Mitre Saw Recommendations

[bobbyrobby25]

Hey Folks,

New to the forum and looking for some help on a mitre saw upgrade. I did try searching but the threads are years old and the tech (and prices..) certainly have evolved.

I currently have a cheap Titan that I got as a starter saw 3 years ago. It's served a purpose but it's a pain and I find it tricky to get repeatably square cuts (0 detent is not a clean 90, bevel can slip slightly even when tight, etc) and every time I use it I just get annoyed because it's rarely square without loads of faff.

I don't do super precise stuff, but I make planters, benches, shelves, frames - and I also want to make chopping boards (so need 300mm+ cut capacity). I am not in the trade, but a keen DIYer who appreciates quality tools.

I am considering the Makita 1019 (or 1219) and I am prepared to spend the money on a quality tool that will last - but I was hoping to glean some wisdom from folks with more experience. The front rail system is ideal for me - I have a workbench but it's not big enough for the saw to live on permanently, so it'll need to go on a shelf (or elsewhere)

The downside of these Makitas is the weight - and I usually move my Titan around when I use it - I don't have a permanent mitre saw table, but if I can get a movable stand, I have space to store that (just)

The vast majority of my use cases are pretty simple 90 degree cuts, with the odd 45. However - I have some garden projects in mind, like building a garden arch, some more planters - and chopping boards, and I want the ability to grow with the tool and make some simple furniture - so I need clean, square 90 degree cuts without the risk of mitre or bevel slipping, but also I want features like depth stop so that I can do fancier things as I learn more.

I read good things about the Evolution saws...but I find that for what I am after they are either looking like £250-300 (Evolution prices) or a straight big jump to £700+ (Makita, Dewalt) - The Bosch GCM 8 SJL also looks excellent and more in the middle ground price wise.

I don't want to go to Festool levels. I am a DeWalt guy for everything else...but I only have 2ah batteries, but since this is home use, I am not overly fussed about a cordless saw and would prefer 240v.

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

 

[ETAF]

Just a DIYer

my son-in-law (DIYer) has the evolution cant remember which one, but on a deal before covid and he makes a lot of furniture with it (changed the blade for saxtonblades) and that on a trolly and folds somewhat

I have a dewalt - again purchased on a deal DWS778 I think 250mm blade Which I keep in the box, and get out an put on the stand (purchased as part of a deal)

Also as i use in a garage , i can out it up against the wall - does not need space behind for rails

you dont say your budget - but based on my son in laws experiance the Evolution maybe worth considering - I paid around £399 before covid for my SMS - but now its over £500 i think

The evolution is on a deal

Evolution R255SMS-DB+ 255mm Double Bevel Mitre Saw & XL Rolling Stand Bundle

SAVE when you buy the R255SMS-DB+ Double Bevel Mitre Saw and Mitre Saw Stand together. The largest and most powerful Mitre Saw in the line-up the R255SMS-DB+ has a huge 300 x 90 crosscut capability which means it can slice through a nominally sized 4 by 12 plank in one pass. Hugely powerful...

shop.evolutionpowertools.com

and saxton blades do the evolution bore size - which i think is 25.4mm (need to check that)

235-350mm Blades | Saxton Blades

www.saxtonblades.co.uk

my son-inlaw uses the professional blades for his furniture work

Professional Range TCT Circular Blade 255mm Pack A | Saxton Blades

Professional Range TCT Circular Blade 255mm Pack A

www.saxtonblades.co.uk

He also has the evolution table saw - and i think the blades fit that as well - NOT Sure

my DWS778 is 305mm - but thats 90 - less if at 45, however very expensive now

250mm Mitre Saw | DEWALT

The 250mm Mitre Saw is engineered for repeatable accuracy with dual horizontal rails and a stainless steel detent plate with common angles at 0, 15, 22.5, 31.6, 35.3 and 45 degrees, the 1675 watt ...

www.dewalt.co.uk

 

[aveatry]

A note on the 90 angle i have a ryobi compound sliding one and I have to store it turned to 45 due to lack of space so every time I use it i have to set back to 90 I always check its dead on with an engineers square. I lay the thick heavy end at the fence and the thin end go's along the cut line, I slide the saw nearest to me and check it just kisses the square and then i slide the saw to the fence end an check and adjust from there.
So if your main beef is with the accuracy of the 90 then do that check every time you use it.

 

[ETAF]

as aveatry mentions I do the same its at 45 and also moved around the base - for me to store back in box
i purchased a TREND measure level box - and thats really great to use and setup , in fact i have probably had it in and out of the box maybe 5 times in last 6mths and when checked its all been spot on when resetup from the box, just using the stops on the machine itself
BUT i do check every time

again you will find these often on offer

DLB - Trend Digital Level Box - Magnetic Angle Finder - UK sale only

Trend Digital Level Box - Magnetic Angle Finder - UK sale only

www.trend-uk.com

also other makes are available

I think peter millard did a youtube video on various models - mayhave been someone else i follow

 

[bobbyrobby25]

Thanks all! @ETAF how do you find that DeWalt in typical use? They have it in B&Q but I found the trigger process really awkward, but it may just be that I am not used to it.

As for the 90 I do check it each time but even when i set it, it slips during use. The Titan I bought only cost £70 - so my expectations were not that high.

Budget wise, I would be prepared to spend £700-800 on the Makita 1019 IF it was genuinely worth it for what amounts to occasional use with a 'buy once cry once' mentality, but if i get more for my money with a different brand + better blades, I am all ears.

​

 

[ETAF]

how do you find that DeWalt in typical use?

