I bought this saw just before christmas. This saw if identical to the one sold without the lasers (and identical to the Delta version of this saw). pThat saw has many features that make it a top of the line saw. br- good solid fence, good for crown molding and adjustablebr- the degree scale is not etched , so it will not wear offbr- the knobs are large and easy to usebr- the dust collection is much better than other saws in this categorybr- it can be set up on 2x4s with special knotches for easy jobsite use, and has a well centered handlebr- the twin laser does a great job, you can see it in the daylight, and is very crisp...also it keeps your head away from the blade and any chips/dust while you make the cutbr- horizontal handle more natural for a CMS use on a table or stand (older CMS just sat on the floor and a verticle handle was fine)pif you have a chance to go by a hardware store with this unit, try to wiggle the the unit side to side and do the same with other CMS and sliding CMS...this unit is very tight. I never found a SCMS that didn't wiggle when the blade is moved side to side...i don't like that kind of play when doing finer work like picture framespThe same saw branded and sold by Delta has a two year warranty though instead of PC's 1 year...but this does no worry me as Delta/PC customer service has always tsken care of any issues if they come up, they are great!pMy impressions of the saw when I first started using it were:p - The carry handle is center over the mass of the saw and makes it VERY easy to move the saw aroundbr - The fit and finish are great, no sharp edges, everything clean, even the decals when placed squarelybr - the saw was dead accurate out of the box with the left fence (which gets used by me most). The right fence was off, but adjusting it was easy. I found that the right fence was not flat. Called PC and 4 days later i had a new right fence and everything is fine. I'll have to find a use for the old fence...maybe a paperweightbr - The wingnut in the back t change the bevel of the saw is big and easy to usebr - When the motor starts there is no torque on the system, nothing moves...i could probably align my cut, take away my hand holding the wood and start the motor and the wood would not move...this is a nice change from my older CMS br - from the left the cuts were dead on from the factory...i mean dead on!br - The laser was also adjusted properlybr - also the cord is made so that it remains flexible in my unheated garagebr - the feet are big rubber knobs that are spaced well for a solid stancebr - The dust collection on this is SOOOO much better than others I have seen and used...the amount of dust that needs to be picked up by a RAS type dust collector at the back of the saw in a miter station is greatly reduced...pOne point about the saw: their is a heigh difference between the main table and the first left extension table...according to PC this is done for safety reasons, but I suspect that it is done because someone owns the patent on having the main table and the extension tables of a CMS coplanar (on the same plane)...this is not a problem however...when you attach the left most extension wing you can use a straight edge so it is coplanar with the main table...if you add the CMS to a Miter station, adjust the wings of the station so they are coplanar with the main table.pHTH

I eagerly awaited the arrival of this saw which took about 6 days. When it arrived I assembled the saw (easy assembly- about 20 minutes)and put it to work building a deck around our pool. This saw makes cutting angles an easy task!! Great power and easy to read gauge. The saw was accurate out of the box and needed no adjustment. The twin lasers were adjusted perfectly, and they definately make building a quicker and more enjoyable task. The laser is typically easy to see except in bright sunlight...on really bright days I had to pass my hand over the cut area to create shade to see the laser. The saw cut through 4X4 and 2X6 lumber like they were butter, and drew several positive comments from the guys that were helping me. I would highly recommend this saw to anyone. I would have given it 5 stars if the laser was visible in bright sunlight-but I guess to be fair, I don't know of anything that shows up well in the midday sun. Solid, heavy, well made...you'll enjoy the saw....

I looked at many different saws before purchasing this one. While most of the saws I looked at could do the job, I had a big concern with the way the trigger occassionaly pinched my fingers when engaging the blade of other saws. If you repeatedly engage the trigger using slight variations to your grip you may find the same problem I did. The grip on the saw is perfect, never a problem. The twin lasers also make cutting much easier. The cut they outline is dead-on. I did not buy the saw because of the laser feature, (I bought it for the grip remember)but now that I have it, I'm glad I do. I will never own a mitre saw again without the twin laser. pThe construction of the saw is solid! Overall, a very good purchase I am glad I made.

