I agree with most of the comments about how this saw is very good. The upfront bevel control, the miter detent release, sliding outfeed extentions are all great. Very solid, very low flex and very smooth operating. The cons that I have seen are: Very heavy,(probably weighs more than the old style Dewalt slide). The slide knob does not lock the saw from moving very well during transport. The saw was not adjusted out of the box, I had to adjust all settings, and the miter angle adjustment is clunky, you have to move the back fence; when you tighten it down it tends to move, so you have to allow for this, it takes a couple of attempts. The blade was not very good, another carpenter on the job was also amazed that this was a new blade, it cut like one of my older used blades. It could have a little better cutting range, the Dewalt beats it but is not nearly as well put together,(too much flex and poorly designed controls) The laser is difficult or impossible to see if you are outside, even with clouds, indoors it works great, (I am sure this is true for all lasers).
br /And did I mention that it's heavy?
br /That said, I still think that this is the best saw out there, regardless of price, (and this price is a bargain!) Nothing that I have seen compares with it: Dewalt, Ryobi, Craftsman, Makita, Ridgid, Milwaulkee, Hitachi, checked 'em all, bought the Bosch.
br /I am a contractor with over 24 years in framing and finish work, residential and light commercial work. I have had at least 4 compoud miter saws, (down to 2 right now), Hope this helps

this is by far the most inovative and amazing miter saw i've ever had the peasure of working with. i'll start by praising the basics - miter and bevel detents are accurate and fast, blade included is top quality, onboard storage for wrench /w screwdriver tip. then you get included extensions, work clamp, length stops, crown stops, laser guide and the best part is even if you add these to another brand saw the don't store onboard and aren't nearly as easily adjusted and accessible. the only this is the saw is pretty heavy, but worth the extra features and accessories. you won't be disappointed.

The saw is great. It was bought to supplement an older Craftsman 12" slider but the speed of set-up and accuracy has made it my number one miter saw. I did replace the factory blade with a Forrest 80 tooth Chopmaster without even trying the blade in the box. My cuts are smooth and chip free. HOWEVER... the laser is on its second set of batteries with no discernible improvement. The laser light is VERY dim and nearly impossible to see in a dark garage on light colored wood. On some black gesso covered picture frame stock, the laser was all but invisible. If I can get the laser light sorted out the saw would rate 5 stars but as it is...
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br /Update: Bosch replaced the laser without even asking for proof of purchase which indicates to me a problem for them. The laser does activate and is bright but a real problem with parallax between the blade and beam. The need to spin the blade to activate is also an annoyance. All-in-all, the laser is of little real value compared to the accurate and easy to use lasers offered on other miter saws. If you are considering this saw because of the laser, don't. The saw itself is the easiest to set-up and use of the miter saws I have used over the years.

Normally, I love Bosch products but had a couple of problems with this product that had me very close to sending it back within the first week. It arrived slightly out of alignment and without the alignment hex key (should have been included). I did alignments and began using it the next day. On the fifth day of moderate use, I heard something drop to the ground and noticed a small piece of metal beneath the saw. Thereafter, the lock knob could not be tightened to hold an accurate miter. After only FOUR DAYS!!! Discovered that there is a very thin and flimsy piece of metal called a "plate" (item #314 in Bosch's IPB), attached to the detent over-ride assy with 2 screws, that is spaced between the miter lock knob and table to prevent the lock knob directly contacting the table. Turning the lock knob without this flimsy metal piece in place, will cause the saw to slide counter-clockwise out of alignment (approx 1-4 degrees). Further, repairing this piece was a nightmare not only for me, but also for the folks at the Bosch Service Center. The detent overide assy was designed without any regard for serviceability. Tho' it was easy to replace the flimsy plate reassembling the detent overide assembly required threading a "hinge bolt" through the assy and spring while under tension. It took two Bosch techs approx 1/2 hour to re-assemble a very simple asembly because of this extremely poor design. Bosch really needs to look at this design and all piece parts used in the assembelies with an objective and critical eye for user functionability, reliability, manufacturability, and serviceability. Better yet, maybe they should scrap this lock knob approach ("screw" the lock knob)and go with a cam. 90% of the time, a user is going to have to loosen and then tighten the lock knob when making a miter cut. Shouldn't this be one of the strongest and most reliable, ergonomic adjustments on a miter saw?
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br /In Bosch's Power Tools

