I dont have a lot of cash to spend on a miter saw so I have narrowed it down to these 2. I need it for building some stairs.
1. Ryobi I cant find and reviews on this one. Ryobi Power Tools :: 10 Sliding Compund Miter Saw with Laser
2. Kobalt/Craftsman. these seem to be the same saw just a different color. The Craftsman has mixed reviews. Some say it works great others say the angle measurments are off. It sounds like the plastic lift handle breaks and the dust collector is a joke. Kobalt at Lowe's: 10 15-Amp Sliding Laser Compound Miter Saw
Craftsman 10 in. Sliding Miter Saw
Thanks for any advice.
Keep in mind that the maximum width board you can cross-cut with a 10 in. mitre saw is about 5.5 in.
I recently upgraded from my old Craftsman 10 to a 12 Ridgid and I've been very happy. Max cut is about 9; not sure if it's available as a slider or not. I can tell you my old Craftsman had both issues you mentioned; dust collection was not great and the scale was off.
TG, did you get the one with the dislocated drive motor and belt drive? Awesome! I replaced a well used Bosch with the Ridgid 12, and love it, especially with tall moldings. Motor is out of the way. It is available as a slider, but $.
Omega, it all boils down to what you will do with it. I cut with mine 6 hours a day 5 days a week, so mine has to be bullet proof.
If you do weekend warrior work, then the Ryobi with laser works well. As Ken says, the 10 will reduce the size of stock you can cut, but being a slider, you can cut wider boards in one pass. I have used my SIL's when I visit there and do repairs (I make him buy tools since I can't take mine with me). It cuts well, low vibration and the laser is better than my Ridgid. I simply can't get mine zeroed in. And you can't see it in the sunshine anyway.
Fill us in on your use of the saw.
Thanks for the replies. The two that I’m looking at are sliding miter saws and I believe the cross cut is 12. Tow Guy, I have looked at the ridgid but the sliding version is $550. The dust collection is not that big of a deal to me but the angle measurements would be pretty annoying.
I am more of a weekend warrior. I have been remodeling my house for the last couple of years and have been using my dad’s 12 miter saw. I am about to finish out some stairs and I have to cut some treads 11 1/4 and skirt boards. I thought about just using a circular saw with a homemade fence but I’m not sure if that would be as accurate. I can’t afford to have a bad cut because these stair parts aren't cheap. Plus, I would like to have my own miter saw (I’m tired of lugging my dad’s back and forth between my house and his :-). Does your SIL have the Ryobi?
Omega, yeah, he has the ryobi, and it works well. Be aware, however, when cutting stair treads, they are not always cut at 90 degrees. Sometimes the framing determines if there is a taper or not. Place a framing square against the stringers, spanning more than one of course, and copy that angle to your tread. I usually cut a sacrificial riser to use on each level to gain a flat square abutment along the stringers. BUT, if you have good framing, the slider is the way to go.
Chandler, yup. Main reason I bought it (besides the age of the old Craftsman) was it had a huge markdown on it. Guess HD was just clearing out stock because it was new in box.
Yeah, I noticed that 12 ridgid slider is pretty pricey.
Thanks chandler. I have checked out a book from the library Building Stairs by Andy Engel and am learning a lot. I am just going step by step thru that book. So far I have removed the temp. treads (2x12's) risers and replace with subtreads subrisers 3/4 plywood that I have already shimmed to square. My next step is to install the skirt board that I will also shim to square. After that treads/risers, finishing the flooring on the landing, then newel posts, handrail and balusters. Hopefully my stair parts will get here this week. This would probably take a pro 1 or 2 days to finish but I hope to have them finished in 2 months :-)
Only in Alabama!! Go for it Bear!!
Tags: miter, available slider, dust collection, have been, some stairs, stair parts, weekend warrior, works well
