[gr8fl4porsche]

I have had cheap saws and expensive saws.

I now have a compound sliding 12" Makita and it is wonderful to work with.

Everyone I know who does carpentry has a cheaper style miter saw that they own. Eventually they all come around to borrow my saw for one reason or the other and always state that they hate to give it back.

But you can definitely get by with a cheap saw. After all, it's just a motor with a blade attached to it. Price increases get you better options, a better platform, more powerful motor and brake, more comfortable ergonomics, etc.

One feature that I use a lot is the switch box you can buy that hooks up your shop vac to the power switch on the saw. When the saw is started, the shop vac starts as well. Very nice little add on.