Retired old guy here attempting to harken back to my high school wood shop days, and create some semblance of a wood working shop for hobby purposes to start. I’m very impressed with this review. The best I’ve seen, and I’ve been watching endless hours seemly, up till now. Finally , I will make a decision based on this info packed, less than 20min video. 😊 Thank you
I'm so grateful for them. Buying an expensive tool like a mitre saw for a serious hobbyist like me is a big deal and it really helps to make an informed decision.
The Kobalt is a great saw. I've been running one for 2 years. Just does a great job. Zero issues with 2 years of heavy use. Pro cabinet maker. If i'm not building cabinets then I'm installing.
I’ve been a makita guy for over 15 years but I absolutely love my kobalt miter saw! Has all the features of the Milwaukee. Mine was square right out of the box. I’ve been slowly switching over to kobalt. Can’t beat the price. Got mine for $99 last years Black Friday!
I have the DeWalt and the dust collection does need some help. What I did was leave it up and pushed the rubber outside of the blade guard wheels. After a day it molded the rubber open. Now the dust collection works really well. I also considered gluing plastic to the back of the rubber to keep it open too like a nose breathing strip, we'll see if it comes to that.
I need to know how accurate they are once adjusted. How do they compare to each other fully setup opperating at their peak. How easy to adjust is important, but how they came from the factory, as a professional is not so important. Once properly adjusted how does it stack up. Ty, fantastic and informative vids
I just bought a Craftsman V20 6 tool kit because it was $15 more than just the Harbor Freight Bauer oscillating tool and batteries and charger I actually needed. So since all of a sudden my cordless tool vendor is Craftsman, and I need a miter saw soon, Craftsman is my first consideration. You guys made a LOT of cuts and gave all these saws a LOT of run time and use, so considering that and how well the Craftsman scored, I'm confident it'll be a good choice to add to my cordless tool collection. Thank you for the absolute best review of miter saws I could have asked for!
You guys provide such a transparent and honest review. This service is so valuable. It’s hard to find honest and trustworthy reviews and you guys fill that need brilliantly. Much appreciated!
Hey Rob Thanks to you and your testers i was trying to decided on a smaller saw for trim as finish carpenter as a high end cabinet maker told me has better teeth alignment to the piece, and less vibration. I reviewed many narrowed to Milwaukee, Bosch, Makita and Metabo. After video demo and reviews became dual Makita or Metabo with larger cut capacity and features. My choice became the makita as the metabo doesn't even offer a saw stand. Ah the internet makes life easier as long as there is channel like this one. Thanks Rob and tot the crew
I love my Kobalt saw and use it 90 percent of the time now its a pro saw and has not let me down, My 12 inch flexvolt has not been used in a long time, with a 6amp hour battery i am good for almost three days with this Kobalt saw of trim work all day long so its a non issue, Fantastic ! just no need for a big heavy saw anymore unless i am crosscutting large 2x etc or tall crown, Love it and so glad I bought it ! great Review as always !
I got the Craftsman because my priority was portability. I strap it to the back of my Quad and go out into the field to cut 1x6 fence boards. Only downside is the power on hardwood boards, but.... that was expected since it is so small and light. Great review! Cements my opinion of the Craftsman.
Excellent review!!! Got the Craftsman for $203 as a kit out the door & have had it a year & a half now. It's been an excellent saw & I was shocked how accurate mine was. I like the smaller footprint & weight of the Craftsman & it has extras the DeWalt doesn't like a depth stop for dados & rubberized grip. Just wish it had a top handle. Otherwise, it's just like the DeWalt but scaled down to save 10lbs of weight. Best DIY value unless you got the Kobalt on that insane $99 deal last year.
I have an old makita 10" miter saw that just didnt have the cut capacity and weighs a ton. A few days ago I bought the corded Kobalt 7 1/4 sliding miter, simgle bevel miter saw and what a difference. Larger cut capacity, blades are cheap, I have a lot of 7 1/4 blades and the 60t diablo ultra finish I had new fits it perfectly. I was using my circ saw on anything wider than 2x6 but I'll be using the miter saw a lot more around the house.
This channel really is next level, subbed, commented and thumbs'd up on all your head to head testing videos. You guys are leading the pack in terms of construction tool coverage worldwide on UA-cam I hope you knoe that. Just get your viewing numbers and subscriber numbers to match that fact. Sublime effort guys.
I don’t personally own any Kobalt, (I’m vested in Milwaukee) However, It seems like Kobalt is trying to prove itself as a potential “Pro Tool”. I respect your opinion and as always. Thank you and your team for the hard work, time and dedication you always Deliver in these tool tests. ~Dustin
Some value brands come late to a market so they can copy features of their competition but the build quality will not hold up well and won't produce consistent work in the long run
It’s December 2020 and I’ve had that makita for about 2-1/2 years now. I keep 6.0 batteries on it. It can fit on my passenger seat if I want it to. It is one of my most valued tools. I have the stand for it as well. I can pick it up on the stand and move it around if I have to. It cuts anything pretty much. I like not carrying my 12 inch makita around. But the best set up ever Is when I get them both going in a straight line with material standouts on either side and a trash can in the middle. I can slide 16 foot trim between the two and drop waste in the can in the middle. Ideally you’d want 4 saws going and only set an angle once on each saw. So next I’ll probably go with a ten inch makita two battery saw, then I’d have that little makita in the middle for just straight cuts.
I have use the cobalt sliding dual bevel miter saw cordless for over two years. My only issue has been with the cobalt is they do not make replacement parts for it so if you break a part on it, you’re out of luck you have to get a new saw they do not make parts for the cobalt, compact, sliding miter saw.
Great video. Thanks for taking the time to make it and share it. I’m a Makita guy but having trouble pulling the trigger being it would be a 3rd miter saw. Maybe the Craftsman would be a good one for me. Thanks again 👍🏻👍🏻
I‘d say the most important point on mitre saws is precision. So I‘d rank precision over stuff like runtime. That’s why I got the Bosch. With two 8ah core batteries it easily serves me the whole day. I personally prefer the laser over the blade shadow as for me it works better in direct sunlight. But that’s just personal taste I guess.