I bought this saw with the intention of trimming out my entire house and have not been disappointed thus far. I've done casing, chair rail, wainscot, baseboard and crown and it's on the money. The tuning instructions were easy to follow and by running through each one and correcting where necessary, the saw is perfectly tuned. To the reviewer who has detected a flex in the blade, I had the same problem using a Freud Diablo 80 tooth blade - the problem was the blade, not the saw. I have since replaced it with an 80 tooth Dewalt woodworking blade and cuts are straight and super accurate. Definitely my favorite tool purchase of the last year.

This is a very well designed saw. I didn't notice the arbor runout but I'm not sure the stock blade is of top quality so I bought the Freud 96 tooth ultimate cutoff right away. I noticed right away that if I sawed quickly with the stock blade, the cut didn't appear straight and there were saw marks. If I cut slow, it cut perfectly straight. I've noticed this on other stock blades and replaced them before to remove the "wobble". The up-front adjustments are incredible and I had this thing tuned to perfection within minutes. I still can't get over how cool the upfront bevel control is. The detents will be handy and I will actually be able to trust them for a change (at least the 90 degree detent). The saw is very quiet too and it is very smooth to operate. The laser is a big + and even came with extra batteries. Onboard tool storage, easy to use and strong workpiece clamp and even handy length stops that double as crown stops. I would buy this saw again!

I was replacing a Porter Cable (Delta) 12" saw and wanted the added feature of the laser and the double bevel. The additional miter setting beyond 50 deg. each way was also a plus. However, the cons outweighed the pros for me and I actually returned it.
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br /Pros: The features on this saw are terrific - it is very functional compared to other saws. It is also very well put together with good materials and finishes. There are some nice add-ons with the crown molding stops and the bevel adjustment on the front. It is a little quirky, but does work well. The sliding ends on the saw actually work very well and adjust quickly. I was very pleased with the craftsmanship and quality of this saw.
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br /I had two problems with the basic design of the saw, and I just could not adapt to these characteristics, so I chose to return it.
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br /Cons:
br /Laser. I agree with a couple of the reviewers about the laser on this saw. It projects the line only when the blade is spinning, meaning that you can't position your work piece until you squeeze the trigger. Not the most secure way to do this. Also, the laser is not built into the system, it is a washer applied to the left side of the blade like many aftermarket models. It is offset from the blade, so it does not shine parallel to the blade. As you bring the spinning blade down, it appears to move right to left on the workpiece until the blade makes contact. I actually got used to this characteristic for the few times I used it, but it did take a little getting used to. I caught myself moving the workpiece and the blade at the same time. Don't think any picture frame makers would like that too much.
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br /Blade guard: The guard has good motion and provides plenty of protection as the blade is moved downward. However, the linkage which moves the guard out of the way does not have a smooth cam motion that is found on many other saws. This causes the blade guard to catch and jiggle if the blade is brought down too quickly. Again, not a real show stopper, but I'm looking for very smooth action from all parts on the miter saw to maintain accuracy.
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br /Additional problem, although typical for many miter saws in this price range.
br /Blade: Like most miter saws in the $250-$400 range, many manufacturers (including Bosch)continue to specify blades with 40-60 teeth and a significant rake, which doesn't make much sense for a miter saw. I'd recommend an upgrade - shell out the $60-$100 for a better blade with at least 80 teeth and less than 5 deg of rake on the teeth.

Bosch did a good job in engineering a compound miter saw that makes easy work out of most projects. The up front controls make settings a breeze. Though some may find its girth a bit to hulk around, it made for a very stable platform. The torque on the motor is awsome. I found the miter angles to be accurate and easy to set even at non-detent marked measurements. Out of the box, however, the bevel angles on the blade were not correct. The battery powered arbor mounted laser is under powered in direct sunlight. Would I buy this saw again? Yes.

