12" laser miter saw

[mt0001]

i just purchased the laser miter 12" last week , excellent saw for cutting 2x6 etc it didn't take long to get used to the laser ,it is about 2mm to the left(laser line) but after a few cuts i was very used to it so far i have not made any fancy moulding cuts but in the next few weeks i will be building a fireplace mantel and surround which will require some beveled crown moulding cuts - i will keep you informed how that goes---i have used my neighbors dewalt miter several times the rigid seems to be superior so far!!!!!

[Ransome]

I have to agree with the first review here. I just got this saw 2 weeks ago and so far it's works great. I've been using it for Base molding and casing so far and it's a really nice saw. I haven't used a slider since the Bosch 10 incher that came out a while ago.One thing is the saw is pretty darn heavy. If your doing bevel cuts at 45 and you switch from one 45 to another the saw is pretty heavy and takes some oomph to get it up. Of course I have no stand yet and the saw right now is being used on the floor so it may be easier once I get this beast on a stand. It did take a couple of cuts before I trusted the laser which is positioned on the side of the blade. I'm used to it now and this thing is hardcore. I can't wait to test it out on the deck I'll be building in the spring. Then we'll see how this puppy handles a 2x12. Just a quick note I was about to purchase the Dewalt 12 inch slider but at the last second I realized I could save a bit of money, get a laser, and get a pretty nice warranty from Rigid.just some food for thought for those trying to decide.

[78TransAm]

I just purchased the 12" sliding miter saw today. I have not yet used it but it appears to be an excellent and well thought out saw.

[imported_TAC]

I have been cutting with the 12" compound miter for two days now. I have stacked three 2x4's (THE 2" SIDE VERTICAL) and the saw did not stress at all, cut 154 pieces and motor did not slow, bind, or heat. Very good quality and puts my old delta to shame. Good design, slightly heavy yet expected with the large rotating table. Adjustable miter indicators is nice, dust bag is pretty much worthless. Laser to left takes some getting used to, but bright and very helpfull.

[imported_justjel]

I too just purchased this 12" compound sliding miter saw. I've used the DeWalt also and find this RIDGID a better designed tool. It is more robust and has more range of angled cuts. Although, I do agree with one of the reivew in that the dust bag is worthless. RIDGID needs to improve on this somehow and send the patrons its improved saw-dust bag attachment. There's a challenge for the patrons. How about if RIDGID makes this a contest? Whomever designs the best sawdust bag collector (before RIDGID does) wins a RIDGID tools of choice. HOW ABOUT IT RIDGID?

[jerrbitt]

I've just recently joined the club of the RIDGID 12" SCMS. Was going to buy the DeWalt but the Ridgid appeared for the same money to have more features. My first impressions are that the saw is great, alignments were on the money right out of the box, and the laser works well. Incidentally, I had a Sears Craftsman 12" slider that I bought just less than 12 months ago. Could not keep it square to the fence and gave up on it and Sears took it back and provided a full refund.

[LB]

I also have just purchased the 12" SCMS. This saw has nice features and most of it works great. The only area I find a problem with is the slides. I have gone through 2 saws now and they all seem to have the same problem. The slide seems to have gravel in them. They are not smooth sliding. They are rough. Not professional at all. I have tried everyting I can to try and smooth out the action with no luck.

Other than the slide it seems to be a good saw. Time will tell now.

Well I took another one back and the one I have now has too much side play in the spindle and the slides are rough.

I call Ridgid and all they tell me is take it back. Hay ridgid wake up. I need a working saw.
I could bring it in and you could fix it, but you wont. Go ahead and charge me to fix it. Guess what I might be doing something wrong. But when you just say take it back and get another on we will never know. I took this last one back and now I have no SAW AT ALL. Some help from Ridgid would be nice. I still need a saw.
What should be the next step to get a working ridgid 12" SCMS I can use.

[ 03-05-2004, 06:59 PM: Message edited by: LB ]

[robmn]

I just got the rigid 12" miter saw and have use it a few days now.

The only 2 problems I have is,

The laser system sucks. I't does not line up right, it's off about 2mm. It is not built into the saw, you screw it onto the side of the blade and runs off batteries.

The second problem is the dust bag also sucks and is worthless. But I have a rigid wet vac and have connected it dirrect to the saw and that works great.

Other then the laser sytem is off and can't be aligned and the dust bad everything else is great.

I'm considering the table saw, and cordless power toll set also.

thanks

rob

[Dimitrin]

Right now H.D. has the ms1290lz for $547.00.
They are offering 10% off any Ridgid purchase if you open a commercial account. They are also giving a $100.00 gift card when you purchase this saw. 10% is about $55.00 plus the $100.00 gift card puts that saw at about 392.00. I took the plunge today and did it. Also got 10% off of the Ridgid MSUV saw stand as well. Total package at about $575.00 plus tax. My old chop saw is 16 years old and I've really felt like it was a good opportunity to snag a new one. I have a project comming up where the homeowner has the Dewalt 12" scms mounted on the Ridgid stand, so I will be able to use both saws side by side for a couple of days. I will post my opinions everywhere possible.
I hope that I will still want to keep my new Ridgid after the comparison!

