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Miter Saw Review - Which to buy Chop Pull Bevel
I have begun to replace rotten trim on the outside of my house and looking at getting a Mitre saw. I have been using my old stationary table saw in the basement, but I cannot chop long trim pieces easily and bevel chops are timely with multiple trips to the basement.
The prices seem to be around $200 for a simple Dewalt chop saw up to $600+ for a pull bevel cut. But the larger pull saw looks so big in the box that the portability looks like it could be an issue. My trim fascia boards are mostly 6" wide.
Any advice...?
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Miter Saw Review - Which to buy Chop Pull Bevel
Get a piece of the molding you will be using and see if the saw is large enough to cut through it at any angle you will need to. Of course you can do that without the saw on.
Second check out motor repair shops. Happened to find out recently one here does the warranty work and has some good deals. Have looked at pawn shops and here Lowes is no more than the pawn shops but save about a third at motor shop.
Large and bulky also equals more stability when using it which is a real plus.
But do know the new price before you look used or repaired.
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Miter Saw Review - Which to buy Chop Pull Bevel
Mine is an old Sears non sliding that I think would chop six inches.
I've wonderd about getting a newer sliding type but just don't use one enough to justify the high price. The big sliding type are heavy and most can be bought with a stand, so they are a substantual piece of equipment.
I'd vote for the non sliding type.
Brand, I don't know enough about current brands to make a call on that
Frank.
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Miter Saw Review - Which to buy Chop Pull Bevel
I've got a 10" Porter Cable compound miter saw (not sliding) with a laser guide. It will do 6" cuts easy. It's somewhat portable, and lighter than a sliding saw, but not something you want to haul up a ladder to work on scaffolding. The laser guide with two beams that show both edges of the kerf is really a nice feature. I bought a work stand for it too. Takes a bit longer to move and set up that way but it's a lot easier on the back and I'm not getting any younger.
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Miter Saw Review - Which to buy Chop Pull Bevel
I got my "King" 10"-blade slider at Costco. I think it was $180. Only problem after 10 years: the laser-light battery failed. A stand with wheels at one end makes it portable.
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Miter Saw Review - Which to buy Chop Pull Bevel
There is a website called MiterMaster that will calculate the angle settings for compound miters for table saws, chopsaws, etc. This chart assumes that the angle guages on the saws are dead on accurate, which they aren't, but it is a good place to start.
I've got a little Wixie digital angle finder that is magnetic so it will cling to a blade to help getting the angles right. It won't help a bit tho unless you zero it out on a known flat surface like the table saw table or a chop saw fence, etc. that will be relative to the setting you're after.
Frank.
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Miter Saw Review - Which to buy Chop Pull Bevel
For my purposes I wanted something light and portable that took up minimal space, had the laser, had decent user reviews and was low in cost.
So I bought the Hitachi for only $149. Have not tried it yet so the jury is out for now as to whether the good reviews were warranted.
Have not used it as it has turned very cold here, so the pvc azek trim I bought can actually crack when nailed below 30 degrees. So I may be waiting awhile, the warm weather we had been getting got me acting like it would never get cold, and started some repairs I should have let go until spring.
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Miter Saw Review - Which to buy Chop Pull Bevel
Dennis, the only Hitachi item I have is only 5 or so months old and am pleased with it. Cordless drill and flashlight. Have already had to replace the bulb in the flashlight (drill has one also) and for dozen years never had to in the Dewalt flashlight. Also the Dewalt drill had better screw troque settings but still pleased with the set. Oh was that battery costly. Like $8 or $10 for two which is only way packaged.
But you are installing the modling outside I guess. Could you cut it to fit. Bring into heated area and when safe temp to nail take it out a piece or two at the time to install?
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Miter Saw Review - Which to buy Chop Pull Bevel
I have a DeWalt 12" double bevel compound Miter saw that I paid $359 on 11/12/08 at Lowes. It will cut 8" on 0° miter--& 5.5" on 45°miter(it is possabale to cut 6" on 45° by lifting the the edge of the board a bit--carefully). I would recomend this saw to anyone but not the single bevel.
BTW---there is a way to turn your skill saw into something to do these cuts--Takes a bit of fabrication ---but it is not hard to do. I have done this in the past a few times long ago. If ya want more info just ask.
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Miter Saw Review - Which to buy Chop Pull Bevel
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...... Could you cut it to fit. Bring into heated area and when safe temp to nail take it out a piece or two at the time to install?
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Yes I was thinking along those lines but Azek is also, but these repairs are like a game of chess. The Azek contracts and expands with temp so it is ideal to do the work when things are around average temps like 70. Also I am splicing into the existing trim so I need to Bondo the joints at time of install, and the Bondo requires warmer temps as well.
We finally had snow and single digit temps here this weekend so it is going to have to wait....
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