Hello first post! My question is i am looking to buy a mitre saw but i dont know witch to buy. I am looking at the dewalt from lowes but they have all different sizes. I want a double bevel saw but i dont think i want the sliding one. I wan to buy the one that i will use fore a long time the main purpose for buying it is to build a new front and back porch and other projects later on. help is dewalt a good brand? or would something else work just as good for less? I am a mechanic by trade and know nothing about carpentry Please help.
Hi TNTROY -
I’ve had quite a bit of experience with DEWALT tools, and so far, touch wood (pun intended), I’ve had no major issues. Had a couple of small issues here and there over the years, but nothing that I haven’t been able to fix myself or that hasn’t been covered by warranty (I’ve read horror stories from other manufacturers denying warranty claims, but again, I’ve had no issues here from DEWALT - as I mentioned though, all my problems have been relatively minor).
On the subject of miter saws specifically…I use the DWS779 with the sliding mechanism. To be honest, it’s a feature I could take or leave as I never come across the need for larger crosscuts.
The dual bevel is something I 100% use. The thought of pulling out and flipping round the wood on a single-bevel model seems like a real hassle, so I’d recommend you stick with the dual-bevel idea.
As you’ve mentioned, miter saws come in several different sizes (8”, 10”, and 12” are typically the most prevalent, with these sizes referring to the blade size).
For the porch building project you’ve mentioned, I don’t think there’s any need to go with a 12” model. Yes, they’ll be able to cut wider and deeper, but they tend to be bigger, heavier, and more expensive all of which put me off larger miter saws in general.
If I were you, I’d probably opt for a 10” model. They’re a good compromise in terms of size, and because the blade is smaller (than with a 12” model), it’ll spin faster to give a better quality finish, and you won’t be sacrificing that much in terms of cut width/depth.
Check out this
miter saw buyer’s guide if you want to know more re: size, blade type, and other features to keep an eye out for.
Anyway, that’s just my two cents! Hope this helps.