I am shopping for a new miter saw ( or chop saw). I was toying with the idea
of the Porter Cable 3700 with dual lasers but it only comes in a 10in blade.
Anyone really impressed with theirs or happy. Or anyone really unhappy so I
know what to avoid. I would love a sliding compound but for the extra $150 I
don't think I will have to cut too many really wide boards to warrent that
cost.
Thanks for the help...

"Brian" wrote in message
...
I am shopping for a new miter saw ( or chop saw). I was toying with the
idea of the Porter Cable 3700 with dual lasers but it only comes in a 10in
blade. Anyone really impressed with theirs or happy. Or anyone really
unhappy so I know what to avoid. I would love a sliding compound but for
the extra $150 I don't think I will have to cut too many really wide boards
to warrent that cost.
Thanks for the help...



You don't say what type of projects that you expect to make but I can't
imagine that the lasers would have much use with precision work. I would
rather have a 12" saw than a 10" with laser.

Good call. I'd rather have the 12" w/o laser and have the capacity and
flexibility that outweigh the accuracy/benefit of the laser. I've been
using the Dewalt 12 CMS for a few years and love it. Sharp blade, well
tuned and cared for, still gives good results. Precision is a
subjective term, and IMHO, results are good enough for me using my
Dewalt. You just need to decide what works best for you.

Have you seen this Porter-Cable 12" Miter Saw with Laser guides....
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006S7C8/awh



Brian wrote:
I am shopping for a new miter saw ( or chop saw). I was toying with the idea
of the Porter Cable 3700 with dual lasers but it only comes in a 10in blade.

I know this is bordering on sacrilege but I don't know the model
number of my 10" PC chopsaw. It does have two lasers, so it is
probably the same one.

I had to tweak the fences and adjust the lasers out of the box but it
works fine. I picked this saw for three reasons.

1. The big price difference between it and the sliding compound ones
2. I can interchange the blades with my TS
3. 12 inch blades are expen$ive

The only problem I have had is the switch for the laser needs a little
wiggle once in a while to get it working. Maybe I'll write PC a
nastygram...

On Wed, 26 Apr 2006 09:20:36 -0700, "Frank Drackman"
wrote:


"Brian" wrote in message
.. .
I am shopping for a new miter saw ( or chop saw). I was toying with the
idea of the Porter Cable 3700 with dual lasers but it only comes in a 10in
blade. Anyone really impressed with theirs or happy. Or anyone really
unhappy so I know what to avoid. I would love a sliding compound but for
the extra $150 I don't think I will have to cut too many really wide boards
to warrent that cost.
Thanks for the help...



You don't say what type of projects that you expect to make but I can't
imagine that the lasers would have much use with precision work. I would
rather have a 12" saw than a 10" with laser.

JMO, but the laser is worthless. I am using a Rigid 12" machine right
now and am pretty happy with it.

I have one and love it. The lasers are a great aid. I am in the
process of replacing the blade with a Forrest, which should improve
the cut of the blade that came with it.

Thanks everyone for the help...I went to Sear's today and saw a Craftsman 12
inch miter saw that looked pretty good. I might go with that one when a good
sale comes like Fathers Day... anyone have a bad experience with Craftsman?




"Tom O'Connor" wrote in message
...
I have one and love it. The lasers are a great aid. I am in the
process of replacing the blade with a Forrest, which should improve
the cut of the blade that came with it.

"RayV" wrote in message
oups.com...
I picked this saw for three reasons.

2. I can interchange the blades with my TS

Just curious, how often have you done that? My blade (12") is still the
original. Had it sharpened once about 2 years ago and put it back and have
no intention of putting in a different one.

The Porter-Cable 3802L is made in the U.S.A. - I believe that all
Craftsman power tools are now made in China.


Woody


Brian wrote:
sale comes like Fathers Day... anyone have a bad experience with Craftsman?

Got one, love it. Simple and easy answer.

"Brian" wrote in message
...
I am shopping for a new miter saw ( or chop saw). I was toying with the
idea of the Porter Cable 3700 with dual lasers but it only comes in a 10in
blade. Anyone really impressed with theirs or happy. Or anyone really
unhappy so I know what to avoid. I would love a sliding compound but for
the extra $150 I don't think I will have to cut too many really wide boards
to warrent that cost.
Thanks for the help...

I agree with previous post concerning lazer on saw, not much good for
precision work, but if your a framer, go for it. I did some carving
work for a furniture company, the guy's in the shop had a variety of
miter saws at thier work stations, Delta, Craftsman, Porter Cable,
Makita, Bosch, and Dewalt. I found that for precision, and capacity
the Makita Dual Slide 12" was my favorite, but the most precise saw of
the bunch was the Bosch 10" Dual Sliding Compound. I liked it so much
I went and bought one for my shop.

