QUICK NOTE: To buy any product reviewed below, click on the Buy Now button to go directly to the appropriate page on another secure site to get more information on that product and/or make a purchase. The “Bob’s Pick” logo below indicates which of the products below has earned Bob Gillespies highest purchase recommendation. Below the reviews is a SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON CHART and, finally, an article by Bob Gillespie on important features to consider when shopping and why.
BOSCH 12 MODEL 5412 SLIDING COMPOUND MITER SAW
The most remarkable thing about this saw is the fact that its controls are all accessible from the front. The multi-function handle makes adjusting the bevel a breeze. The miter settings are adjustable in micro fine increments. The base measures 25 ½ inches and the built-in extensions increase that to 40. The machine features tall (4.5) sliding fences for cutting crown molding. Etched into both the base fence and the extended fences are bevel and miter scales for easy setting of accurate bevel and miter angles. The wedge and slot miter detents insure long life without wear that causes inaccuracies over time in other saws. 31.6 and 33.6-degree bevel detents are provided for quick and accurate cuts in crown molding. This saw has a miter detent override feature so that you can use accurate settings just to the right or left of a detent. An electric brake stops the blade in seconds which is handy for repetitive cuts. A spindle lock is provided for quick blade changes. This 12 model is priced at around $570. A similar 10 saw, Bosch Model 4410L, can be had for about $550.
DEWALT 12 MODEL DW 718 SLIDING COMPOUND MITER SAW
This model features an innovative back fence design that allows deeper and wider cuts than would normally be available on a saw of this size. In fact, this machine can cut base molding up to 6 ½ when standing vertically against the back fence. Using the same back fence feature, dimensional lumber of up to 2 x 16 can be cut at 90 degrees or 2 x 12 at 45 degrees. A miter detent override allows cuts right next to detents. 10 positive miter stops are provided. A cam lock on the miter handle makes miter changes quick and easy. Bevels of 0-48 degrees are possible in both directions. This saw is the noisiest of the lot reviewed. Online, it is priced at about $500. A DeWalt 10 Model DW 717 can be purchased for around $500.
FESTOOL 10 MODEL KS 120EB SLIDING COMPOUND MITER SAW
No doubt this is a fine saw and smoothness and accuracy are its German-engineered calling cards. However, like all Festool products, this one comes with a very large price tag when compared to the competition. Perhaps Festool would argue that there IS no competition. Ill let you be the judge of that. The machine offers a unique rail front design that makes it possible for the saw to be operated right up against a wall and makes it easier to carry. The bevel range is 47 degrees to either side and the base table rotates 50 degrees to the left and 60 degrees to the right. Molding up to 4 ¾ can be trimmed and lumber up to 3 can be cut. There is a micro fine bevel adjustment capability and a unique double laser that marks both sides of the kerf simultaneously. This is the only variable speed unit reviewed. An included angle transfer device takes angle measurements directly from the wall and then transfers them to the machine for exact cuts into baseboard or molding. There is no 12 model available. Be aware than the blades arbor hole is measured in millimeters and so you may be stuck with buying your blades from Festool or another European manufacturer. Priced at $1300 everywhere.
HITACHI 12 MODEL C12LSH SLIDING COMPOUND MITER SAW
This saw comes with a digital display, mounted right up high, which swivels to where it can be easily read showing both miter and bevel angles. This, coupled with micro fine miter and bevel adjustments, assures precise settings for accurate cuts. A compact slide system allows the saw to travel along fixed rails, eliminating the need for rear clearance. A large, pivoting fence makes 4 11/16 crown molding cuts possible. Easy access to motor brushes makes periodic maintenance easy. This machine includes a single beam laser marker for precise cuts. Priced at around $639 online.
A 10 Model C10FSB is also available and is of a different design featuring a soft start motor, electronic speed control and electric brake. The 10 machine is priced around $529.
JET 12 MODEL JHS-12SCMS SLIDING COMPOUND MITER SAW
This unit features an innovative green XACTA laser guide that projects an accurate laser line that is easy to read, even outdoors. The 15 Amp motor has an electric brake for repetitive cuts. An integrated cord wrap means you wont have to drag a loose cord trailing in the dirt. The unit features up-front controls, 5 bevel detents and 10 miter detents. Find one online for about $670. A 10 Model JMS-105CMS is available for around $480.
