Sliding Miter Saw By admin | 1 comment

Sliding Miter Saw

I’ve collected together the best of all sliding miter saw models that you will ever find out there and dedicated this site to them so you can choose and buy with total confidence.

OK folks if you’re experienced in miter saws, you will know the big names and what to look for, but you know, things change, and it’s definitely worth a read here because sometimes a brand that was top in the past gets taken over or goes down market and we keep it all up-to-date on here.

There’s still a small handful of manufacturers that make the best sliding miter saws. I feature them on here because they are the best – I have no relation with them and their products are here because they offer top quality combined with genuine value for money. Just my opinion of course, but it’s a genuine one.

The sliding miter saw I want to present today is a real beauty. It’s so popular and so cherished by those who are lucky enough to own one that your only worry is going to be whether it’s in stock! I’m talking about the Hitachi C10FSH.

Hitachi C10FSH

Hitachi C10FSH

If you’ve sniffed around the slide miter saw market, you’ll know this one, but do you REALLY know just how great this saw is? Here’s my favorite things about it:

  • Accuracy – this saw is THERE when it comes to accurate cutting. No slop, not anywhere.
  • Solid and powerful – the motor has a soft-start but gets up to speed fast. Recoil is no problem thanks to the poly-v-belt driven motor instead of the usual geared system.
  • Smooth sliding – The slide action is incredibly smooth and not a bit of play or slop. Cuts like a hot knife through butter.
  • Laser you can rely on – on many cheaper laser miter saw models, laser run-out can be a problem, and you get the feeling the laser was added as a kind of sales gimmick. On this incredible Hitachi sliding miter saw, the laser feature is great! Forget about using a pencil. Just lay your tape measure across the stock, line up the laser beam, lock it, and cut!
  • Easy to move around – for such a solid , the Hitachi C10FSH is light, compact and easily transportable. This is a bug plus because you really can get it in the truck and take it on site no problem. For pure portability, I prefer this compact look and feel compared to the Bosch sliding miter saw models for instance. Even folk who own a 12″ sliding miter saw will find that this one is the one they use most on the job.

The only drawback if you can call it one is the table area that’s smaller than some of the others, but it’s plenty big enough for me and the upside is that you get a lighter unit that’s easy to move around.

Hitachi C10FSH Sliding Miter Saw

Fast Facts

  • 10″ sliding compound miter saw with laser
  • Powerful 12 amp motor with soft-start to eliminate recoil and electric brake to prevent accidental cuts
  • Electronic speed control to maintain level RPM and smooth operation on tough stock
  • Linear ball-bearing slide system for maximum smoothness
  • Laser marker technology for accurate positioning
  • Miter angle range: right 0-57 degrees; left 0-45 degrees
  • Bevel angle range: right 0-45 degrees; left 0-45 degrees
  • Easy-to-read white on black scales
  • Dimensions: 20 3/4 x 41 1/2 x 24 1/4 inches
  • Weight: 43 pounds
  • Five-year warranty

At the time of writing, this amazing saw gets five stars from 70 out of 109 reviews and four stars from 27 out of 109. That’s incredible! This saw is so popular. You can check out those reviews and get this saw for a great price right here: Sliding Miter Saw Hitachi C10FSH

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Sliding Miter Saw Advanced Safety Tips

Look, don’t go telling me you have been using a sliding miter saw for years and what do I know anyway? These are some really neat tips I picked up, OK:

Sliding Miter Saw In Position

Sliding Miter Saw In Position. Photo with thanks to http://www.flickr.com/photos/juniorvelo/

Stop lock – never have a situation where your cut-off piece would be potentially loose between the blade and the stop lock. It’s the same principle for a sliding miter saw as in a table saw where you never want a cut-off piece to be trapped between the blade and the fence. This is because the piece can kick back if it gets stuck against the spinning blade. So, you don’t to put a stop lock against the cut-off piece unless you use a clamp on it too, so it can’t fly up.

Backer board – some folk like to add a backer board in front of the fence; it’s basically a piece of wood higher than your workpiece, attached to the fence with some double-sided tape. Cut through it to make a slot for the blade. Now when you cut your work piece against this backer board, you will get a cleaner cut because no stray bits can come off the back of the stock. It’s also safer because little cut-off scraps don’t get stuck behind the stock in the blade where they could cause a heap of trouble.

Kickbacks – one of the most common causes is from cutting rough material with a sliding miter saw, because the timber doesn’t sit well, and after the cut the two pieces can become unstable and get against the blade. A sudden kickback can jolt the saw at you along the sliders. It’s scary, dangerous and can knock the saw out of true, maybe for good. For cutting rough timber, a jig saw is better to get the timber roughly to size and then maybe use the miter saw for trimming to exact size afterward.

OK I’m going to add more to this list when I can guys. Now, in case you haven’t seen it, there’s a great deal on one of the top miter saw models right now – take a look >> Sliding Miter Saw Deal.