I bought a craftsman 10” mitter saw. It’s so light weight, portable and compact you can storage anywhere as its foldable and it sits right up. I am very happy with it. Just wish Dewalt came up with something like that as I am very invested in their products, particularly in their cordless products.
I'm a commercial voice/data installer and I'm talking large medical campuses, university's ,data centers you get the idea. I run makita at work, and have access to milwaukee, hilti, and everything else under the sun. I started buying Kobalt 24v for home, have 9 tools and zero complaints.I have this saw, I'm far from a professional carpenter but I play one in my garage. Like all Kobalt cordless tools it's tough to beat for the money. I paid 280 for it with a 6ah battery, it was dead on accurate out of the box and with a diablo blade on it I'm sure it exceeds my skills.
I trust you guys( a bunch of tradesmen doing reviews) more than most of the BS reviews out there( most are bought and paid for by the brands they recommend). Kudos and a big THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO!
I'm starting over with battery powered tools. I have a 20 year old suite of Dewalt (drill, hammer drill, circular saw, reciprocating saw and flex gooseneck light) that I'm about to retire. My last couple of NiCad batteries are dying out, these old Dewalt tools are big, bulky and heavy but very tough. I want to start over with the newer lightweight Lithium battery versions. In addition to the battery powered tools I have already listed, I will want to add: battery powered Oscillating saw, jig saw, grinder and 7.25" sliding compound miter saw as you guys have reviewed above. This will be for my personal use which will be light and some handyman work that will also be fairly light. I think Dewalt, Ryobi, Milwaukee, Kobalt, Makita + more make all these battery powered tools I will be getting. Can you recommend a brand to go with that will be good quality and a good value where the same batteries work on every tool. I'm leaning towards the Kobalt due to the good review on the sliding compound mitre saw you guys did here. If there is a clear winner in your mind for a line of hand tools that doesn't have a quality lightweight 7.25" Sliding compound Mitre saw, I'd still like to know what brand that is because I am willing to go with a different product and different batteries for just the 7.25" Mitre saw and everything else a different brand with the same batteries if that is the way to go. The Ryobi packages seem to have some excellent pricing but I've never owned a Ryobi tool. I have a tiny light weight Bosch battery powered drill that I always reach for first because of it's feather light weight. So 1. what brand that has all the tools I want, good quality, good value and 2. what brand that has all the tools I want except the Mitre saw? which I can buy separately. Also, I'm not opposed to Harbor Freight tools, they seem to be offering some competition with quality examples in some tools now. thanks, Tim
I’ve made so many purchases based on your reviews. Simply the best overall most professional on UA-cam. I own the Dewalt 7 1/4 saw and currently looking to replace my 12in Delta Cruzer with something a bit smaller and lighter but still want power and capacity. Leaning towards the Metabo miter and table saw. Like the option of corded also. Thanks
Good breakdown for framing! I would like to see a little more effort paid to finish carpentry for the mitre saws especially. Ease of setting non-standard angles, thickness of indicator lines, microadjustment knobs, etc. Basically everything you tested on these could be equally applied to circular saws, but circular saws really shouldn't be used for finish trim work, or any sort of finer projects like building picture frames, etc. Also even just for the framing, built in stops, clamps, (I hate my bosch's clamping system), are pretty important to the day-to-day use of a mitre saw, and seem to have been missed here.
💯% respect yalls turnouts Kobalt especially with the XTR line is a brand to watch out for they aint joking around and have there eyes on being in the top 3 as a very strong contender
I think it's down to power consumption vs efficiency. While brushless motors are more efficient at delivering power, the manufacturers are stepping up to more powerful motors in their brushless offerings. It's like a fuel efficient V8 vs an older less efficient 6 cylinder. I have this craftsman and I like it. The run time on a 4ah battery is good. But I also notice it's not as powerful. So, it's using less power to spin the blade than a more powerful brushless saw
@@loucifer323 I'm sure it is. The same company owns both brands I don't see them offering more power in their less premium brand. Im happy with the craftsman for light duty it's just fine and battery life seems good (possibly down to it being less powerful).
@@erics.4113 I have the dewalt it cuts great it doesn't bog down, unless you're cutting something that's not designed for, and as far as not having duel bevel I always flip everything over it very rare were you ever need to use duel bevel
@@loucifer323 is that 7 1/4 as well? I may go to a 10inch or possibly larger some time in the future I noticed when doing miters it dramatically reduces the size of lumber I can use.
Best tool reviews on YT. Your channel should have a million subs. Keep up the excellent work. Eventually, this channel will explode. Your work is detailed, unbiased and thorough. Thanks!!
Rob....always excellent.. thorough..well presented...keep up with these reviews...I'm a tradesman from the UK... Yr channel is superb and greatly appreciated...cheers to u and all the fellas ...keep up the good work x
I bought the Milwaukee earlier this year and so far I've not needed it's big brother. My friend bought the dewalt first. After he tried my Milwaukee he agreed that it's much better.
@@gustavomacall4949 the Milwaukee does dual bevel cuts where his dewalt does not. While they have the same size blade the Milwaukee has a greater depth of cut. I can easily miter cut a 2x3 with it sitting up right on 1 1/2 edge sitting on the base with the Milwaukee. The dewalt can not. Also the dust collection of the dust bag is not just superior to the dewalt it's the most effective one we have ever seen.
This came just in time. I am looking at the Makita, I own a corded Makita 10" and it is a hassle in a finished house. a 7 1/2 cordless would be much more convenient, I started with a 7 1/2 decades ago when that was all there was. Great work guys, thanks for the great reviews. I found trade shows don't allow in-depth use to review anymore so your reviews help look at everything.
Hi Robert, I’ve had the 36v Makita for a couple years and use it 95% of the time over my 10 and 12 inch saws. I’ve had siding jobs where the batteries lasted for a full week and it has power out the ying/yang. Not even mentioning the difference in price for 7 1/4” blades.
I still have my old nimh makita 7-1/2. I added an adapter to run my li-ion batteries and its still going strong after 15 years, and some bearings replaced over the years. I really want to replace it with a dual bevel saw, but mine hasn't died yet
Would really enjoy seeing a corded miter saw head to head. I think all your previous have been with cordless correct? If I am incorrect someone please let me know.
