Buy the saw that you can set the miter and bevels most
accurately. If the angle scales are to small you can't
read/set to 1'deg. which is a must if you're going to do
crown molding accurately. Get good after-market blade, not a
thin-nerf, they flex to much unless you go slow and steady.
Don't worry about the fence - add a sacrificial fence full
length and use it for zero clearance on straight cuts.
That Ridgid MSUV is neat. I wish I had one - got a POS
portable stand.

--
Erik "Grumpa" Ahrens
Apprentice Termite
I'd much rather be hammered than nailed 8~)

"Joshua" wrote in message
m...
| Hello, everyone -
|
| I am in the market for a 12" SCMS and could use some
advice with the
| purchase. I have already read every post I could find on
the subject
| and was looking for more recent opinions (there are some
newer saws
| out).
|
| I'm looking for a saw that will really be a "jack of all
trades". I
| will be using it for deck framing in the immediate future,
followed by
| molding and trim work and some furniture work. I won't be
| transporting it around too much, so size is not that much
of a
| concern. (I do plan on mounting it on Ridgid's MSUV,
though, so I can
| wheel it around the house and store it easily when my
workshop reverts
| back to a garage
|
| I have done a whole bunch of research and have narrowed it
down to
| three models, each with a distinct set of advantages:
|
| 1. Ridgid MS1290LZ
| Pros: Big capacity, decent price, I like the big
turntable, seems
| to have above-average dust collection
capabilities,
| laser-guide,
| has all the miter and bevel detents I could want,
good
| detent-override mechanism, good bevel lock
mechanism.
| Cons: This sucker is huge. Dimensionally, this saw is
probably 50%
| larger than the other two I am looking at. Comes
with a
| so-so
| (60-tooth) blade. Quality of Ridgid's newer
tools?
|
| 2. Makita LS1212
| Pros: Compact design. Both sliders use linear bearings
(most
| SCMSes
| use a nylon bushing on one). Flip-up fence
feature.
| 96-tooth
| blade. Winner of a couple magazine comparisons
(Workbench
| and
| Popular Mechanics). Currently comes with a bonus
14.4v
| drill.
| Cons: No bevel detents at all. No miter detents for
crown molding.
| No laser (does that really matter, though?).
Also, I
| question
| the long-term stability of the geometry of this
saw. Because
| the rails slide into the base instead of through
the neck,
| when the saw is locked in "chop-mode" there is an
effective
| 12"
| or so lever arm from where the head assembly is
supported.
|
| 3. Bosch 4412
| Pros: Great ergonomics (bevel & miter locks up front,
| multi-position
| handle, etc.). Nice extra features like the
table
| extensions,
| stock-stops, etc. I have had great luck w/ Bosch
in the past
| (router & jigsaw). Decent 80-tooth blade.
| Cons: $100 more than the other two. Several people
have mentioned
| non-flat tables and/or fences.
|
| If you have experience with any of these saws, I would
love to hear
| your
| thoughts!
|
| Thanks.
|
| - Josh