bosch or makita 8" sliding mitre saw?

[chris j b]

hi everyone this being my first post please go easy on me

im looking to buy a sliding mitre saw and have a £250 budget, i like the look of the bosch gcm8s and at £200 its hard to resist. having used a 10" makita i know the quality of cut with these machines is top notch but will the 8" one at £250 perform the same and is it any better than the bosch.

it seems to me that the bosch has a slightlybetter spec but having never used on im unsure which to go for.

i mainly do private work inc kitchens,skirts and arcs etc, but do occasionally do a bit of site work so need a saw that will cope with cutting larger lumps aswell, thanks for your replies in advance, chris

 

[marvic18]

Hi chris j b, I was in the same situation as you a few months back. I wanted a sliding mitre saw but didn't know where to go. I looked at the main three - Bosch, Makita and Dewalt and to be honest for the money the Bosch GCM8S offered at lot so I got one. It is a fantastic saw accurate and clean and the trench cutting facitility came in very useful recentley on an oak framed porch I built. The light and laser seemed a bit gimmicky but again I have used them a lot.

 

[busy builder]

I have a Makita and the laser isn't a gimmick IMHO. But very usefull being switchable from left to right. Excellent when cutting mitres on awkward pieces of cornice (for example).

 

[chris j b]

thanks for the replies everyone, i do know the 10" makita cuts beutifully on oak and almost polishes end grain , will the bosch cut as well as the 10" makita

 

[marvic18]

I was making end and shoulder cuts on green oak with the Bosch and for a saw in this price range it coped with the job admirably. It depends what you need it for and your available space, I don't know about the Makita but the Bosch is a very light and compact unit.

 

[wizer]

That's like comparing apples to apples. Both makes are top quality

 

[markwuzere]

i've had the gcm10s for about 2 years now and have used it mainly for site work its a fantastic saw and never given me any problems, cant see the 8" been any different

 

[RogerM]

I've recently bought the Bosch for my decking project. I've never previously used a SCMS, but I'm very pleased with this one. Very solid and accurate cutting. Laser designation line was very useful - but you'll need to adjust it from the box to set it up accurately. Very simple. On offer at the moment from Axminster to include a stand. I paid a little less but without the stand. Sits very happily on my workmate, but that does mean that I have to lift it off regularly to use the workmate for other handtool work. However, buying a second workmate may be a more versatile solution than a purpose made stand.

 

[markwuzere]

i bought the stand with mine at the time and wouldn,t be without it makes working with longer timbers so easy