CMS Recomendations

[Whaler]

When I get into the new house I can justify a 10" CMS to finish up the garage.
I can't see it getting a lot of use after the shop is complete so I want to keep the price down, under $300.00 if I can get the quality there.
I am looking at the DW713 or Ridgid 1065 right now. Are there any better options?

[Tom Slick]

I have a bosch slider and it is top notch, Their non-slider is about $300.

[Hoover]

Lowes has a 12"Hitachi double bevel non slider for about $300.00

[Hellrazor]

I like my Ridgid 12, so I would assume the 10 is good.

[sweensdv]

If your just looking for a CMS to do rough carpentry work then any ole CMS will do. You don't need to spend anywhere near $300 either for a saw that you feel will only get limited use when this project is done.

[Thalermade]

I would recommend you look at and test one with a laser. I wished my old Delta had one about 1 1/2 yrs. ago when I installed the hardwood floor in the family room. I believe the redline would have saved me much time and hassle lining up the numerous individual cuts.

Russ

[shoottx]

The other answer is buy one then sell it when you are done

[jonmulzer]

Over the years I have done a ton of trim carpentry and miter saws were our workhorses. In my opinion, nothing beats a Hitachi. (opinions are like......) I have used Dewalt, Makita, Craftsman, Ryobi, Ridgid, Bosch, etc. I think every one of them except the Festool (and after playing around with it in the store, I don't want to). Bosch saws seem like they are knocked out of alignment by a gust of wind. I hate Makitas with a passion. They are the only saw I have ever stalled and when it happened it smoked the motor instantly. That same thing has happened to friends who had Makitas so I avoid them like the plague. Ridgid saws are HEAVY! You could use one of their 12" SCMS's as a boat anchor for an ocean liner. They are about 20 lbs heavier than a Hitachi according to the websites.

The 10" Hitachi is about $170 at Lowe's, well within your budget since you did not say you needed a slider. Reconditioned Sales has great deals on the higher level saws if you need more features. As soon as their 12" SCMS comes back in stock one will be in my shop.

[LinuxRandal]

Will this be used for anything else? I have a closeout GMC 10" from Lowes ($75, free, due to gift card), on a returned Ryobi Miter stand ($50), with a Freud LU85R010 blade ($30, local damaged freight store), that once I replaced the blade and checked/tuned it up, has been great. I would buy a better one, but this gets used 90% for construction, so I can't justify it.
Bad thing, I loaned it to my B-i-l for a project, and he used it as a draw for his garage sale after he was done. He kept getting $150 offers. (I was peeved about him doing this with it).

[JimD]

This is what I bought:

http://www.reconditionedsales.com/Hi...FQGbnAod2GHYPg

It is a 12 inch Hitachi, reconditioned, that bevels in both directions. The blade that came with it is good enough for framing cuts. I also got a 80 tooth since I use it for furniture making. It is now $185. I got it for $149. The same place has reconditioned 10 inch Hitachis for $89.

A 12 inch crosscuts about 8 inches. A 10 inch a little over 5 inches. Double bevel gets the motor up out of the way so you can cut crown moulding upside down and backward even if it is good sized. You can also cut base moulding up against the fence that is as tall as 6 inches with my Hitachi. It's handy when you want to bevel it at 45 degrees (easier to move the front handle for the cut angle than to tilt the saw over). Double bevel also lets you bevel in both directions which is handy mainly if you like cutting crown flat against the table of the saw (which is not my preference but some really like).

I like my 12 inch Hitachi but there is a bit of runout in the blade. It is also a Hitachi. It is not huge, I haven't set up the dial indicator yet to see if I can measure it. I will try a different brand of blade next.

Jim