MAKITA 12 MODEL LS1216L SLIDING COMPOUND MITER SAW
Makita makes a lot of miter saw models but this one has it all, including a laser marker. It has 9 Miter detents but its miter swing is limited to 45 degrees left and right. It has a 15 Amp direct drive motor with electronic speed control to maintain blade RPMs through the toughest cuts. With direct drive, you definitely want the soft start feature and this saw includes that, as well. An electric brake stops the saw blade as soon as the power switch is released. It has a large turning base and an adjustable fence for supporting larger stock and crown molding. It can crosscut 4×12 material at 90 degrees. This model sells online for around $620. A similar 10 Model LS 1016L runs about $480.
MILWAUKEE 12 MODEL 6955-20 SLIDING COMPOUND MITER SAW
The thing that stands out about this saw as opposed to the other woodworking tools reviewed here is the miter angle digital readout located at the operator end of the miter arm. With this, you can achieve repeatable accuracy to one-tenth of a degree. The micro fine adjustment knob makes it simple to dial in these precise measurements and the detent override allows you to go as close to a detent as you need to. The 15 Amp, 3.3 HP motor gives you more than sufficient power to zip through the thickest and hardest of lumber. Constant power management allows the motor to maintain its speed while cutting and soft start keeps the head from jumping on start-up. Two lights, one on each side of the blade, illuminate the cut. Bevel adjustments can be made from zero to 48 degrees on each side with a single lever. A 10 model is not available. Priced around $649.
SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON CHART:
SLIDING COMPOUND MITER SAWS
| TWELVE INCH SAWS: | |||||||
| Bosch 12″ | DeWalt 12″ | Festool | Hitachi 12″ | Jet 12″ | Makita 12″ | Milwaukee 12″ | |
| Model Number | 5412 | DW718 | See Below | C12LSH | JMS-12SCMS | LS1214FL | 6955-20 |
| Amps | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | |
| Approx. Online Price | $550 | $500 | $639 | $670 | $620 | $649 | |
| Arbor Size | 5/8″ or 1″ | 1″ | |||||
| Base Width | 25.5″ | ||||||
| Base Width with Ext. | 40″ | ||||||
| Belt Drive Motor | X | X | X | ||||
| Bevel Control on Front | X | ||||||
| Bevel Detents | 7 | 5 | 9 | ||||
| Bevel Fine Adjustment | X | ||||||
| Bevel Left (max) | 45 | 45 | 48 | ||||
| Bevel Right (max) | 45 | 45 | 48 | ||||
| Blade Included | Carbide, 60T | Carbide | Carbide, 70T | X | |||
| Brush Access (Motor) | X | ||||||
| Cam Lock Miter Handle | X | X | |||||
| Cord Wrap (Integrated) | X | ||||||
| Crown Miter Settings | X | ||||||
| Cut @ 45 degrees | 8.5″ | 12″ | 8 21/32″ | 8 5/8″ | 8 5/8″ | ||
| Cut @ 90 degrees | 12″ | 16″ | 12″ | 12″ | 12.25″ | ||
| Digital LCD Scale | X | X | |||||
| Dust Bag Included | X | X | X | ||||
| Bosch 12″ | DeWalt 12″ | Festool | Hitachi 12″ | Jet 12″ | Milwaukee 12″ | ||
| Bosch 12″ | DeWalt 12″ | Festool | Hitachi 12″ | Jet 12″ | |||
| Model Number | 5412 | DW718 | See Below | C12LSH | JMS-12SCMS | LS1214FL | 6955-20 |
| Direct Drive Motor | X | X | |||||
| Elec. Speed Control | X | X | |||||
| Electric Brake | X | X | X | ||||
| Extension Wings | 2 | ||||||
| Height | 28.25″ | ||||||
| HP | 3 | 3.3 | |||||
| Laser | Opt. Extra | Single | Single | Single | |||
| Laser Microfine Adj. | X | ||||||
| Length | 28.5″ | ||||||
| Length Stop Built In | X | ||||||
| Max Fence Height | 4.5″ | 6.5″ | |||||
| Microfine Miter Adj. | X | X | X | ||||
| Miter Detent Override | X | X | |||||