Thanks for this awesome video, just picked up the Milwaukee with a free 8.0 for 399 on Cyber Monday. Glad I'm getting a great saw that should serve me well!
i believe kobalt is underated.they have the best prices for the batteries and they finish in the top half of every test that they are in.Unless they dont have a tool that you need i cant see any reason to pay a third more for makita or dewalt
Another great test,and great data for weekend warriors. But let's face it,very few contractors will have 4 batteries and 1 seperate tool brand for value's sake. My 2 exceptions to my m12/m18, Makita 18/x2 lines are,Ryobi pin nailer with adapters for red and teal,a Ridgid shop vacuum with teal adapters. Most flaws can be overcome by a work-around, all poor dust collection needs is a hood and a tarp below,no shadowline add an led inside blade guard,and etc. Fantastic job to the whole TBB crew👊.
The craftsman is a beast I use it to cut schluter metal bullnose sticks and it rips thru like butter also use it for pretty much everything and gets it done. I got fir 114 at Lowe’s couldn’t pass up on it.
At times you mixed up videos, sometimes it shows the 10" i sold my Milwaukee 10" because it was pretty much junk and bought the 7 1/4 and its now my favorite
I think one of the biggest flaws of miter saw design is the inability to do a score cut without having to bump out the material. Tracksaw users love scorecuts, a miter saw is basically the same thing so it should be equally important. I understand that there is no room to push the blade back further because then they're sacrificing overall cut length but really how many times do people pull the blade all the way out to the max position I'm sure they would gladly sacrifice that for a score cut that goes all the way to the back of the board.
Picked up the Kobalt a week ago along with the 6.0 ah battery. It is powerful, feature rich with the dual bevel, long crosscut , strong shadow light, multiple bevel stops, etc. and smooth sliding. HOWEVER, I am having trouble with accuracy. I am cutting base on the flat, and even though the bevel (with two different digital gauges and a carpenters triangle) at a 45, the cuts themselves are off (by a full degree+). In addition, the crosscut is not 90 degrees to the fence and when I set it at 90, then it is off on the bevel. I'm wondering if the rails might be slightly off too. It is possible I got a bad one, but pretty frustrating so far. Will try a bit more, but running out of patience.
Just a follow-up. I returned the Kobalt. Now researching the remaining options. Honestly, I know the Dewalt is practically at the bottom of the list on features (i.e. no brushless motor, left bevel only, only 8" cross-cut, shadow light is dimmer than other shadow lights, etc.) and is one of the oldest offerings in the group, but it has a ton of Amazon reviews (800+) - partly due to its age - and many folks note the accuracy is good and it s generally very highly recommended. I may give it a shot. The Makita is online only and, frankly, the new 40 volt LS002G is both a.) likely to replace it and b.) likely to be expensive (i.e. $600+, plus a new battery system).
You can buy this saw now at Lowe’s for 399$ comes with battery and adapter I believe plus metabo has a offer for mail in purchase verification and I think you can choose a couple of different free items.
@MrCFerren double check the model numbers. Lowes has the Metabo HPT saw in this video at $999, $250 off until end of year. You won't find anyone with this saw selling it for less than the $999 price.
@@photonashville sorry you are correct it’s the 10in model that’s on sale for 399$ which is the one I’d prefer to a 7 1/4. I already own the Dewalt 7 1/4. Very handy for small stuff but still need a saw with bigger capacity
It actually does have a shadow line. The reason it costs so much is because it's made in Japan, where as their 10", along with most all their other cordless tools(and every other brand here) are made in China. It's a very high end saw.
What do you think about a corded mitersaw with a high end blade like a Forrest. Something you’d use on a high end job site or wood shop. Or a high end blade comparison would be cool too
In the vid and your article you state you tested the ease of "tuning" the saw, yet as far as i can see you haven't published the findings. Are any of these actually tuneable in regard to the settings of the presets? Ie 30° or 45°. Most saws I've found you can only tune it by adjusting the fence, which adjust every preset including the 90 irrespective of it's accuracy. Reason being I have a compound mitre saw that cuts true in most settings, but the presets are out of whack by fractions of a degree on them, most notably the 45s. Sure I can test it and adjust to get an accurate cut, but it's a proper hassle to require test and adjustment after moving between different settings.
I own and use the DeAlt saw professionally and while I like it and use it; i agree it can benefit from a gen 2 upgrade. It needs dual bevel and would benefit from adjustable fence. The DeWalt is just a good cheap pro grade saw. It’s nice in that it uses the standard 20 Volt batteries. It works great for trim as you can bring it right in next to you given its size. I love the small wall and find I use it more than the 12” just because it’s smaller, lighter, and easier to move.
Thanks so much for the info! Ive been considering which one to get. If you haven’t done a review on the ridged 7 1/4” saw, would you be able to do one?
i've had my Makita 7 1/4 for three years now and use it for every single project. occasionally I have to go back to my 12 inch bolted down to my workshop and it just feels so unnecessarily oversized and awkward to use now.
hi, i always watch you when purchasing a tool.. maybe you should also include whats most popular and why.. most people in the usa and uk would purchase: dewalt, milwaukee and makita for obvious reasons. craftsman may work well for a day but what about six months later? just a thought.. regards mick...
I recently bought the corded kobalt 7 1/4. Im returning it today. The plastic degree lock on the table was not positive at all. I could not get consistently square cuts
I really like the comprehensive honest reviews. I personally own a Bosch compound miter (electric). Love the saw. My previous miter saw was a rigid. Hated that saw.
I am considering to buy the dewalt, since I am already invested in their platform. Do you think that I should wait that they uptdate their cordless miter saw ?
Hey mateo Belanger what country are you in? In Europe dewalt have an 8inch/216mm cordless mitre saw that runs on a single flexvolt battery. A ten inch/250mm cordless that also runs on a single flexvolt battery and looks almost identical to their 12 inch double battery cordless flexvolt mitre saw. I would say go for it and get one now as they are excellent and are not likely to get much better for quite a while. I have the 8 & 12 inch saws with the 8 inch being lighter and my day to day saw them I will get the 12 inch out for ultra fine work or when I need to use the full 14 inch plus cutting capacity. Get yourself one dude!
