Irwin Retrofit Miter Saw Laser Guide

Irwin has come out with the product I'd been wanting for some time now--a miter saw laser guide that can attach to any standard saw.

The device attaches next to a standard blade and is charged by activated by the rotation of the blade. Irwin claims 1.5 hours per battery (about 5,000 cuts) and 3,000 hours per laser diode (2 million cuts). Thus, the laser will probably out last my saw itself.

Now someone just needs to come up with a model that recharges itself via centrifugal force when the blade spins.

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The ugly truth about the Hitachi 12" miter saw

I had a chance to extensively test this saw recently on some big pieces of oak. My advice - avoid it for a few years until they get the bugs worked out. It has some new technology and an interestingly weird look, but it just doesn't do the cutting job it's supposed to do.

Starrett Miter Saw Protractor

This is one of those tools that can turn an amateur carpenter into a professional. Just push this protractor into whatever corner you're cutting trim for and it automatically shows you the angle to set the miter saw at. (Hint: it's almost never 45 degrees.)

Cutest sliding compound miter saw ever!

Makita LSO 714
7 ½” sliding compound miter saw

I never thought I’d use words like ‘darling’ and ‘adorable’ in connection with a sliding compound miter saw, but I can’t think of a more apt description.

The Makita LSO 714 is tiny, with a 7 ½” blade powered by a 10 amp motor that’s smaller than most circular saws. But it's got amazing capacity and power. It can crosscut up to 11 ¾” x 2 1/16” – not much less than a 10" or even 12" compound miter saw. And it will even cut a 4” x 12” if you do it in two passes.

Hitachi Compound Sliding Miter Saw

Gadget alert. Hitachi brings it with all kinds of features with its new 12" sliding compound miter saw.

For starters, it offers a rather practical twist on the traditional sliding mechanism...fixed slide rails don't extend out from the back, allowing the saw to be placed close to any wall. Add to that an LCD display that confirms the miter and bevel angle the saw is set to, the increasingly standard laser guide, and a micro-bevel adjustment (the same feature just added to DeWalt's upgraded sliding chop saw).

Stand back and marvel at it's gadget-ty goodness.