| Miter Detents | X | 10 | 10 | 10 | |||
| Miter Digital Readout | X | ||||||
| Miter Left (degrees) | 52 | 60 | 50 | 46 | 45 | 45 | |
| Miter Right (degrees) | 60 | 50 | 60 | 57 | 45 | 60 | |
| Multi-pos. Handle | X | ||||||
| Rails | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Right Bevel (degrees) | |||||||
| RPM | 3800 | 3600 | 3200 | 3200 | |||
| Soft Start | X | X | |||||
| Bosch 12″ | DeWalt 12″ | Festool | Hitachi 12″ | Jet 12″ | Makita 12″ | Milwaukee 12″ | |
| Model Number | 5412 | DW718 | See Below | C12LSH | JMS-12SCMS | LS1214FL | 6955-20 |
| Spindle Lock | X | ||||||
| Sub-fence (right) | X | ||||||
| Tool Case Included | X | ||||||
| Triangular Rule | X | ||||||
| Up-front Controls | X | X | |||||
| Vert. Cap. (Crown) | 4 11/16″ | ||||||
| Vertical Capacity | 4″ | 4.5″ | 4 7/32″ | 3 7/8″ | |||
| Weight | 67 Lbs. | 52.9 Lbs. | |||||
| Work Clamp | X | X | X | ||||
| Work Light(s) | 1 | 2 | |||||
| Wrench (s) Included | X | X | X | X | |||
| TEN INCH SAWS: | |||||||
| Bosch 10″ | DeWalt 10″ | Festool 10″ | Hitachi 10″ | Jet 10″ | Makita 10″ | ||
| Model Number | 4410L | DW717 | KS 120 EB | C10FSB | JMS-10SCMS | LS1016L | |
| Amps | 15 | 12 | 15 | ||||
| Angle Transfer Device | X | ||||||
| Approx. Online Price | $550 | $500 | $1300 | $529 | $480 | $480 | |
| Arbor Size | 5/8″ | ||||||
| Base Width | 21″ | ||||||
| Base Width with Ext. | 37.25″ | ||||||
| Bevel Adj. Counter Bal, | X | ||||||
| Bevel Angle Left (max) | 45 | 45 | 45 | ||||
| Bevel Angle Right (max) | 45 | 45 | 45 | ||||
| Bevel Detents | 7 | 3 | |||||
| Bevel Fine Adjustment | X | ||||||
| Blade Included | X | X | |||||
| Brush Access (Motor) | X | ||||||
| Cam Lock Miter | X | ||||||
| Cord & Tool Storage | X | ||||||
| Cut @ 45 degrees | 12″ | 8.46″ | |||||
| Cut @ 90 degrees | 14″ | 12″ | 12″ | ||||
| Direct Drive Motor | X | X | |||||
| Dual Bevel | X | X | |||||
| Elec. Speed Control | X | X | |||||
| Electric Brake | X | X | |||||
| Height | 19″ | 18.5″ | |||||
| Laser Microfine Adj. | X | ||||||
| Laser Tracking | Single | Dual | Single | Single | |||
| Length | 37.25″ | 28″ | |||||
| Bosch 10″ | DeWalt 10″ | Festool 10″ | Hitachi 10″ | Jet 10″ | Makita 10″ | ||
| Model Number | 4410L | DW717 | KS 120 EB | C10FSB | JMS-10SCMS | LS1016L | |
| Microfine Miter Adj. | X | X | |||||
| Miter Detent Override | X | ||||||
| Miter Détent Override | X | X | |||||
| Miter Detents | X | 10 | 9 | ||||
| Miter Detents | 11 | 10 | |||||
| Miter Left (degrees) | 60 | 47 | 45 | ||||
| Miter Right (degrees) | 52 | 47 | 57 | ||||
| Multi-pos. Handle | X | ||||||
| Rails | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||
| Right Bevel (degrees) | 46 | ||||||
| Rotary Base Left (deg.) | 50 | ||||||
| Rotary Base Right (deg.) | 60 | ||||||
| RPM | 4800 | 1400-3400 | |||||
| Soft Start | X | ||||||
| Spindle Lock | X | ||||||
| Splinter Guard | X | ||||||
| Triangular Rule | X | ||||||
| Up-front Controls | X | X | |||||
| Vacuum Dust Collection | Opt. Extra | ||||||
| Variable Speed | X | ||||||
| Vert. Cap. (Crown) | 3 5/8″ | 6.25″ | 4.75″ | 6 5/8″ | |||
| Vertical Capacity | 4.75″ | ||||||
| Weight | 55 Lbs. | 51 Lbs. | 47 Lbs. | ||||
| Work Clamp | X | X | X | X | |||
| Work Light | |||||||
| Wrench(s) | X | X |
About Sliding Compound Miter Saws
The sliding compound miter saw tops the list of woodworking tools that can make accurate and smooth angled cuts used in everything from fine cabinet work to house building. It’s lesser cousins include cut-off saws, so-called “chop saws” and any miter saw without the slide.
