I would also be looking at 10" non-sliding saws. The size penalty is pretty small, but they weigh less, they cost less, and with fewer moving parts are often more accurate.

 

This one may be worth considering if storage is a concern.

I had an 8 1/2" slider by DeWalt and quite liked it. It was really weight and accuracy that concerned me and I had a bigger 12" non-slider too. They weighed close to the same and were about equally bulky and awkward to move around.

 

Loren, do you have experience with that saw? Looks pretty cool

Deker, I have the Dewalt 7485 table saw. It is excellent and very small. I wouldn't hesitate to look at their 7.25" slider.

 

The only problem with smaller miter saws, is you will have to use the bevel function on boards over certain height can't be stood against the fence. That's a little harder to do.

I experienced this recently with a 10" miter cutting 4 1/4" baseboard.

That said, the saw was a Metabo 10" non slider (used to be Hitachi). IMO for $130 you can't beat it. My biggest knock is the dust collection is pretty much non existent.

A 12" miter saw will be the best choice IMO. Check out the Rousseau miter saw shroud.

 

no.

 

Loren: Haven't seen that one before, but that's pretty slick how it folds up. Glad to hear your thoughts on a smaller slider. I've gotten the impression from others that the smallest they would go is 10", but with a slider I'm not sure of the drawback to an 8-1/2". Robert's point is well-taken, but I can spend a little more time to cut on the flat if needed since I'm just a hobbyist. Then again, perhaps I'm being naïve…

Thanks everyone for your thoughts.

 

If your concerned with space, the sliding miter saw takes more space verses the 12" miter chop saw. I have 12" miter chop saw because the sliding miter saw would stick out too far from the wall.

There's quite a few people started with using benchtop table saws and other benchtop tools with good results. Some have incorporated the benchtop equipment into their work benches and cabinets. Quite a few have put their stuff on casters so they can roll the tools out, use the tool, and roll them back out of the way. If you click on the 'Shops' tab on top of the page, you can browse through some of the LJ's "shops" to check how some have set up their spaces. This video may give you some ideas to a small shop layout

 

The biggest sliding miter saw isn't really that big to me but each to his own. The first time your saw size stops you from making a cut, you'll wish for another one in its place. Just sayin'…

 

Not sure what your size constraints are: Just measured my 12-inch DeWalt DWS716 - it's 22" wide by 30" deep, including measuring the dust bag. If you swap that for a connection to a DC it drops to 23" deep. I haven't run into much that it can't handle.

https://www.dewalt.com/products/power-tools/saws/miter-saws/15-amp-12-in-electric-doublebevel-compound-miter-saw/dws716

 

So @DekerB, what did you get?

 

@WilsonLR - I ended up getting a 10" slider, the Makita LS1019L, and put it on the Rigid mobile stand. Very happy with the miter saw.

 

My buddy purchased the Milwaukee 18v 7-1/4" SCMS (dual bevel). It has a decent capacity but more importantly it's compact, quiet, smooth, precise, and accurate. Did I mention compact, lightweight, cordless, and powerful? A blade that small has literally no deflection. I sold my big Dewalt 12" SCMS because I was going to get one also but then he offered to let me use his anytime I want to. Between the two of us it may get used once a month at the very most. In the past 20 years I can count on one hand the number of times I used the full the capacity of a 12" slider. I want/need accuracy WAY more than I need capacity. I have a table saw, two track saws, and a Festool MFT/3 setup for the big stuff.