Which chop saw???

Pigglet · Post by **Pigglet** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 9:09 am

I'm after a new sliding compound mitre saw. The old Electra beckum saw I've got at the moment just will not cut true despite my best efforts to set it up

I've been looking at the dewalt 712 & 777, Bosch GCM 10sd and the 250 mm makita (ls 1013?). Anyone used any or all of these and have an opinion on their pro's and cons? It's to be used for skirting and moulding work as well as rougher stuff like fencing. I gather the bigger the saw blade the less accurate it is likely yo be. Is that so? If not I might go for one of the 305mm saws.

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 11:32 am

i have the 712 with the stand brilliant bit off kit completely accurate out the box easy to use trenching is easy as well

you can get the saw for around low £300s and the stand for around the ton

Pigglet · Post by **Pigglet** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 1:53 pm

Cheers for that big all. I've already got the stand, as you say great bit of kit, much better than the wolfcraft version which I also have.
I must admit I've never been a big fan of other dewalt kit, I've thought it didn't feel as well made as other brands but the mitre saws look as well made as any of the others.

fin · Post by **fin** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 5:07 pm

i bought a dw701 about a year back, same saw as the dw707 but with variable speed. i bought it reconed from ancatown1 on ebay (think its m&p tool specialists)

the newer version of this saw is the dw771 which is the variable speed version of the dw777 you posted about

i do like my saw though i had used one previously so it did sway my decision. i paid something like £190 incl delivery. think its more like £220 inc delivery now for the dw771

only problem with them is there isnt a setting for trenching on them. if you need one for that the dw712 would be better as big all recomended

I also have the dewalt saw stand aswell. fantastic bit of kit

Pigglet · Post by **Pigglet** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 6:54 am

Cheers fin. Are there any dissadvantages associated with a 12" saw as opposed to an 8" or 10"? I'm now considering a 718 as it will be more versatile.

Tryanything · Post by **Tryanything** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 11:18 am

fin wrote:i bought a dw701 about a year back, same saw as the dw707 but with variable speed.
i bought it reconed from ancatown1 on ebay (think its m&p tool specialists)

Marshall and Parsons, Lea-on-sea Essex, 01702 470100 if that helps

Pigglet · Post by **Pigglet** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 7:08 pm

Cheers Tryanything.
What sort of condition are the recon saws in? Do they look used?
I bought a recon GPS from Garmin and there was no way of telling that it wasn't a new unit.
I've seen them on ebay and they offer a signifiacant saving over new.

Tryanything · Post by **Tryanything** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 7:24 pm

Pigglet wrote:Cheers Tryanything.
What sort of condition are the recon saws in? Do they look used?
I bought a recon GPS from Garmin and there was no way of telling that it wasn't a new unit.
I've seen them on ebay and they offer a signifiacant saving over new.

Think they call them factory reworks (customer returns, ex display
retested and any parts replaced with full warrantee) so look brand new

fin · Post by **fin** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 7:28 pm

mine looked brand new when i got it. not in original packaging but who cares. end of the day its gonna be looking used after a few days on the job so i wasnt too bothered.

(incidentally mine had been used prior to me getting it, was some evidence of use on the saw blade)

carhartt kid · Post by **carhartt kid** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 11:51 pm

I've owned one of these for two years now. Its a revelation! Nearly every person that uses it on site is impressed with its capacity and accuracy. Its capacity is awesome in both bevel and compound mite cuts. I cut all skirting upright against the backfence meaning any kickout is hidden, and the mitre is dictated by the whole board and not just the top or bottom edge. My mitres where instantly tighter using the saw, making stair cuts on skirting, multiple off angle mitres, scribes and crosscuts go like hyperspeed! With the laser setup it makes it even faster to use!

The only down side is the blade supplied with it. Its a bit rough and only suitable for framing or roughing out work. I upgraded to a Freud Diablo! The muts nuts!!

