Compound miter saws marry toughness with precision

Tag : Precision Cutting Tool

I f you're framing a new deck one weekend and then installing someintricate crown molding the next, you probably need one saw thatcould handle both those tasks and everything in between.
If so, look no further than one of the big, versatile 12-inchcompound or sliding compound miter saws now on the market.
Tough and powerful yet remarkably accurate, these saws can powerthrough wet framing lumber or handle delicate cuts on finetrimwork.
The head of a sliding compound miter saw is mounted on single ordual rails to allow it to slide over the table, which increases itscutting capacity and makes it possible to cut difficultintersections such as dados and rabbets.
These saws can cut miters and bevels on a piece of wood at the sametime (known as a compound cut), making them useful for anythingfrom roof rafters to crown moldings.
Several top tool manufacturers are now producing these saws, sothere is a variety of configurations, features and price ranges toselect from.
When you're in the market for one, look for a home center or toolstore that has several brands side by side, to allow you to makecomparisons.
One of the top saws in the 12-inch field is the Bosch Dual-BevelSlide Miter Saw (Model 5412L, $629.95). This workhorse isbeautifully designed and constructed, with a number of greatfeatures that add to its versatility.
Perhaps the handiest of those features is the upfront bevelcontrols -- it's the only 12-inch sliding miter saw that has them-- which allows you to quickly and accurately set and lock thebevel angle of the head from the front of the saw, rather thanhaving to reach around behind it.
The saw head tilts to a maximum bevel of 47 degrees both left andright, and there are built-in stops at 0 and 45 degrees, as well asat 33.9 degrees for crown molding. The saw can bevel 52 degrees tothe left and 60 degrees to the right, with built-in stops at 0, 15,22.5, 31.6 (for crown molding) and 45 degrees.
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