SCMS Rear Clearance Dimension?

[LarryG]

I'm designing a miter saw bench for the new, larger shop space into which I'm in the process of moving. I currently have a 12" non-sliding compound miter saw. Over the weekend, it struck me that perhaps I should consider sizing the bench for a sliding CMS, just in case I ever get one of those.

Would those of you who own sliders (any make, any model) be good enough to measure the rear clearance requirement for me? What I need is shown as "X" in the sketch below ... the distance from the front of the fence to the wall behind the saw, with the sliding head fully to the rear. Note that I'm looking for the minimum distance needed ... the actual space required for the saw plus a VERY small amount of clearance, say not to exceed 1/2".


In addition to the dimension, please let me know the make, model, and size of saw you have.

Thanks very much to those who are able to help!

[cabinetman]

Larry

Just a suggestion. I've had several CMS's but not a SCMS. If I were to modify/build a station for one, I would want to actually see the saw and take measurements that I thought were pertinent to the space being provided.

I'm not saying the responses won't be helpful, but there may be a point to which a respondent is using as a measuring starting point that doesn't include necessary clearances that you would be aware of.

You are probably an active user of your power equipment and very familiar with any spacing necessary around the tool. If your decision one day to get a SCMS and have it bolted down it would be a PITA to have to undo or disassemble the fixins' just to adjust/change something. Or, to have the clearances you would like for a free movement of the saw.

Responses may provide a close "average" if all measurements were taken from the same place on the different saws and were accurate.

[Tom Miller]

...I would want to actually see the saw and take measurements....

I can say with a great deal of confidence that Larry's not going to run out and buy a saw based on input from any of us yokels!

That having been said, preliminary results from this yokel: I think the "x" measurement is on the order of 24" for a Makita LS1013 (10" slider). I'll get you a closer measurement tonight, but the point is, "x=quite a lot". My SCMS bench is 32" deep, and the front knob sticks out as much as ~6" from the front edge.

Regards,
Tom

[Tom Slick]

my bosch 4210 is 24.5" from the fence to the rearmost part of the slider with the slider all the way back. I would give it 25.5 to 26" for your dim X.

[Russianwolf]

well I can tell you this. the back end stick out far enough that when set to 45 it goes past the sides of the table.

Learned that the hard way.

[Tom Miller]

Well, it's not quite as bad as I remembered. I measured the LS1013, and got x=20" exactly, from the front face of the fence to the wall, which includes ~1/4" to 3/8" clearance.

FYI, from the front face of the fence to front end of the miter adjust knob is 18" +/- 1/2". The knob sticks out ~5" from the front of my SCMS bench, and is not overly in the way.

Regards,
Tom

[JR]

I measured the LS1013, and got x=20" exactly, from the front face of the fence to the wall, which includes ~1/4" to 3/8" clearance.

Hoping to increase the confusion by adding a variable:

Should there be extra space allocated for dust collection? I don't have a slider, but on my CMS, the hose sticks out the back.

JR

[Tom Miller]

Should there be extra space allocated for dust collection?

Wouldn't have to be, at least for the Makita LS1013. I have a 4" fitting mounted to the bracket, which moves with the saw:




That's an old pic, but the new setup is not greatly different (though definitely prettier). There's also more of a DC shroud that I removed to snap this shot.

Regards,
Tom

[LarryG]

Thanks, Tom and Tom, for measuring your saws. That, and some info I gathered on my own (see below) probably tells me what I need to know.

JR raises a good point, and it's something I thought about including in my request (also clearance for the power cord, hand clearance for the bevel lock, etc) but I decided not to muddy up the pond by going beyond the basics.

This all started when I was strolling through HD and spied the 12" DeWalt slider, recently marked down from $679 to $566 and currently eligible for the $75 instant discount. Grabbing a tape measure off the display in the next aisle, I was surprised to learn that this saw needs only 17.5" of clearance from the fence to whatever is behind it. I knew that dimension was do-able with only a small depth increase to my current bench design. But at my next stop, Lowe's, I measured the big Hitachi slider and found that it needs 22.5". Between it, the Bosch, and the Makita, it looks like 20" or better is more typical in this class and that the DeWalt (which I have since learned has some problems: the reviews on it are horrible) is the undersized anomaly. And 20" or more is just out of the question for what I want to do.

So, thanks again, but I guess I'll just proceed as originally planned. And what the heck, I like my Delta 36-255L really well, anyway ...

[Kristofor]

Larry, right now mine is on a mobile base, but i have seen others use an idea that I intend to copy "real soon now". Namely they mount the saw itself on a sliding panel on the bench.

I can easily see how this helps a lot because when you're using the saw you need to be able to slide the mechanism all the way back (so the saw can cut next to the fence), but when you store the saw the footprint is smallest with the blade all the way forward (reduces total depth by almost 10". For a couple drawer slides (or lower tech solution) you may still be able to accomodate a deeper saw without deeper cabinets.

$0.02
Kristofor.

[newbie2wood]

Don't know where you are located but the 12" Dewalt slider DW718 is $481 (before the 15%off) at Lowes in NJ and OH. The sales seem to be a local thing. The price is found on Lowes' website if you enter the appropriate zip.
________
2SexyAngels

[timb]

One other data point better late than never. I have a Hitachi C10FSH and it is 24 inches from the fence to the end of the slide when the blade is all the way in at the fence.

Tim

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Pc 3708 = 19.5"