Anyone interested in woodwork projects is in dire need of an excellent sliding miter saw. However, due to the availability of multiple miter saw types, picking the right one for your projects becomes a bit overwhelming.
And cherries on top, if you are a beginner who has just started woodworking or carpentry – then this might be a nightmare for you.
Well, you need not worry about this, as we are going to review the three best 8 1/2 sliding miter saw options here. So let’s take a sneak peek at your sliding miter saw options and what makes them the best among all other options.
Top 8 ½ Sliding Miter Saw
Although, which miter saw would be ideal for you dramatically varies from person to person as well as the intensity of the work.
However, the sliding miter saws listed below are the perfect option for both beginners and professionals woodworkers. All three miter saws are designed to make classic, dead-on, accurate, and precise cuts.
Furthermore, you can use these saws for all your projects.
Bosch CM8S Sliding Compound Miter Saw
Bosch CM8S Sliding Compound Miter Saw
One of the bestselling 8-½” Miter Saw is the Bosch CM8S Compound Saw. Anyone who is in search of precision and accuracy with safety must consider this fantastic miter saw.
One of the most prominent features of the Bosch Compound Miter Saw is its bevel lock systems.
In addition to lever locks, this saw also comes with bevel turret stops that are installed on the side of the saw – making it easy to make adjustments without going back of the saw. The addition of easy-to-read miter and bevel scales makes this saw more convenient to use.
The miter saw comes with integrated expanding base extensions – allowing left to right extension up to 29 inches – hence quite supportive during work.
When it comes to the stability of Bosch CM8S, it gives strong competition. It features an adjustable stabilizing foot, integrated on the front of the saw.
This stabilizing foot maintains stability while the saw cuts at its full capacity. The exclusive and smart design and lightweight make this saw very portable. Bosch CM8S provides the same crosscut capacity as of the 12-¼” miter saw.
But that’s not just all. Bosch CM8S 8-½” Compound Sliding Miter Saw has more to offer. Integrated into the design of the saw, is also a miter detent override – providing quick, accurate, and precise cuts.
Along with the detent system, Bosch CM8S also features a smart, easy-to-access thumb actuated override as well as a lower guard.
The lower guard allows the user an unobstructed and evident view. All of these features make Bosch CM8S an ideal Miter Sliding Saw to make precise and accurate cuts with maximum convenience and safety.
The Miter Saw is powered via electricity – requiring 12 volts of power. The quality, durability, and design of this saw are all up to the mark. Overall, Bosch CM8S Compound Sliding Miter Saw is worth spending the money!
- It provides the same capacity as of the 12-¼” saw
- It is highly portable
- Bosch CM8S is lightweight
- It is very convenient to use
- It provides excellent support during the cutting
- The cuts are accurate and precise
- It is flimsy
- The screws are very tight
Makita LS0815F Slide Compound Miter Saw
Makita LS0815F Slide Compound Miter Saw
Makita LS0815F Slide Compound Miter Saw is a powerful saw designed for a wide range of cutting applications. Be its woodworking, carpentry, or room-to-room jobs such as trim, finishing, flooring installation, etc. – Makita is the right choice.
This miter saw is known for its superb job site portability. The state-of-the-art, compact and lightweight design of Makita LS0815F makes this saw perfectly portable. The saw blade is of high quality, durable, and makes perfect and accurate cuts.
The powerful direct drive motor of the Makita LS0815F offers 5,000 RPM and works correctly requiring minimal maintenance.
It features two separate miter ranges for both lefts (0-50 degrees) and right (0-60 degrees) due to the linear ball bearing system along with positive stops.
Furthermore, Makita also features a bevel lock at the dual rear handle, that is easy to access and allows quick adjustments. The crosscutting capacity is remarkable. What makes this miter saw different than other brands is its smooth start-ups and constant power-ups.
Makita users are unlikely to experience belt slippage or replacement – hence perfect cutting! When it comes to convenience, Makita never disappoints.
