Mitre Saw Recommendations

[Nomad64]

After spending way too much time researching this and ruling out some of the recommendations and other usual suspects for various reasons (wanting a full 12” width cut, trench cutting facility, negative reviews etc), I settled on a Hitachi C8FSE.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0037KLH7A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I got it for a tad under £200 and it came with a second blade and three year warranty. Not yet used it in anger (tomorrow - weather permitting), basic spec (no laser) but seems decent quality and should be good enough for any projects I am likely to aspire to.

I had been tempted by the do everything Evolution mitre saw and as I needed something for cutting through some nail infested floorboards, I went for one of their circular saws which has been doing a great job so far.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008AJIO1K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Wayne]

I built an entire Gymnastics facility using an evolution saw. Cutting every timber for the raised vaulting track and foam pits.

Metal for the hand rails and safety barriers.

I’d buy another tomorrow.

 

[VaughnT]

I've been running a DeWalt for a few years and like it well enough. I've got an Evolution "chop saw" for metal, and the DeWalt is only for wood.

Both brands have their good and bad about them, but they're both quality.

Where most people go wrong, and end up blaming the tool, is not using the right blades for the job at hand. Fine-cut, lotsa teeth for nice woodwork. Carbide-tipped is good, too. But don't forget to clean the blades. Clean blades are happy blades. If you've got them gunked up with tar from all the pine you've been chopping through, don't expect them to love you back. A good soak in vinegar to get all the tar off will help bring a blade back to life.

 

[Nomad64]

First use in anger of the Hitachi yesterday - great piece of kit and I wish I bought one years ago.

Good points about the blades and cleaning them - a bit disappointing that although the Hitachi came with a second blade, it is the same coarse blade as the original, a finer one would have been nice. Has been fine for my use so far but will be looking for some thing finer if I ever get round to making the kitchen cabinets promised to Mrs N.

I was tempted by the DeWalt and Makita offerings but IIRC, the DW in this price range did not have a trench cutting facility or cut a full 12” and the Makita had quite a few negative views. I really liked the look of the Makita LS0714 which looked like a real gem but couldn’t justify the extra £100 plus for a saw with a smaller blade.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Makita-LS0...206291&sr=8-1&keywords=makita+chop+saw+ls0714

The Evolution Rage 1B Circular saw has been great - I was a bit dubious about a blade that claimed to cut everything and I’m sure there are some compromises there but it has done a great job of cutting boards with nails in that would have been hard to avoid/remove and which would have ruined ordinary blades.

Very happy with both!

 

[Nomad64]

OP - I have a mitre saw stand with outfeed supports that is now surplus. Almost forgotten that I had it. It is a Bosch Professional - if you are interested I’m sure we could reach an arrangement...

Simon, many thanks for the stand - a great piece of kit although I’m now suffering from an extreme case of workshop/Festool envy!

Good luck with the rest of your project.

 

[SiWhite]

Very nice to meet you old chap - I’ll drop you a line when we are next heading to the Borders and we can book into a yurt...

 

[ferretracer]

Those Evolution saws are fine for general use. I used one for many years and many projects, including cutting all the oak cladding for this building;

Barn by Scgwhite, on Flickr

It has some flex (they all do to a certain extent) and it needs careful setting of the fence to ensure squareness, but overall it is a great saw for the money.

I eventually replaced it with a Festool Kapex as I wanted something that would offer a glue-ready cut and repeatable and very accurate angles.

Just add my votes on this was just having a nose through old posts, I agree on the evolution saws, great bits of kit for the money Ive got siwhite,s old one and its still going strong been used a fair few times by me also the neighbour borrowed it for his decking, replaced the blade early last year as I needed a cleaner cut, but still got the old blade for general ripping/chopping