Thread: GMC Mitre saw????

Save your money and get a better saw. If you can't wait or can't afford a better saw, check that the fence is true across its length. Mine isn't so I can only cut from the left. Compound cuts are impossible because the saw slumps. You can't rely on the angle markings either as mine are significantly out.

On the other hand, if all you want to do is cut at 90 degrees, after a bit of fiddling to set it up, you will be fine.

Mine was a gift but I wish I had suggested something else for my birthday as I am forever cursing its limitations and running through lots of MDF whenever I change the angle to 45 degrees and back to 90.

If you are not making fine furniture then it may be OK. Other than that it will still be a source of frustation.

I bought the $250 - $299 GMC version. Yep, I too wish I'd saved a bit longer and bought something better.

I recently used a DeWalt sliding compound cutoff saw - the difference was huge, perfect 90 and 45 cuts straight out of the box. OK so there's a huge difference in how the two are made and the price, but gee whiz, the pleasure of a good cut first time, every time is definitely worth it.

There are other brands around that are just as good. I just happened to know someone who was good enough to let me play with their new DeWalt.

cheers
Wendy

Originally Posted by woodsprite

Any thoughts about how good a GMC mitre saw might be?

I bought a GMC 10" SCMS (single-bevel) about 3 yrs ago. It was okay
for rough cutting work. The zipper on the dust bag broke, and the plastic
guard stopped popping up correctly as the saw was lowered. It was still
within the 2yr warranty period, so GMC replaced it with the newer model.
On both of them I had trouble getting the blade square with the fence.
Also, the coarse blade supplied by GMC meant a lot of shatter out the
back of the timber, but a better blade would have been around $100.

Then I wanted something to do finer cuts, and double-bevel. The GMC
double-bevel SCMS was around $400. Makita was around $900, and
with a much better blade (more teeth). I bought the Makita and have
become more and more pleased with my investment as time goes on.
I now wish I had just bought the Makita 3yrs ago and saved the $300
or whatever I spent on the GMC. Two other recent GMC purchases
(router+table and bench-mounted sander) both failed with the initial
14-day period so I took them back and bought better brands instead.
I doubt I will ever buy another GMC tool.

It's interesting that the GMC packaging shows ultra-sexy colour pictures
of the tool, whereas Makita packaging is boring. I guess boring
packaging means more money has been invested on what's inside.

Strangerep,
My 2c worth, I still have the @$300 GMC SCMS bought around 3 years ago and wish that I had the $$$ to shell out for a Makita (which is what I would buy but the Table Saw is the next purchase). I agree that there are limitations with the GMC but I don't think I have as big problems as some others. I saw it as a challenge to get the most out of it and built a fold down wing mitre saw station where the wings offer some compensation for the fence i.e. I think the fence I build is more in square than the fence on the saw (but this only works for longer than 10" or so pieces - most of what I cut.

I have been able to get what I think are pretty good quality mitre joins (using both left and right 45 degrees on the saw), the first thing I did though was to shell out for a 90 tooth CMT blade - agreed the one on the saw is crap but I wouldn't take the blade on a saw into account in a purchase whether it was a Makita, De Walt or GMC I would be replacing the factory blade as soon as I bought it.
Cheers.

Edit - Woodsprite - knowing your luck the jerk out at Kangaroo Flat Bunnings will probably deny that they sell GMC....

I borrowed my mates GMC SCMS a few months ago to replace the floorboards in the back of my ute.

To cut a long story short, I was glad to get it out of my workshop.( I won't be borrowing it again)

Cheers.

Thanks one and all - I might just keep my money in the jar and save for a decent saw. As BrettC suggests, the local bunnies probably have never heard of these saws (or the thicknesser) either!!

I thiunk I agree about GMC stuff - have a vac/blower for the garden and it shatterd the first time I accidentally vacced up a few fine pebbles, plus bits and pieces have broken off it over time - and my portable battery drill seems OPK, except the chuck either never grips the bit tightly enough or grabs it too tight and I have to use a vice and a stilson to get the chuck to open!

TYhanks again,
Jeff

One of the current (or nearly current) oz woodworking mags had a review on either Mitre saws or SCMS, might be worth a read if you're looking at them. I think it was Aust Wood Review, but might be wrong there.

From memory (which fails regularly) Ryobi and Makita or Bosch and Makita were favoured, but someone here might be able to correct me.

Originally Posted by BrettC

whether it was a Makita, De Walt or GMC I would be replacing the factory blade as soon as I bought it.

I still have the factory blade on my makita. Ive been using it daliy for the past 18 months. The factory balde on the Mak's arent bad at all.

Originally Posted by woodsprite

Any thoughts about how good a GMC mitre saw might be? Local place has them for $99.00. Had a quick look at one today and the biggest problem I had with it was the base/ mounting plate seemd like it was just a hard plastic. It had an aluminium bed thingy where the saw cuts down to but I was a bit worried about the base.

If I get one I plan to mount it flush with the new bench top (I have to build to mount my Dawn) (see other thread elsewhere) so maybe the base isn;t a problem if it is screwed down onto something solid.

Thoughts welcomed - won;t be doing a heap of heavy cutting with it, mostly around 2 inch timber.
Jeff

Hi woodsprit brought a 10 inch GMC it was a peice of crap, returned the saw and bought a makita, I don't think i'll wast any more money on GMC gear

Depends on what you want to use it for. If you want DIY tools you pay a DIY price and get a DIY tool. You want a professional/trade tool you pay a professional/trade price. In my view you have to weigh it up, how one can realistically compare a GMC tool to a Makita tool is honestly laughable. How about we compare Triton to Makita and compate GMC to Black & Decker or Ryobi etc.

Apples with Apples folks.

Eagle

I managed to negotiate a combined Christmas/birthday present of a Makita LS1013 slide compound mitre saw (around $1000 at Makita dealer but about $1300 at hardware chain stores so shop around). It is the best tool I have ever bought as far as usage and time saved and great cutting results.

Cuts up to 600 mm wide board if you cut one side and then flip it over, so use it to build wardrobes, etc as well. Definitely worth the price.

I bought the slighly less than $300 GMC SCMS about 2 years ago. I havent had any problems with mine. I know its not the bees Knees but it does the job. I don't use them often enough to justify $1200 or more for a Mak or Dewalt. I make sure that I keep the rails and base very clean after use to prevent clagging and rust - my better tools don't get the same consideration as a rule as I know that they are tougher.
I wish I had the room to bed it into a bench!
PS the Red Eye thing is a joke!

You could always go second hand on a quality saw.

I got an old Dewalt radial arm saw for $90. Absolute bargain. It's old as the hills, but still cuts smoothly and accurately.

Didn't come with a manual, so I emailed Dewalt and they sent me out a photocopied one the same day.

Just make sure you check it over - check for blade wobble and that all slides, movements etc. are not sloppy.