A miter saw is amongst the most useful power tools when it comes to working with wood. Under that umbrella term though, there is actually a range of different designs. While a compound model has a blade that can pivot left or right, by buying and using the best sliding compound miter saw, you are taking all that versatility and adding a sliding feature.
This type of saw can make angled, intricate cuts but it can also, by virtue of that sliding action, provide very long cuts. If you find yourself cutting wood frequently then, it could really pay to hunt for a sliding compound miter saw that has a high quality and loaded with useful features. Definitely, if you found the right one, the power and precision it can bring are second to none.
If you have a woodworking shop, read on as we will review three sliding compound miter saws that are worth considering.
Best Sliding Compound Miter Saws: Your Options
DeWalt DWS779 12-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw
DeWalt is a very well-regarded name in the power tool world and has an excellent reputation for producing top-quality tools. This particular model comes with a range of very useful features that make it a real stand out tool.
Key Features
For one thing, attached to this model are 12-inch blades which will supply real cutting power. Together with that is a powerful 15-amp motor that is capable of spinning the blade at around 3,800 rpm.
The high spin rate will result in very smooth cuts because it can go through the wood quickly and efficiently, minimizing the risk of wood burns but leaving lovely smooth edges.
This sliding compound miter saw is one of the few models that have the large cutting angles. It can cut up to a maximum angle of 60 degrees to the right and 50 degrees to the left. It also boasts an excellent dust capturing system which is designed to remove up to 75% of all the sawdust produced while cutting.
One of the drawbacks of this DeWalt model is that the dust bag is quite small, so you would either need to stop and empty it frequently or invest in a larger bag. Also, the machine itself is pretty big, weighing nearly 70 pounds. That may make it difficult to it squeeze into a smaller workshop.
What We Like About It
- Powerful motor
- High-speed level
- Well-designed dust collection system
- Huge cutting angle and blades
What We Didn’t Like About It
- Small-sized dust bag
- Heavy and large
Hitachi C12RSH2 Sliding Compound Miter Saw
This model from Hitachi is frankly huge, and that all comes down to the presence of those incredible 12-inch cutting blades.
Key Features
The blades of this machine are spun by its 15-amp motor. With this kind of motor, it can generate incredible cutting power, making it useful for working on any wood type, even denser materials like ebony and Brazilian walnut.
The saw has also been designed to be operated well. That is owed to the fact that the handle has a vertical design which tends to lessen the vibrations that run from the machine to your arms. Additionally, it has a built-in laser guide that can be used for true precision cuts. It also has clear positive stops and indicators found on both the miter and bevel scales for on-the-spot reference points.
The saw also slides on a compact rail system, giving it zero clearance. That feature plus the huge 12-inch blade means you have a cutting zone of over 6-inches deep; hence, you can efficiently cut thick pieces of wood. With this tool, you can also adjust the cutting angle up to 57 degrees to the right and 45 to the left.
If there would be any downside to this tool, it has to be its size and weight. It measures about 35 x 25 x 28 inches and weighs a little under 60 pounds.
What We Like About It
- Slide travels on rails
- Huge cutting blades
- Powerful motor
- Easy-to-read scales
- Settings are easy to adjust
- Comfortable to use
- Has great cutting clearance
What We Didn’t Like About It
- Bulky and heavy
- Poor dust collection
Craftsman 10-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw
This, all in all, is a somewhat basic model of saw, but that doesn’t mean it is a bad one. Unlike the monster Hitachi and DeWalt models above, this saw uses the smaller but more conventional 10-inch blades. That means that it is easier to find replacement blades.
Key Features
With smaller blades, the machine itself has a size of 37 x 18.9 x 16.1 inches, which is smaller in every dimension than the other two, as well as about 15 to 20 pounds lighter. These specs could make this a better choice for smaller workshops. Nevertheless, this machine does manage to pack a powerful 15-amp motor into its smaller frame, which means that the saw has plenty of cutting power even without the larger 12-inch blades.
We could say that this is a pretty decent saw, but if there are any criticisms leveled at it, it would be the fact that it is something of a basic model. This might not be a real issue if you’re just looking to fill a workshop with a simple but effective tool.
Additionally, some things are missing that you would expect to see on a more premium model. To be specific, it has a laser guide that is very weak and difficult to see.
What We Like About It
- Powerful motor
- Standard blades
- Comes with a dust bag
- Compact and lightweight
What We Didn’t Like About It
- Poor laser guide
- Quite a basic model
- Small blades
Verdict
It’s hard to look past the DeWalt DWS779 when we consider which is the best sliding compound miter saw. With a combination of a powerful engine, large blades and well-designed dust extraction system, it simply raises this model above the other two.
However, you have to make sure that you have enough space for it. Nonetheless, it has the level of quality construction that you would expect from a famous company like DeWalt.