What Miter Saw to buy, slide or chop??

[JimmyC]

I've got a Makita and a Delta 10" MS, I also have a Dewalt 12" SCMS. For what it's worth, they all do a good job. My Dewalt SCMS is mounted on a Ridgid MS table, it may be heavy, but it rolls around great even up and down stairs.

I love the SCMS because it does everything, and when I move it around, it's a complete work area. Besides hardwoods it cuts pt 6x6's like a hot knife through butter. I use it for everything.

That being said, I think you could probably do 99% of your work with a 12" CMS, and you would be happy.

Jimmy

ps. This is my opinion, and my wife tells me it's pretty much disregarded in the lower 48 states.

[McRabbet]

You'll undoubtedly get as many suggestions as answers here, but in my experience, a 12" CMS is an excellent mid-priced choice. I have a Porter-Cable 3802 dual laser 12 inch (I had used Steve DeWeese's on one of our deck projects and loved it) that I bought on Amazon.com last year for about $265 and bought a Freud 96-tooth Ultimate crosscut blade at the same time. This saw is easy to use, has two adjustable lasers to mark right and left-side cuts and will crosscut an 8 inch board. I have a Grizzly Mitersaw stand for field work and am designing a station for my shop. I like it and use it a ton!

[Travis]

Thanks for all of the great feedback. I am always impressed with the well thought out opinions I receive on the forum. I have decided to go with a 12 CMS DeWalt. I beleive it will serve me well.