I have been using the dewalt 7" miter saw to do some trim work and have had no issues. Once you get the angle and bevel calibrated, is has been consistent and held up well. There are obviously places it could be improved such as the dust extraction and some of knobs but it makes consistent and accurate cuts which really is all that matters.
Wow, surprise showing from the Craftsman. I still can't say I'd buy one, but like you said, best value based on your rankings. Going to go find the 10" and 12" videos now. Thanks!
Hello A Concord Carpenter, How come you didn't include the Rigid saw you reviewed in 2016, you seemed to really liked it. I would have loved to see how it compared.
hi rob, question did you try out the new bosch 12inch miter saw 18v if so, what do you think?. also do you still think dewalt being better over the the new bosch 12inch 18v? please let me know ok thanks. nice testing view
Thanks for all your hard work, got a question, I'm a Milwaukee guy, I'm a farmer but do all sorts of projects in my house, rental property and on the farm and I'm wanting to upgrade saws, what Milwaukee do u recommend?? This one, the 10 inch or the 12 inch? I want a saw for the next 10-20 years.
I'm a huge fan and take your information to heart. But this time I'm confused. The best saw is the least accurate and most uncomfortable? The one feature every sliding saw has that regular mitersaws dont have is the depth stop. Miluakee wins features without having it? I don't get it.
We have internal discussions about scoring all the time. Since all of the categories Carry the same weight, sometimes things can get skewed. That’s why we show everything so that you can look at the data and make the best decision for your needs
Hey Rob thanks for your testing and information on tools over the years. I have yet to make a decision I regretted based on your opinions. Lastly I picked up the 36 volt makita rear handled circular saw. That said I would like to see you do comparisons on cordless sanders. Orbital as well as belt. Thanks for all your help. Jesus love you.
One important spec that wasn't mentioned (IMO) is CROSS-CUT CAPACITY. Assuming the cordless Bosch is based on the corded version, I can easily and cleanly cross-cut a stair tread on my corded Bosch, but I can't cross-cut (in one pass) on my Milwaukee M18 7-1/4" miter saw. As a finish carpenter, this is an important decision factor. If only Milwaukee came out with a copy of Bosch's saw, I'd sell my current 7-1/4" for a 8-1/2". Two gripes about the Bosch however: the top carry handle, and it's only single bevel. I might, however, pick up the cordless Bosch and slap an M18 battery adapter in there since 95% of all my batteries are M18.
Hi, for the Makita 7 ½ inch saw, did you also use the Milwaukee 60 tooth 7 ¼ inch blade? Maybe adding the footprint in the specs would be good? Thanks for the comparison video by the way, really helpful!
I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate your work and time on these tests. I own both Milwaukee and Makita tools. So I’m invested in the battery technology of both companies. I own both the Milwaukee 10” and Makita 10” Sliding compound miter saws. The Makita 10” is superior to the Milwaukee saw by a significant margin with one exception. The stupid laser lines are all but worthless outside where the shadow line always works and I’m grateful for the extra lighting provided by the led shadow line. I’d like to see Makita get rid of the lasers and offer a LED shadow line kit for existing units. I’d also like to see Makita machine out the base of their tools and hollow out the rail systems just a little to shave off some weight. Their over built.
Great review! I'm surprised that Craftsman came it second place. And a testament to great engineering, dewalt saw has a brushed motor and still came in second place in the normalize runtime, goes to show engineering in a product is critical.
Retired old guy here attempting to harken back to my high school wood shop days, and create some semblance of a wood working shop for hobby purposes to start. I’m very impressed with this review. The best I’ve seen, and I’ve been watching endless hours seemly, up till now. Finally , I will make a decision based on this info packed, less than 20min video. 😊 Thank you
These guys do so much work to get us a well detailed analysis. Thank you
And the part that I like the best is its an UNBIASED detailed analysis
thanks
Ya they’re the best I’ve come across.
Great work as always. I trust your approach and take the results into consoderation... especially when Milwaukee wins haha
I'm so grateful for them. Buying an expensive tool like a mitre saw for a serious hobbyist like me is a big deal and it really helps to make an informed decision.
The Kobalt is a great saw. I've been running one for 2 years. Just does a great job. Zero issues with 2 years of heavy use. Pro cabinet maker. If i'm not building cabinets then I'm installing.
How precise is it and it's everything adjustable?
I’ve been a makita guy for over 15 years but I absolutely love my kobalt miter saw! Has all the features of the Milwaukee. Mine was square right out of the box. I’ve been slowly switching over to kobalt. Can’t beat the price. Got mine for $99 last years Black Friday!
I have the DeWalt and the dust collection does need some help. What I did was leave it up and pushed the rubber outside of the blade guard wheels. After a day it molded the rubber open. Now the dust collection works really well. I also considered gluing plastic to the back of the rubber to keep it open too like a nose breathing strip, we'll see if it comes to that.
I did that, it works lol but yeah in general the dust collection is not the greatest
I need to know how accurate they are once adjusted. How do they compare to each other fully setup opperating at their peak. How easy to adjust is important, but how they came from the factory, as a professional is not so important. Once properly adjusted how does it stack up. Ty, fantastic and informative vids
I just bought a Craftsman V20 6 tool kit because it was $15 more than just the Harbor Freight Bauer oscillating tool and batteries and charger I actually needed. So since all of a sudden my cordless tool vendor is Craftsman, and I need a miter saw soon, Craftsman is my first consideration. You guys made a LOT of cuts and gave all these saws a LOT of run time and use, so considering that and how well the Craftsman scored, I'm confident it'll be a good choice to add to my cordless tool collection. Thank you for the absolute best review of miter saws I could have asked for!
You guys provide such a transparent and honest review. This service is so valuable. It’s hard to find honest and trustworthy reviews and you guys fill that need brilliantly. Much appreciated!
Hey Rob
Thanks to you and your testers i was trying to decided on a smaller saw for trim as finish carpenter as a high end cabinet maker told me has better teeth alignment to the piece, and less vibration.
I reviewed many narrowed to Milwaukee, Bosch, Makita and Metabo. After video demo and reviews became dual Makita or Metabo with larger cut capacity and features. My choice became the makita as the metabo doesn't even offer a saw stand.
