Compound mitre saw.

[ferg]

It's not really an electrical question but I'm struggling to find unbiased reviews.

I'm looking to get a decent sliding compound mitre saw for personal use.

Woodworking is a hobby of mine and I also have a bit of renovation work to do in the house.

I have in mind this one Makita LS1018LN

I'm a bit of a Dewalt fanboy but this seems to match my needs better.

My main priorities are accuracy and reliability.

Does anyone have any experience of these saws or alternative recommendations?

Cheers.

 

[123]

All the good (and most of the bad) joiners I know have the Dewalt

 

[davesparks]

We've got an evolution compound mitre saw in the workshop, we chose that one because it cuts wood, metal, plastic etc.
It's a bit of a 'jack of all, master of none' kind of thing as it's not quite perfect at anything but good enough for most of what we do.

 

[buzzlightyear]

buy a double bevel saw not a single one .

 

[ruston]

A friend of mine has one of those , he has had it about 15 years plus.
I replaced the motor for him about 10 years ago and it has never missed a beat since.
The original motor failed because of unusual abuse on a rushed job.

 

[richy3333]

The main issue for me was how the rails go backwards on the sliding part of the saw head. It inhibits fitting the saw to a bench when there is a wall behind the saw and close by.

I had the big Dewalt 305mm unit and it was very heavy if you had to move it around.

 

[ferg]

The main issue for me was how the rails go backwards on the sliding part of the saw head. It inhibits fitting the saw to a bench when there is a wall behind the saw and close by.

I had the big Dewalt 305mm unit and it was very heavy if you had to move it around.

I had looked at a Space saving Dewalt one for that reason and also the similar Makita but I'm having a bit of difficulty justifying the cost.

 

[davesparks]

My main priorities are accuracy and reliability.

Accuracy will often be reflected in the effort put in to setting the saw up.
If you take the time to square it up, or tune it to whatever angle you need then you'll get more accurate cuts than if you just trust to the protractor markings on the tool.

 

[ruston]

I had looked at a Space saving Dewalt one for that reason and also the similar Makita but I'm having a bit of difficulty justifying the cost.

Judge that on how many times you wished you had one, and the times you have been dissatisfied with the results of your alternative substitute.

 

[ferg]

Accuracy will often be reflected in the effort put in to setting the saw up.
If you take the time to square it up, or tune it to whatever angle you need then you'll get more accurate cuts than if you just trust to the protractor markings on the tool.

Absolutely. I had to do this with my last saw but the accuracy was terrible when using the sliding function and the head would move slightly if I didn't pay attention when cutting.
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Judge that on how many times you wished you had one, and the times you have been dissatisfied with the results of your alternative substitute.

There is also the fact that if I spend too much on the saw I might end up keeping it company overnight...

 

[Sparky5473]

I’ve got a Festool kapex ks60, very nice to use and super accurate

 

[Pennywise]

Festool as budget wasn't mentioned

 

[telectrix]

don't none of you young whippersnappers use a handsaw? lazy buggers.

 

[richy3333]

I think it's Lewden and they are cheap in Englandshire.

I can't get them from Wholesalers and have seen them only once, jammed in to a crappy proteus board.

I stick to Hager but as they are a good bit dearer customers always go for the Dual board.

Tut, tut...

"signable off"???

signoffable, surely...

I had looked at a Space saving Dewalt one for that reason and also the similar Makita but I'm having a bit of difficulty justifying the cost.

I’m going to get the large kapex as soon as I can slip it past the boss!

 

[NDG Elecs]

I've had the Bosch GSM8SJL for a few years now. Cracking single bevel mitre saw for the price with great cut length.

Mitre saws are more likely to stay accurate if they are not lugged about in and out of vans a lot. Mine has been lugged about a lot and is still sufficiently accurate.

 

[Baddegg]

If you look up robin clevet on YouTube, genius carpenter who has tools thrown at him he has festool mafell and hickori gear but his chop saw and on site table saw is dewalt...must be a reason..

 

[ruston]

Maybe a bit of subtle product placement .

 

[static zap]

Do any have soft start ?
My cheapie starts with a
"Manly _Clang" and robs the garage supply of a
half-cycle .

 

[Baddegg]

Maybe a bit of subtle product placement .

Could be but he had them even in the earlier videos...

 

[ruston]

Could be but he had them even in the earlier videos...

To be fair it is excellent gear too, it is just a matter of personal preference. Another of my mates is a joiner/locksmith and he has mainly Dewalt, but has a lot of Makita too,
They both work hard and do the job with very few problems.

 

[Baddegg]

To be fair it is excellent gear too, it is just a matter of personal preference. Another of my mates is a joiner/locksmith and he has mainly Dewalt, but has a lot of Makita too,
They both work hard and do the job with very few problems.

Yeah there’s not really any difference between the two....or any other brands really untill you get upto festool mafell etc, but if you drop one of them on site they’ll be tears ?......Mafell jigsaw.....£600 odd ?

