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    Tools & Materials

    Bosch - GCM12SD Sliding Miter Saw

    Bosch puts its bevel lock at the front of the saw for convenience and the saw tilts 47° in both directions and miters 60° right and 52° left

    Author Headshot By Patrick McCombe Sep 30, 2010
    Article Image

    Sliding miter saws are a mainstay of many home woodshops. The reason: their 12- to 14-in. crosscut capacity. This is most commonly achieved by one or more sliding tubes that provide the travel for the blade, transmission, and motor assembly. It’s a time-tested design, but there are a couple of problems. One is that the tubes stick out about 12 in. beyond the rear of the saw, requiring that the saw be positioned that distance from the wall. As a result, you end up with 2 or 3 sq. ft. of wasted space behind the saw—and most woodworkers would rather put that space to better use. The other is that the sliding mechanism introduces some flex and inaccuracy.

    Bosch has solved these problems with its newest 12-in. slider. The saw uses a pair of hinged arms, each with three knuckles, to provide the travel for its 13-1/2-in. crosscut capacity. The big benefit is that you can put the saw right up to the wall. In addition, it’s very accurate because of the tight tolerances in the hinged arms. And you can adjust the tightness of the mechanism to your personal preference.

    The saw bevels to 47° in both directions and miters to 60° right and 52° left. There are nine detents for common miter settings. Although we’ve seen it on past Bosch miter saws, I really like the up-front bevel control that eliminates reaching around the back of the saw for bevel adjustments. After replacing the stock 60-tooth blade with a 90-tooth version from CMT because it had less runout, I tested the saw with a number of cuts and materials and it performed exceptionally well right out of the box. The cuts were furniture-quality.

    Bosch’s new saw (No. GCM12SD) is accurate, the controls are precise and intuitive, and the space-saving design is icing on the cake. At $800, the only downside is the price.

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    Editor Test Results:

    RunoutN/A
    Accuracy of cutGood

    Manufacturer Specifications:

    ManufacturerBosch
    Manufacturer's Web Sitewww.boschtools.com
    Manufacturer's Phone Number877-267-2499
    Crosscut capacity13 -1/2 in.
    Maximum depth of cut6-1/2" against fence; 4x4 (nominal) under arbor
    Maximum width of cut13-1/2 in.
    Maximum miter/bevelM- 52L/60R B- 47R/L
    Double BevelYes
    Horsepower2.9 hp
    Amps15
    Blade size12 in.
    Blade type60T
    Blade tiltLeft/Right
    Product warrantyOne year
    LaserOptional arbor laser (LS010)
    X
    X

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