I have been a remodeler/carpenter for twenty-five years,so I fully intend to use this miter saw almost daily. I was looking for dependability, consistant cut quality, and of course value. I really don't need a slider type or dual compound capability, perhaps if I had these functions I would grow to appreciate them too. The PC/Delta miter saw is not light weight, but it is very stable and the rubber pads on the feet make it more so. My first project was to make my version of the 2x4 saw table that the manual shows[the base is designed to sit in it], it has since cut a variety of trim. The saw needed no tweaking, I was satisfied with the accuracy out of the box. I had no trouble assembling the extension table and fence slide. The table rotated easily on mine but was stiff on a couple that I tried at stores. It is adjustable like almost every feature. With daily use the saw will need some adjusting as it wears from use and gets banged around in the van. One feature that is not common with the Delta is the bevel scale which is stainless steel on the PC and much easier to see for me. I had been using a Dewalt CMS and it gave me good service and is very worn now. I thought of going with another one, but I was intrigued by the dual laser thing. I am becoming more far sighted and it is getting harder to see in dimmly lit situations [like when you work under temporary lights and spotlights]. So I thought what the heck and gave it a try. I have found it helpful. I put a 80t Freud on her and she does a good job. By the way that 2x4 saw table works real good and is cheaper and lighter than the metal type[$10.00 in 2x4 material].brAll in all I am very pleased. Its a battleship, rock solid construction. I think it will hold up to whats ahead. I was fortunate to find one at a closeout sale for the same price as the Delta. There seems to be about a fifty dollar difference between the two-is it fifty bucks more for the name or the color? One twist is that Delta gives a two year warrenty and PC one. brThumbs up from Ohio!

The Miter Saw is just what I expected from a Porter cable product. Although a clamp to hold the short stock is not included. It is available.... You wont find it in the manual and I couldn't find it on-line. A phone call to Porter-Cable revealed there is one available. I found it difficult to hold the small stock in place without a clamp to make nice clean miter cuts as the surface is slippery.

I purchased the porter cable 12 inch twin laser in Feb of 2003. Easy to setup never even had to look at the directions. The laser's and the presets are dead on right out of the box. The reason I purchased this saw was to install crown molding around the ceiling in our dining room. I have never even messed with crown molding. With presets for both the mitre and bevel this saw made me look like a pro. The job turned out perfect. The ease of use for this saw is amazing. My wife wanted an octagon frame for a mirror. She cut the pieces herself. With its dead on accuarcy, prestes at 22.5 degrees, and ease of use this saw made it easy for her. Another job well done. My daughter who has never used one surprised me when she showed me some molding she had cut on it. The molding was small with fine scrollwork embedded in it. No chipping or splitting just perfect 45's all around. This saw has everything going for it. Either in the home shop or on the jobsite it can make an amatur look like a pro or a pro more productive.

I love this saw. As others have said it is a great saw made even easier/better with the laser cutting indicator. I wish all my tools had this (hey drill press manufs!). Out of the box I have been making accurate & repeatable cuts effortlessly. The only complaint I have is that although the dust bag catches a lot of the sawdust for you, it fills up quickly and then starts to pour dust back at you. The connector seems to be a nonstandard 1.75" dimension so I wish PC had an adapter to fit it to my dust collection system. Eventually I'll figure this one out. This is a great saw.

Mainly used for cabinetry. On any other saw, pull the blade down to just above the material, then move it left and right. Note how much the blade moves on the material. Do this to this saw, and see the difference. If I were rough-framing, the DeWalt would be my choice, but not for my use. The rest of the features are pretty much immaterial - it just works.

This saw came out of the box true in all measurements......brLove the lazer......... takes all guess work and "try again" cuts out of life...... I have had the saw a month and have used it for woodworking projects, and general carpentry. I love it....brno complaints.....No problems.....brIt isn't a big deal but like all saws, you need a better blade than that provided.... if you think it is what you need, buy it......You will be happy.

This is a great saw, the lasers are very easy to use since they are on both sides of the blades. You can turn the lasers on without the saw running so you can setup board hold downs for accurately as well as keeping your fingers and thumb away from a running blade. There are good stops, easy to read scales and a large base for stability on a table. The left side is larger than normal by about 6 inches so it holds work well. The fence is easily adjusted and the blade is a snap to change, the tool for this is on the back and only one bolt needs to be removed and your at the blade. I looked at sliding compound miters but was not impressed with blade side movement so I stayed with the compound miter for its dead on accuracy.
br /The wonderful part is it is under priced for a saw of its quality.

