Thoughts please on Sliding Mitre Saw

[Richard Findley]

Hi all,

I'm in need of a SMS for a particular job which will no doubt come in handy for wood prep in the future as well. I spotted this Axminster model:

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Axminster-AWSMS102-250mm-Slide-Mitre-Saw-796854.htm

It's an Axminster own brand but the specs look good and my past experiences of Axi own brands have all been good but..... it's a **** of a lot cheaper than many others. Why? Should I go for the "next model up" which is a Jet:

But seems to have exactly the same specs. See info here: http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Jet-JSMS-10L-Slide-Mitre-Saw-480455.htm

What would I be getting extra for my money do you think??

I've used the Makita:

It's a great machine but that's mega bucks and for the amount of use it's gonna get I really can't justify it.

All thoughts welcome.

Cheers,

Richard

 

[Anonymous]

I've had few sliding mitre saws over the years and whilst they have been pretty good, they really aren't THAT accurate unless you are very rich and spend £400-500

Having said that, for 90 and 45 degrees, I always use a shooting board if the cut matters and a roughly accurate cut is fine.

Just don't expect high accuracy from them and you won't be disappointed


For the record, I now have a nice, accurate Dewalt mitre saw (much more accurate than a slider of similar price) that is nice and accurate but mostly use the table saw with an Osborne mitre gauge

 

[OPJ]

Generally speaking; the bigger they are, the less accurately they will cut. That's my opinion of the Bosch GCM 12 SD. It's fine for cutting components to length and that but, I cannot get repeatability when I wanted to accurately cut something 6in. order wider. Even with a new blade.

DeWalt claim their DW712 model (I assume this is what Tony has?) to be the most accurate saw they have ever produced; accurate to within 0.1°, I believe. I know someone who has one and he swears by it, even at maximum 300mm width of cut. Best of all, they'll cut 70mm thick and you can get recon. models on eBay for a little over £300! 8) Also, with a 216mm blade, buying spares will be cheaper than with a larger model! :wink:

That's why I'm thinking of down-grading my current saw, at some point... The DW717 has also caught my eye with an increased cutting depth but, I cannot find any reviews.

Metabo have a couple of saws that have induction motors, which would keep the noise down a bit. I've searched high and low for opinions online and there's some debate on the accuracy... Certainly not the confidence people seem to have with the DW712.

Hope this helps!

 

[chippy1970]

Its probably gonna be beyond your budget but you gotta look at this, what a nice saw. http://www.amazon.com/Makita-LS1016L-10 ... 514&sr=1-8

Its out in the States at the moment but if it comes here I want one even though I only bought an LS1013 last year this one looks even better as good as a Kapex if not better and for less than half what a Kapex costs

 

[OPJ]

That is a very nice saw, chippy! :shock: I really like the four rails at the back; that's where the accuracy would come from. Still, why can't more manufacturers (like Hitachi) attempt to replicate the Kapex so that the rails run alongside the saw instead of sticking out the back...? :roll:

 

[wizer]

Hey Richard. What about this one?

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Axmi ... 642366.htm

Might be a tad over you budget but looks like good fun... :shock:

 

[wizer]

Still, why can't more manufacturers (like Hitachi) attempt to replicate the Kapex so that the rails run alongside the saw instead of sticking out the back...? :roll:

Coz these saws are mostly site saws where it doesnt matter. Oh and I think Hitachi got their dual slide saw to the market just before kapex. Who knows who thought of it first.

 

[Richard Findley]

Hi Wizer,

I don't have the spare cash or the space for one of those.... but if you're looking for a fun tool for cross cutting look here: http://www.titaniumstudios.com/tooljunkie/paper/Wadkin1936.pdf on page 6 of 22!!! :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Richard

 

[Bond]

Hi has anyone actually got an Axi SMS? As im 'thinking' about it for
cutting components to size etc

If you have one how good is it?

Im mostly furniture making..

 

[wobblycogs]

I have a Makita LS1214L which I bought last year to mainly do site work with although it's a little heavy to be lugging around much. I've found it to be more than accurate enough for my needs so far and it produces an nice clean cut (would be better if I didn't keep hitting nails).

The biggest test of its accuracy I put it too so far was making a tall octagonal box. The eight sides were cut in bevel mode (e.g. with the blade tilted over) and the base in mitre mode. I didn't check any set up before starting work just set it to what the scales said were the correct angles and got going. I could detect no error in mitre mode and <0.2 deg bevel mode which could well be down to me.

I've noticed a lot of people think a laser on a tool like this isn't worth the photons it's shines with and usually I'd agree. I've found the laser on this tool to be accurate and well worth it. You will still want to check the most accurate cuts by eye but when you are rough trimming it's a huge time saver - you've just got to remember to turn it off :x.

It's certainly not a cheap saw but I like it and would buy one again. Well, actually, I'd wait for the new model to come over here and buy that.

 

[woodbloke]

Still, why can't more manufacturers (like Hitachi) attempt to replicate the Kapex so that the rails run alongside the saw instead of sticking out the back...? :roll:

Coz these saws are mostly site saws where it doesn't matter. Oh and I think Hitachi got their dual slide saw to the market just before kapex. Who knows who thought of it first.

