I'm on the hunt for a miter saw that ticks a variety of boxes after pondering some recent discussions. I'm aiming for a saw that delivers solid dust extraction (with a vacuum connected), has a non-intrusive slide mechanism, maintains accuracy, allows for easy clamping of workpieces, can accommodate fence extensions, and is reasonably priced (not over a thousand euros). Plus, it needs to be available in the EU. Battery power and portability aren't a concern for me, and while a dual bevel feature would be nice, it's not a dealbreaker. Any recommendations?
6 Answers
Your best bets are probably the Bosch Glide, Makita, or Festool Kapex. The Bosch is more budget-friendly but misses some features like a laser. I chose that one and added my own shadow line by sticking a small light under the hood. There are some great tutorials online for that sort of upgrade, and a small company even makes a better dust shroud for it. With those tweaks, I think it competes with the Festool for about half the price.
While I can’t speak to the dust extraction quality, I think the Bosch GCM 10 GDL or 12 might meet most of your criteria. They do pretty well overall.
The Festool Kapex 60 is a solid choice—I’ve had mine for about three years, and it's been great! You can often score a good used one online as well.
I've owned a Makita LS2919, but now I’ve switched to the Kapex KS120. I found that the Makita actually had better dust extraction, but they both create some mess. Upgrading with a dust hood connected to a big dust collector made a huge improvement for me, but that setup might not work if you’re often on the move.
Honestly, a handsaw might be the best option if you're looking for perfection here. I reached the same conclusion a while back after struggling to find a saw that would really fit all those needs.
There really isn’t a miter saw that offers perfect dust extraction right out of the box. Even the Kapex only manages to catch about half of the dust.
Thanks! Dust extraction is definitely a make-or-break factor for me.