Mitre saw review

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Chop saws / Compound Mitre Saws

Saws with fixed pivoted cutting heads that cut with a plunging action only



Kinzo

Model 8E329

  • Cheap
  • Plastic base bends as you put force on the workpiece to keep it still
  • No locks anywhere, all settings tend to drift over time
    • this can waste wood
  • No workpiece clamp
  • Standard clamps won't work with it due to base moulding shape
  • Blade tends to push workpiece sideways during cutting
  • Blade tends to burn the cut edge
  • Weak fence exploded violently during careful use
  • 210mm blade
  • Good enough for work that wont be seen, sheds etc. With quite a bit of care it can give ok results for work on show, but its too easy to get cuts that are misaligned in every way.

Rexon

M2150AE

  • 216mm 8.5" blade
  • Cast ali base
  • Turntable locks to prevent drift
  • Integral workpiece clamp
  • Very clean cuts from the TCG blade
  • Cuts plastic & soft metals well too
  • Laser makes getting the timber in the right place quick and easy
  • Mains powered laser, no batteries needed
  • 2 speed motor, low speed is for plastics
  • Dust extraction port clogs quickly
  • Tends to jump a bit when switched on, so work needs to be clamped, or the saw bolted to a bench
  • Low cost good quality machine

Sliding Compound Mitre Saws

Saws mounted on slide rails, that can cut with a plunging action and a sliding action.

Argos

[1]

Makita

LS1214

The largest of the Makita offerings with 12" blade giving over 4" depth of cut and over 12" cross cut capability. A High end tool with a price to match.

  • Cast ali construction - very substantial and heavy (23kg+)
  • Turntable can be locked at any angle, and has preset positions for commonly used angles
  • Angled motor to maximise tilt in both directions
  • Both axis marked with accurate scales
  • Trench cutting capability
  • Built in dust extraction bag that catches perhaps half of the dust
  • Cuts all timbers, composites, and soft alloys with standard TCT blade (60 tooth blade supplied)
  • Smooth and accurate mechanism
  • Soft start motor with electronic braking
  • Some versions available with laser
  • Tool is large and requires a fair amount of space to setup and operate.

LS1013

The slightly smaller version of above with 10" blade giving over 3" depth of cut and over 12" cross cut capability. This is the ideal cabinet makers saw with very high levels of refinement and accuracy, without being quite a s large as the 1214

Workzone

Low cost machine from Aldi. Mostly reasonably good, but plastic pointer more vulnerable to damage than metal.

See Also