[Dimitrin]

These are the results of the side by side comparison with the Dewalt 12"csms.
The job was several arched cased openings and arched windows with casing and returns.
Here is what I determined...
-the dewalt needed calibration on the bevel and the slider tubes (as did my ridgid out of the box).
-Dewalt has no preset stops on the bevel, Ridgid does.
-The Dewalt preset stops on the mitre table will "suck" the table into them when it is close,(example: you cannot get 31 degs. or 32 degs. because the preset stop at 31.6 degs. will override and "suck" it in to 31.6) This in my opinion really "sucks".(humour intended)
-The ridged has a much larger table than the dewalt. That larger table was a definite advantage on this particular job as follows:
All the arched returns and casing pieces needed to be cut to fit. Since you cant place a curved piece of trim squarely against a square fence, you must scribe a template outline on the saws table with a pencil in order to keep your cuts consistent. The larger table provided a longer template to align the trim with.
-The table on the dewalt will rotate past all of the preset mitre stops without the release being pressed. Once it is actually in the preset stop, it will stay there, but when the released is momentarily actuated to rotate the table to a new position, it will continue to rotate to the furthest possible range of its travel without the release being operated throughout the movement. This was not necassarily a bad thing, though
the ridgid has a much smoother and deliberate miter adjustment mechanism.
-The Dewalt saw was noticably lighter, which is a good thing. Dewalt had no trigger safety on on-off switch, This was not necassarily a bad thing.
- The dewalt had less depth of cut, which equates to less cutting capacity on wide boards.
-The Dewalt does have a better depth of cut adjustment, though thats not a adjustment that I personally would use much.
-On both the passive dust collection was useless.
-The Dewalt does not have a laser. Now previously I had thought that a laser was cheesey crap, but on this job I started to appreciate its ability to properly align the blade with the cut to be made before the blade came into contact with the trim piece.After realizing this, and becoming accustomed to it, I noticed that it took more time and concentration to align the blade to the cut to be made on the trim piece when using the Dewalt. RIDGID PAY ATTENTION: I do wish that the saw had a laser on both sides of the blade, this would be a low cost improvement.
Both saws were (and still are) mounted on the Ridged mobile miter saw stand, (which I can only say good things about).

Both saws are a pleasure to use, though I am glad that I chose the Ridgid over the Dewalt this time.
You may want to checkout http://www.toolsofthetrade.net/articles/showarticle.asp?articleID=2173&partID=2

Dimitri

[ 09-08-2004, 11:14 PM: Message edited by: Dimitrin ]

[trimmann]

Am I the only one with problems with the LZ1290. If not I emplore you to wait a year before you buy the rest of the tools to fill your trailer. I make a living with my tools , and try to keep newer tools for my employs to use. I had been a Dewalt user for 10 - 15 years and thought I would give Ridgid A try, MY MISTAKE ! The Saws gaurd exploded on the job after 6 months the cheap plastic runners on the table busted up at appox. 7.5 months. When i called Ridgid I was told I would be without my saw till it was repaired Zero Down Time MYASS. now I have a Ridgid $459.00 4 pack that Home Depot replaced after 7 months,a ridgid 4.5 gallon twin tank Air Comp. that Home Depot replaced a week after it was purchaced due to a malfunctioning gauge. I also have a Ridgid table saw that i cannot fault in any way yet. I can promise the RIDGID POWER TOOL CO. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER TOOL FROM THEIR COMPANY UNTIL I DON'T HAVE TO LAY 5 GUYS OFF FOR GOD KNOWS HOW LONG TILL MY SAW IS FIXED . INSTEAD I WILL USE THE DEWALT SAW AND HOPE YOU WARRANTY AND REPAIR SERVICE IS BETTER THAN YOUR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS. THANKS trimmann@bellsouth.net

[elchuy]

I had a “slight” problem with my MS1290LZ as well. I was able to set the blade square to the table and to the fence, but the slide action was out of alignment. I took it back to Home Depot and this second one I got seems to be fine.

The laser is awkward to work with and I will be removing it in place of a LaserKerf (http://www.laserkerf.com/) which I am waiting for to arrive.

I don’t use the dust bag but I just have a shop vac connected to the dust port, but it doesn’t prevent sawdust from getting all over the place. I guess I need a stronger shop vac.

This thing is HEAVY. While you are purchasing this at H.D., might as well get one of those back supports if you don’t have one already or use a weight lifting belt as you will need one just to get this out of the box.

I use it mounted on a TracRac, but I suppose the DeWalt stand would be pretty good too.

The general quality, fit, finish and features are on par, and accuracy is right on too. So far so good….