Ah the internet makes life easier as long as there is channel like this one.
Thanks Rob and tot the crew
I watch this channel more for Rob’s presentation skills than tools. Rob puts most corporate presenters to shame. Big shout out from 🇬🇧
I love my Kobalt saw and use it 90 percent of the time now its a pro saw and has not let me down, My 12 inch flexvolt has not been used in a long time, with a 6amp hour battery i am good for almost three days with this Kobalt saw of trim work all day long so its a non issue, Fantastic ! just no need for a big heavy saw anymore unless i am crosscutting large 2x etc or tall crown, Love it and so glad I bought it ! great Review as always !
I got the Craftsman because my priority was portability. I strap it to the back of my Quad and go out into the field to cut 1x6 fence boards. Only downside is the power on hardwood boards, but.... that was expected since it is so small and light. Great review! Cements my opinion of the Craftsman.
Excellent review!!! Got the Craftsman for $203 as a kit out the door & have had it a year & a half now. It's been an excellent saw & I was shocked how accurate mine was. I like the smaller footprint & weight of the Craftsman & it has extras the DeWalt doesn't like a depth stop for dados & rubberized grip. Just wish it had a top handle. Otherwise, it's just like the DeWalt but scaled down to save 10lbs of weight. Best DIY value unless you got the Kobalt on that insane $99 deal last year.
Hello
What can you suggest buy Milwaukee 7-1/4 cordless, Milwaukee 10 inch, or DeWalt 7-1/4 or add some ( a lot))) money and buy festool? Thank you
I have an old makita 10" miter saw that just didnt have the cut capacity and weighs a ton. A few days ago I bought the corded Kobalt 7 1/4 sliding miter, simgle bevel miter saw and what a difference. Larger cut capacity, blades are cheap, I have a lot of 7 1/4 blades and the 60t diablo ultra finish I had new fits it perfectly.
I was using my circ saw on anything wider than 2x6 but I'll be using the miter saw a lot more around the house.
This channel really is next level, subbed, commented and thumbs'd up on all your head to head testing videos.
You guys are leading the pack in terms of construction tool coverage worldwide on UA-cam I hope you knoe that.
Just get your viewing numbers and subscriber numbers to match that fact.
Sublime effort guys.
I don’t personally own any Kobalt, (I’m vested in Milwaukee) However, It seems like Kobalt is trying to prove itself as a potential “Pro Tool”. I respect your opinion and as always. Thank you and your team for the hard work, time and dedication you always Deliver in these tool tests. ~Dustin
Some value brands come late to a market so they can copy features of their competition but the build quality will not hold up well and won't produce consistent work in the long run
It’s December 2020 and I’ve had that makita for about 2-1/2 years now. I keep 6.0 batteries on it. It can fit on my passenger seat if I want it to. It is one of my most valued tools. I have the stand for it as well. I can pick it up on the stand and move it around if I have to. It cuts anything pretty much. I like not carrying my 12 inch makita around. But the best set up ever Is when I get them both going in a straight line with material standouts on either side and a trash can in the middle. I can slide 16 foot trim between the two and drop waste in the can in the middle. Ideally you’d want 4 saws going and only set an angle once on each saw. So next I’ll probably go with a ten inch makita two battery saw, then I’d have that little makita in the middle for just straight cuts.
I have the Kobalt and I’m satisfied. The value is unbeatable for a duel bevel saw.
Especially at the $100 price they sold them at one day like a year ago.
@@orijimi yes I got the battery for free. So I paid about $310 incredible value
Im 2 min into this video and no matter the out come I love my Kobalt 24V and for $99 flash sale last year it cant be beat
I got in on that too - an unbelievable deal
Diddo!
I have use the cobalt sliding dual bevel miter saw cordless for over two years. My only issue has been with the cobalt is they do not make replacement parts for it so if you break a part on it, you’re out of luck you have to get a new saw they do not make parts for the cobalt, compact, sliding miter saw.
Great video. Thanks for taking the time to make it and share it. I’m a Makita guy but having trouble pulling the trigger being it would be a 3rd miter saw. Maybe the Craftsman would be a good one for me. Thanks again 👍🏻👍🏻
I have the Milwaukee and my only complaint is the lack of a depth stop. My favourite thing about it is the weight
I have a milwaukee aswell the size of it and weight is great
I have it as well and my back loves it.
I‘d say the most important point on mitre saws is precision. So I‘d rank precision over stuff like runtime. That’s why I got the Bosch. With two 8ah core batteries it easily serves me the whole day. I personally prefer the laser over the blade shadow as for me it works better in direct sunlight. But that’s just personal taste I guess.
What size did you buy? Do you still love it?
I got that kobalt 24v 7-1/4 for $100 on a flash sale Lowes had and has not let me down, best 100 bucks spent for a saw of that quality
I bought a craftsman 10” mitter saw. It’s so light weight, portable and compact you can storage anywhere as its foldable and it sits right up. I am very happy with it. Just wish Dewalt came up with something like that as I am very invested in their products, particularly in their cordless products.
I'm a commercial voice/data installer and I'm talking large medical campuses, university's ,data centers you get the idea. I run makita at work, and have access to milwaukee, hilti, and everything else under the sun. I started buying Kobalt 24v for home, have 9 tools and zero complaints.I have this saw, I'm far from a professional carpenter but I play one in my garage. Like all Kobalt cordless tools it's tough to beat for the money. I paid 280 for it with a 6ah battery, it was dead on accurate out of the box and with a diablo blade on it I'm sure it exceeds my skills.
I trust you guys( a bunch of tradesmen doing reviews) more than most of the BS reviews out there( most are bought and paid for by the brands they recommend). Kudos and a big THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU DO!
I'm starting over with battery powered tools. I have a 20 year old suite of Dewalt (drill, hammer drill, circular saw, reciprocating saw and flex gooseneck light) that I'm about to retire. My last couple of NiCad batteries are dying out, these old Dewalt tools are big, bulky and heavy but very tough. I want to start over with the newer lightweight Lithium battery versions. In addition to the battery powered tools I have already listed, I will want to add: battery powered Oscillating saw, jig saw, grinder and 7.25" sliding compound miter saw as you guys have reviewed above. This will be for my personal use which will be light and some handyman work that will also be fairly light. I think Dewalt, Ryobi, Milwaukee, Kobalt, Makita + more make all these battery powered tools I will be getting. Can you recommend a brand to go with that will be good quality and a good value where the same batteries work on every tool. I'm leaning towards the Kobalt due to the good review on the sliding compound mitre saw you guys did here.
