The miter saws weren't the only tools on the spot. We tested saw stands of the lightweight, folding-leg, sawhorse type; more elaborate convertible, collapsible, rolling stand designs; and a more stationary multipiece stand. Besides evaluating their use in the shop and on the job, we devised a jobsite obstacle course to see how fast one guy could set them up. It consisted of wrestling a stand out of the truck, rolling or carrying it across the lot and up some stairs, and adjusting all the extensions, supports, and the saw so it was ready to cut.
Miter saws have come a long way from their humble beginnings. I remember the heyday of the 9-inch blade, direct-drive Rockwell 'Motorized Miter Box,' with a particleboard sub-base and a thumb-pressed brake. It was my introduction to using a miter saw some 30 years ago.
