Looking for advice for new chop saw

Re: Looking for advice for new chop saw

Dick Coers

For highest accuracy I use the table saw and a sled. Most accurate little saw I've had was a Hitachi 8 1/2", but that was decades ago. I have a Festool Kapex now. It's very good, but of course at the price.

Re: Looking for advice for new chop saw

Bart Goldberg

I think the Kapex is great, but is it worth 2 1/2 times the price of other chop

saws?

Re: Looking for advice for new chop saw

JL

I think that you will find the majority of the "big name" brands would be equally serviceable. I would not consider a Ryobi - IMO they are cheaply made.

If I were to purchase one at this time, I would really consider the 12" Dewalt DWS780. I would probably get the 12" DeWalt DWS779.

It depends - do you need a double bevel or a single bevel.

The Hitachi, Makita and Bosch would also work. I would get a 12" before I got a 10".

They're not all sloppy...

John in NM

I have a 1990's vintage Hitachi 8.5" saw, one of the first sliders I recall. When the cuts start to stray from perfect, means the blade is getting dull. New blade and the perfect cuts are back. Fantastic saws those were.

Almost forgot...

John in NM

Smaller blade is "generally" going to mean better accuracy. I rarely have to cut anything over 3" thick, so the 8.5" works great for me. If you work much with taller stock - 4x4's or moldings - then you might really benefit from the bigger saws.

Re: Looking for advice for new chop saw

Barry Irby

I have a Makita Compound bevel Chop Saw and I like it.

Be aware the sliding versions generally take up more space. Some of them need a lot of space.

There are some versions that "hang" from some pivoting bars and take up less room to the rear.

And, I believe larger blades are "sloppier" than smaller.

Bart, If you have a dealer around with

Keith Newton

several brands on display, I would pull each out to the end of their travel, then pinch the blade and give it a side to side wiggle. This will give you a pretty good idea about how close tolerances are.

Re: Looking for advice for new chop saw

William Duffield

For conserving space between the fence and the wall (very inefficiently utilized in many shops), nothing comes close to the Festool Kapex. Second best is the Bosch GCM12SD.

Re: Looking for advice for new chop saw

David Yoho

I bought my son a Hitachi Model # C12RSH2 for Christmas. It is a 12" slider with a laser marking system. The cool thing is the compact slide system allows the saw head to slide along fixed rails, for zero clearance. This means it can sit on a bench close to a wall, taking up less space.

If you don't need the cut capacity of a 12" they also have a 10". My son seems pleased with his so far.

Re: Looking for advice for new chop saw

Clint Searl

I had both the Makita 10" and Hitachi 12" w/Laser. Both were reliable and accurate, but the Makita is comfortably portable, while the Hitachi is best set up as a stationary unit. Unless cutting depth is a real requirement, I think the Makita is the better choice.

I'll second the Bosch

Mike Farinella

If I were in the market for a chop shop, I would buy this. As a point of interest, check out the new 12" saw at Harbor Freight. It's $299.

Re: Looking for advice for new chop saw

Jim Dillon

Bart, you didn't tell us what you would like to use your SCMS saw for. That is important when picking the size of the saw. If you anticipate doing large crown molding, or 12-inch wide boards etc., then a larger saw is critical. However, if you are doing routine woodworking, a smaller saw makes more sense. I have had a Makita SCMS 10-incher from the mid-'90s. It has had more-than-enough accuracy for my needs (and ability). However, my saw takes up a LOT of space to the rear, and dust collection is pitiful. If I were shopping today, I would look at the SCMS saws that take up less space to the rear, i.e. Bosch, Makita, Festool etc. In my case, the 10-incher fit my needs. Frankly, I break down my wide rough boards with a jig saw as I have had too many kick-backs cutting wide boards on my SCMS due to pinching of blade caused by a slight bow in the board. Hope this helps. Good luck in your quest. Jim

Re: I'll second the

CharlieL

Mike, the Harbor Freight may be ok, but this one https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fisher-Price-Fun-Imagine-Power-Tool/dp/B005KBVGGQ is probably more reasonably priced and the customer reviews are good.

shadow mark not laser

Thomas Dunlap

The Dewalt that I have uses an LED to cast a shadow of the sawteeth on the work piece. When I changed blades I didn't have to recalibrate a laser line

To me, this could be a deal breaker.

Tom

Re: I'll second the

William Duffield

It's a lot safer, too. No amputations; no kickbacks. And you'll never scorch a piece of cherry.