If there is a clear winner in your mind for a line of hand tools that doesn't have a quality lightweight 7.25" Sliding compound Mitre saw, I'd still like to know what brand that is because I am willing to go with a different product and different batteries for just the 7.25" Mitre saw and everything else a different brand with the same batteries if that is the way to go. The Ryobi packages seem to have some excellent pricing but I've never owned a Ryobi tool. I have a tiny light weight Bosch battery powered drill that I always reach for first because of it's feather light weight. So 1. what brand that has all the tools I want, good quality, good value and 2. what brand that has all the tools I want except the Mitre saw? which I can buy separately. Also, I'm not opposed to Harbor Freight tools, they seem to be offering some competition with quality examples in some tools now. thanks, Tim
I’ve made so many purchases based on your reviews. Simply the best overall most professional on UA-cam. I own the Dewalt 7 1/4 saw and currently looking to replace my 12in Delta Cruzer with something a bit smaller and lighter but still want power and capacity. Leaning towards the Metabo miter and table saw. Like the option of corded also. Thanks
The neighbors must just absolutely love you after test days 😂
I take good care of them
@@ConcordCarpenter you seem like a solid guy Rob, I’m sure you do!
Great work again guys. Always look forward to your tests. Happy holidays!!
Good breakdown for framing! I would like to see a little more effort paid to finish carpentry for the mitre saws especially. Ease of setting non-standard angles, thickness of indicator lines, microadjustment knobs, etc. Basically everything you tested on these could be equally applied to circular saws, but circular saws really shouldn't be used for finish trim work, or any sort of finer projects like building picture frames, etc.
Also even just for the framing, built in stops, clamps, (I hate my bosch's clamping system), are pretty important to the day-to-day use of a mitre saw, and seem to have been missed here.
Hi Rob, thanks for all you do on this channel. Can you or better said, do you have plans to test the newer Makita 40 volt 8-1/2 miter saw?
💯% respect yalls turnouts Kobalt especially with the XTR line is a brand to watch out for they aint joking around and have there eyes on being in the top 3 as a very strong contender
What's amazing is the Dewalt and Craftsman are both brushed and came in 1st and 2 nd in runtime
I think it's down to power consumption vs efficiency. While brushless motors are more efficient at delivering power, the manufacturers are stepping up to more powerful motors in their brushless offerings. It's like a fuel efficient V8 vs an older less efficient 6 cylinder. I have this craftsman and I like it. The run time on a 4ah battery is good. But I also notice it's not as powerful. So, it's using less power to spin the blade than a more powerful brushless saw
@@erics.4113 the dewalt was the most powerful
@@loucifer323 I'm sure it is. The same company owns both brands I don't see them offering more power in their less premium brand.
Im happy with the craftsman for light duty it's just fine and battery life seems good (possibly down to it being less powerful).
@@erics.4113 I have the dewalt it cuts great it doesn't bog down, unless you're cutting something that's not designed for, and as far as not having duel bevel I always flip everything over it very rare were you ever need to use duel bevel
@@loucifer323 is that 7 1/4 as well? I may go to a 10inch or possibly larger some time in the future I noticed when doing miters it dramatically reduces the size of lumber I can use.
Best tool reviews on YT. Your channel should have a million subs. Keep up the excellent work. Eventually, this channel will explode. Your work is detailed, unbiased and thorough. Thanks!!
Maybe one day!
Rob....always excellent.. thorough..well presented...keep up with these reviews...I'm a tradesman from the UK... Yr channel is superb and greatly appreciated...cheers to u and all the fellas ...keep up the good work x
I bought the Milwaukee earlier this year and so far I've not needed it's big brother. My friend bought the dewalt first. After he tried my Milwaukee he agreed that it's much better.
I'm curious to know what features your friend liked the most about your Milwaukee saw over his dewalt ?
@@gustavomacall4949 the Milwaukee does dual bevel cuts where his dewalt does not. While they have the same size blade the Milwaukee has a greater depth of cut. I can easily miter cut a 2x3 with it sitting up right on 1 1/2 edge sitting on the base with the Milwaukee. The dewalt can not. Also the dust collection of the dust bag is not just superior to the dewalt it's the most effective one we have ever seen.
This came just in time. I am looking at the Makita, I own a corded Makita 10" and it is a hassle in a finished house. a 7 1/2 cordless would be much more convenient, I started with a 7 1/2 decades ago when that was all there was.
Great work guys, thanks for the great reviews. I found trade shows don't allow in-depth use to review anymore so your reviews help look at everything.
Hi Robert, I’ve had the 36v Makita for a couple years and use it 95% of the time over my 10 and 12 inch saws. I’ve had siding jobs where the batteries lasted for a full week and it has power out the ying/yang. Not even mentioning the difference in price for 7 1/4” blades.
I still have my old nimh makita 7-1/2. I added an adapter to run my li-ion batteries and its still going strong after 15 years, and some bearings replaced over the years. I really want to replace it with a dual bevel saw, but mine hasn't died yet
These are absolutely the best tool tests out there! Keep it up!
Ye is a old video but it works for me right now, because thanks to it I got my makita compact miter saw without regrets
Would really enjoy seeing a corded miter saw head to head. I think all your previous have been with cordless correct? If I am incorrect someone please let me know.
Thanks for this awesome video, just picked up the Milwaukee with a free 8.0 for 399 on Cyber Monday. Glad I'm getting a great saw that should serve me well!
Hello, is dewalt listening? Gen 2 actual upgrade please
My 7 1/4 Ridgid has been great. They re released it in Canada so it may come back to the US.
Bro best tool reviews on the tube, hands down
i believe kobalt is underated.they have the best prices for the batteries and they finish in the top half of every test that they are in.Unless they dont have a tool that you need i cant see any reason to pay a third more for makita or dewalt
I'm a big fan of Kobalt, but one reason is that buying Makita and DeWalt is ultimately more ethical than buying Kobalt.
