10" makita slider Vs 12" Dewalt Slider - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Ryan03 · 03-30-2008, 12:09 PM

Hey, I've been looking to buy a new mitre saw..debating between the Makita 10" or the dewalt 12'..both in the sliding models..Could anyone give me some suggestions or reviews as to which is better?..I will mostly just be using it for trim, wood siding, decking, flooring..
What are the major differences between the 10-12" models when it comes to cutting capabilites?
Thanks in advance!

TempestV · 03-30-2008, 12:56 PM

I greatly dislike the Makita- when you walk up to the saw with the piece that needs to be cut at a miter that the saw isn't set for, you have to put the piece that you are holding down before setting the saw. Any other saw, you can set the piece right against the fence, ready to be cut. If you do this on the Makita however, you will cover the miter gauge so that you can't set the saw.

I'd lean towards the Dewalt- yesterday I was at the tool store and messing around with the "big 4"- Makita, Hitachi, Dewalt, and Bosch. While all of them are really good quality, the Dewalt seemed the most robust- the miter locked tight, as did the dedents, easy to use, and the head had very little deflection side to side that would throw off your cut. Hitachi had the most deflection, and the saw is really top heavy, so letting the blade spring up at the end of the cut can flip the saw over. The Makita had the second least deflection, and if not for the miter gauge location, would be my second choice. The Bosch had a fair amount of deflection, plus, I looked at the saws at two different stores, and one of the Bosch saws had a loose miter lock, so even when the saw was locked, it would move 1-2 degrees back and forth. If I could find one that worked properly, it would probably be my 2nd pick.

troybuilt · 03-30-2008, 06:10 PM

Made a bet with a DeWalt sales rep the other day. Told him I would pay two times his asking price for a 12" slider if he could cut four mitres out of a six in piece of trim that had all four corners fit exactly. If he couldn't he was to give me the saw. The rep did not take me up on the bet. So much for confidence in their product. Inconsistant deflection/cuts.

jiffy · 03-30-2008, 06:52 PM

The Makita is a world apart from the DeWalt. My Makita cuts like a dream and is very precise, comes with the laser already installed, is very portable.

98mustangguy · 03-30-2008, 07:09 PM

well i just bought the hitachi 10 slider but not the one with the tentacle lights and digital guage just the good ole fashion style with no frills like every one else makes. will post in a day or two on it.

silvertree · 03-30-2008, 07:19 PM

I just bought the Hitachi 8.5 from this place

http://www.reconditionedsales.com

Only $240.00
I have a Dual Compound DeWalt 12", plus a Hitachi 10".
I like the smaller lighter saws. I used the Hitachi and it cut like a dream.
I will set up the saw before use, and whenever it needs it. I like the Makita, but its too heavy. Diablo blades for the small saws and DeWalt blades for the big saw.

WarnerConstInc. · 03-30-2008, 07:58 PM

get the bosch I could sell you mine it is only 3 months old, but the KAPEX is coming in two months. Whatever you get put a good blade on it. Spend $150 and get a good finish blade, save the cheap ones (frued, dewalt, whatever) for the crappy work. Buy a good tenyru, matsush!ta, or maybe a WWII. Those high quality blades can be sharpened numerous times. My friend has several 8+ yearold tenyru and matsush!ta's that he still uses.

Or keep saving KAPEX!!!

Joining_heads@c · 03-30-2008, 09:02 PM

The Dewalt 718 has to be the worst saw out there. The Makita, Hitachi, and Bosch are far, far superior.

Again, the 718 sucks. However, if your set on Dewalt, find a used 708 (that was a much better saw than the joke 718 that replaced it).

Ryan03 · 03-30-2008, 09:11 PM

Nice thanks for the info boyss..I was leaning towards the Makita already from what I read already and heard from fellow co-workers..Now I got my mind set

Thanks again!