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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Canberra
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    31

    Default Sliding compound mitre saw

    My first post. Yay!

    I've just moved into a new house, and the list of upcoming improvements is long. In the short term there will be repair work to decks and pergolas, and construction of some solid pine shelving in the garage.

    I've thought about table saw versus mitre saw, and although many people say buy a table saw before a mitre saw, I like the idea of being able to easily move the mitre saw to the backyard for deck and pergola work, then back in to the garage for shelf construction etc.

    My question is, should I go all out and buy a Makita sliding mitre saw, or is there a better value 'home-user' unit out there? I own a few Makita tools, and love the fact that they just keep on powering on, and I also regularly borrow my dads Ryobi non-sliding mitre saw, but find it loud and obnoxious, and the lack of a brake really scares me.

    Spending a little less on the mitre saw would allow me to spend money on something like a router, which is also on the list of future purchases.

    Sam

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Kentucky NSW near Tamworth, Australia
    Age
    85
    Posts
    3,737

    Default

    Sam

    Most mitre saws are noisy,just wear a pair of ear muffs. If I was going to build a house or do renovations I would go down the path of a mitre saw as you will find you will do more docking than ripping, unless you are cutting up MDF or Pyneboard. That is where a table saw comes in handy, but bear in mind most of that can be done with a circular saw and a straight edge.

    A table saw is a must for building furniture, but building houses and doing renovations the mitre saw is the way to go.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Romsey Victoria
    Age
    63
    Posts
    3,854

    Default

    Sam, listen to Barry, he is a smart man. He also has a sexy voice.
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  5. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Canberra
    Age
    47
    Posts
    1,484

    Default

    Sam

    I've got a GMC SCMS and it is pretty good. Nothing special, but cheap. They are noise buggers though.

    You might try this thread for more discussion

    http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ight=GMC+mitre

    or

    http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ight=GMC+mitre

    or

    http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ight=GMC+mitre

    Trav

    they are different links I promise! They just look the same...
    Some days we are the flies; some days we are the windscreen

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Mid North Coast
    Age
    71
    Posts
    525

    Default

    Welcome to the forum.
    If you have the money to spend it is the general opinion of forum users that the more tools you have, the better. It's great to be able to build a workshop with everything that opens and closes but if I could do it all over again I would buy a good fixed mitre saw and spend the rest on a good tablesaw. I'm finding that the tablesaw is just about the most versatile tool I use apart from my Triton router table.
    It all comes down to what use you have for a tool. If you are doing a lot of deck and pergola work, an SCMS is indispensible.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Canberra
    Age
    65
    Posts
    417

    Default

    And of course Fisher Discounts are having their winter sale on this wekend - just check some prices elsewhere beforehand to ensure that you are getting a bargain.

    I think that a number of people here recommend the Makita - I personally have the Metabo KGS1880plus - which has an induction motor so is quieter than the universal motors on most power tools.

    Cheers
    The Numbat is a small striped marsupial whose whole diet consists of termites.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    In the shed, Melbourne
    Age
    52
    Posts
    6,883

    Default

    G'day Sammy H,

    First up welcome to here.

    Like others I would first go the mitre saw.

    Both are great and each do different things. I personally would be lost without my mitre saw - a 20 year + Ryobi that has never has a sick day in its life and is bolted to a metal platform with 1/4" rails either side for supporting timber. The saw is removeable when needed.
    I make things, I just take a long time.

    www.brandhouse.net.au

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Cairns, Qld
    Age
    72
    Posts
    18

    Default Mitre saws galore

    Hi Sammy
    Again welcome to this great forum.

    I was in the same situation as yourself some 2 years ago - go for the great and more expensive Makita or buy something else.

    I finally went for the cheaper (about $449) Rexon sliding compond mitre saw from Glenfords Tools. Same colour as Makita!! - but not quite as smooth an action. Accuracy is fairly good.


    After 2 yrs I'm more than happy with it.


    All the best
    Wallace
    "Plastic trees make great plastic boats - show me the trees!!"