After only one week of light use (crown moldings), the small metal plate attached to the detent over-ride assembly fell out, just like the other two reviewers. I am dreading having to take the time to load the saw. take it to a service center, and wait for it to get fixed...with no guarantee it won't happen again. This is clearly a design issue that should be addressed.
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br /Other than the plate falling out, I have been quite happy with the feel (ergonomics), power, and precision of the saw, so far.
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br /As a follow up to my review, I just got back from the service center. The technician stated that this was the first time he had to repair the indent plate, and that he had never heard of it needing repair before. He also said that the failure of the plate looked like it was the result of over-torquing. He told me that the knob did not have to be tightened very much to lock the miter in place. The plate that had fallen out had been flattened and twisted from me cranking on the lock knob...looks like it may have been my bad!
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br /I'll let you know if it happens again!

Good accurate cuts right out of the box. Excellent control layout. Easy adjustments. If you think you have arbor runout, make sure the blade is seated properly on the rear blade washer boss. A bit heavy , but the hand holds are in good positions so carrying it isn't a problem. I'm happy.

I am a home woodworking enthusiast and when cutting miters on my tablesaw I often imagined how much better life would be with a compound miter saw. While I am a bit cramped for space I saw a tremendous deal on this saw and with the additional Jigsaw mail-in rebate I couldn't pass it up. After getting the saw home and removing the packaging I had the pleasant experience of going through the setup instructions in the manual and finding that most of the setup had been done at the factory. Nice. However, when I checked the bevel of the blade for square to the base it was out on both sides in different directions. Seems as if the aluminum base is slightly warped. When trying to adjust the zero degree bevel the elusive but needed 3mm hex wrench was securely hidden in a recess in the back cover that wasn't discovered until after I purchased one from a hardware store thinking that mine was lost. The bolts that must be loosened and tightened during the bevel zeroing procedure are very soft, likely because they are only anchored in aluminum. I proceeded to tighten one of them and this thought was crossing my mind as I put the final snug twist on the bolt and snap, off it came. I had to drill and tap that bolt out and put in a new one. Now I was a bit shy on snugging any of the bolts including the ones on the fence. The flex movement on the blade from side to side when operating the saw is up to a sixteenth but if one is careful to operate it in a consistent manor this can be minimized. The blade that ships with this saw has 40 teeth, I replaced it with an 80 tooth Freud. On the plus side the laser attachment, while minor, is a fantastic addition and will make crosscut alignment easy and accurate. I can't seem to wipe the smile off my face after seeing how such a simple addition can make this cutting process so much more enjoyable. I will eventually build a proper station for this saw that will improve its accuracy and stability. I am happy with it so far.

the saw I received also had a out of alignment issue with the 45 degree setting. worst part it, there was no 3 mm hex wrench ship with the saw. the instruction said the package should have 3mm hex wrench. After two days of very light usage, the lock knob plate broke off and I can no longer lock the saw in position for cutting. these are the same issues that Almon Orcutt Ruggles stated in his/her review. this indicate it's a bigger problem with the design and quality of this saw. while I love the laser guide feature, I was quite disappointed with the saw jerking reaction when I released the power On/Off button. this jerking reaction is rather strong that it can cause unintentional cut to the wood piece. thus ruin your work. another issue is that the spring that pop the saw back to up position is set at high tension that it can tilted the 50 lbs saw if you it go to fast after you complete your cut. The dust bag doesn't catch much so don't count on it. the Kerf Insert piece was precut too wide and out of alignment with the saw blade. this create an unsmooth cutting edges. I wish Bosch did a better Q/A before shipping their products
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br /other than those issues, this saw has a lot of power and not as noisy as I anticipated. I am considering return it and get the Dewalt 716 instead

My wife bought this Miter Saw for my birthday and WOW! I've worked with a lot of tools of varying quality and I have to say this is a very nice saw.
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br /The upfront bevel controls and the ease of changing angles make this a dream to work with. Combine that with the clamp, crown stops and the fact it can be angled left or right with an ambidextrious locking control button - it takes all the guess work out of crown moulding. I love it!
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br /I did have trouble with the laser. The laser is not built-in, it attaches to the side of the blade. It didn't seem to want to work properly, the light kinda flickered on then off for a few seconds, then on, all the while I had the blad spining. Changed the batteries and still same thing.
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br /I called Bosch and they sent a replacement laser, no questions asked. I was highly impressed with the level of service. The lady said there really isn't a lot of troubleshooting because there is only one way to mount the laser.
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br /My only con about this unit is the laser, and not because it flickered, but because there is only 1 and it was an afterthought of engineering not a built-in. I have worked with saws that have lasers on both sides of the blade and the fact that this unit only has it on the left is disappointing, but still workable. I'm sure I'll still be able to use the laser to make precision cuts, I'm just spoiled. :P
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br /I highly recommend this product.

