Sliding Compound Miter Saws

Sliding miter saws most flexible, but are big and heavy

If you can afford the purchase price and shop space for a sliding compound miter saw, reviews say the 10-inch size is the "sweet spot," giving you the most capability for the price. Most sliding compound miter saws come with better blades, too -- offering 60 to 80 teeth per inch for smoother cuts. If you cut tall moldings, however, you might think twice, as the sliding capability actually decreases the vertical capacity of the miter saw, while letting it cut wider boards flat.

Reviewers agree that the Festool Kapex KS 120 (*Est. $1,300) performs superbly and is worth considering if your work demands the utmost in precision and/or dust control. It's the only miter saw that really does a good job with dust control -- collecting 95 percent of the dust the miter saw generates. Woodworker's Journal compares the Festool miter saw with eight other 10-inch sliding compound miter saws in the most recent review of this size and type -- finding that the Festool also outperforms the others for accuracy and quality, operating smoothness, angle-setting ease, laser guide and its fence and table. Clearly, though, a $1,300 miter saw isn't for everyone, and a review at Tools of the Trade Online finds that its abundant high-end features can be confusing.

The Makita LS1013L -- now the LS1013FL (*Est. $500) only bevels to 45 degrees but ranks second only to the Festool in the Woodworker's Journal comparison review. The Makita miter saw now comes with a fluorescent light to illuminate the work area. Tests show that the Makita miter saw operates as smoothly as the Festool saw, and exceeds it in cutting power. Like the Festool, the Makita miter saw has a soft-start motor with electronic speed control; both features make it easier to handle thick hardwood without the motor bogging down. The reviewer -- tool expert Sandor Nagyszalanczy -- also likes the wide base that makes the Makita saw very stable.

Earlier comparison tests at Fine Woodworking rank the Makita second to the Bosch 4410L (*Est. $500), which also has a soft-start motor. Featuring front-mounted controls, the 4410L miter saw is also the top choice in earlier comparison reviews at Workbench, Popular Woodworking and the Journal of Light Construction. Tests at Fine Woodworking judge the Makita LS1013FL slightly better at cutting, but prefer the controls on the Bosch miter saw and find the Makita detents "sloppy." The more recent comparison tests at Woodworker's Journal, however, don't note any problem with the Makita detents -- and finds the Bosch controls cumbersome because they require too many steps to use. As on other Bosch saws, the laser guide only works when the blade is spinning. The Bosch miter saw does earn top ratings at Woodworker's Journal for handle and trigger comfort plus a more useful fence -- but otherwise scores in the middle of the pack.

Ranking third at Woodworker's Journal, the Hitachi C10FSH (*Est. $430) is judged "sturdily built" and an excellent budget choice. Tests here find the Hitachi operates more smoothly and has more cutting power than the Bosch, with controls that are easier to use as well. The main drawback to the Hitachi miter saw is that the vertical grip is the least comfortable of the saws tested.

Many reviews say 12-inch sliding compound miter saws are overkill for most people, since they don't offer a huge capacity gain over 10-inch sliding miter saws. If you plan to cut a lot of molding, though, reviews say a 12-inch sliding miter saw makes this much easier and is worth the extra size and cost. Be aware that these are very heavy, and most take up a lot of workbench space.

The Hitachi C12LSH (*Est. $650) is an exception to this, using an innovative design that lets it sit flush with the back of the bench. It's earned high marks at Workbench Magazine, Wood Magazine and in a 2006 review at Tools of the Trade Online -- especially for an excellent laser guide and digital readout of miter and bevel angles. However, owners reviewing the Hitachi C12LSH at Amazon.com express quite a bit of disappointment. Some complain that the angle adjustments are not fine enough, that the laser doesn't hold its adjustment and that the motor, which isn't soft-start, makes it difficult to handle. Another major drawback is that it only bevels to 45 degrees. The Hitachi C12LSH also loses points in the Fine Homebuilding review for accuracy, with fences out of square plus too much play in the slides. Though it can fit close to the wall, it's so big that this doesn't help much.

Owners at Amazon.com give a much better rating to the dual-bevel 12-inch Bosch 5412L (*Est. $650), the miter saw that earns top ranking in the most recent test of sliding miter saws at Tools of the Trade Online. Though the Bosch laser guide isn't as convenient, it's still judged "the easiest to adjust and use." The Bosch 5412L is quiet and has the best hold-down clamp in the comparison at Fine Homebuilding, but it loses points for inconsistent quality control and a drifting miter setting. The Bosch 5412L can miter to 52 degrees left and 60 degrees right, and bevel to 47 degrees in each direction. It has features similar to those of the top-ranked 10-inch Bosch 4410L (*Est. $500), including controls placed conveniently up front. However, the Journal of Light Construction finds the 10-inch Bosch 4410L a better value since the Bosch 5412L adds very little cutting capacity -- just about an inch, and only in height.

Ranked second in recent tests at Tools of the Trade Online and also praised at the Journal of Light Construction, the less expensive Ridgid MS1290LZ, now the MS1290LZA (*est. $500), earns praise for this big saw's cutting capacity. It's also named the best value in the somparison review at Fine Homebuilding, where editors praise the "impeccable machining" on the Ridgid MS1290LZA, liking its big table, and finding its fence the best of all. The main drawback is that the saw is awkward to carry. Like other 12-inch sliding compound miter saws, the Ridgid MS1290LZA can crosscut a 2x12 at 90 degrees -- but it can also cut a 2x10 material at 45 degrees. Miter angle can be adjusted to 60 degrees, and the bevel moves to 47 degrees in each direction. The laser guide is now adjustable, though it still lacks a manual switch. This saw is available primarily from Home Depot. If you don't see it online, it can be special ordered through their stores. Once the saw is registered with Ridgid, it carries a lifetime guarantee.