opinion needed on miter saw.
 

I am looking at a cheapest miter saw from Harborfreight and my brother told me "are you sure you want 10" blade?". BTW, it's $80 bucks. I said I don't know. He think 12" would be better for household use since it can cut thicker item, but 2" increase on the blade cost twice as much, $160. This is what I was looking at http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91995

I also look at Sears website and yes, 12" cost a lot more than 10", not prorated as the increasement of the diameter of the blade.
What do you guys think?
Here are all I found from Harborfreight, I assume is the place has lowest price: http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=mitter+saw

I've built a cabin and my current house with my 10".......It won't cut all the way thru 6" material, but just cut what you can and then tilt the edge closest to you upward and it's done.....Some of the newer one have a 10" blade and then you can bring the saw toward you as you cut like you would a radial arm saw......

Sliding miter saws can cut a 12 inch board on the diagonal. A 12 inch sliding miter saw can cut a 4x4 straight through and do the diagonal cut. I had a 10 inch non slider years ago, and a 12 inch chop is quite a bit handier. A ten inch slider is even better, but I would spring for the better tool if you are using it to build a house, especially if you are going to do any crown molding. With tools, you tend to get what you pay for. Cheaper to buy right once than to buy twice or try to fake it. Most likely you will wish you bought the 12 inch saw within a week. Some of the blades I use cost more than what you are thinking of paying for your saw, but then I am a paid professional.

Let the saw run up to full speed before you make the cut.

For $30 more than the 12", get the sliding 12" saw. I wouldn't get it, though, if you plan on moving it regularly. It's a heavy saw. It isn't worth the bucks, also, if you don't cut larger material.

I'm bothered by the lack of bevel ability. It can mean the difference b/t making a scarf joint and no scarf joint. Define your needs before you make the leap. Makita and other brands make superb sliding compound miter saws. If budget is a priority, you can pick up branded 10" miter saws for less than $150. I started out on a 10" Hitachi dual compound miter saw that was well under $200. It is quiet and smooth and paid itself off many times over.
jurgen

I have the harbor freight compound miter saw, it works just fine for anything smaller than a 4x4.
The price was right, the only thing it doesn't have that I would like is the laser guide but that's minor.

May I ask what is the SLIDING miter saw?

I think I got it. Sliding miter saw can do a part of the table saw. With a table saw, you have have a whole big panel on the saw and slide the panel to split it into 2, straight. With the sliding miter saw, you can't do that, but you can slide the saw blade itself for a short distant. Am I correct?

I mainly use a Rigid 12", which is sufficient to cut up to 7" crown mldg.

Watch the cheaper saws, they either aren't accurate at 90 degrees, or flex.

A sliding saw is like a small radial arm saw. The piece stays stationary, and the blade slides.

General work, cheap and very portable is a 10" Ryobi compound miter. Very nice is the DeWalt 10" or 12" sliding compound model. I used an 8 1/4" compound miter for over 20 years on jobs and had to haul out the old Makita 14" twice.

If I'd seen this Dewalt 8 1/2" slider, I would probably have bought it instead of what I have.

http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/tool_detail.asp?productID=6058

I have a Dewalt 12" compound mitre saw and wish I had the 12" slide.... ;)

The Harbor Freight 12 in slider is a great deal when its on sale.

Thanks everyone, after reading all your opinions, what I can pull out is that the only thing the sliding miter saw can not do is spliting the big panel into 2 pieces. The table saw and a radial arm saw can do this. Well, the table saw is too big for hom euse and too expensive for me. So I think the 98194-2VGA $159.99 below is the best candidate for me, below, anyone has any objection? :)
http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=miter+saw
Another thought, I might want to make my own table with wheels for it so I can pull it around the house :D

+1 on the Hitachi. I have the Hitachi dual compound sliding miter w/ laser line and love it. I started out w/ a nice Delta 10" non-sliding and will never go back. The Hitachi makes life so much easier in the shop. Well worth the investment in my opinion.

I belong to the Inside track club and for $10 more you can get the 12" slider with the laser guide.

See if this link works. Print it out and show it to the Harbor Freight clerk when you check out. They'll give you that price.

12" slider with laser

Actually, now that I look at it, I don't see what the difference is between the 98194-2VGA and the 96698-1VGA.

Craig,
clicking on that link, I don't see anything except for a list of links. Clicking on the some links, they don't go anywhere. What is it?

I guess the link wont work unless you sign in as an inside track club member. This saw is a 12" slider with laser, but I don't see how it's different than the other one.

Here's a picture of the saw and the text that goes with it.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1243458165.gif

Sliding compound miter saw gives you extra cutting capacity. It is more accurate and convenient than a radial arm saw.


Laser cutting guide for super-accurate cuts
Heavy duty 15 amp motor
Cutting capacity: 12-3/4'' x 4'' @ 90°, 12-3/4'' x 1-15/16'' @ 45°
Makes miter cuts to 45° left and right, bevels to 45° left
Easy-to-read miter scale with nine positive stops left

Comes with 100 tooth carbide tipped blade, dust bag, machined aluminum fence, table clamp; 120V, 15 amps, 1800 watts, 60 Hz; Table size: 22-3/4''L x 6-1/2''W; 4100 RPM; 12" diameter blade with 1" arbor
Tool weight: 44 lbs.
ITEM 96698-4VGA
ITC Member Price $169.97
Regular Price: $189.99
You Save: $20.02
[ ADD THIS ITEM TO SHOPPING BASKET ]

Yaaaaahhhhh! Nothing better than buying a new POS tool from our Chinese overlords. :mad:

My advice? Hit the pawn shops and look for a Rigid saw made more than a decade ago. They were made by Emerson in the USA, and will last a life time.

Never buy a tool from a pawn shop. People who pawn tools have no respect for them. They are beat up and possibly stolen. In fact, don't buy off eBay either. I bought a couple and they were at best, misrepresented.

yup

I bought a cheap Ryobi from Amazone - not new - refurbed. Came with a warranty and works fine.