I gave this tool 4 stars because the first saw I received was NOT LEVEL. Did not sit flat. Turned it 90 deg and it still wobbled. Put it on the table saw ( very flat table) still rocked. Sent it back. The next one was dead on. All adjustments were right on out of the box. Replaced the blade with a forrest chop saw blade. I use a Dewalt at my woodworkers club so I can compare Dewalt and Bosch. The Bosch is very much better. So the saw itself deserves 5 stars, the fence is very usefull as is the hold down. The laser works ok but you have to get used to it.

This a nice heavy well constructed miter saw. The saw is adjustments are smooth and precise. My only gripe is the the right bevel tilt is a little corky in that you must slightly tilt the saw to the left and spin a dial to get the pin released so, the right tilt is possible. Other than that the saw performs wonderfully. The saw is well thought out for ergonomics and engineered well.
br / Please note that this saw is big in size and heavy. It stands 31" tall when the blade is up, it is about 30 inches deep from front to back without the dust bag attached (attached it is another foot or so).
br / Strongly recommend this saw.
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br / Please read review on the Bosch TracRac Portable Miter Saw Stand - T3B that I use with this saw.

This saw is AWESOME. I put it through its paces and have yet to see a better miter saw, and I've used quite a few (Porter Cable, De-Walt, and Craftsman). When got the saw, I also purchased a Freud D1296N Diablo 12-Inch 96 Tooth TCG Non-Ferrous Metal and Plastic Cutting Miter Saw Blade with 1-Inch Arbor. This saw runs so smoothly and the blade cuts so precisely that my cuts require 0 sanding. That's right. I do not need to sand after I cut the wood (white pine is all I've used so far). Also, although I have not had the time to exactly calibrate it from the factory, it appears as though the angle measurements are right on. Another thing that's completely awesome is that all of the controls and locks are on the front. There is no need to reach the back of the saw to make adjustments. The handle is completely adjustable, too. You can fully rotate it.
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br /In terms of the laser, it's okay, but not the greatest. The laser is contained within a large washer that gets bolted on to the arbor bolt on the left side of the blade. Because it's bolted against the blade, it's about 1/32" to the left of the line of cut.

This is a great Saw. The front bevel control is good and the adjustments are easy to make. I wish the laser was on both sides though. I took out a star because recently, while cutting oak, the blade hit the metal chip deflector, broke the blade, the chip deflector and the blade guard. Though I was greatly displeased with the local Authorized service center (hence 2 stars originally), regional management followed up on the repair and made everything right. A+ for such an excellent service.
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br /Customer Service takes about 40% of my decision making when buying a product. Therefore, unless one brand product is better then the other by 40% I go with the better customer service. For those reasons I purchase primarily Bosch.
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br /Great Job Bosch.
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Excellent quality- smooth operation, very little vibration. Laser feature fence accessories well designed.

i love this machine. it is great for cutting exotic hardwood floors. The lever that bevels the saw is in the front is a dream. The bench extensions allow you to make the saw wider in length, which is great for cutting long material. The blade that it came with was warped, which made it wobble as it ran and very dangerous was replaced by Bosch immediately with a much better blade for my inconvenience. It even came in a carry pouch! :) i love my Bosch!

This is the worst mitre saw I've ever bought to date at least a dozen of various makes. We set up the saw on one of our chop saw benches and discovered that it had 2 defects that made the saw unuseable. 1] the main articulation that moves when you cut had at least 1 to 1.5 degrees of play. 2] the notches that control angle of cut would not click in, so when you tightened the locking handle it would rack off angle 2-4 degrees.
br /Bottom line an unuseable saw. How does a manufacturer come up with two such defects? Being a student of quality manufacturing I can tell you that if you have so much variability in your manufacturing process that you come up with two defects this big, you are in BIG trouble. I had always had good luck with Bosh tools, and my guys wanted this saw when the Makita gave up after years of service in our custom cabinet shop. Of course it's going back, and we just repaired the Makita.

