Thread: GMC 10" Slide Compound Miter Saw with REDEYE® Laser Line Generator

Well its been a busy weekend then, hasnt it.

is it me or is it getting warm in here?

G

Originally Posted by GCP310

Well its been a busy weekend then, hasnt it.

is it me or is it getting warm in here?

G

If you come in boots first, you can expect to get a good kicking.

Al

Too True.

G

Originally Posted by ozwinner

If you come in boots first, you can expect to get a good kicking.

Al

Are they GMC Boots??

Hi guys, here's the trick:

Anything without a country of origin stamped on it is made in China (or sometimes Taiwan) ie the label says "Makita Japan" not "Made in Japan" or "Dewalt USA" not "Made in USA".

GMC is imported by state distributors from China. Quality has improved a bit however if you don't keep your receipt they won't honour the warranty. Mostly only switches and brushes are replaceable, they usually don't bother with other parts opting mostly to replace the machine (unless obviously abused). Many GMC items need adjustment before they will run accurately (as the people who assemble them don't often know what it is they are building).

Bosch, my favourite, comes 99% from their new factory in Switzerland.

And yes, I do have a friend who repairs power tools!

Thats odd, My Bosch drill and orbital are both made in Malasia.

Must be the 1% you were talking about.

G

I dont want to stir the pot, but today I looked at a Makita 1013f SCMS (for $990) and the difference between that and a GMC SMS250LS (for $300) is really obvious. Things like electric brake, trenching stop and general quality to name some.

Now am certainly not a tool snob LOL but if you can afford quality (and mostly I cant) why not buy it?

As I stated in another post, I am getting on a bit and as I sip my beer I chuckle to myself, should I throw caution to the wind and buy a Makita and know that at least my ex-wives will have something of quality to fight over once I am gone? LOL
Jack

Buy the makita. You wont regrete it. They make excellent gear. the new SCMS comes with a built in light which can be moved around to light up your job. Great for those whos eyesight is getting on [ive had laser done to mine, so i know how some of you feel :eek: ].

I just laugh as some around here talk about the cheaper brand power tools yet when it comes to tablesaws and static machinery, their point of view changes.

I would love a makita for a SCMS, But i wouldnt use it to its full potential. Same goes i would love to own a Altendorf Panel saw, but i once again wouldnt get the use out of it unless i was running a small business [plus the missus wont re morgage to house to buy one .]

So, in a nutshell, Buy the Makita, they are great, Lucky Bugger. Keep us informed on how you go.

G

Was out on the job today trying to pass myself off as a stonemason when the builder turned up. Low and behold he pulls out a brand spankers Makita SCMS out of the ute. So I immediatley zipped over to pick his brains. He laughed when I asked him about GMC but had this to say.

He said in his experience he never buggered a saw on the job. It was generally the result of bouncing around in a trailer, on the back of a ute, being dropped or left out in the rain. He reckoned on the basis that some of the trade guys had tried out the GMC that if you took it home, bolted it down and used it properly it would be fine. He said the strength of the chasis was the reason why he would not buy one.

You have to admit that GMC puts a lot of tools in hands that could otherwise not afford them and the pleasures of woodworking.

They are still crap though

Cheers from the tool snob

who cares what tools you have? Isn't it all about what you make with them?

If you make good stuff with crap tools, kudos to you. If you make good stuff with good tools, the same kudos apply. In the end, it is about making good stuff and having good fun doing it. If you need good gear to make good stuff and have good fun, then good on you and go and buy some good stuff.

clear as mud?

(said by a man who would like good tools to make good stuff and have good fun but can't convince his wife that he needs good tools in order to make good stuff and have good fun )

Trav

I admit it - Im a tool snob, I have Tool envy syndrome, I want more and I covet the good gear....I dont covert GMC, OZITO or RYOBI...

I love my triton router (In my not so humble opinion its the best in the business), I love all my makita's, I love my porter cable BJ. I love my delta drill press, I love my clifton No5. I also love me ute and me wife

I am in the brotherhood of TES and I'm an addict, help me brothers!

I bought my first GMC the other day for $45 and its a bobby dazzler, mind you its a right angle screwdriver with a power cord but it works ok - it will put a 2 inch tech screw all the way into ironbark and not complain, the tech screw will come out hot if I put it in reverse - heaspa balls (500w) I aint proud - $45 bucks was too good to walk away from. I wont be using it for a hammer drill or precision drilling so who gives a toss ??? if I wanted accuracy I'd use the drill press - its just to screw screws into bits of wood at funny angles...

I bought a ryobi 1/2 router the other day that I can use one handed and it has electronic variable speed control. I havnt used it in anger but will be soon on bluegum, iron bark and tas oak - if it survives them then I'll love it too.

If you think I am a tool snob and dont like me for that - thats fine - dont ask to borrow me gear, or are you jealous I can afford the good stuff??? I buy the stuff for pleasure - its my hobby - I could get away with some cheap crap but my pleasure would be decreased so why should I ? Besides I enjoy agonising over purchases and studying the relative merits of each tool - its a bit like a form guide. Most importantly I have a policy of only buying one of each tool - My makitas will outlive 5 GMC's - I feel Im ahead - you do what make you happy...

I am a tool addict as opposed to just a tool

welcome.

Zed mate, I'd like to know who on this board ISN'T a tool addict in one way or another.

It's just that some have more expensive habits than others

"My name's Craig and I'm a tool addict. It's been two weeks since my last tool purchase but I did spend at least an hour yesterday surfing web sites and comparing chisels. I know I need help but I fear there is none to be had except for spending time in the company of like sufferers" :eek:

I do own a couple of GMC + other cheapies.
Why is it that i am filled with a certain sence of dread and trepidation when i use them as opposed to a feeling of confidence when i use the Hitachi or the Triton.
I for one bought the cheapies first to ensure that i would like the hobby and that i wouldnt have a shed full of expensive and unused tools.With out doubt, had they not been available i probably wouldnt be as involved in the hobby as i am now.
Generally a lower price has to equal something, wether it be build quality,assembly or parts used.
Personally, i believe that the risk of bits and pieces of metal ect coming loose at extremely high speeds is that much more probable.
Thats not to say that a more expensive tool in the hands of a inexperienced user would be inherently less dangerous.
What good is a replacement guarantee if you lack the body parts and/or functions to operate the replacement.
Tool snobbery isnt my go but, a few extra dollars for the "peace of mind" is worth every cent.

Just my 20 cents worth
Cheers
Steve

Agree with all of the above, but I think GMC has a great role in the market. It enables one to sample whether or not they would like working with wood and give them access to lots of toools for the same money.

Take myself for example, I wouldnt have ever bought triton as my first rouiter at $399. Instead bought a GMC 3 years ago and loved it so much that I now own 3 routers, one of which is my pride and joy the triton. With the money that I saved I bought other tools such as a cheap SMCS, a planer, etc.

These tools have enabled me to do a lot around the house and now with time I am slowly upgrading as I go. My crappy single speed GMC scrollsaw has cut in excess of50 victorian type windows cornices which I have used as the feature of canopy windows. These would have cost me $25 each at Bunnings, the scrollsaw cost $129 and the wood $40.

What Im trying to say is that there is a role for all of these brands in the market and you should chose the tool to do what you want it to do. No point paying $1000 on a scrollsaw if its only going to be used for one project. I'm a firm believer that the more tools you have the easier your life can be. Those tools that are used the most should be well made tools.

Take my drill for example. It is a B&D hammer drill made in England. It did cost more than the GMC and most of the other generics but it has survived falling 3 metres high (off the roof) and still works great!


My 2 cents worth

Routermaniac