@@orijimi just curious- how is that the case?
Great review thanks. Maybe I missed it but any reason the Ridgid wasn’t involved? Any thoughts? I’m considering it. Thanks
Another great test,and great data for weekend warriors.
But let's face it,very few contractors will have 4 batteries and 1 seperate tool brand for value's sake.
My 2 exceptions to my m12/m18, Makita 18/x2 lines are,Ryobi pin nailer with adapters for red and teal,a Ridgid shop vacuum with teal adapters.
Most flaws can be overcome by a work-around, all poor dust collection needs is a hood and a tarp below,no shadowline add an led inside blade guard,and etc.
Fantastic job to the whole TBB crew👊.
Serious dedication to getting as many accurate stats as possible. Excellent content
Thanks
I'm patiently waiting for the makita 40v 6 1/2" saw to come out!
What did you do when it came out at a 8 1/2?😂
The craftsman is a beast I use it to cut schluter metal bullnose sticks and it rips thru like butter also use it for pretty much everything and gets it done. I got fir 114 at Lowe’s couldn’t pass up on it.
Pity that you in US did not have Bosch Bi-Turbo saw etc., only old ones.
bought the kobalt for $99 unbeatable
At times you mixed up videos, sometimes it shows the 10" i sold my Milwaukee 10" because it was pretty much junk and bought the 7 1/4 and its now my favorite
Yes, video clips. We filmed and tested 14 saws that day ranging from compact to 10” to 12”
They all start looking the same on the editing screen
I think one of the biggest flaws of miter saw design is the inability to do a score cut without having to bump out the material. Tracksaw users love scorecuts, a miter saw is basically the same thing so it should be equally important. I understand that there is no room to push the blade back further because then they're sacrificing overall cut length but really how many times do people pull the blade all the way out to the max position I'm sure they would gladly sacrifice that for a score cut that goes all the way to the back of the board.
Picked up the Kobalt a week ago along with the 6.0 ah battery. It is powerful, feature rich with the dual bevel, long crosscut , strong shadow light, multiple bevel stops, etc. and smooth sliding. HOWEVER, I am having trouble with accuracy. I am cutting base on the flat, and even though the bevel (with two different digital gauges and a carpenters triangle) at a 45, the cuts themselves are off (by a full degree+). In addition, the crosscut is not 90 degrees to the fence and when I set it at 90, then it is off on the bevel. I'm wondering if the rails might be slightly off too. It is possible I got a bad one, but pretty frustrating so far. Will try a bit more, but running out of patience.
Just a follow-up. I returned the Kobalt. Now researching the remaining options. Honestly, I know the Dewalt is practically at the bottom of the list on features (i.e. no brushless motor, left bevel only, only 8" cross-cut, shadow light is dimmer than other shadow lights, etc.) and is one of the oldest offerings in the group, but it has a ton of Amazon reviews (800+) - partly due to its age - and many folks note the accuracy is good and it s generally very highly recommended. I may give it a shot. The Makita is online only and, frankly, the new 40 volt LS002G is both a.) likely to replace it and b.) likely to be expensive (i.e. $600+, plus a new battery system).
Watched this after my purchase, I'm glad I bought my Kobalt...
I might change my morning alarm to the audio of everyone using the saws all at once. The wife will LOVE it🤣
I’m a huge Hikoki fan, but man Metabo HPT needs to up the accuracy of this saw and add a shadow line if they think it’s worth over a grand.
You can buy this saw now at Lowe’s for 399$ comes with battery and adapter I believe plus metabo has a offer for mail in purchase verification and I think you can choose a couple of different free items.
@MrCFerren double check the model numbers. Lowes has the Metabo HPT saw in this video at $999, $250 off until end of year. You won't find anyone with this saw selling it for less than the $999 price.
@@photonashville sorry you are correct it’s the 10in model that’s on sale for 399$ which is the one I’d prefer to a 7 1/4. I already own the Dewalt 7 1/4. Very handy for small stuff but still need a saw with bigger capacity
The 10 inch metabo 36v was going for $300 with a starter kit, it was just raised to $400 but sold out now.
It actually does have a shadow line. The reason it costs so much is because it's made in Japan, where as their 10", along with most all their other cordless tools(and every other brand here) are made in China. It's a very high end saw.
Simply the best tool review guys around! Thank you guys for all the hard work!
The 45° miter can and need to be adjusted on every new miter saw
I've seen several out of the box, new examination of tools. I'd like to see such an effort on tools, at least 1 year in to usage. Real usage.
Great point!
What do you think about a corded mitersaw with a high end blade like a Forrest. Something you’d use on a high end job site or wood shop. Or a high end blade comparison would be cool too
Seriously, thank you for your time.
In the vid and your article you state you tested the ease of "tuning" the saw, yet as far as i can see you haven't published the findings.
Are any of these actually tuneable in regard to the settings of the presets? Ie 30° or 45°.
Most saws I've found you can only tune it by adjusting the fence, which adjust every preset including the 90 irrespective of it's accuracy.
Reason being I have a compound mitre saw that cuts true in most settings, but the presets are out of whack by fractions of a degree on them, most notably the 45s. Sure I can test it and adjust to get an accurate cut, but it's a proper hassle to require test and adjustment after moving between different settings.
I like the whistle break sound battery mitre and table saws make. Nice video.👍🏻
I own and use the DeAlt saw professionally and while I like it and use it; i agree it can benefit from a gen 2 upgrade. It needs dual bevel and would benefit from adjustable fence. The DeWalt is just a good cheap pro grade saw. It’s nice in that it uses the standard 20 Volt batteries. It works great for trim as you can bring it right in next to you given its size. I love the small wall and find I use it more than the 12” just because it’s smaller, lighter, and easier to move.
fyi fence is adjustable screws on back side
Thanks so much for the info! Ive been considering which one to get. If you haven’t done a review on the ridged 7 1/4” saw, would you be able to do one?
i've had my Makita 7 1/4 for three years now and use it for every single project. occasionally I have to go back to my 12 inch bolted down to my workshop and it just feels so unnecessarily oversized and awkward to use now.
hi, i always watch you when purchasing a tool.. maybe you should also include whats most popular and why.. most people in the usa and uk would purchase: dewalt, milwaukee and makita for obvious reasons. craftsman may work well for a day but what about six months later? just a thought.. regards mick...
