighs only 52.2 lbs, and boasts the most compact design in its class. This, coupled with an exclusive dual sliding fence system (which allows for upper and lower fence adjustments which, in turn, equals greater cutting accuracy) and a linear ball bearing construction, renders the saw impossibly smooth, solid, and always accurate. This little giant from Makita is tough and smooth, and offers craftsmen a smaller, lighter, more manageable saw while still delivering authoritative power and all the innovative perks of an industrial saw.
Bosch also builds an exceptional miter saw; their 5412L dual bevel sliding miter saw is extremely powerful with large capacities and up-front controls. Although a bit heavier than some other models, the 5412 12″ capacity miter saw is an ergonomic wonderland with a specially designed multi-position main handle that allows craftsmen to comfortably lock into four different positions. The tool also has sliding extensions slide that come standard and make working with longer pieces of stock and lumber much more manageable if not wholly enticing. The miter also features high fences (a crowd pleaser every time) to accommodate workpieces like large crown molding. A good fence is a big benefit, and this saw offers not only that, but the confidence of a strong and durable tool.