The addition of the electric brake allows users to cut without any inconvenience. Speaking of quality and durability – Makita never fails to deliver supreme quality.
The three words to define the brilliance manufacturing of Makita LS0815F Slide Compound Miter Saw: Versatility, Accuracy, and Portability!
After reviewing all the features of this sliding miter saw, it is not wrong to say that it is a good investment for general construction and DIY projects!
- It provides smooth, ‘dead-on’ and accurate cuts
- It is highly portable
- Makita is lightweight
- It offers remarkable capacity
- The blade is of high-quality and sharp
- It requires less maintenance
- This miter saw is ideal for multiple applications
- It is quite expensive
- Quality is not very pleasing
- There is nothing to tighten up the positive stop
Metabo HPT Sliding Compound Miter Saw
Metabo HPT Sliding Compound Miter Saw
Metabo HPT 8-½” Sliding Compound Miter Saw is one the most sophisticated, robust machine that uses state-of-the-art technology to deliver high-end cutting results. Metabo offers several brilliant features.
One of the most prominent features of this miter is the addition of a laser marker that allows the user to make dead-on, accurate, and precise cuts.
The laser marker provides an exact alignment and formulized blade placement. Moving on, another feature that makes Metabo stand out in the crowd is the use of adjustable LED lights.
The LED light enhances visibility, and the user can view all the angles clearly due to the brightness.
Not only this, but the saw also provides a 48 degrees bevel angle to the left and 5 degrees bevel level angle to the right. Metabo is known to make precise and accurate compound cuts easily. The powerful 9.5 Ampl drive motor provides brilliant and unmatchable crosscutting capacity.
In addition to all these features, Metabo HPT 8-½” Sliding Compound Miter Saw also has integrated positive miter stops that allow quick and easy adjustments for both left and right angles.
The addition of an adjustable pivot fence adds more convenient cuts.
When it comes to the construction of the saw and quality of its cutting blade, Metabo HPT 8-½” Sliding Compound Miter Saw is strong, durable, and has used supreme quality material. Metabo is known for reliability.
Moreover, the compact and lightweight design of the miter saw allows great portability and job site convenience. Electrically powered, Metabo requires 120 volts to work at its full capacity.
All the features of Metabo make it an ideal choice for woodwork, carpentry, and other similar applications.
- Metabo features a laser marker
- The addition of adjustable LED light provides visibility at all angles
- It is a lightweight, portable, and durable option
- It allows for accurate and precise cuts
- The construction of the saw is durable and long-lasting
- The blade of the saw is of high quality
- It offers great convenience
- Metabo is expensive, especially for DIY works
How To Choose The Right 8 1/2 Sliding Miter Saw?
To decide whether a particular sliding Miter saw is right for you or not, you have to check some factors. To make your decision easier, we have listed all the factors that play a crucial role in buying the best miter saw for your projects.
- The saw kind and style.
- Size of the blade.
- The blade type.
- What type of cuts the saw makes.
- The bleed teeth.
- The intensity of your work.
- It is a portable and lightweight saw.
Out of all the factors, the most critical one is the blade teeth. Therefore you need to be mindful and careful about the blade teeth when selecting the Best 8 1/2 Sliding Miter Saw.
Final Word
Miter saws are known as the essential tool for woodwork and carpentry. No doubt, these state-of-the-art cutting machines are beneficial in making accurate and precise cuts.
However, choosing the wrong miter saw can cause you a significant loss of money. It is because the Miter saws are not remarkably inexpensive to buy.
So hence, it is vital to buy the one for you carefully. Furthermore, if the intensity of your project is not heavy-duty, there is no need to invest in expensive miter saws. You can look for cheaper options.
Take out some time to read about the saw you want to buy, check its capacity, power options, blade size, and teeth, etc. And when purchasing the miter saw, make sure that you buy from a reliable source!
Let us know if you have any further queries about the miter saws, by leaving a comment below.
Did you like our Best 8 1/2 Sliding Miter Saw Review? Please check Best Saw Blade for Laminate Flooring Review.