Anyone here know who makes the Task Force brand tools that Lowe's sells?
I'm looking at purchasing a compound miter saw and Lowe's has their 10" Task Force 'sliding' miter saw for $179. This is a lot less than DeWalt or the other brands and I have read that unless you cut large lumber, a 10" saw is all you need.
Various China plants. I don't much pay attention to Task Force tools, since their "lifetime" warranty involves keeping the receipt, that is printed on fading thermal paper.
You really need to ask yourself:
What am I building NOW?
What might I build in the Future?
Will I want to upgrade later?
Will this be for Fine woodworking, or construction projects, or both?
Sliders are better for construction. Regular miter saws are better for Fine woodworking, as they tend to be more accurate then sliders (hold their setting better). There are sliders that do hold their settings better, BUT they are a great deal more then I am sure your looking at.
You will probably quickly replace the blade.
From what I am seeing, the best of both worlds tends to be a 12" dual bevel cms (based on builder to the woodworkers I know).
I bought the 10" GMC cms on closeout, due to construction projects (with a gift card). So for me, the cost was the cost of a better blade. Now as I am getting into woodworking, I am considering upgrading.
Thanks for the reply CheapRanger! I am considering going with just a regular miter saw and stay away from the slider. I am going to build a 12-16 foot shed and I will use the saw later for moulding and trim work in the old house we are reworking.
For the shed it will just be used to cut framing lumber and such.
If you are going to use TALL crown moldings for your ceilings, then look for one with a tall fence (as compared to that tiny thing most cheapies come with).
As for where is a good buy verses what you get, I have been told (haven't spent the money due to other tool buys) about the rebuilt Dewalts on Amazon. They are direct from the factory for around $250 when they have them in stock (I can wait).
Various China plants. I don't much pay attention to Task Force tools, since their "lifetime" warranty involves keeping the receipt, that is printed on fading thermal paper.
I've started scanning receipts of things I buy that have long/lifetime warranties. If they need the original receipt, you can give them the one that is so faded they can't read it, then give them the scan and say "this is what this paper use to say but you use cheap ink in your printers. It is not my fault it faded"
a lifetime warrenty on a piece of crap will get a you fresh piece of crap..... A good used saw is better than a new chineese crap saw. I saw a china cheapo for 30 bucks the other day
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I have used up a number of these type of saws. All that I have had would hold their angles properly, (pivot and slide types,) but there are a few things to look for. One is the ease of calibration. Another is the quality of the fence. Most have a large curved casting to clear the blade and they flycut the face that contacts your wood. Be certain that the two sides are absolutely parallel. You would think that would be basic, and I think all the newer ones are good, but check it with a good straitedge. Also the vertical extensions of the face are sometimes machined separately from the fence, so make sure that the assembly is flush and square to the table.
Look at the mechanism that allows you to tilt the blade, some are difficult to use and adjust. So make sure that you are happy with that feature. It should be intuitive, not hard to figure out.
Also the blade should be able to tilt 50 degrees left and right. Sometimes you find that you are obliged to make some existing work square and you need those extra few degrees to make up for the last guy's sloppy work.
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