The Truth about Sliding Compound Miter Saw Reviews
What is a Sliding Compound Miter Saw?
What a sliding compound miter (or mitre) saw is can be derived from its names. It slides whatever it wants to cut into its saw blades. It’s also a miter saw because it’s capable of making accurate crosscuts and miters in any given work piece. That’s the beauty of it. Its name also described how it has evolved through the years.
As many sliding compound miter saw reviews would point out, the machine used to be a portable saw for two-by-fours. It then doubled in size and weight after its capacity and features were expanded significantly from its more lightweight early version. The new sliding compound miter saws have the ability to angle the blade in relation to both the fence and the table so that you can do compound angle cuts for crown molding and hip roof constructions.
Instead of the basic chopping motion you’d get from a “normal” miter saw that limited the cut size you can get out of your work piece by the diameter of the blade, the new-and-improved compound saws for miter cutting have something called a “powerhead” that slides along the rails, thus you’re getting radial-arm-saw-like functionality from the tool. This review, among many other sliding compound miter saw reviews, understands the importance of full disclosure.
Therefore, here’s what you should expect when it comes to the sliding compound miter saw. This is the type of saw that have a serious bite when it comes to effectiveness, so much so that the market for radial-arm saw (or radial arm saw) is being “strong-armed” by this new saw type.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Sliding Compound Miter Saw
The sliding compound miter saw is perfect for not just sawing for crown moldings and hip roof work pieces; you can also depend on it for cutting custom joints and stiles. Miter saws of the sliding compound variety are also dependable for angular cuts and delicate slices. You’ll see this pointed out many other sliding compound miter saw reviews.
However, it can’t do slices that table saws and radial-arm saws are capable of. Table saws rip wood and can make long strip cuts instead of angular ones and notching stiles in a stable platform. As for radial arm saws, they’re great for cutting up lumber or trimming them down to lengths that are actually usable for your construction needs. Miter saws are smaller and lighter than radial-arm saws.
What this means is that these tools have a reduced tendency of getting knocked out of alignment. Therefore, you can acquire more accurate cuts with miter saws even though it can’t do certain things that the more stable (but unwieldy) table saw and easy-to-use radial-arm saw can accomplish. These are common issues you’ll regularly see addressed in sliding compound miter saw reviews. These saws along with sanders, planers, shapes (or routers), and joiners are all the basic power tools you’d normally see in a woodworking furniture creation shop. Other saw types that you might come across are band saws and the drill press (for pilot holes and dowels), but these are expensive and aren’t absolute necessities.
Reviews of the Best Three Sliding Compound Miter Saws
Here now are some saw reviews on the best sliding compound miter saws around.
DEWALT DWS780 12-Inch Double Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw
What this piece of DEWALT equipment specifically offers that you won’t see in many other saws is its ability to make precise cuts without recalibration. The DWS780 is a miter saw that’s solidly construction and offers a system of cross-cut alignment that’s assured accurate because it makes use of an ultra-bright LED light that casts a shadow on the work surface that allows you to see where to cut without going out of alignment every time due to human error and whatnot. It’s also one of the most durable compound miter saws ever made, with double bevel sliding to boot (perfect for bevel cuts).
From the perspective of the average homeowner who does ordinary home improvement work, the tough, stainless steel miter is great for wannabe handymen out there because it should prove itself your “chop saw” of choice every time.
The XPS cross-cut system in particular is novice-friendly, although even pro handymen approve of this user-friendly utility. It’s one of the most versatile saws you’ll ever see. It’s ready to use from out of the box, is silent when it works, and it’s reasonably portable for a feature-rich, jam-packed miter saw.
It might have doubled in size and weight as a sliding compound miter saw compared to an ordinary miter saw, but that doesn’t mean it’s cumbersome in the least. It’s one of the most well-balanced saws you’ll ever get.
DEWALT DWS782 12-Inch Slide Compound Miter Saw
This version of the DEWALT Compound Miter Saw (the DWS782 versus the DWS780) shares many features. They’re both double-bevel sliding compound miter saws. They’re both ruggedly durable yet surgically precise when it comes to their cuts.
You can do delicate woodworking with the saws or go tough with deck building and heavy-duty framing. They’re both super-accurate portable saws for compound miter and double bevel cuts that many contractors, installers, framers, trim carpenters, and cabinetmakers require.
They’re bigger that regular miter saws, but they make up for the bulk with extra functionality, features, and benefits. You will love this saw compared to the (more expensive) DWS780.
This is because the DWS782 because it’s the lighter and more mobile saw. It also improves upon the offerings of the DEWALT DWS780 in terms of certain features such as a better and more efficient dust collection system that captures three-fourths more of the generated dust and a smaller size for improved productivity (it only weighs 56 pounds versus 67.6 pounds) even though it shares the same specs otherwise (like their powerful 15 amp, 3,800 RPM motors and three-year warranty deals).
Sure, the DWS782 lacks the “laser” (really, just a bright LED light that casts shadows) that makes the DWS780 more accurate in its cuts, but does that feature really make the DWS782 better than the DWS780? For many expert handymen, the “crutch” isn’t a necessary perk if you know what you’re doing.
Hitachi C12FDH 15 Amp 12-Inch Dual Bevel Miter Saw with Laser
The Hitachi C12FDH 15 Amp 12-Inch Dual Bevel Miter Saw with Laser has many things in common with the DEWALT DWS780 12-Inch Double Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw. Both have “lasers” that serve as your guideline for cutting that keeps you from veering off course and making a cut that’s out of alignment.
They are also capable of 12-inch dual compound cuts and miter cuts. They’re super-precise machines that provide smooth, accurate crosscuts and miters every time in a wide variety of work pieces and woodworks. Many woodworkers and carpenters know of DEWALT more than Hitachi, though.
You can always depend on the Hitachi Dual Bevel Miter Saw for dependable cuts for aluminum sashes, hardboard, soft fiberboard, decorative panels, crown moldings, plywood, and wood without the saw somehow biting against the surface and making a jagged cut. With that in mind, what’s the main difference between the DEWALT DWS780 and the Hitachi C12FDH aside from their make and model? It’s the cost-effective investment that you can get from the less-renowned Hitachi that makes it stand out. They’re virtually the same in every other aspect, so perhaps budget-wise Hitachi makes more sense (and saves you more cents).
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