10" Miter Saw @ Lowes

[gjat]

I was in the Valrico (Tampa) Lowes, scoring the Irwin clamps and saw they had the 10" 15a Firestorm miter saw on clearance, regularly $149, marked down to $74.50. I had been wanting one, but wasn't really ready to get one yet. Then I checked out the stuff I was buying anyways, it came to $55, and Lowes has a promotion that you get a $10 coupon if you spend more than $50.

That tipped the scale. I bought the saw for $64.50, and then got ANOTHER $10 coupon. I was stunned, and asked the cashier if that was right. He said the coupon is given ANY time you spend more than $50, and it's good until the 26th.

The way I look at it, I spent $50 anyways, got the $10 coupon which was re-newed, for a net price of $54.50 for the saw. The salesman in the tool department showed me that Firestorm has a new model, which is why they're blowing them out. The also had a ton of DeWalt stuff on clearance, but nothing I really needed.

BTW, they had 3 left...

[gjat]

Wow. I'm surprised at no comments on this thread. That makes me nervous.

Is this miter saw not a bargin at $64.50?

This is saw: http://products.howstuffworks.com/bl...ser-review.htm

[Cheeky]

Wow. I'm surprised at no comments on this thread. That makes me nervous.

Is this miter saw not a bargin at $64.50?

This is saw: http://products.howstuffworks.com/bl...ser-review.htm

$64.50 is a lot closer to what it's worth than $150.

[LinuxRandal]

If I read it correct, it is a single compound miter saw, without much of a history (known problems, pluses, etc).

It doesn't appear to have a miter detent lock. (another reason people upgrade, besides dual compound). Not a belt drive (a difference between the more expensive, better rated ones). It is in the homeowner catagory (crosscutting 2x's). A woodworker upgrades rather quicker.

[windmill]

I have one, it's nothing special but it works well for simple crosscutting. The (compound) angles aren't perfectly accurate, but good enough for trim around the windows. I like the metal extensions to help stabilize the saw, and the fence is larger than other "home owner" saws.

I think you got a good deal!

[Bill in Buena Park]

Except for the extension wings, the BD saw doesn't appear to be that different from the CM model I use for rapid cross-cutting when time is of the essence.

CM 10" 15A version with Laser:
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...ame=Miter+Saws

There have been very few BD tools that have not performed decently for me, but I tend to pick the ones with specific features I want. I don't think you will be unhappy with your purchase for projects within its peformance envelope.

[LCHIEN]

funny the review said that a non-arbor mtd laser was an advantage (I think making it arbor mounted keeps it always in proper alignment)
and that no going on and off with the saw was an advantage (to me the auto-on "centrifugal" feature of the arbor mounted lasers is an advantage not having to fiddle with two switches every time).

[LinuxRandal]

funny the review said that a non-arbor mtd laser was an advantage (I think making it arbor mounted keeps it always in proper alignment)
and that no going on and off with the saw was an advantage (to me the auto-on "centrifugal" feature of the arbor mounted lasers is an advantage not having to fiddle with two switches every time).

A couple? of years back, after TOOOOOOOO many years of neandering with a miter saw (wooden box style), I picked up a GMC 10" cms with laser, on Closeout from Lowe's with a $50 gift card. It has the non blade attached laser, which does require a separate on/off switch. It was supposed to be in alignment (it wasn't), alignable (no proceedure in the manual) and mounted in the guard. One I finagled it into an acceptable position (major hassle), I found out it wasn't adjustable to the width of the blade (always heard they are on one side or the other).
You will end up doing things the old fashioned way of bringing it down on your cut line.

[KC7CN]

A couple? of years back, after TOOOOOOOO many years of neandering with a miter saw (wooden box style), I picked up a GMC 10" cms with laser, on Closeout from Lowe's with a $50 gift card. It has the non blade attached laser, which does require a separate on/off switch. It was supposed to be in alignment (it wasn't), alignable (no proceedure in the manual) and mounted in the guard. One I finagled it into an acceptable position (major hassle), I found out it wasn't adjustable to the width of the blade (always heard they are on one side or the other).
You will end up doing things the old fashioned way of bringing it down on your cut line.

I received the Irwin arbor mount laser for Christmas! It worked at first, but now it is intermittent; doesn't stay on long enough to use it. I didn't get to use it enough to determine if I like it, but I can tell you this: A zero-clearance insert on a miter saw is a huge improvement in cut quality, AND, you can use the small kerf-cut to line-up where the saw will cut. There is a catch, a compound cut would destroy the insert for future cuts.

The 10" Firestrom for $64 is a good deal for none critical work! It sure beats the heck out of a hand saw, and for some, it would be a deal like this or nothing! Great for outdoor projects like building a fence, etc.

-Don

[LinuxRandal]

A zero-clearance insert on a miter saw is a huge improvement in cut quality, AND, you can use the small kerf-cut to line-up where the saw will cut. There is a catch, a compound cut would destroy the insert for future cuts.

The 10" Firestrom for $64 is a good deal for none critical work! It sure beats the heck out of a hand saw, and for some, it would be a deal like this or nothing! Great for outdoor projects like building a fence, etc.

-Don

-Don

I never put the zero clearance on it, BECAUSE it is used as a compound miter saw (that did always seem a bit odd). I used it for a couple of porch/deck/railing projects, and your right, cheapies are perfectly fine for that. Now that I am using a guide system, I am leaning towards that more instead of a scms for portability. Everybody has different needs, and this one may just suit him fine, we are all just trying to point out, how often someone buys a tool, only to upgrade too soon afterwards.
Thanks for the laser review!

[messmaker]

That is not a bad deal but I think this might bhttp://www.reconditionedsales.com/products/130def0e-64a2-472b-92d4-762e1bc9495a.aspxe a better saw for just a bit more.

[messmaker]

That is not a bad deal but here is a better saw for just a bit more.http://www.reconditionedsales.com/pr...e1bc9495a.aspx