What I like abut it a

All the controls are right up front, no reaching around behind the
saw to adjust anything.

The detent stops are right on.

The blade tips both left and right. (some don't)

I require exceptional accuracy, and the Bosch is the best I've seen
so far.

What I don't like:

$685 bucks OUCH.

The blade stop is difficult to engage for blade changes.

The depth stop is kind of cheezy and difficult to set accuratly.

By the way, I have a friend that owns a tool repair shop, and is the
autorized service center for all the above brands. He says he's never
had a Bosch in his shop.

Fairly often, I only have one 'good' blade. A 60T Frued I bought it
when I installed my kitchen so it goes back & forth when needed. It
usually stays in the MS, but I do put it in the TS when I need a clean
cut. The TS usually has a 40T Craftsman combination blade in it.

I was amazed at the difference in how well my TS cut once I put the
Frued in it. The 60T Frued ripped through a 60" long piece of 3/4
maple easier than the 40T combination blade rips 3/4 pine. Right
tools, right result.

Hav recommendation as to what kind of blade I should normally have in
my TS?

Brian wrote:
.... anyone have a bad experience with Craftsman?

Heh.
-Phil Crow

99.9% of all tools are now made in China.


"Anonymous" wrote in message
ups.com...

The Porter-Cable 3802L is made in the U.S.A. - I believe that all
Craftsman power tools are now made in China.


Woody


Brian wrote:
sale comes like Fathers Day... anyone have a bad experience with
Craftsman?

42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.

http://zaadz.com/quotes/view/34554

Care to provide a source for that statistic?

Every time you go into a store check out the tools, you'll see an
overwhelming amount are made in China.

What really ****ed me off is when I went to Menards to buy an American flag
to display on my house and when I picked it up it said on the package made
in China. That took the cake, and I told the store manager what I thought of
Old Glory being made by a communist country. I viewed the item as an insult
to us all. No, I did not buy the flag. I bought one from the Disabled
American Veterans Post instead.


"RayV" wrote in message
oups.com...
42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.

http://zaadz.com/quotes/view/34554

Care to provide a source for that statistic?

Tom wrote:
99.9% of all tools are now made in China.

99.9% of statistics are made up on the spot. G

In article ,
B A R R Y wrote:

Tom wrote:
99.9% of all tools are now made in China.

99.9% of statistics are made up on the spot. G

That doesn't agree with the statistic I just made up!

PDX David :-)

"RayV" wrote in message

Hav recommendation as to what kind of blade I should normally have in
my TS?

For a long time I used a Freud Diablo 80T. It is not designed for ripping,
but it worked and made a smooth cut. I still have it (been sharpened) and
will use it for plywood if I have more than a cut or two.

Now I have a Ridge Carbide 40T combination and it is excellent. If I was
buying a new blade today, I'd go for the Ridge Carbide, Infinity Tools, or a
Forrest WWII. Right now, Infinity has a price advantage. Check out their
web sites for more information. One good combination blade will do 85% to
98% of what most of us use a table saw for.

"Tom" wrote in message
news:0H54g.920294$x96.602528@attbi_s72...
No, I did not buy the flag. I bought one from the Disabled
American Veterans Post instead.

Who probably had them made in China.

"CW" wrote in message
k.net...

"Tom" wrote in message
news:0H54g.920294$x96.602528@attbi_s72...
No, I did not buy the flag. I bought one from the Disabled
American Veterans Post instead.

Who probably had them made in China.

I very much doubt that!!

"Tom" wrote in message
news:0H54g.920294$x96.602528@attbi_s72...
Every time you go into a store check out the tools, you'll see an
overwhelming amount are made in China.

What really ****ed me off is when I went to Menards to buy an American
flag to display on my house and when I picked it up it said on the package
made in China. That took the cake, and I told the store manager what I
thought of Old Glory being made by a communist country. I viewed the item
as an insult to us all. No, I did not buy the flag. I bought one from the
Disabled American Veterans Post instead.


Gosh Tom, I remember seeing American Flags made in other countries in the
early 60's.

"Frank Drackman" wrote in message
. ..



You don't say what type of projects that you expect to make but I can't
imagine that the lasers would have much use with precision work. I would
rather have a 12" saw than a 10" with laser.


You would be better off using a zero clearance insert and using the kerf
slot to align your marks.

On Fri, 28 Apr 2006 14:14:19 GMT, "Leon"
wrote:

Gosh Tom, I remember seeing American Flags made in other countries in the
early 60's.

Right after 9/11, there was a huge flap when it was discovered that
the majority of American flags that people were putting on their cars
were made in China.