Well my old Kolbalt sliding compound miter saw just wasn't making it. I tried to adjust it several times, I would get 90 degrees dead on, but the 45 degrees were off. I decided I would upgrade and bought the Bosch 12" compound miter saw. I liked the idea it could sit just about against the wall.
Now on to the upgrades. My old Kolbalt had little flat pieces that I could raise up to make a stop. The Bosch this is an upgrade and cost about $10.00 per side. I had also made a zero clearance insert for the Kolbalt, so the Bosch needed one also.
I bought two bolts four flat washers and two locking washers total cost .60 cents. I then bought a package of corner bracing for ~$5.00. I had to drill out one hole on each brace for the bolts to fit though. The bolts are 6mm x 30mm.
I had a scrape piece of 1/2 inch ply sitting around to make the zero clearance insert from. For a total cost of ~$6.00 I now have two stops and a ZC insert.
quick image upload
I'm Cheap but it works. Bosch 12" miter saw upgrades
Posts
Re: I'm Cheap but it works. Bosch 12" miter saw upgrades
#2Mike - looks great. I'm cheap/frugal too, so your title got me!
I seldom have reason to use stops on my MS, so I have not made any.
I your pics are clear; but I still have some difficulty understanding exactly how your stops attach to the 'back' fence. Another pic or two might help me understand. A bit more context in the pic might also help - i.e. not such a closeup. Sorry to be not too quick here - these do look like what I'd use, but I'm just not quite understanding.
Pic requests:
- Maybe a shot showing both side of the saw (l/r)? Presumably a stop on each side?
- A lower angle shot might help me see the attachment more clearly
- Maybe a shot from the back of the fence?
Henry
Re: I'm Cheap but it works. Bosch 12" miter saw upgrades
#3Here are a few more shots. If I have to cut the same length over and over again, like the side of a drawer for multiple drawers. I will take my time and measure from the side of tooth on the blade out and put a stop. On most newer sliding miter saws they have wings that slide out to support the board. I use these to place a stop on so I can make sure each board is the exact same length. I placed a board on the saw so you can see how I use it. I can use either stop on the right of the blade or the left depending on what I am cutting. 
vietnamese characters
Re: I'm Cheap but it works. Bosch 12" miter saw upgrades
#4Ahhh I see now. Both the first and second pictures clued me in, last 2 helped as well. Thanks.
These are attached to the 'sliding' support arms of the MS. Right? I previously thought they were attached to the 'back fence'.
So are they limited to usage for pieces of a specific length range?
- Shortest is from the blade to the edge of the table.
- Longest from the blade to the end of the support fully extended.
Useful addition/modification - thanks for posting the idea.
Your new MS beats the heck out my old ones in terms of these support arms (and likely most features). Mine are 'close to' the right height, at best, and are nothing more than a formed/bent-to-shape rod, U-shaped with a raised-up center portion at the end.
Henry
Re: I'm Cheap but it works. Bosch 12" miter saw upgrades
#5So are they limited to usage for pieces of a specific length range?
- Shortest is from the blade to the edge of the table.
- Longest from the blade to the end of the support fully extended.
Yes to both of these. My mobile stand has stops built into also, so I can got out to around 5 feet.
Mike