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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Mittagong
    Posts
    96

    Default Compound Mitre Saw

    I am in the process of purchasing a 10" compound mitre saw. Was looking at the Makita and Hitachi when a salesman showed me an Electra Beckum/Metabo unit that has an induction motor (quiet!). Was almost convinced to get this unit when browsing the Carba Tec catalogue and noticed that their 10" mitre saw looks pretty damn close to the Makita unit, but priced at $495. If it is the same unit just re-badged I am tempted to put up with the noise to save $500. Anybody have any experience with this Carba Tec unit, or any of the others that might care to offer some advice?

    Thanks for the help,

    Chris

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Brisbane, QLD, Australia
    Age
    46
    Posts
    2,115

    Default

    Chris,

    As a matter of fact, I was at Carbatec last week and had a good look at this unit. I'm sure it is pretty much the same model as the Makita but with a few small cosmetic and operational changes.

    The slide action seemed pretty good with the dual sliders. Was nice and smooth. Probably on par with the Makita.

    The drop action was not as "light-weight" as the Makita... i.e. it required a little more force to drop the saw down. The blade guard was a little rougher in its movement as well.

    They were the main points I looked at. To me it would seem these saws are probably the same design but perhaps the Carbatec one just has a few 'cheaper' components that do not run as smooth as the Makita's. But for $500 less, it is certainly a good buy. If I could go back 8 months, I would have probably bought one instead of the model I did end up buying.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Tolmie - Victoria
    Age
    68
    Posts
    4,010

    Default

    A mate of mine bought one a couple of weeks ago and is very happy with it. Although he hasn't used any others before, his main purpose for buying such an machine was as a substitute for a radial arm saw for cutting tenons.

    The tenons seem to be OK but obviously you get what you pay for and I doubt if any Compound saw could perform this function as good as a Radial Arm saw.

    Anyway, he is happy with his purchase.

    - Wood Borer

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    1,652

    Question

    Wood Borer, I’m a little perplexed by your comments. I was unaware that you could set the depth of cut with a mitre saw. My use of a Makita Compound Mitre Saw has been limited to docking at right angle. Doing this the blade cuts right through the timber. Excuse my inexperience here, but how do you control the depth of cut required to cut tenons?:confused:

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Mittagong
    Posts
    96

    Default

    The Makita and (I am pretty sure) the Hitachi have an adjustable stop to limit the "drop" of the saw so that you can cut tennons/rebates etc. The Electra Beckum/Metabo unit does not have this capability, but I figured that it was something I could do on a router table, or table saw (when I get one). Am still tempted by the smooth and quiet operation of an induction motor, but $500 saving is tough to ignore...

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Age
    54
    Posts
    706

    Default

    I can understand cutting tennons on a radial arm saw but my compound drop always cuts deeper closer to the hinge due to the pivot. I assumed all drop saws do this so how do you cut a tennon ????:confused:
    Great minds discuss ideas,
    average minds discuss events,
    small minds discuss people

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Brisbane, QLD, Australia
    Age
    46
    Posts
    2,115

    Default

    With a SCMS, wouldn't you just start with the saw extended out toward you, drop it to the depth setting, then push it back through the workpiece for a smooth, level cut... then move the workpiece along for the next cut?

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Tolmie - Victoria
    Age
    68
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    4,010

    Default

    DPD,

    It was my mate who bought this saw. I have a Radial Arm but that was beyond his budget.

    The depth can be adjusted (rough as) by a bolt near the pivot point from memory. Obviously the adjustment is not as fine as a Radial Arm saw but he tells me he is getting good results cutting tenons in jarrah.

    I agree that using a compound to cut tenons is not ideal.

    - Wood Borer

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Posts
    44

    Default

    i have the Electra Beckum, and yes it is nice and quiet. you can not adjust the depth of cut on this one, as the pivot point is on the sliding mechanisim attached to the base, and not between the sliding mechanisim and the saw like the makita. The Electra Beckum i have had for about 6 years and needs constant adjusting to remain acurate. The only thing it has going for it is the noise level. I would not recommend this saw for acurate work.
    hope this helps,

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 1999
    Location
    Canberra, ACT
    Posts
    98

    Default

    DaveInOz is correct about the depth issue. If you want to cut an even depth across the tenon you need to pack out the fence so that the blade cuts full depth right to the back edge of the job.