Can you attach the metabo to a Dewalt DWX723 Miter Saw Stand. Thank you. We appreciate your hard work and good information.. I like the metabo
I recently bought the corded kobalt 7 1/4. Im returning it today. The plastic degree lock on the table was not positive at all. I could not get consistently square cuts
Great video & article and how great you go into detail testing each of the saw saw. I have the Milwaukee & no regrets
Thanks for working so hard to put out these videos. Greatly appreciated !
Robert E. Robillard is one of the best Tool Reviewer.....👍
I really like the comprehensive honest reviews. I personally own a Bosch compound miter (electric). Love the saw. My previous miter saw was a rigid. Hated that saw.
Which model did you buy? Do you still love it?
Which of these have brushless motors?
I am considering to buy the dewalt, since I am already invested in their platform. Do you think that I should wait that they uptdate their cordless miter saw ?
Hey mateo Belanger what country are you in? In Europe dewalt have an 8inch/216mm cordless mitre saw that runs on a single flexvolt battery.
A ten inch/250mm cordless that also runs on a single flexvolt battery and looks almost identical to their 12 inch double battery cordless flexvolt mitre saw.
I would say go for it and get one now as they are excellent and are not likely to get much better for quite a while. I have the 8 & 12 inch saws with the 8 inch being lighter and my day to day saw them I will get the 12 inch out for ultra fine work or when I need to use the full 14 inch plus cutting capacity. Get yourself one dude!
@@garethheathcote4988 it's crazy that we don't have those available in the states.
I have been using the dewalt 7" miter saw to do some trim work and have had no issues. Once you get the angle and bevel calibrated, is has been consistent and held up well. There are obviously places it could be improved such as the dust extraction and some of knobs but it makes consistent and accurate cuts which really is all that matters.
I cannot find the “ bell” icon you mention to get alerts to new videos.
Great job! I bought the Kobalt based on your review.
Wow, surprise showing from the Craftsman. I still can't say I'd buy one, but like you said, best value based on your rankings. Going to go find the 10" and 12" videos now. Thanks!
Great video! !'m not a fan of the Dual batteries its just more to charge..
That’s why you buy the dual chargers...2 5Ah batteries charged together in 45 minutes. No one else comes close.
Hello A Concord Carpenter, How come you didn't include the Rigid saw you reviewed in 2016, you seemed to really liked it. I would have loved to see how it compared.
Looking at the score sheet it looks like Kobalt sucked it hard on Accuracy and Precision, am I reading it correctly?
hi rob, question did you try out the new bosch 12inch miter saw 18v if so, what do you think?. also do you still think dewalt being better over the the new bosch 12inch 18v? please let me know ok thanks. nice testing view
Thanks for all your hard work, got a question, I'm a Milwaukee guy, I'm a farmer but do all sorts of projects in my house, rental property and on the farm and I'm wanting to upgrade saws, what Milwaukee do u recommend?? This one, the 10 inch or the 12 inch? I want a saw for the next 10-20 years.
I'm a huge fan and take your information to heart. But this time I'm confused. The best saw is the least accurate and most uncomfortable? The one feature every sliding saw has that regular mitersaws dont have is the depth stop. Miluakee wins features without having it? I don't get it.
We have internal discussions about scoring all the time. Since all of the categories Carry the same weight, sometimes things can get skewed. That’s why we show everything so that you can look at the data and make the best decision for your needs
I really enjoy all the miter saws h2d. Thanks
Hey Rob thanks for your testing and information on tools over the years. I have yet to make a decision I regretted based on your opinions. Lastly I picked up the 36 volt makita rear handled circular saw. That said I would like to see you do comparisons on cordless sanders. Orbital as well as belt. Thanks for all your help. Jesus love you.
YESSS. Finally! I have been patiently waiting for this one. Thank you!
One important spec that wasn't mentioned (IMO) is CROSS-CUT CAPACITY. Assuming the cordless Bosch is based on the corded version, I can easily and cleanly cross-cut a stair tread on my corded Bosch, but I can't cross-cut (in one pass) on my Milwaukee M18 7-1/4" miter saw. As a finish carpenter, this is an important decision factor. If only Milwaukee came out with a copy of Bosch's saw, I'd sell my current 7-1/4" for a 8-1/2". Two gripes about the Bosch however: the top carry handle, and it's only single bevel. I might, however, pick up the cordless Bosch and slap an M18 battery adapter in there since 95% of all my batteries are M18.
It’s in the article
Enjoyed this presentation, information and the format in which it was presented. Good job and thank you for what you provide!
Hi, for the Makita 7 ½ inch saw, did you also use the Milwaukee 60 tooth 7 ¼ inch blade? Maybe adding the footprint in the specs would be good? Thanks for the comparison video by the way, really helpful!
Great review, Rob. Loved it. I’ll watch your others.
this my FAV painter?
Thanks for testing the craftsman was about to sell it and get the Milwaukee for home use👍
I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate your work and time on these tests.
I own both Milwaukee and Makita tools. So I’m invested in the battery technology of both companies. I own both the Milwaukee 10” and Makita 10”
Sliding compound miter saws. The Makita 10” is superior to the Milwaukee saw by a significant margin with one exception. The stupid laser lines are all but worthless outside where the shadow line always works and I’m grateful for the extra lighting provided by the led shadow line.
I’d like to see Makita get rid of the lasers and offer a LED shadow line kit for existing units. I’d also like to see Makita machine out the base of their tools and hollow out the rail systems just a little to shave off some weight. Their over built.
Great review! I'm surprised that Craftsman came it second place. And a testament to great engineering, dewalt saw has a brushed motor and still came in second place in the normalize runtime, goes to show engineering in a product is critical.
Because saws are used at full power brushless and brushed there isn't a big difference in runtime like a drill or impact driver
Use 2 batteries on the Makita. Use the m18 12.0 on Milwaukee and line em up again. That battery makes a difference on performance
I think either Makita Milwaukee or DeWalt