  10. #9
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Newcastle
    Age
    72
    Posts
    3,363

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    Sammy underscore h

    I have a makita sliding compound saw , have had it for years , for shelving , building fabrication etc its great and as you say handy to take to the job
    With aluminium cutting blade have made mass of shelving using sq section al
    and to change the blade back to rip etc takes less than a minute

    The mitre accuracy is better than just good enough of pergolas shelving but not quite up to cabinet making without some jigs

    I have worked the saw pretty hard and still no problems
    My advice to start with the saw , Definately go with a sliding compound saw
    and go makita or similar quality / cost saw.
    Rgds
    Russell


    The trouble with life is there's no background music.



  11. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    31

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by numbat
    And of course Fisher Discounts are having their winter sale on this wekend - just check some prices elsewhere beforehand to ensure that you are getting a bargain.
    Yeah, I just dropped in to Fisher's at lunchtime. I went to the last sale about six months ago, and found that the 'sale' prices really weren't that great when compared with some of the Australian online retailers.

    I think i've decided that a Makita LS1013 is the way to go, so i'll get an idea in my head as to what sort of price I want to pay, and head out to Fisher's this weekend and see what I can manage. When coming up with my price, i'll take in to account what I can purchase it for from somewhere like Toolies link and bearing in mind that i'd presumably pay freight if I bought online.

    Sam

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Posts
    214

    Default

    We've had a Makita for just over a year now, and the thing is shot. It was a good saw, but just couldn't take the use and abuse that a professional tool has to endure. The Dewalt 12" slider is a far superior saw for about $100 in my opinion. I VERY much look forward to the day I am able to purchase one for myself.
    In the beginning the Universe was created.
    This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.
    - Douglas Adams

    Guns are bad, mmmmkay.

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Kentucky NSW near Tamworth, Australia
    Age
    85
    Posts
    3,737

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by sammy_h
    Yeah, I just dropped in to Fisher's at lunchtime. I went to the last sale about six months ago, and found that the 'sale' prices really weren't that great when compared with some of the Australian online retailers.

    I think i've decided that a Makita LS1013 is the way to go, so i'll get an idea in my head as to what sort of price I want to pay, and head out to Fisher's this weekend and see what I can manage. When coming up with my price, i'll take in to account what I can purchase it for from somewhere like Toolies link and bearing in mind that i'd presumably pay freight if I bought online.

    Sam
    Sam

    If you are going down the Makita road try Gasweld I think there is a branch in Canberra. They specialise in Makita and I thinkyou will find that they will usually negotiate on price.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Canberra
    Age
    47
    Posts
    1,484

    Default

    Gasweld is in Fyshwick where southern plumbing used to be. Right next to where renovators discount depot used to be too

    They certainly had makita stuff when I was in there drooling a few weeks ago.

    Mmm I like the panasonic drills.

    Trav
    Some days we are the flies; some days we are the windscreen

  15. #14
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Tasmania
    Age
    48
    Posts
    1,006

    Default

    Sam,

    I have the Makita LS1214 and it is awesome. I believe it is the relpacement for the LS1013 which is in runout at the moment. That is why the LS1013 is cheap at the moment and a good buy if you are happy with it.

    The LS1214 is a 12" saw on a much larger base. This gives you a larger cut capacity in all modes and the base offers a lot more support than the 1013.
    I got mine for $900 when they first came out and I think with a bit of wheeling and dealing you may be able to pick one up for about $1k at the moment.

    As far as noise goes the 1214 is alot quieter than my mates Ryobi (the two were parked in the same shed for a while allowing us to compare).

    Jack.
    "There is no dark side of the moon really. Matter of fact it's all dark."

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    31

    Default

    Hey Sammy - Welcome.

    If I was doing reno work. I'd go the SCMS route too. It is just so easy when you need to move from room to room. On the other side of things, have you considered a Triton Table (insert relevant emoticon here), particularly as it seems you would already own an adequate CS. They can be had for around the same price as a middle of the road SCMS, you get nearly all the functionality in crosscut mode of an SCMS plus you get a tablesaw and they are reasonably easily moved around. Now being prepared to be shot down in flames....:eek: :eek:
    Seriously though - a lot of us started with them and most think they were a great first investment in woodworking...Might be just the ticket!

    Chris

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