I bought this saw about a year ago. Made about 100 cuts, saw was working as I had expected until it started tripping breakers (20 amp) last month. I've swapped breakers two times, all breakers trip as soon as the saw is started.

From all my research online, I have found this to be the best deal if you are going to purchase a Compound Miter saw. This gift is for my husband so I have no hands-on experience with Miter saws, however, I do know that this model comes with the laser tracking already rather than purchasing the kit separately, like some other models. I looked extensively at the Dewalt and Makita but most models in this price range do not come with the laser tracking.
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br /Word to the wise though- Amazon does not put this item in another plain box so wherever you are having this item shipped, make sure it is out of sight from the recipient if it is a gift or you live/work in a questionable neighborhood for thieves. The box is HUGE and is the manufacturer box so in huge letters and colors and photos displays the contents.

This saw is well made and has several useful features but it does have two short falls. The blade is fine for cutting 2x4s but it splinters the work without a zero clearance fence. The table insert has too wide of a gap; they should have provided a slot free insert that you cut yourself. I made a couple replacements out of plywood. Knowing this I would still buy it again.

Easy to use and "dead on" out of the box. Buy a finer blade for super fine cuts. The one sold with the saw is a little rough for finish work. The saw is incredily quiet, even my kids can sleep when I run it in the basement below them. The laser is definitialy worth the money, but I still mark and cut. It is really heavy, so if you are a portable one person do-it-yourselfer you may want a lighter saw.

Overal I think this is one of the best saws out there right now. For the money, you get a lot of added features that the DeWalts, Rigids, etc. don't have. Everything was dead on right out of the box. Haven't installed the laser yet, so I don't have any comments on that. The first couple of cuts I made had NO tear out on the back of the boards. The saw feels very solid and well built. On the flip side it is very heavy. So I wouldn't buy this thinking you can throw it in and out of your truck from job site to job site. But if you plan on putting it on a nice stand, then the weight is really no big deal. Favorite feature is having the bevel cut adjustement up front with the miter. Only saw I've seen have this.

I have had a Craftsman 12" miter saw for 14 years and it was fine for what I did with it, and I did most everything. It was getting old, and a screw was missing off the blade guard. I tried to hold the blade guard up while I finished one last cut, and the blade guard came down quickly, the blade caught it and shattered the whole deal. I was happy to have all my fingers, but decided that it was just too dangerous to use any longer. So I went hunting for a new 12" miter saw. I was originally interested in a slider, but with all the moving around I do, the weight was an issue, so I narrowed my search to a dual bevel, 12" compound miter saw. I looked at them all, and read all the reviews and narrowed it the Bosch and the DeWalt, finally deciding on the Bosch. I have not regretted my decision and find it is everything I need and then some. Very smooth and nice machine.

Purchased saw to install all new oak trim in my home which has many, many compound miters. Out of the box, no adjustment...absolutly perfect accuracy...pays to buy the best, and BOSCH is it.

After a lot or research, I purchased this saw from CPO through Amazon. It was shipped the same day that I ordered and I got it in 3 days. Out of the box it was within .2 degrees in all settings. I took the time to make the adjustments and now it is dead on and I know a little more about the saw. The only problem I had was registering the saw online. I called Bosch and they took care of the regisration in about 2 minutes. This is a quality miter saw that does what it is made for. Now I get perfect picture frame every time. Amazons review about this saw is dead on. If you are going to be doing finish work, I recomend you get a good quality 80tooth blade to replace the one comes with the saw. But that is with every miter saw on the market.

This is my second Bosch saw. The first one was mounted to my workbench and was turned o it side. The stops were damaged in it. There was no question what saw I would replace it with. I did a search for the merchant that gave the best deal on this saw. It's very easy and accurate straight out of the box. I made no adjustments and cut perfect 45's. The dust collection bag still doesn't do much good, but what miter saw has a dust collection bag that works? If you need a miter saw that is easy to use, accurate and stays that way, this is the best for the price. I would definately by this one again!

