Popular Woodworking 2004-08 № 142, страница 73
To determine the winners, we looked at how accurate and clean a cut the saw made, plus how easy it was to set up and adjust the machine. But before we plugged any of the saws in, we checked all the fence and angle settings on each saw out of the box for initial accuracy. Many of the saws were out of square by one-tenth or two-tenths of a degree. Don't be so quick to roll your eyes. While this doesn't sound dramatic, it's enough to spoil the accuracy of a mitered frame where the error is multiplied times eight. Next, we made a variety of cuts in 3/4"-thick x 51/2"-wide poplar boards. We tested the accuracy of straight 90° cuts as well as 45° left and 45° right miter cuts. We also tested compound bevel cuts at 45° in as many directions as possible (three of the models we tested bevel left and right). When making the cuts, we used the blades that were shipped with each machine. All of them were alternate top bevel (ATB) crosscut blades ranging from 40 to 80 teeth. Many woodworkers opt to buy a less expensive saw and upgrade it with a nicer blade, so we also made cuts on each machine with a new Freud 60-tooth, thin-kerf, ATB blade. Features of Note Unlike all the other saws, the Bosch's bevel release is located up front. Although the bevel feature is used least often on most miter saws, it's nice to not have to look to the back of the saw for the locking knob that allows the saw to bevel. As for the miter locks, all are located at the front of the machines (as they should be) and use some type of spring-loaded release to move between preset detents (automatic stopping points, traditionally located at 90°, 45° and 22V2° - both to the left and right of 0°). How the table is stopped and locked at other locations varies with each saw and we've addressed that in the comments on the individual saws. The slide lock/releases are more varied in their locations (frequently found back by the rail system) but all are accessible and function conveniently enough. Kudos to Makita for putting the slide lock/release up front with the rest of the controls. While checking the saws' accuracy we noticed a difference worth commenting on. If the two halves of a fence are out of alignment, or if the entire fence isn't square to the blade, the type of fence can be critical. A cast, one-piece fence can only be tweaked as a single piece. Beware that if you try to adjust just one side, you can bend the casting out of alignment and you'll be fighting your fence forever. All of the saws tested use a dual-rail, bearing-guiding slide system. Some slide more smoothly than others. The rails can be mounted either under the table or above the table behind the motor/blade assembly. Their location isn't critical to their performance, but it can impact the balance of the saw. Our Verdict The GMC saw did better than some of us expected, but we can't call it a good value. What we can recommend is a tie between the Bosch and the Makita. Both performed very well in the testing. The Bosch has more features, but it's also priced $70 more than the Makita. Both are excellent machines and will make your woodworking a pleasure. Bosch 4410 Bosch: 877-267-2499 boschtools.com The Bosch 4410 was a pleasure to use. This feature-laden machine (our notes while initially inspecting the saw spilled onto several pages) is the newest saw in our test and, honestly, has more features to offer than anything else we looked at. The four-position handle with its ambidextrous safety switch gives you comfort and control during straight, miter and compound cuts. The bevel lock is positioned upfront (with the standard miter lock) for convenience. The miter scale offers good readability. The miter table moves smoothly. But before our praise becomes nauseating, we have to note that the miter detent settings were a bit sloppy, allowing a possible V20 of movement unless you locked your setting in place. The good news about the detents is that there is an additional miter adjustment system that lets you fine-tune any detent setting, a unique useful feature. The tools for adjusting the machine are stored onboard. And Bosch even added a cord wrap on the side, the only one in our test. The extension tables are integral, nicely designed, easy to operate and include a built-in stop that works on the left or right side of the saw. The fences are 4" high, have basic inch markings on the faces (nice) and can slide out of the way of the blade (a good thing to remember when making bevel cuts - don't ask). On close inspection, both fences had a .002" hollow at their centers, but were accurately aligned with each other. The mechanism controlling your depth of cut is simple to adjust and even offers a quick bypass for faster adjustments. The throat plate adjusts to a 5/i6"-wide opening, which is shy of a zero-clearance setting, but decent. The motor is powerful and the blade supplied provided as smooth and effortless a cut as the thin-kerf Freud blade (which, in most cases, was much better than the stock blade with the other saws). Changing the blade was OK, but not the easiest in our test. This saw's large footprint offers a stability not found in others. Combine that with the versatile handle orientation, dual-bevel capability, extended miter capacity beyond 45° and a nice blade and the Bosch 4410 earns one of our Editor's Choice awards. popwood.com 71 |