    The Makita can do tenons but my efforts have been a bit rough. The depth stop is there but it doesn't positively lock in the depth of cut. It is very dependent on how much downward force you apply to the saw handle. If you press a bit harder you can easily push the blade a mil or so deeper. I don't use my Makita SCMS for tenons on furniture projects but it would be ok for framing or outdoor projects.

    The Triton in overhead mode does a better (neater) job tenoning long pieces because the depth of cut is accurately locked in. Again, you need to pack out the fence, depending on your saw.

    I have found the (genuine) Makita model to be an excellent tool. A pleasure to own and use.

    George

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Margate Tasmania
    Posts
    1,148

    Thumbs down

    George,
    I own a Makita SCMS and I would not buy another, it is just too noisey. I am contemplating replacing with a Dewalt.

    cheers

    Kev

  13. #12
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    Kuranda, paradise, North Qld
    Age
    62
    Posts
    5,639

    Default

    I own the makita 10" SCMS,and had the old (single rail) model which gave 11 years of full time trade use service (sold it to cash convertors for $250 as it had the slightest hint of a "miss" sound after being run for a few hours) and I would buy the same again. I've owned two DeWalts and wouldn't ever buy another yellow tool again. My cousin and I bought about 20 assorted DeWalt tools when they first came out and every single one of them gave grief. The dropsaw was repaired 3 times and replaced twice, all in 2 months, I finally rang the distributor when the trigger jammed on and had them refund my money. No doubt their quality control has improved since then, but once bitten...... Anyway I've used the 12"SCMS since then and I didn't mind it. I own a 12" Hitachi drop saw (not compound) and it's like a tank, great for cutting framing, but noisy and not super accurate. I've used the Elektra Beckum on occasions and didn't like the action, having to depress that lever/button? (can't remember which) before bringing the saw down, also the action bringing it down is stiff and heavy. The last time I worked with a mate that has one he had it all set up on a cutting bench. I cursed at it for about half an hour then set up my Makita. My mate bought another saw the next week after using mine. Not a makita, a Bosch, but using my saw drove home to him what a pig his saw was to use.
    Anyway about the cheap copy of the Makita, I spoke to my local power tool service man (when you own as much gear as I do you tend to see the service man at least two or three times a year) and asked him about them as he had one in the shop. It wasn't a carba-tec one, I believe Glenfords have them as well. He said they seemed okay, but stressed that the real problem with the cheaper generic copies was parts availability, if not now then further down the track. The saws may look similiar he said but generally parts aren't interchangeable. This may be less of a problem with Carba tec, but if you are serious about buying one you may want to ask them if they have a policy about keeping parts available for a set period. Generally I only buy name brand stuff, the only exceptions are 4" grinders, which at $30 I treat as a consumerable, however I do own one decent one as well. In some instances I will buy a cheapie if I have enough use for it for a certain job, then I'll factor it into the price of the job, this is okay for a $100 battery drill or a $250 battery saw/drill combo but anything more than that I'd be looking at keeping for a long time.
    Well that was a long winded explanation of my tool buying policy, I hope it helps you in formulating your own.

    Mick

  14. #13
    Join Date
    May 1999
    Location
    Tooradin,Victoria,Australia
    Age
    73
    Posts
    11,918

    Default

    I second all of what Mick says.

    Have owned the 12" single rail Makita for 5 years. Was used every day for 3 years and has never given a problem.

    My brother used it to build his house and now my son is using it to renovate his.

    I think I still own one .

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Baudette, MN, USA
    Age
    80
    Posts
    1

    Default

    Hello. I'm new here, but I've been shopping for a scms or cms and notice very little mention of the Bosch products. I looked at one, and it seems comparable to Mikita and DeWalt. Any advice. Many thanks.

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Brisbane, QLD, Australia
    Age
    46
    Posts
    2,115

    Default

    Have heard good things about the Bosch CMS and SCMS range.

    We will be reviewing the Bosch GCM 12 CMS hopefully soon on our website.

    Dean

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