[Stokestack]

Hi all. This concerns a Ridgid miter saw.

I usually cut miters by rotating the base of my saw, rather than tilting the blade. Today, however, I needed to cut the other way. I found that when I tilt the blade at 45 degrees to the base, it no longer cuts square to the fence. It's unusable. Here's are some pics illustrating the problem:

https://i.imgur.com/tGSTGvZ.png

Thinking it through, the only explanation I can see is that the pivot for the saw armature is not square to the base of the saw. Maybe it's tilted slightly toward the base, which would cause the blade to swipe crookedly across the wood when it's tilted, but still cut square when vertical. As you can see in the above pic, if I rotate the base about 1.5° counter-clockwise, it more or less corrects the error at 45°.

https://i.imgur.com/xfFpC3Z.png

Can anyone weigh in on this situation?

Thanks!

 

[Cherryville Chuck]

Gavin are you sure that the bevel adjustment cuts 90* vertical when it's set to 0 and the saw's miter adjustment is also set to zero?

 

[Semipro]

Did you actual make a cut and measure it or are you just taking the laser light as being correct i would make a cut to make sure that when you tilt the blade that the cut is incorrect ( do not trust the laser )

 

[hawkeye10]

Did you actual make a cut and measure it or are you just taking the laser light as being correct i would make a cut to make sure that when you tilt the blade that the cut is incorrect ( do not trust the laser )

I was going to say what John said. If you can't figure what is wrong take it back.

 

[DesertRatTom]

Only measure I trust on blade angle is a Wixey digital angle finder, but if there is something mechanically off on the pivit point, then the saw is a dud, only reliable for a couple of types of cuts. I have a pretty accurate Bosch 10 inch compound sliding miter that is quite accurate, but I still can't really use if for frame making. Can you return your saw? I'd at least try.

 

[Gene Howe]

Tom, I have the Bosch also. With an aux. table and fence and, a good Tenryu blade, I get excellent miters. Up to 6" wide. Haven't tried tilting it, though.

 

[Stokestack]

Thanks, guys. The saw cuts fairly accurately with the blade vertical. I spent some time squaring it a while back.

I posted a similar message in one of Ridgid's forums, and the responses basically said this was a widely reported defect with this saw when it was in production.

That sucks, because the saw is long discontinued; it probably dates back to 2003. So it has been defective this whole time, and now I have to replace it.

I'm leaning toward the DeWalt DW713. One annoying thing about it is that it doesn't come with a clamp, and none of the optional DeWalt ones say that they'll work with it. However, I called them today and in fact they do offer one, at a fairly ridiculous $50.

 

[DesertRatTom]

Hi Gavin, Replacement saw will be a pleasure to use after putting up with a problem machine all those years. I had a DeWalt 12 inch, but it jus wouldn't make a straight cut. I think the 10 inch with a good blade will do much better.

 

[DaninVan]

Gavin; my Bosch 10" scms has been a trouble free pleasure to use for something like 20+ years.

 

[Gene Howe]

It's just speculation but, a 12" blade would offer more deflection, it would seem. Like Dan, my Bosch 10" is a pleasure, also. And....it came with a hold down clamp.:smile:

 

[Nickp]

Just for grinzies, Gavin...try this...

Angle the saw for a 45 bevel...when you pull down for the cut, pull down on the same axis as the bevel rather than staight down.. If the cut improves, you have some deflection...might be caused by loose pivot mount at the joint...

Maybe you've done this already...

 

[Cherryville Chuck]

I bought a Milwaukee 12" lasy year and they said in the manual that it would be accurate right from the factory. They didn't lie. It's deadly accurate. No laser but it has a good work light and a digital miter angle display that reads to 1/10th degree.

A few years ago I was using a Makita chop saw to try and cut miters in oak and was getting a horrible cut. I added blade stabilizers and got excellent results after that.

 

[DesertRatTom]

It's just speculation but, a 12" blade would offer more deflection, it would seem. Like Dan, my Bosch 10" is a pleasure, also. And....it came with a hold down clamp.:smile:

Gene, deflection was the main problem, which is why I sold it and got the 10 inch Bosch compound slider, which is a great pleasure to use, particularly after using the Wixey on it. Mine is surrounded by a shower curtain that gathers at the bottom into a collection box with a DC connection.

 

[DaninVan]

If wishes were horses...
The NEW Bosch Axial Glide Miter Saw! | THISisCarpentry


Not 'new' anymore, but I still want one.

 

[DaninVan]

If wishes were horses...*

The NEW Bosch Axial Glide Miter Saw! | THISisCarpentry
I need more space, and a good excuse.

(*...beggars would ride.)

 

[woodknots]

@DaninVan

A number of years back I bought the Bosch 12" dual bevel slider - I wish I would have waited, because it takes a large footprint with the sliders, almost 48" front to back. Other than that it's a great saw.

Lowes Canada has the 12" glide saw for $699 now or the 10" for $100 cheaper

https://www.lowes.ca/mitre-saws/bosch-gcm12sd-12-in-15-amp-dual-bevel-glide-miter-saw_g1195565.html

 

[DaninVan]

I NEED That...

@DaninVan

A number of years back I bought the Bosch 12" dual bevel slider - I wish I would have waited, because it takes a large footprint with the sliders, almost 48" front to back. Other than that it's a great saw.

Lowes Canada has the 12" glide saw for $699 now or the 10" for $100 cheaper

https://www.lowes.ca/mitre-saws/bosch-gcm12sd-12-in-15-amp-dual-bevel-glide-miter-saw_g1195565.html

That's impressive! Lowes is matching Amazon.ca's pricing...
https://www.kmstools.com/bosch-10-dual-bevel-glide-mitre-saw-65522
https://www.amazon.ca/Bosch-CM10GD-10-Inch-Bevel-15-Amp/dp/B00G5R4E9A
https://www.lowes.ca/mitre-saws/bosch-cm10gd-dual-bevel-glide-10-in-miter-saw_g2591836.html

 

[Stokestack]

Thanks, guys.

Let me point out that my saw is a 10" saw. When cutting, I did apply pressure in the direction of the bevel; no way did I press in a way that would've caused deflection.

I will thoroughly test the DeWalt, that's for sure. And I guess I'll take the Ridgid in and see if they'll look at it without charge, just to see what they say.

I don't want to spend a ton on this thing; and the sliders are way more, significantly larger, and I don't really need one right now. I have a portable DeWalt table saw that works well for larger pieces anyway.

I will check the prices on the Bosch, though. And hey, I really like the TV show: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I3MQNWG