Craftsman Compound Miter Saw with Laser Trac Review
These are my words of wisdom: purchase a good miter saw. Miter saws are used in lots of projects, like building shelves, cutting metal studs, and tons more. I’ve been installing a lot of baseboard and quarter round recently, and a good miter saw saves you time and frustration. I didn’t realize this profound truth until a friend let me borrow his miter saw. It was amazing and now I need to buy one.
Craftsman Compound Miter Saw
Sears sells the Craftsman Compound Miter Saw with Laser Trac (Sears item# 00921252000). It’s a great saw packed with features. I’ve used it and highly recommend it for every do-it-yourselfer.
Important Miter Saw Features
These are the features I like most about this saw:
- Miter Stops: This saw has 9 positive miter stops at 0, 15, 22.5, 31.6 and 45° (left and right). These are your most common angles and the positive stops make it a so easy to get the right angle and keep working.
- Laser Guide: No more guess work. The laser guide lets you know exactly where the blade will cut. This is so much better than making a series of cuts to get the right length. Plus, the laser is accurate for both miter and bevel angle cuts.
- Bevel Cuts: This saw can perform miter cuts AND bevel angle cuts. There is an upfront bevel lock handle that lets you adjust the angle from the front of the saw.
- Telescoping Extension Wings: This saw has extension wings that slide out to help support longer boards. And, when you’re not using them, the tuck neatly underneath out of the way.
- Motor Brake: The motor brake stops the saw blade from spinning after the cut is finished. This is a great safety feature. A spinning blade is dangerous, especially when I want to reach my hand in and retrieve a freshly cut piece. This brake helps me keep my fingers and reduces noise.
Other Great Features
What else does this saw have?
- This saw includes a steel stand. It makes operating the saw quicker, more comfortable, and helps save your back (not pictured).
- The 15 amp motor is strong enough to tackle even heavy duty projects.
- The Quick-cam miter lock eliminates needing to tighten and untighten the position of the saw. Just press the tab and go.
- 1 year warranty
- 15 amp, 4800rpm motor
Complaints?
This saw is only a single bevel. More expensive versions include the double bevel but I don’t mind rotating a piece around to get the bevel angle I want. Also, a 12″ blade would be nicer but that really only comes into play with large pieces and I haven’t bumped into that problem yet.
What do you think? Ever use this saw?
Comments & Conversation on this Article...
7 Responses to Craftsman Compound Miter Saw with Laser Trac Review
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October 28th, 2008 9:18 am
I’ve not used THIS saw, but I own a 10-inch compound miter saw. Some of the best money I ever spent, too.
Used it to do my final pieces of laminate and to install quarter round last year when I did the livingroom and diningroom floors. I’ve since used it for everything from cutting studs for the family room closet to cutting the PVC vinyl boards I used to shore up my shed.
If you do just a few projects, it’s an investment that more than pays for itself.
October 28th, 2008 10:46 am
I need to invest in a good saw and this might be the one. I am confused about one thing…
Isn’t this a double bevel miter saw? Doesn’t the bevel cut + miter cut make it a double bevel or am I completely off base here?
October 28th, 2008 10:59 am
@Tom, Double bevel means the saw can bevel left and right. This saw only bevels to the left. It can still perform all the same cuts but you’ll have to rotate the piece of wood around. Plus, double bevels saws go up in price. Hope this helps.
@Nicole, Miter saws are so useful. They play a part in tons of projects. Glad you agree!
October 28th, 2008 3:37 pm
Awesome… thanks for the clarification!
October 28th, 2008 7:50 pm
Ethan,
Just my two cents here, but please, please, please buy a sliding compound miter saw. You’ll thank me especially if you tackle any crown molding.
I happen to be a huge fan of the Bosch sliding miter saws. In my opinion they make the best and it’s like buying a table saw, but it once and enjoy it forever.
October 29th, 2008 3:40 pm
Yo! I second Todd’s vote about the SLIDING compound miter saw. Soooooo much fun.
However, MAN is the reviewed saw cheap! I thought my Dewalt saw (compound, baby!) was a steal @ $400. But this one would be too good to resist if I didn’t have my monster saw.
-Jon
October 29th, 2008 8:02 pm
Jon, you hit the nail on the head here. A sliding compound mitre is bigger and more $. It makes sense in some cases (particularly for avid DIYers and those doing projects that require one), but for many jobs it isn’t necessary.