A fantastic saw that is very easy to use. A well thought-out design that does more than most would ever need. Very happy with this purchase.

This thing is one of my favorite tool purchases both for the value and out of the box accuracy. I had been looking to replace my Habor Frieght 10" slider and wanted something of real quality. After some searching I was convinced that I would be spending $500-600, until I found this model.
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br /The packaging was in great shape when it arrived. No missing or broken parts. Easy to assemble (about 20 minutes with adjustments). It's not quite as big as I had imagined based on other reviewers comments (thankfully). It's heavy but overly so. Detents are dead on accurate. The laser is a lot more visible than others have made out (maybe Bosch changed it?). Like the other reviewers, I wish the laser was visible before pulling the trigger but not that big of a deal. The blade I got with the saw is quite good. I expected to throw it away, but it leaves no marks or burns on 2" hard maple and flys through it.
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br /This is a much better value than others I found in this price range.

I'm upgrading from a 10" Hitachi saw (less than 3 stars) that was stolen. This Bosch is great. Yes, it IS heavy, and you can't see the laser in outside use. But, it is solid, accurate and has great repetition on angle cuts. I've just finished installing a crown molding project that went flawlessly, with joints being tighter than I've ever seen. The blade, as noted before, could be better: it results in slight tear out where the blade exits cuts.
br / One drawback... The locking mechanism that locks the side to side rotation has broken. Now, when I tighten the twist knob in the front, the saw rotates off the desired angle. So, into the repair shop tomorrow although I've had the saw for less than 2 weeks. Still, I think it is a great product and would be 5 star if not for the broken lock.

I already own one 4212L and I was encouraged to purchase another by the great Amazon deal fron early March '06 and the Bosch rebate of a free jigsaw. I was getting a little nervous as the saw was still not in stock as the deadline for the Bosch rebate was drawing near. I contacted Amazon, and then Bosch with the number they gave me. Good news! Bosch has extended the jigsaw rebate(both purchase deadline and postmark deadline) for 30 days. So you have until April 30, '06 to buy if you want in on the deal. Bosch said that the delay in shipping was their fault, not Amazons, and they expected to have these excellent saws back in retail channels by mid April. This is an excellent saw at full retail price and well worth a wait unless your need is dire. Throw in a free jigsaw (the best jigsaw on the market BTW) and what's not to love. Hope this info helps.
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br /Now if they'd just offer a sweet deal on the Bosch miter saw stand, I'd be all set. First saw is on a PortaMate PM4400 which is a solid stand and a great value, but I wanted something a little more full featured for the new saw. And No!, I don't work for Bosch, but you'd never know it to look at my tool collection.

I had researched miter saw before I bought. The Bosch was everything that the reviews had said it was. I love it.

OK, Bosch must be terrorist because this saw is the BOMB! Great feel and function. Using saw mounted on a Ridged MSUV. I would suggest this product to DIY'ers like myself and carpenters alike.

No complaints. Comparable to competitors' saws that cost much more. Not sure why anyone would buy a different 12" miter saw.

I had high hopes for this saw because I like other Bosch tools I own.
br /The first thing I looked for when the saw came was side to side movement in the arm, it seemed to be a little too much, so I took a closer look. I found when the arm is all the way up and you push up a little more I could see the blade move up and to the left. I then looked at the pivot point and saw what appeared to be slop between the pivot pin and the casting.
br /I also found that when the removable fence was clamped in place with its thumb screw it would tip foward some causing an out of square condition with the table. This not up to Bosch quality that I am used too.
br /I now own a Dewalt 716.
br /Amazon gets 5 Stars for their return policy!!!

We'll see. I finally got it out of the box and it has about 1/8" runout in the arbor. Bosch must have had a run of these because normally their products are pretty good.
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br /Now we'll see if Amazon will send me another in one day.

I ordered this saw on March 12, Amazon said that it would ship within a couple weeks, 7 weeks later I received a notice today that it would be delayed another 4 weeks. What a damn joke. I have bought my last item from Amazon!