Milwaulkee 12" Dual Slider

DecksEtc

I'm not sure if this has been brought up or not but I'm WAY too tired to look

Anyway, I went and took a plunge (no pun intended ) and picked up a new Milwaulkee 12: Dual Compound Slider tonight.

Anyone have one that can provide any feedback as to how they do/don't like it?

JLTrim

You'll like it I'm sure. Love mine, wish it had a laser but other than that it's the best miter saw I've owned. Very solid and accurate and great cut capacity. The lights are handy, especially for cutting pre-stained wood, and the big bevel lock lever w/ detents is great too. Adjusting for bevel cuts is real easy with this saw. The dial takes a little getting used to, but it's handy when I remember to use it. The 90 degree dust chute is pretty neat too, keeps most of your dust in a small area. Congrats on the purchase, I'm sure you won't regret it.

WarnerConstInc.

Just eat your wheaties to lug that brute around.

I have not heard anything bad about that saw yet.

WarriorWithWood

I've been using one full time for the last month.
Cons:
First problem is the right side fence, it doesn't slide. I took a grinder with a cutting wheel and hollowed out the groove, wah laa it now slides and works perfectly.

Second problem was the *****ty a$$ blade they put on lasted about a week before chipping out the back of the material, new blade works great.

Third is I wish it had a laser, it's amazing how you become used to them.

Fourth is it's heavy, but no heavier than any other 12" slider I've owned.

Pros:
Extremely accurate with both angles and bevels.

Comfortable with repetitive cuts with either hand.

Bag catches 80% of dust with no vacuum.



All in all, it's the best saw I've used to date.

__________________
-Dennis
www.bowmanch.com

DecksEtc

Thanks for the replies guys.

It put it through pretty light use today.

A couple of observations thus far:

Heavy - yes, somewhat but I have it on the Ridgid MSUV so once it's rolled to it's spot for the day, I don't find it to be too big a deal.

I noticed the lack of sliding on the right hand fence - will have to break out the grinder to fix it (Thanks for the idea! )

Lake of Laser - I've never put a laser on any of my previous SCMS' as I don't trust them enough so not having one really isn't an issue.

Dust Bag - I did notic that it did a pretty good job of catching the sawdust - probably the best for a SCMS I've ever seen!

Blade - not really an issue as I already have a 12" FS Tool blade from my previous saw that's going in it once it get back from sharpening.

So far, I'm happy with it!

Andrew M.

I called Milwaukee on the Rt. fence. No clue why they did that, really dumb.. I am going to grind it as well. The DW vertical Cr. Stops from the 706/8/17...fit exactly, they do not make any. They do not include or have a vertical clamp but I have some from an older slider that fit except i have to drill and tap a set screw. No laser seems odd as well . Not that big of an issue on a slider though. I do not like the fact you can not set the play on the slides like DW does. I hope that it does not develop a problem overtime since there is no set screw only the lock knob. The blade is as cheap as any I have ever used. The series 20 DW work better and I think they are marginal. You would think for the price they could at least give you a mid range blade. The carbide is so small that you could not even sharpen it , but you would never anyway. The digital display is nice and works well once you get used to it. I liked the larger table, and the rigidity of the slide/head design on my Makita I sold better [ with little pressure, the Milwaukee moves side to side due to casting /slide flex and the bevel lock is not rock solid either, it has a spring loaded lever that has no user lock set knob to secure it, again why not have that simple lock down? Reminds me of what B&D did to the DW's RAS lock / elevation move to the front from thee column which no one liked over the original rear solid lock, again to have an forward control you lost critical stability.]. On the positive side, the electronic speed control is great, no jumping like the DW's, the miter table pivot is the best build I have seen, the lock is better than the Makita's which can have issues but not as fast as the lever on the DW's. On the DW pivot,even though it seem like a light build, I have has no issues with the DW706 and 717 I have ,other than some minor tightening needed over time.
I actually prefer my DW717. The capacity is about the same and the 10" blades are cheaper, more accurate, can find FK[1/8"] blades easily in low hook. 12" are nearly impossible to find in 1/8" kerf for slider use and they cost bigtime.
As a whole, I would not buy it again. I bought it on an impulse due to an internet sale $490 total. My fault in not checking it out in person myself.
They tried to be different but failed to be better in the end result. I prefer a solid design, with a useable blade like makita gives you, and complete accessories available since that include nothing nor make anything. That saves at least $75 in a good blade and a clamp that most include. I should not have to grind the fence , use DW parts and try others brands to find a vertical clamp to equip a "precision" $600 saw either.
My Bosch digital angle finder can easly be used if I have to have an odd setting . I think the 12" Bosch slider has better design overall and has clamps, both fences slide, laser, upfront controls really lock down, better blade included, larger tubes,cheaper usually too. The new Makita 4 tube look nice but I have not seen an actual unit. I do not like the 12" DW718 at all BTW.
It does seems very well made in parts quality, build and has more parts that any tool I have ever bought,down load the list from Milwaukee and look at it.

Mrmac204

I got this saw a few weeks back, and the Ridgid MSUV. I spoke to a Milwaukee sales guy at a tool shop about the non-sliding right side fence. He said that this was a patented item by Dewalt, so rather than pay them royalties, they cast in that little stop. He recommended to just grind it out, which is what I did
This saw is heavy, but its actually lighter than the bosch 12"- I had one! good saw, but it had issues.

As for the Ridgid msuv, I used the bolts that came with it to bolt the saw to the mounts - well it works, but the bolt heads stick up too high and interfere with the bevel arm (??) ie: if you need to cut something at 60 deg. you can't! so I have to find some small bolts that the head will fit into the opening in the saw base.

I love the huge wheels! I can roll this thing over just about any surface without getting stuck.

it also folds up and exactly fits into the back of my '02 explorer sport! LOL

WarriorWithWood

So thats why. I didn't know that, but it makes sense.

__________________
-Dennis
www.bowmanch.com