In this review, we considered the relative merits of various sliding compound miter saws from six different manufacturers: Bosch, DeWalt, Festool, Hitachi, Jet, and Makita Tools. Do you need a 12″ miter saw or will a 10″ miter saw do? The pros of choosing a 12 miter saw over a 10 miter saw are greater cutting height and depth and usually more power. The advantage of a 10 miter saw is lower weight and lower cost. If a 10 miter saw will make all the cuts you can envision making in your shop or on the jobsite, by all means choose the smaller miter saw. The design and quality will be similar or identical within any particular brand. We will review only one miter saw per manufacturer. However, I will point out significant differences between the 12 and the 10 models, if any.
At the very bottom of the reviews, we included a SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON CHART in which the features of all the saws, both 12 and 10 are compared. Obviously features such as maximum height of cut, maximum depth of cut, horsepower and weight are different and you can see those differences in the chart rather than in the reviews.
The obvious advantage of a sliding compound miter saw over a standard miter saw without a slide is that you can crosscut wider lumber in a single pass. With or without the slide, a miter saw can make chop cuts. A chop cut will always give you a finer, smoother result but on wider lumber, you may need to push-through as well and that is what the miter saw slide makes possible.
There are many things to look for in shopping for the best miter saw and which miter saw you pick will depend largely on what you plan to do with the miter saw. If you are looking for a permanently bench-mounted miter saw in a woodworking shop, you dont need to concern yourself so much with size and weight. However, if you are planning to tote your miter saw to and from and around various job sites every day, size and weight will become very important as will a well-located carrying handle.
Most of the woodworking tools (except one) that we will review here are priced in the same neighborhood and so, if you are comparing models, price should not be a consideration with the exception of the Festool 10 miter saw. Festool stakes its reputation on top-quality and innovation in woodworking tools and charges accordingly. The Festool miter saw is an excellent miter saw if you have the money but so are the other contenders at far lower prices.
So, what are you going to be using your miter saw for? If you are just going to be making repetitive crosscuts into 2 x 4 lumber, any of these machines will suffice. You might, however, want to choose one with soft start and an electronic brake. If, on the other hand, you will be making critically accurate cuts into expensive hardwoods or crown molding, it would seem that accuracy, micro fine adjustment controls with digital LCD readout, large vertical height capacity and an excellent laser might top your list of requirements. Is the laser adjustable to left or right of the blade? One miter saw even features dual lasers, one down each side of the blade, clearly and accurately marking out the kerf the blade will make before the cut is made.
Other important considerations relate to bevel and miter adjustments. Look at how far, left and right, these adjustments can be made. Sometimes, 45 degrees just is not enough of an angle. Look how easily and accurately these adjustments can be made on each of these woodworking tools. Does the miter saw allow for micro fine adjustments? How many pre-set detents are there in both the miter and bevel scales? Can you make a cut near, but not exactly on a detent? Is there a miter detent override? Where are the controls and how do they work? Is everything within easy reach and easy to operate?
What kind of blade comes with the saw and what size is the arbor hole? If the answer is something other than 5/8 or 1, you may be locked into buying your blades from the saw manufacturer and you may well find better blades elsewhere. Usually, when I purchase a miter saw, I discard the blade and replace it with one that will make the smoothest, most accurate cuts possible like the Forrest Chopmaster. The extra expense is absolutely worth it if you are making critically accurate joints in fine hardwoods or crown molding. If you are only making rough cuts into Fir for framing, you might want to consider a blade with fewer teeth and a more aggressive cut.
How is dust collection accomplished with each saw? Does the port match the hose on your shop vacuum or will you have to depend on a dust bag? Will you have to buy a new vacuum that fits your miter saw? How much percentage of total dust made by your miter saw will your vacuum system and dust port remove?
Is the motor on the miter saw you are considering direct or belt drive? Does this miter saw have soft start, electronic speed control or variable speed? Is the miter saw motor large enough for the jobs that will be presented to it? How large is the miter saw table (for stability of large work pieces)? How much does the miter saw weigh (for portability)? How is the cord stored when the miter saw is being carried to the jobsite?