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Sliding Miter Saw Safety for Beginners

You like fingers? Ten including thumbs? Me too, which is why I wrote you some top tips for staying safe with your sliding miter saw.

  • First things first – read the manual when you get a new sliding miter saw, because whether you get a Bosch, a Hitachi, a Makita or a DeWalt, they’re all different.

    • Sliding Miter Saw Set for Mitre Cut

  • Fashion – don’t take any notice of folks who say you don’t look look wearing safety glasses. You need them on when you use a miter saw, even for that quick, straight cut. You’re well-advised to wear ear defenders too. As for the rest of your clothing, you need short sleeves or tight-fitting sleeves if they’re long. Nothing loose and nothing hanging, OK?
  • Saw Condition – when you come to the saw, before you plug it in, OK – look for damage or anything missing. You want to make sure the blade is true and sharp, and properly attached. Also check that the blade guard is functioning properly and does not bind when you raise and lower that blade. Oh, and don’t even think about disabling that blade guard to make the job easier. It’s not worth it.
  • Blade zone – listen guys, if you are kind of fond of having fingers, you don’t want your hands anywhere near a sliding miter saw blade – you need an imaginary safety buffer around the blade. So, don’t be lazy now – you need to use clamps to hold the stock near the blade and not your hands.
  • Another tip about blades and hands – you never want to cross your arms under a sliding miter saw blade. Hold the stock with your left hand to the left of the blade or your right hand to the right of the blade.
  • Long work pieces – either use a built in fence extension or some other device even if it’s a home-made one, because you don’t want the cut piece to fall to the floor after the cut.
  • Setting up – adjust the miter, bevel and fence as needed for your cut. Take your time and get it right. Then make sure the stock is firmly against the table and fence. No freehand cuts without using the fence. I mean it guys. Arms are useful things to have two of in life.
  • Cutting technique – When you’re set up, switch the saw on, wait for full speed, plunge it in and push the blade away from you if you need to slide to make your cut. This is because the natural pull of the blade will be towards you, and you want to counteract that by pushing back and not add to the momentum by pulling forward. When your cut is done, stop the motor while the blade’s embedded in the housing and the workpiece. Don’t bring it up when it’s running. For one thing you will get lower quality cuts because of little wood fibers in the teeth moving across the cut end of the stock. For another thing, it’s more likely to catch the cut off and send it somewhere the sun don’t shine.

OK that’s my top safety tips to get you started. Now, in case you haven’t got your saw yet, here’s a great deal on one of the top miter saw models that’s worth every penny – take a look >> Sliding Miter Saw Deal.

Bosch 4410L By admin | 1 comment

Bosch 4410L Sliding Miter Saw

The amazing Bosch 4410L is a real gem of a sliding miter saw and has some of the best review scores I have ever seen for a power tool.

96% of reviewers over on Amazon give this dual bevel miter saw four or five stars at the time of writing with just 4% giving it less than four out of five – that’s one serious vote of confidence in the Bosch 4410L.

Bosch 4410L

Bosch 4410L

Now here’s the useful stuff:

What I really like about the Bosch 4410L:

Accuracy is a reality with this Bosch miter saw. On crown molding and baseboards, you can get real light-tight joins really easily, even with the blade it comes with.

Like most Bosch tools, the fit and finish is just excellent. Everything feels solid, reliable and high quality.

The miter scale is easy to read and is cast and not just some cheap sticker that’s going to come off.

One of the first complaints I hear about miter saws is that the fence is too low, but Bosch have overcome that one. The high 4 1/2 inch fence and built-in ruler is great – they slide smoothly; setting up for bevel cuts is easy and it’s fantastic for crown molding.

You’re not going to have your style cramped by narrow miter limits either – you can go 52 degrees left and 60 degrees to the right.

If you’re a left-hander you will love this – Bosch must have spent an age designing the adjustable four-position handle which makes the 4410L one of the only sliding miter saws where you can easily make a cut just as well with the left hand as the right. This grip is such a stroke of genius it’s bound to be copied by other makes any time soon.

Bosch 4410L in action

Bosch 4410L in action

No more reaching round the back of the sliding miter saw to set up your cut either – with this one, all the controls and scales are in your face up front, where you need ‘em.

By the way, the “L” in the model number stands for laser – there’s also a 4410 without the “L” and without the laser guide. Now, this laser guide is just about the only thing I can fault with the saw. Unlike in other sliding miter saw models, in the Bosch 4410L the laser only lights up the left kerf of the blade – you don’t have the option to light the left side. Also, unlike, say, the Hitachi C10FSH, the laser guide is only on when the blade is turning, so you can’t check the line before switching on. It’s a minor point compared to all the positives though.

