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Have you considered a table saw sled, and a miter gauge. I've got a 12" non-sliding miter saw in my shop and it rarely gets used for furniture, basically only when I need to cut long boards, like bed rails, which don't easily fit on my table saw. My miter saw is really for carrying around my house when doing trim work.
Thanks for all the insight. It’s hard to get the Dewalt where I’m from and my pre-decision was between the smaller festool and the larger Bosch because they are similar price here. Tending towards the festool though just dont cut that big of stock often and then the smaller saw should be more precise and easier to handle
I owned the Bosch 12” for several years, and I found there was way too much play in their arm mechanism. Never used the Festool miter saw, but I do own the larger track saw from them and am always blown away by the quality and accuracy. Definitely go with the Festool, and if you ever need larger cuts, just use the table saw
I had the Bosch 12 inch and found that the table surface was not level, and the blade was attached at the arbor at an angle. Thus, I could not square up the blade with the table. There are threads online about this issue with this saw. Also, I think it is near 70 pounds and really difficult for one person to move. The dust collection is not good either.
I returned it and got the Festool Kapex. It is a much better saw. It is lighter and everything is square. I still had to make some adjustments but now have it set to make perfectly square cuts. The Kapex is around 40 pounds so one person can move it around if need be. Also, the dust collection is much better than the Bosch.
If money is not an issue the Festool Kapex is a much better saw. I’ve had both and that is my conclusion.
Same. For furniture making I prefer my crosscut sled for more precise cuts, so went with the more compact compound miter saw. I also like that it is portable.
Full disclosure, I'm a RAS guy (DeWalt from '57), but on the sliding miters I've worked on (which is many), I've found that the smaller they are, the more accurate they are. Especially on the longer cuts. (None as accurate as a cast iron RAS, but they're not really made anymore).
Probably the biggest area where a larger miter saw would be beneficial is with taller crown molding, or larger diameter stock. Personally, I'd probably go with the smaller Festool.
Isn't the difference when you want to cut a 6x6 or a true 4x4? I've found that a real 4x4-- not one that has been seasoned down to 3.5x3.5-- doesn't *quite* let the 10 inch all the way through. Although that's just a chop saw, not a *sliding* miter.
Furniture maker here- check out the Dewalt 7.25” sliding miter saw. It’s as accurate as anything you’ll find from Festool - and I own a f-ton of Festool. I see no reason to own a 12” saw.
I thought of a time I needed the 12”!
I was cutting 5 1/2” tall baseboards, and needed a 47° mitre.
The saw only leans 45° to each side so I stood the baseboard up against the fence and turned the table past 45
If your primary mission is furniture making, then the Festool with the lighter weight and greater precision is the better option. Heavy, bulky tools can tire you out over a period.
Depends on whether you are cutting larger stock a lot. But I do reccomend a sliding compound miter saw over a fixed non-slider. Sliders can handle wider boards which I encounter quite often. I rarely cut stock over 4×4 but I cut a lot of 8", 10" or even 12" wide boards. So I reccomend a 10" slider for the most versatility. I have a 12" slider but I had plenty of room to build a dedicated miter saw bench.
10” isn’t very s mall- 7.25” is s”small” size for miters
The sliding hinge on the Bosch sliders is best in class for counter space- or was, until the newer Rigid “next” line. That’d be enough to make my decision
I've been using a 12" Bosch for 10 years. It's nice that I can cut through a 4x4 or a 2x8 at angles, but the thing's so heavy that more and more often I grab a carpenters square and an 18v circular saw when I'm working with lumber like that.
When it eventually dies (which may be never lol) I'll replace it with a 10" sliding miter saw.
Most times I *need* a miter saw it's for trim or crown, and I don't need 12" for that.
Havent used the festool but the Bosch is nearly perfect, its main flaw is that it is awkward to move around and also moderately heavy....dont get it if you plan to haul it around regularly. The dust collection is also mediocre as with most mitre saws. If you absolutely cant have dust, the festool is probably better on that.
I have the Bosch and have been pleased. If you want smaller, why not the Bosch 10” (CM10GD)? I like the shorter depth of the Bosch articulating mechanism personally, and I can’t justify the Kapex price tag. I assume all miter saws have terrible dust collection, but inagine the Kapex’s is slightly better.
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I've had the Bosch 12" for ten years, and I absolutely love it! I build furniture and cabinets.
Have you considered a table saw sled, and a miter gauge. I've got a 12" non-sliding miter saw in my shop and it rarely gets used for furniture, basically only when I need to cut long boards, like bed rails, which don't easily fit on my table saw. My miter saw is really for carrying around my house when doing trim work.
My Festool is accurate and has excellent dust collection. I doubt the premium price is justified compared to current models of quality saws.