I started out with a DeWalt 777 which was really limited and disappointing. Quite a few of my reverse mitres where literally burnt through! The motor and the blade just couldn't cope with the angles! A few guys I work with have the DW712. Its a good saw but a little bulky compared to the 718 surprisingly. It also suffers from bearing problems. Makes a really annoying whistling sound after a while!

The Bosch saw I've not used but have had a close look at. Can't quite understand why Bosch insists on using so many plastic components. Loads to break off when you're moving them about.

The Makitas are nice saws, but for a similar or slightly higher price compared to capacity and performance, the DeWalts have a better build quality and robustness, and the ease accuracy most other lack!

Im a firm believer in the following Philosophy.

Festool and Hilti are a league of their own, however for the mortal tradesman
DeWalt make the best chop saws
Makita the best drills and table saws
Bosch the best sanders and hammer drills
The rest can argue amongst themselves!

I also go on a bit as you can tell. But I'm very passionate and love my kit and the job I do!!

carhartt kid · Post by **carhartt kid** » Sat Oct 25, 2008 11:53 pm

Oh and my 718 was from Ancatown on e-bay. Reconditioned. I've never had a problem with it.

Pigglet · Post by **Pigglet** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 10:03 am

Brilliant, Thanks carhart kid thats exactly the info I was after

as of last night I was actually going to go for the 712 as all the info on it refers to it being super accurate, no-one had said the same for the 718 so I assumed it must be less so. Good job I'm at work this weekend and unable to buy anything

carhartt kid · Post by **carhartt kid** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 11:19 am

No worries Piglet!

The only, and only downsides I've found with the 718, are these.

The dust port sometimes gets a bit clogged if you're not using an extractor. When you hook one up you have to push a rod down it to unblock it. Once running, I'd say it collects about 80-90% of the dust made when cutting. Although cutting a bit slower increases the amount sucked up.

The laser is an extra. Mine was a recon again, so about £60-70. A bitch to set up properly, but once set, It stays set! No amount of banging around in the van, or in and out of site boxes will send it off!

When you first start using the saw. You'll catch your thumb knuckle;e on the guard a few times. See the photo above. The hand angle is great for lessening user fatigue, but you're thumb sometimes strays close to the guard and gets a whack for not paying attention. You get used to this after a while. Its also handy sometimes to use the thumb to push the guard safety stop out of the way to align the laser or the blade to your mark. Your thumbs in a perfect spot for this and is a lot safer than using the other hand to do so.

Hope all this helps!!!

Pigglet · Post by **Pigglet** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 1:50 pm

Excellent, thanks again

I'd not considered the laser bit if it's worthwhile then i'll get the 718v version with it set-up at the factory.
Re the dust port, owt's netter than nowt! My Electra beckum has no port so I'm used to being covered in dust, getting eyefulls when the wind changes etc

I've put a diablo on the EB and was amazed at the difference. Super smooth cuts and a huge reduction noise.

Pigglet · Post by **Pigglet** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 2:48 pm

Thought I'd post a bit of feedback on the saw so far as see someone else is in a similar position regarding a new saw.
Inititially (as in the first few minutes of unpacking it) I was a bit dissapointed that it didn't seem as well built as the EB KGS it's replacing however...........
The EB is a very heavy saw! The 718 is a much larger saw and is about the same weight. It's actually quite easy to manhandle about thanks to the well positioned lifting handle on the top.

Mine came with the laser fitted and it took a bit of fettling to get first the blade and then the laser set-up to cut bang on square (use a proper calibrated/certified engineers square for this not a stanley special).

The blade that it comes with is quite frankly crap.
Carharrt where did you get your freud? I want one but can't find anyone local or on tinterweb selling one???

After quite a bit of flooring and replacing all my skirting with it I'm very impressed. combined with the stand it's a very capable, versatile and esy to use saw.

The dust port does clog without extraction and the slide lock sometimes screws itself down but thats it really.

In an ideal world I'd like a few less plastic covers but that would obviousley add to the weight.