Tool | Weight | Amps | Rpm | Deck Height | Cut Capacity | Street Price |
Hitachi
C8FB2 | 38.6 lbs. | 9.5 | 2,900 | 3 1/8" | 90°: 2 9/16" x 12"
45°: 2 9/16" x 8 21/32" | $550 |
Comments: This saw has plenty of power,
good cut capacity, and a bevel detent for crown. It has
too much plastic, though.The power cord from the switch
to the motor runs right across the front of the trigger
area, which is distracting and difficult to work
around. The detents are ball-bearing set, which make
them hard to set just off the detents'. The numbers for
both the miter and angle guides are painted the same
color as the saw and are difficult to read, especially
on the bevel scale.
www.hitachi.com/powertools |
Tool | Weight | Amps | Rpm | Deck Height | Cut Capacity | Street Price |
Tradesman
8336 | 57 lbs. | 10 | 4,900 | 3 15/16" | 90°: 2 9/16" x 12"
45°: 2 9/16" x 8 1/2" | $299 |
Comments: Tradesman's slide is smooth,
the motor is powerful, and the body is rugged. It's too
small for 4-by material, but I liked every thing else
about it. The twist lock handle is easy-to-use . The
bevel scale's locking lever could be repositioned to
make it more convenient. I'd use this tool on any
framing/cornice site. Although I think it's too small
for interior work. Its tough construction is well
suited for exterior work where it can handle the abuse
of continual set-up and breakdown.
www.tradesman-rexon.com |
Tool | Weight | Amps | Rpm | Deck Height | Cut Capacity | Street Price |
Bosch
3915 | 47 lbs. | 13 | 4,700 | 3 1/2" | 90°: 3 1/2" x 12"
45°: 2 1/4" x 12" | $429 |
Comments: The Bosch 3915 performed
flawlessly. The slide motion is extremely smooth. The
saw adjusts for bevel and miter cuts and locks into
those positions easily. The allen wrench needed to
adjust the table fence comes with the saw, as does the
blade-changing wrench. Both tools secure to the saw
body for easy accessibility. The saw body is as boxy as
an old Volvo and takes up more table and truck space
than I'd like, but it drives like a BMW.
www.boschtools.com |
Tool | Weight | Amps | Rpm | Deck Height | Cut Capacity | Street Price |
Delta
36-240 | 51 lbs. | 15 | 5,000 | 4 1/4" | 90°: 3 5/8" x 11 1/2"
45°: 3 5/8" x 8" | $429 |
Comments: I found this saw difficult to
adjust and hard to use. The switch is set too high,
making it awkward to start a cut. During compound cuts,
the saw body and guide obstruct the line of sight to
the work. This model's base is huge; the footprint
requires a lot of table space for a stable platform.
You can make a cut station with 2x4s that fit in
notches in the saw base.
www.deltamachinery.com |
Tool | Weight | Amps | Rpm | Deck Height | Cut Capacity | Street Price |
Hitachi
C10FS | 44.1 lbs. | 12 | 3,800 | 3 1/8" | 90°: 3 17/32" x 12"
45°: 3 17/32" X 8 21/32" | $620 |
Comments: The Hitachi C10FS is one of
two 10-inch saws that bevel both right and left. It
also has a detent for crown setting on the bevel scale.
The problem, however, is that when you set it to a
right bevel, the blade and motor housing completely
block your view of the miter scale. It has a plastic
built-in carrying handle that may not withstand the
daily abuse of multiple users. This saw starts up very
smoothly. It's also accurate and has good power.
www.hitachi.com/powertools |
Tool | Weight | Amps | Rpm | Deck Height | Cut Capacity | Street Price |
Makita
LS1013 | 46.5 lbs. | 13 | 3,700 | 4 1/2" | 90°: 3 5/8" x 12"
45°: 2" x 8 3/4" | $529 |
Comments: This is one of the most
comfortable and easiest saws to use. The dual bevel
feature is easy to operate and you can see the cut line
from all positions. It gives quick reference for the
proper bevel and miter settings, as well as the proper
placement for cutting crown flat. Numbers for the bevel
and miter angles are easy to read. The motor starts
slowly and evenly. There is nothing about this saw that
I didn't like and as I moved it from site to site, it
quickly became each team's favorite.
www.makitatools.com |
Tool | Weight | Amps | Rpm | Deck Height | Cut Capacity | Street Price |
Milwaukee
6497-6 | 55.5 lbs. | 15 | 4,800 | 3 1/2" | 90°: 3 7/16" x 12 3/8"
45°: 3 7/16" X 8 3/4" | $700 |
Comments: The Milwaukee Magnum runs
smoothly. It's easy to adjust, and its power is good.
My only complaint is that the power supply cord is too
short; you need an extension cord with this tool or
you'll pull the plug when you rotate the saw and extend
the slide. The easy-to-read bevel guide is on top of
the saw body. It also has bearing detent stops, but
they didn't cause any problems.
www.mil-electric-tool.com |
Tool | Weight | Amps | Rpm | Deck Height | Cut Capacity | Street Price |
Porter-Cable
3807 | 57 lbs. | 15 | 5,000 | N/A | 90°: 4" x 12"
45°: 4" x 8" | $529 |
Comments: The Porter-Cable model is
accurate, powerful, and has legible scales, but it's
bulky, heavy, and uncomfortable to use. Its action is
stiff; adjusting a miter and moving the armature into
the cut is awkward, compared to the other saws I
tested. It's also got a much bigger body and footprint
than some other saws in this group.
www.porter-cable.com |
Tool | Weight | Amps | Rpm | Deck Height | Cut Capacity | Street Price |
DeWalt
DW708 | 57 lbs. | 15 | 4,000 | 3 1/4" | 90°: 4" x 12"
45°: 4" X 8" | $599 |
Comments: What a beautiful saw. If you
need the thickness capacity of a 12-inch saw, this is
the one to get. It has a sleep design and operates
smoothly. It's very comfortable and is easy to adjust
for bevels and miters. This saw's bit, but packs up and
moves nicely. I particularly like the lockdown
mechanism for holding a miter setting.
www.dewalt.com |
Tool | Weight | Amps | Rpm | Deck Height | Cut Capacity | Street Price |
Hitachi
C12FSA | 55 lbs. | 12 | 3,200 | N/A | 90°: 4 7/32" x 12"
45°: 2 3/4" x 12" | $899 |
Comments: This saw looks and feels
huge. It's got ball-bearing stops for miter stops that
are difficult to override near a detent. To keep the
tool's base from rotating while changing miter
settings, I had to bolt it to the table. It bevels both
ways and has smooth takeoff.
www.hitachi.com/powertools |
Tool | Weight | Amps | Rpm | Deck Height | Cut Capacity | Street Price |
Makita
LS1212 | 48.5 lbs. | 15 | 3,200 | 4 3/4" | 90°: 3 7/8" x 12 1/4"
45°: 2 3/16" x 8 5/8" | $759 |
Comments: The 12-inch Makita saw has
all the same features as its little brother. On this
model, though, it's hard to slide when the bevel is set
to the right side. Once you start it moving, it works
fine. This tool doesn't show a crown mold stop on the
bevel gage. Beyond these minor complaints, it performs
perfectly, and is well designed for comfort and
portability. www.makitatools.com |