Tom has it here I think...SCMS's and their ilk are primarily site saws, where they're probably invaluable. There are other ways of doing the same sort of cuts in a workshop that mean you don't need a SCMS...bit like the recent Domino discussion :wink: They also eat space which could be better used for something more useful. Two ducats worth, as ever - Rob

 

[maltrout512]

I've had this one for three years and more than matches the yellow ones as well as the price.
http://www.transtools.co.uk/store/p...1830sc-12in-300mm-double-bevel-mitre-saw.html

 

[Dibs-h]

I have a cheap crappy one - but it does cut 300 wide, again I'm not looking for super accurate - reasonably accurate will do.

Having said that I must have paid around £100 for it years ago. But as with all things - buy the best you can afford (at the time) and as with all things - it is ineveitable it will get upgraded at some time in the future.

 

[johnnyb]

i have had the dw 712 and now have the bosch gcm10sd. although for a perfect cut i wouldnt use any slide saw. the difference between the two is remarkable. the dewalt is definitely a coarse saw very noisy and only a single bevel. the bosch is a beauty very smooth and quiet as accurate as these things get and double bevel. also easy to adjust. i would also steer clear of recon mitre saws as they NEED to be accurate to be effective. my recon 712 would cut accurately with the head upright but drop the head to bevel and the cut wasnt square. probably could be adjusted but how? i got rid. i have also dropped my bosch (as its very heavy) off it proprietary stand without moving the settings.

 

[crazylilting]

I have used the dewalt, bosh, ridgid, and the makita. The only one that cuts a long miter straight is the makita. I currently have the 12 inch and love it and would not recommend any other one. The prices have come down and are worth every penny you spend on them. The one i have now doesn't have a laser on it as my last one did (stolen) and miss it a lot. I got mine off ebay for £510 and it came with a stand and a 12volt drill, i'd say good value. Which reminds me i still have the stand in the box if anyone needs one. Just pay the shipping and it is yours.

 

[Streepips]

I have a Fox 10" which is gathering dust. Fine machine, no faults or issues but too heavy a lump to cart about.
So I have a 4 rail 190mm Makita as well. Light, accurate, reliable.
Fox was £150 Makita was £300 plus.
I had a powerpro given once..What a nightmare. Perfect order. as new. just appalling, not a thing right with it.
Friend of mine a full time top end kitchen fitter bought an Aminster SCMS, a white one.and sent it back after two days/ Very disappointing machine.
Had a Rexon a while ago, very good piece of kit until the motor popped for no reason after just 30 months. Not worth the repair cost.
Always a compromise at the cheaper end, but that does not mean that you need to spend DW money to get a decent tool. and you have to ask yourself. Why do I need .003 accuracy from this type of machine? If you realy needed that accuracy you would be working with something else.
Any tool is only as accurate as its operator.

 

[FatFreddysCat]

Its probably gonna be beyond your budget but you gotta look at this, what a nice saw. http://www.amazon.com/Makita-LS1016L-10 ... 514&sr=1-8

........this one looks even better as good as a Kapex if not better and for less than half what a Kapex costs

Unfortunately there have been a lot of negative comment (in the USA on more trade oriented sites) about blade run-out, accuracy, etc as well. Possibly why Makita UK aren't importing it, yet, at least not until the obvious quality issues are ironed out. As to the Kapex, that's not a perfect solution either according to some reports - problems with "graunching" of the turntable, fit and finish issues, etc. That's why some people have taken the "third way", the large and extremely heavy sliding crosscut saws by Milwaukee.

As to the SCMS being a site saw - well most people who seem to buy them are shopfitters, site joiners and the like....... Our requirements are as much for portability as accuracy as you can always "tickle" a joint (and in any case when were walls ever square or plumb?). Only comment on size I'd make is that from experience the bigger the blade, the less accurate the machine - all the 12in saws flex more than their 10in bretheren partly because the bigger blades are no more rigid

 

[ABunning]

Yeah that would be ok probably for round the house use but if your going to be using it professionally i would defo say know, if your looking for a reliable saw that will last i would look no further than a Bosch,Makita Or Dewalt units .They are more expensive than your example unit but they will last.
I have been in the power tool industry & have first hand knowledge on how various saws operate & perform.

If your looking for a good deal on these saws or any other equipment try this link.
http://www.toolforce.com

 

[ndbrown]

I really wanted a Mitre Saw a few years ago for the workshop and read every review I could find. I was struggling to justify or afford a really expensive one, but equally really wanted one that would be accurate and good quality. Decided on the Electra Beckum (Metabo) KGS301 induction motored saw, well built and micro adjustable for squareness / vertical alignment. Bought one second hand of e-bay for £75 and paid another £20 for postage. Have used it extensively with no problems whatsoever. Being induction motored, it very quiet and maintenance free. A real quality piece of construction for a cheap saw price. It wont do trenching cuts due to it's design but you don't need ear defenders to use it either. Just thought you might want another option.
Regards
Nigel