Editor's Review: 12-in. Compound-Miter Saws

At 9-1/4 in., this 12-in. compound-miter saw has the largest 0-degree (90-degree) cutting capacity of all the saws we tested and can cut 6-3/4-in.-wide 1x boards standing up against the fence. One of its best features is the flip-up stops that hold crown molding in position against the fence. They can be adjusted for different-size crown molding, and they make holding pieces tight against the fence a breeze. This saw had the most comfortable handle of all the saws.

The front-mounted bevel lock and cam-style sliding fence locks are easy to use. This saw has a sliding bevel-stop plate for 33.9- and 45-degree bevels, and release pins behind the pivot head allow the saw to reach 48-degree bevel angles. The release pins reset when the saw is brought back past the 45-degree mark. The only flaw is the 0-degree bevel stop. It is imprecise and requires the user to double-check the setting.

The bevel scale is accurate and easy to read. The indicator has a diamond-shaped viewing area that reads single degrees on the inside of the diamond and 5-degree increments on the outside pointer. And because the indicator is close to the scale's surface, the view angle doesn't affect the reading much.

Editor Test Results:

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12-in. Compound-Miter Saws In a field of powerful and accurate tools, three saws stand out with useful features and large cutting capacities by Rick Arnold, Mike Guertin