 

[ruston]

Yeah there’s not really any difference between the two....or any other brands really untill you get upto festool mafell etc, but if you drop one of them on site they’ll be tears ?......Mafell jigsaw.....£600 odd ?

It's no wonder the thieves are after the vans at those prices. The amount of gear like that joiners need , it must be a nightmare on a site looking after it.

 

[derek]

When I last worked in domestic in London most of the chippies had boxes and boxes of festool gear. My god it's expensive and most of them said buying it was a bit like an addiction, but the work those chippies put out was perfect.
I bought a £150 evolution mitre saw from Screwfix, it cuts 300 x 80mm with a multipurpose blade TCT and does for my DIY but if I was setting up a workshop for more serious woodwork then I'd probably spend a bit more and get a double bevel one as Buzz mentioned.

 

[Midwest]

I concur the need for accuracy. I bought a Erbauer chop saw from Screwfix. I've been abusing it from day one, so its accuracy on cutting mitre joints is below par now. Its laser light for marking is dangling down, after it got hit by an offcut. Mind your fingers as well!

Get one that you can get a stand for, and invest in some decent trestle tables, ones with rollers even better.

 

[Baddegg]

It is addictive, I’m a wood butcher originally and I use three different mitre saws 2 dewalts, one for just chopping wood to length, studs etc one for second fix, oak skirts, balustrades and the like and I also have an evolution one with their dual wood/metal blades if I’m working with reclaimed timber (I do this a lot) that I suspect has nails in it, I have some festool gear that stays in my workshop at home.....I think @Pete999 would call me a “Tool Tart” ?
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It's no wonder the thieves are after the vans at those prices. The amount of gear like that joiners need , it must be a nightmare on a site looking after it.

To be fair unless you are making high end cabinets with a hardwood, any decent chippie would get good results with dewalt/makita etc by just putting a really good blade in em, and setting them up square ?

 

[Pete999]

It is addictive, I’m a wood butcher originally and I use three different mitre saws 2 dewalts, one for just chopping wood to length, studs etc one for second fix, oak skirts, balustrades and the like and I also have an evolution one with their dual wood/metal blades if I’m working with reclaimed timber (I do this a lot) that I suspect has nails in it, I have some festool gear that stays in my workshop at home.....I think @Pete999 would call me a “Tool Tart” ?
[automerge]1590221091[/automerge]

To be fair unless you are making high end cabinets with a hardwood, any decent chippie would get good results with dewalt/makita etc by just putting a really good blade in em, and setting them up square ?

Nothing wrong with having a fondness for shiny objects Mate

 

[Midwest]

What bald headed men

 

[Pete999]

What bald headed men

Tools, , , ,

 

[Timbo]

I’ve got a Festool kapex ks60, very nice to use and super accurate

Got the Kapex 120, on the wheeled stand. Awesome bit of kit. Also the angle finder is very useful addition.

Got the big rail saw as well.

 

[Midwest]

What bald headed men

Tools, , , ,

Just because some are follicle challenged, there’s no need to be insulting

 

[ferg]

Got the Kapex 120, on the wheeled stand. Awesome bit of kit. Also the angle finder is very useful addition.

Got the big rail saw as well.

As tempting as that is....... it is perhaps a little out of my budget range.

The spindle moulder on my combi machine is probably beyond repair as water got to it over the winter and the spacers have stuck to the spindle.

So that will be something else to add to the purchase list.

 

[davesparks]

As tempting as that is....... it is perhaps a little out of my budget range.

The spindle moulder on my combi machine is probably beyond repair as water got to it over the winter and the spacers have stuck to the spindle.

So that will be something else to add to the purchase list.

Which combination machine do you have?

I want to get one and keep trawling ebay for something second-hand.

 

[ipf]

What bald headed men

I knew one of them, a joiner with a workshop. I used to use his old circular and band saws, when needed. That suddenly stopped when 40 years of experience went down the drain as he chopped three and a half fingers off one hand.....and still his smoke never left his lips.

 

[Midwest]

I knew one of them, a joiner with a workshop. I used to use his old circular and band saws, when needed. That suddenly stopped when 40 years of experience went down the drain as he chopped three and a half fingers off one hand.....and still his smoke never left his lips.

I had an unfortunate dalliance once, with a circular saw. Managed to retain all my digits, due to the excellent work of my surgeon. Still gives me heebie jeebies, just thinking about it.

 

[ferg]

Which combination machine do you have?

I want to get one and keep trawling ebay for something second-hand.

I have a Maxi 26 plus and have had it for a long time.

I wouldn't go near it TBH.

It's ok for my needs but it's not very well made.

I imagine someone like you would be ok with it as you like old Landrovers.

Can't get parts for it anymore.

I'll be replacing it with separates over the next couple of years I think.

 

[ferg]

I decided to go for the Makita in the end.

Thanks for all the input guys it made my choice an informed one.