I've had this EXACT saw (I think at least one of the other reviewers are talking about another model) for several years now... and, like the other 30-some porter-cable/delta power tools I own, it's top-notch. The stock blade is okay for rough carpentry, but if you are serious about cutting trim or woodworking, drop the $100 on the Freud 96 TPI blade. This will give the perfect chop-saw setup, improve accuracy and give glass-smooth, splinter-free crosscuts. Who really expects a top-grade blade to be on a saw out of the box.
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br /As far as others who complained about the lasers: I don't purposefully leave the laser on when I walk away from the saw, and sawdust can build up on the laser lenses, causing laser to suddenly fade and disappear - use a dry Q-tip or blast of air. Mine's got lots of miles on it and no probs. And yes, there is always a trade-off between portability and performance, but for finish work I'd rather lug this around than tote a smaller, lighter saw and wonder.... If you sit the saw on sawhorses, the surface is 3 1/2" high, get the picture? Buy it.

I love this saw. The accuracy is excellent. I was thinking the laser would be a gimmick, but it's great at defining the kerf before a cut. The only reason for a 4 star instead of 5 is the blade that comes with it is ok but not great.

I purchased this tool in May of 2004 for my shop. An a middle-aged amateur with diminished eyesight I chose it primarily for the laser guide and initially found the device to be a terrific advance for electric miter saws. However, after using the tool no more than 20 times the laser stopped working. Following the phone advice of the Porter Cable technician I removed the cover to expose the laser switch wiring and found everything to be intact. Ditto with the remainder of the tool's wiring. As irritating as it was to loose the use of the lasers on such a new tool, I was equally disappointed that rather than sending me a new switch, or lasers, I was told to take the saw to a local shop for repair. I am not sure what the repair cost will be, or how long I'll be without the tool, but I do know I'll not buy another Porter Cable (or Delta) power tool.
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br /Although the basic tool is solid and sports a rigid adjustable fence, I already had a power miter saw without lasers. I rate this tool 2 stars because of the lack of overall quality and mediocre customer service.

I got this for my husband as a gift 3 years ago. WE have both enjoyed the saw. Great for our little home workshop. However this past year the laser quit working and we are unsure how to replace it. Unfortunately the saw is not nearly as convenient without the laser.

After much research I opted for this saw. I looked at sliding 10", Dual compound 12" and this compound 12" with and without the laser.brI wanted to be able to cut 4x4's with one pass as well as cut off some boards up to 6". That's sort-of a compomise in my criteria and the features are sort-of a compromise. Doesn't seem you can get everything in one saw. Although Delta now has a dual compound sliding 12" and DeWalt has one, but the Dewalt has a design flaw that I can't get over once I spotted it. It's flimsy locking mechanism that flexes the table out of adjustment. Adjustments are easy to make solidly on the Porter-Cable as well as the Delta without that flexing. brI like the laser more than I thought I would. I wish they put a laser on the 12" sliding, dual compound Delta. That would then seem to have everything.brThey don't ship it with any clamps and the ones Porter-Cable make aren't as nice as the ones from dewalt. They aren't interchangable but I really haven't needed to clamp anything. As long as long boards are supported on the end I don't have any trouble holding them still with my hand.brThere's some tear out that can be minimized by slowly finishing the cut and/or getting a different blade.brI like the laser more than I thought, it's really cool. Helps make some fine adjustments right on the table.

I've owned and intensely used this miter saw for several years (4 remodeling projects). I love the double laser because it gives you the kerf cut. Therefore, rather than 'splitting' a cut in the middle, you can accurately cut to your measurement. I have done a number of 45's for trim work, and it has made great cuts. I have also cut 2x6's, metal and plastic pipe (go very slow bringing the saw down and it won't chip) etc., and it's a horse. Love it and would buy again.

br /Since Porter-Cable, BlackDecker, Dewalt, and Delta are now all owned by the same parent company, they have been discontinuing items that are duplicated by one of the other brands... this saw is one of the discontinued items. Delta sells a similar twin-laser miter saw (#36-255L), but the main difference is that the Porter-Cable is made in America, yep, U.S.A. made, top quality, just as you'd expect. The Delta is China/Taiwan manufactured and is not in the same league quality wise. So, order quickly, while you still can get a genuine made in the US of A, Porter-Cable miter saw... you won't be sorry.
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I loved the thought of a twin-laser mitre saw. Bought the 10" version almost two years ago. The switch that turns on the lasers would not work properly sometimes. Then as I was cutting some base and casing, small chunks of wood damaged first one laser and then the other. One laser was knocked loose from its mounting. I don't know what happened to the other. The lasers simply don't work.
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br /The auxilliary (left) fence has never aligned with the main fence. Now I ask myself if I paid extra for features that don't last very long.
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br /I appreciated the lasers when cutting base and casing, as I could line up on a mark very easily.