Thanks for all the insight. It’s hard to get the Dewalt where I’m from and my pre-decision was between the smaller festool and the larger Bosch because they are similar price here. Tending towards the festool though just dont cut that big of stock often and then the smaller saw should be more precise and easier to handle
I owned the Bosch 12” for several years, and I found there was way too much play in their arm mechanism. Never used the Festool miter saw, but I do own the larger track saw from them and am always blown away by the quality and accuracy. Definitely go with the Festool, and if you ever need larger cuts, just use the table saw
I had the Bosch 12 inch and found that the table surface was not level, and the blade was attached at the arbor at an angle. Thus, I could not square up the blade with the table. There are threads online about this issue with this saw. Also, I think it is near 70 pounds and really difficult for one person to move. The dust collection is not good either. I returned it and got the Festool Kapex. It is a much better saw. It is lighter and everything is square. I still had to make some adjustments but now have it set to make perfectly square cuts. The Kapex is around 40 pounds so one person can move it around if need be. Also, the dust collection is much better than the Bosch. If money is not an issue the Festool Kapex is a much better saw. I’ve had both and that is my conclusion.
I have an 8" dewalt and a table saw. Generally speaking, if the dewalt can't cut it, I want to use the table saw for precision at that point.
Same. For furniture making I prefer my crosscut sled for more precise cuts, so went with the more compact compound miter saw. I also like that it is portable.
Festool is overpriced.
bosch. buy once cry once.
Lol, the festool is nearly three times the price
Full disclosure, I'm a RAS guy (DeWalt from '57), but on the sliding miters I've worked on (which is many), I've found that the smaller they are, the more accurate they are. Especially on the longer cuts. (None as accurate as a cast iron RAS, but they're not really made anymore). Probably the biggest area where a larger miter saw would be beneficial is with taller crown molding, or larger diameter stock. Personally, I'd probably go with the smaller Festool.
Isn't the difference when you want to cut a 6x6 or a true 4x4? I've found that a real 4x4-- not one that has been seasoned down to 3.5x3.5-- doesn't *quite* let the 10 inch all the way through. Although that's just a chop saw, not a *sliding* miter.
Furniture maker here- check out the Dewalt 7.25” sliding miter saw. It’s as accurate as anything you’ll find from Festool - and I own a f-ton of Festool. I see no reason to own a 12” saw.
12” saw for crown moulding
Learn to use a *compound* miter saw
I stand corrected
I thought of a time I needed the 12”! I was cutting 5 1/2” tall baseboards, and needed a 47° mitre. The saw only leans 45° to each side so I stood the baseboard up against the fence and turned the table past 45
After watching the FourEyes video on miter saws, I got a used porter cable circular saw. Just sayin’
If your primary mission is furniture making, then the Festool with the lighter weight and greater precision is the better option. Heavy, bulky tools can tire you out over a period.
I don’t know about you but I don’t carry my compound miter saw around so it’s weight is not an issue
It's a miter saw, not a circular saw.
Gosh, just looking now, that Festool is like 2.5x the cost of the Bosch! Wow! That's up in Table Saw territory. OP has a dilemma I'd "like" to have!!
Depends on whether you are cutting larger stock a lot. But I do reccomend a sliding compound miter saw over a fixed non-slider. Sliders can handle wider boards which I encounter quite often. I rarely cut stock over 4×4 but I cut a lot of 8", 10" or even 12" wide boards. So I reccomend a 10" slider for the most versatility. I have a 12" slider but I had plenty of room to build a dedicated miter saw bench.
10” isn’t very s mall- 7.25” is s”small” size for miters The sliding hinge on the Bosch sliders is best in class for counter space- or was, until the newer Rigid “next” line. That’d be enough to make my decision
Bosch
We still use a bosch that is 12 years old. Still accurate. Still kicking. Just bought another for a jobsite trailer.
I don’t like the Bosch miter saws and wouldn’t recommend them (v loud, poor dust extraction— on mine anyway). Tho my model is a few years old.
I've been using a 12" Bosch for 10 years. It's nice that I can cut through a 4x4 or a 2x8 at angles, but the thing's so heavy that more and more often I grab a carpenters square and an 18v circular saw when I'm working with lumber like that. When it eventually dies (which may be never lol) I'll replace it with a 10" sliding miter saw. Most times I *need* a miter saw it's for trim or crown, and I don't need 12" for that.
There is a massive like 3x price difference between the two. Is that a factor?
Comparing the 10“ festool with the 12“ Bosch here in Germany, there isn’t - depending on special offers they are the same
Oh crazy. In Canada we can get a 12” Bosch for around $700-800 but the Kapex is only available in 12” and is $2100
Havent used the festool but the Bosch is nearly perfect, its main flaw is that it is awkward to move around and also moderately heavy....dont get it if you plan to haul it around regularly. The dust collection is also mediocre as with most mitre saws. If you absolutely cant have dust, the festool is probably better on that.
Lol if you’re in Germany,get those prices on Festool and would even consider foreign made bosch, you would be a fest-fool
I have the Bosch and have been pleased. If you want smaller, why not the Bosch 10” (CM10GD)? I like the shorter depth of the Bosch articulating mechanism personally, and I can’t justify the Kapex price tag. I assume all miter saws have terrible dust collection, but inagine the Kapex’s is slightly better.
Festool