Brilliant , We used to cut laminate flooring for the whole bottom floor of a house going down hall into lounge across to dinning room back up through kitchen and then sidways out to hallway again - NO thresholds at all
Also all the architrave for all the door ways

I have also used for a lot of general work - cupboards , window seats etc etc - some are in projects here

Now using for a utility room i'm redoing - so this time its left set up and the cars on the drive way

but I found the trigger process really awkward,

I find it ok
As i i can use the shadow feature (which needs NO setting - the laser also has to be setup and checked on SiL SMS ) and bring the saw down over the material and line up then I just squeeze to run the motor

It only bevels 1 way - BUT thats not an issue for me , as i have only used it once and it wa snot an issue just need to make sure i had the wood correctly orientated

No Idea on the makita ( but trades that have worked here have all used Dewalt SMS , except for one very expensive trade ( I had no choice) and that was Milwaukee)
but other tools have often been Mikita

I did look at the battery dewalt 210 SMS in Wickes and it was the demo one , but they would not do a deal, and on reflection glad I got the bigger one

I have a lot of battery dewalt tools , and to be honest I dont feel as a DIYer i need batter SMS - always near a power point - same with my SDS Drill i choose Corded as even when used in garden corded has not been an issue

I think at the £700 £800 mark - you should have a lot of choice and really good quality machines

Mikita, Dewalt, Festool, Milwaukee, Mafel and probably some others all used by trade

Blades I find the saxton blades great in SMS and in my circular saw - give a great finish - I have Circular saw = 40T ,48T, 60T , SMS = 60T and 80T
Leave a great finish on MR-MDF, PLY marine and when cheep other finishes , redwood
Recently used on Ikea finished kitchen unit frames , cover panels and there laminated worktops

i also have the folding MS Stand

Small Mitre Saw Workstation | DEWALT

www.dewalt.co.uk

BUT i'm just a DIYer - NOT trade , just happen to have done a lot of DIY for myself, friends and family recently, mainly as retired in 2016

 

[stevie888]

I have the Evolution 255. My old saw (aged Wickes own brand) died mid job so needed a quick replacement. B+Q had one on the shelf (and found out later cheaper than mail order) so after being very pleased with their circular saw I went for it.

Night and day on the old one: light weight and accurate. My only beef is that the soft start does mean I have to be a bit patient to let the blade come up to speed before the cut, but that's a reflection on me rather than the saw.

 

[ETAF]

interesting the link to the DWS778 is not my machine, i dont have handles on the side - saw those on the 210mm blade machines

same spec though 1850w motor 250mm blade

NOTE - it does not have a trenching setting on it - others i think do - Although i did once knock up a attachment to reduce the drop on the blade - when i first purchased - was not that good - so just used the circular saw in the end

 

[opps]

I purchased a Bosch GCM8

Bosch Professional GCM 8 SJL 216mm / 8.5" 1600w Sliding Mitre Saw

Bosch GCM 8 SJL 216mm 8" 1600w Professional Sliding Mitre Saw - 0601B19160 Less weight, less dust, more performance: the compact GCM 8 SJL Professional offers cleaner solutions when it comes to cutting through large workpieces. Its cutting capacity of 70 mm vertical and 312 mm horizontal makes...

www.powertoolworld.co.uk

I needed to cut up to 305mm. It goes as far as 312mm.

It is OK, not a refined as a Festool, but I couldn't justify that kind of cost.

Not very good for trenching, the arms tend to bend downwards very slightly. Apparently at that price range, that is common.

Out of the box, the cuts are pretty accurate. I did buy the stand as well.

Storage wise it does need to set to 45 degrees but even then it takes up quite a bit of space.

It is the only sliding mitre saw I have used, so I am unable to compare it to anything else.

 

[blup]

I have a makita ls1013, no longer made but bullet proof, accurate and 91mm depth of cut. I would look for the equivalent in a cordless format. A capacity of 60 odd mm is adequate for the great majority of cases but I found the extra depth useful for cutting 3x roof timbers.

 

[catlad]

Hi Bobby robby

Where abouts are you?

 

[aveatry]

as aveatry mentions I do the same its at 45 and also moved around the base - for me to store back in box
i purchased a TREND measure level box - and thats really great to use and setup , in fact i have probably had it in and out of the box maybe 5 times in last 6mths and when checked its all been spot on when resetup from the box, just using the stops on the machine itself
BUT i do check every time

again you will find these often on offer

DLB - Trend Digital Level Box - Magnetic Angle Finder - UK sale only

Trend Digital Level Box - Magnetic Angle Finder - UK sale only

www.trend-uk.com

also other makes are available

I think peter millard did a youtube video on various models - mayhave been someone else i follow

Yep I have looked into getting one of those too

 

[aveatry]

One thing to look out for is "soft start" - it slowly starts spinning, not silly slow but "soft" whereas mine with a 10inch 80 tooth blade starts almost violently and if you are holding your wood against the fence by hand - like you shouldn’t then the wood can move/ jolt off the mark.

 

[ETAF]

Yep I have looked into getting one of those too

i have used on electrical boxes , small shelfs as well - even though i have Stabila 17768 Pocket PRO Magnetic spirit level
also use full recently for working out an angle - i needed
would not be without it now

 

[aveatry]

i have used on electrical boxes , small shelfs as well - even though i have Stabila 17768 Pocket PRO Magnetic spirit level
also use full recently for working out an angle - i needed
would not be without it now

The only reason I did not get one when looking is because I was looking at the cheaper versions and not the more expensive trend ones but could not make up my mind