If you need to do a miter cut just off the standard detents, like if your house is not quite square, you know, the Bosch 4410L has a very useful override and fine-tuning adjuster so you can make tiny little corrections to the miter angle so you can fit your joint to the shape your house really is. This is also great for doing segmented circles if you’re into the finer things in life. An unusual and pretty neat feature.

Capacity is excellent too. Max cut at a 45-degree bevel and no miter is 2×12 stock. A compound cut at 45 degrees bevel and miter will get through 1 1/4″ X 8 1/2″ stock, and with no bevel or miter angle you can cut up to an impressive 3 5/8 x 12 inches.

Bosch 4410L Sliding Miter Saw Facts

  • Weight: 55 pounds
  • Blade Size: 10 inch
  • Arbor Size: 5/8 inch
  • Power Used: 15 amps
  • Vertical Capacity: Baseboard Against Fence: 3 5/8 inch
  • Vertical Capacity: Crown Molding Vertically Nested: 3 5/8 inch x 12 inch
  • Horizontal Capacity: Crown Molding Lying Flat: 31.6 degrees stops up to 10 1/4 inch
  • 45 degree Bevel Cut Capacity (dimensional lumber): 1 1/4 x 8 1/2
  • 90 degree cross-Cut Capacity (dimensional lumber): 3 5/8 x 12
  • 45 degree Miter Cut Capacity (Max Height): 2 x 12
  • Miter Angle Range: 52 degrees left and 60 degrees right.
  • Bevel Angle Range: 47 degrees left and 46 degrees right
  • Bevel Stops: 0 degrees, 33.9 degrees, 45 degrees left and right
  • Number of Miter Detents: 10
  • One year service protection plan

All in all what we have here is a world-class sliding miter saw and you will have no regrets after buying it.

OK so it’s not the cheapest, but it’s worth every penny and here’s the best news:

Yep, I’ve done some scouting around and here’s a great price for you over at Amazon. Just click the link >> Bosch 4410L offer.

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Sliding Miter Saw – Frequently Asked Questions for Beginners

What blade do I use? Is the blade that came with the saw all I will need?

The blade that comes with your miter saw will be an all-purpose blade. It will be good for most projects and some people will never need another one. But, if you are doing extremely fine work or specialist work like cutting melamine, aluminum or laminate flooring, you will need a special blade. All sliding miter saw blades have less aggressive teeth than chop saw blades, so make sure when buying that you always buy blades that are specifically for sliding miter saws. Above all, read the saw’s manufacturer’s instructions if you are in any doubt whether the all-purpose included blade can do a particular cut. If you do need to buy a new blade, remember that if you put a $10 blade on a $500 saw, you will get a $10 cut. If you see what I mean.

Do I need a miter saw stand or can I sit in on the workbench?

Basically, you need a solid base for any heavy power saw whether a sliding miter saw, a bench saw or whatever. I know some folks put the saw on the ground and use it there…

Brave Sliding Miter Saw Operator

Brave Sliding Miter Saw Operator

Photo thanks to http://www.flickr.com/photos/sskennel/

…but I can’t recommend that because it’s dangerous working over the top of the saw and you will get a backache. If you need to transport your saw to site, you are better off buying a miter saw stand that’s easily collapsible and has good wheels – one that you can leave the saw on when not in use is ideal. If you don’t need to move the saw, you can put it on a workbench but maybe if you are going to need that space you could build your own miter saw stand. Here’s a link with some instructions on that: Building a Miter Saw Stand.

Personally, I would not build my own, because you need it stable, strong and safe.

Can I cut baseboards on a standard miter saw or do I need a slide miter saw?

You can do baseboards without a slide miter saw but what you do need is the ability to make bevel cuts. A bevel cut, in case you are new to this, is a cut made with the saw head and blade twisted off the vertical, so the whole thing comes down at an angle and not vertically. Miter saws that can make bevel cuts are usually called compound miter saws or bevel miter saws. Although with baseboards you are only going to use the bevel setting and not the miter setting, you don’t often get bevel saws that don’t have a miter function, so it’s a compound miter saw that you want.

What’s a quick way to test that a miter saw is set to cut perfectly square?

A quick way is to get a nice wide board that you know is the same width all the way along. Set the saw to make a straight cut, make the cut and then flip the board over. Check that the cut end of the board is completely in line with the laser guide or the blade. if it is, your saw is cutting square.

Can I cut to a certain depth with a sliding miter saw?

A depth stop or trenching facility is one of those features that makes a slide miter saw different from a plain miter saw or compound miter saw without slide. The sliding motion of the blade, once lowered, means that a horizontal cut can be made, and it’s this that makes the depth stop possible.

Can I cut a dado on a sliding miter saw?

Not easily, and most experts would say not at all. You can just about “nibble away” at the wood using a depth stop, but boy will you be there a while and the results won’t be good. Miter saws can do a lot of things, but this is not one of them.

Click to see an amazing deal on the legendary Hitachi C10FSH here >> Sliding Miter Saw Deal