Thread: Compound mitre saw comparison/review.

The reason the metabo and electra beckum looh so similar is that metabo recently purchased the company.
In other countries the saw is available in both brands in both forms.
The electra beckum is an excelent saw. I have used a friends a lot and have found it very precise and extreemly quiet.
I have ordered one & hope to pick it up tomorrow.
In this country the base model is sold as the E.B. and the fully accesorised unit is sold as metabo.
good points
Very accurate
cuts mitres past 45deg. (Correction doesn't I was thinking of his othe saw an old ryobi.)
very smooth and quiet.
efective dust extraction.
Bad points
doesn't come up to speed as fast as a builder boys saw
rails prone to corrosion

I would not recommend the E.B. as general building site saw.
If you want a very accurate smmmoth machine i'll have one TVM.
Very much favoured for use with aluminium.

new toy for me tomorrow.




[This message has been edited by soundman (edited 05 June 2002).]

For my dollar the elctra and metabo don't have the blade size and dual angle, dual mitre versatility of the makita and dewalt.

I think on noise levels I'll go with makita, although it lacks the extra inch of capacity.

I've also come across the site again: http://popularmechanics.com/home_imp...st/index.phtml

I do agree that the EB is a litle short on depth of cut.
I does only compound mitre to the left.
Sounds like makita, hitachi, ect for you.

G'day
Never quit got to buying a scms, but read a lot, makita seems to get the no 1 spot, with a toss up for closish second between hitachi and dewalt. Though I often favour hitachi over makita, I reckon the mak looks better in this case.
cheers
Rod

I found out something interesting last week-end. Timbecon sell a Compound Slide Saw for $599. It looks very much like a Makita saw.
And guess what? Its made in Korea on a parallel production line to the Makita LS1013. The only differences are the color of the motor case, the saw blade safety guard and trigger guard. The latter two having Patents to Makita. Everything else including the motor are the same, and all for about half the price of the Makita.

Glen

I've just done the first work with my new metabo KGS ( electra beckum ), its delightfull, quiet, smooth, and accurate.
If you had never used one of these you probably would never buy one.
Which brings me to the point, if it realy matters to you wat to buy, you've got to try it.
The metabo KGS would probably frustrate the hell out of the average builder as a framing saw but for me its great.
I know because I had used one before.

Try before you buy

Thanks for the replies.

Glenn, how could you. I'd finally decided to go with the makita 1212 and you throw this in

Interesting how they get more capacity out of a 255mm (sherwood) compared to a 305mm blade (makita 1212):

330x95 mm @90degrees - 255 mm
310x98 mm @90degrees - 305 mm

- especially using the standard makita base.

Next Question: Has anybody got any dirt on "Sherwood" gear?
http://www.timbecon.com.au/productsd...1&prodid=27557

Being $600 cheaper than the 1212 I might just hold on and see what I can find out. No use taking a reaming if there is no need.

[This message has been edited by Eastie (edited 11 June 2002).]

I have seen both the Makita and Sherwood machines side by side at our local hardware shop, and yes they do look similar, except colour of the motor housing.

But, always a but.
The Sherwood's finish certainly is not anywere as good as the makita's, for example to table top is not ground to a mirror finish but ground enough to be flat then painted, and the blade guard release is a tad awkward

Vinkoi

I have had the Makita LS1013 for several years. I think it is great for the work I do (bit of furniture and renovations).
The Makita saws also get the thumbs up from Neil Scobie in the current edition of Australian Woodworker.

I wouldn't buy any Sherwood gear until it has some sort of track record for performance, service etc. I had similar reservations about Carba-Tec gear 5 years ago, but they have proven to be reasonbly good value. The jury is probably still out on Sherwood.

Just to throw another spanner in the works here I was going over some of my recent but late arrivals of magazines and the The Woodworker mag out of the UK gave the thumbs up to the DeWalt DW 708 with the Makita LS1013 a close second ...none of the other saws getting a mention in the final wrap-up,the scheppach and Electra Beckum included.
Cheers

------------------
Johnno

For my two cents worth,I thought about a radial arm saw(second hand), but decided on a Hitachi 8 1/4" slide compound mitre saw, sure the model has been out a few years, maybee 8+, but cuts 300 X 75mm and accutate, sturdy, and the price was good($719.00)

I would steer away from the cheaper SCMS, especially those that have only one slide Bar.

cheers

Tony

I've had a DW708 for a while now and love it. It is very stable and will cut fine shavings off an end and does just as well on 110mm square spotted gum and jarrah. It has a dust extractor nozzle but I find that it's awkward to use the compound / miter movement without the hose getting in the way. Probably if I brought the hose down from above that would work better.

Sherwood is Timbecon's own label so you won't be able to find it anywhere else unless the retailer is a Timbecon agent. They cheap Chinese and or Taiwanese machines badged to Timbecon's own specs.

There is a TWM(??) branded machine around which appears identical to the Makita but with different motor specs. It was under $500 at my local mitre ten.

After looking around I decided to stick with Makita (10"). The cheaper units based up its chasis looked ok, but I'll stick with an old saying that comes up here now and then - "buy cheap, buy twice".
As for Dewalt, it's probably been said before but why pay more for something that is at best equal to, but not better ?

As for the metabo (and electra becum) I used one the other day setup in a roof truss works. After giving it a go I have to agree with soundman that they are a very smooth & quiet counpound saw for mitre drop saw cutting.

Thanks for the replies.

[This message has been edited by Eastie (edited 24 June 2002).]