Customer Reviews

Bosch 4412 12-Inch Dual-Bevel Slide Miter Saw

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I, like many other reviewers, make my living using miter saws, so I have tried almost every one available. I chose the Bosch because my experience with their products in the past has been flawless. The thing that first attracted me to this miter saw was the 60 degree miter capacity, which is worth the price of the saw by itself when siding on the gable.
When I recieved the saw, it had some issues. I would suggest every owner check their fence to be sure it is true(I had the same problem with my Makita). The "uni-fence" design is a great idea, but the manufacturers seem to have a difficult time making them straight. This can be fixed with a little trial and error by clamping across the table and pulling the fence back and forth until it is right. (Don't forget to loosen at least one of the fence bolts, the outside ones are almost impossible to loosen) It doesn't take much force, and the magnesium (I think) has almost no rebound. Once this is fixed, the saw is a champ, but the problem is hard to catch at first. Even a 1/32" gap behind the straghtedge will cause the blade to burn when cutting wide pieces. My saw table also had an alarming ammount of wobble in the table, but tightening the pivot bolt on the underside of the saw helped to correct this some. (Again, there is a fine line, tightness here also makes the table difficult to turn.) The bevel/miter controls are where this saw really stands above any other. They are intuitive and positive. The dual compound feature was a quantem leap in miter saw technology, but most other saws make it cumbersome. This saw makes it really easy. The knob to the left of the lock lever allows positive control and locks the blade square(plumb) if you want it to. Here again, my saw may not work correctly, because it looks like there are 3 positions, but mine only engages 2. Still, it is easy to release, and return to square. I am told that there is a miter detent override, but I haven't discovered it yet (I don't like to read the manual).
My advice to any potental buyer is to ponder whether you really need the 12" size. When cutting large crown moulding, it really shines, but the larger diameter blade deflects signifigantly more than the 10". This makes the 10" more accurate for most cutting. The 12" blades also cost almost twice as much, and cannot be used for crosscutting on the tablesaw. By all means, buy the Bosch in either size (they have just revamped their 10" to include all these same features). The cutting capacity of the 12" is about 5" x 12", and the 10" is 4" x 12". Either will cut a standard 4x4, and neither will cut a 6x6.

Well, get this! Bosch cares.
A Bosch rep. contacted me obvious concerned about my negative rating of my first 4412. He claimed that improvements had been made and that he would like to send me a new 4412.
I welcomed his offer and received a new saw 2 week later.
New arbor bearings have eliminated the play problem, I have installed a room of 8" crown moulding with no problems.
The Quick Release Depth Stop is also fixed. The service center never did charge me for my old broken fence even without bringing them the saw. The fence casting is still light but I assume breaking it was a fluke.
As far as the dust bag I understand the limitations that a sliding compound miter saw has with dust collection.
Now, this is what I call customer service that Bosch can be proud of.
It has been refreshing to feel that a manufactor cares and wants to make things right. Thank you Bosch!

Old review follows:

I have a shop full of Bosch tools and are very happy with them expect the 4412 saw. I got the 4412 in February and have used it quite a bit. I have several issues with the saw which makes my give it the 1 star rating.
1. The castings are way to flimsy, my fence just broke as a piece of oak got caught and went flying. Yes, I'm glad it hit the fence and not me but the aluminum casting is poor.
2. The Quick Release Depth Stop Button keeps slipping making this feature absolutely worthless.
3. The dust bag is a joke. 80% of the dust never gets in the bag.
4. There is too much play in the arbor bearings, making tight crown moulding corner cuts difficult.
5. The Bosch Service Center (Dallas) will not cover my fence under warranty unless I bring the whole saw in, well I'm not going to do that as it requires a tear down of my miter setup (I simply made a temporary fence of a good peice of cherry). I figure that I'll pay for the new fence ($33.00) and write this review instead of tearing my setup down.

Yes this saw has some nice features, but robustness, functionalty and service are a must at my place and the 4412 fail to deliver in these areas.

I sold my DeWalt 12" sliding saw for the Bosch. BIG MISTAKE! I have 6 other Bosch tools that I love. Not this one though...

This saw looks great on the exterior. However, I was beyond dissapointed when I unpacked it. Here is a list of things that were wrong with the saw: Fences not parallel to each other. 2)Fences not square to table. 3)Sliding fences not flush to fixed fences - not even close... 4) Play in the head assembly - as compared to the Makita and Dewalt. 5) Depth of cut not deep enough. 6) Dust collector (bag) does not work at all - not even a little bit... 7) Most importantly, after the saw was calibrated perfectly to 0 degrees, I found both 45 degree detents to be way off. Again, not even close. (I used two expensive machinists squares to check the saw with.)

All of the above items are problems which can not be fixed or adjusted by the customer. Most are rooted to the design or manufacturing tools.

On the plus side, the controls are very well thought out. Every thing is located up front. Beveling past 45 degrees is easy to accomplish. Built in handles make the saw easy to move. The control handle is adjustable to fit what feels comfortable to each user. Tall fences are a nice idea. The crown detents are also a good idea. All nice ideas - unfortunately, however, poor execution on many critical items which I beleive are necessary to a good saw.

I wish to report a very pleasant experience with the Bosch Company. After my initial experience with the first generation of 4412 saw, I was not vey satisfied with it's bearing system, as readers of my January review may note. However, I did find many good features in it, and it pained me to give it up.
Just when I thought no manufacturer really cared (and about to go shopping for a different 12" Dual bevel saw), a Rep. from Bosch called to discuss my findings. They were very eager to address problems I had cited and it was obvious to me they really cared about making the best product. Isn't that a great idea? A company listens to their end users' feedback to make a better machine. This could catch on. I have dealt with many companies in my life and can truthfully state that none have been as pleasant and concerned as Bosch.
Fortunately, I waited for the second generation saw and I have been impressed. They have obviously addressed the arbor bearing problem, as this saw has no discernible lateral blade movement (other than actual blade deflection- inherent on 12" thin kerf blades).
The rail bearings now incorporate separate adjustment. Very Nice.
I found the fences to be an accurate 90 degrees to the table.
The 15 amp motor is smooth and powerful.

Next, I test cut (2) 45 degree miters on 8 3/4" wide ply which I then ran a 3,4,5 (foot) triangle on to prove square. My calculations determine that these miters were off less than .005" over 12" of blade travel. This is extremely remarkable. I know of no other comparable miter saw that could do this. My point here is not to apply Rocket Science to wood, but to show how accurate the detents are and what the saw is capable of.
I also test cut a variety of hard and soft woods, vertically and flat, mitered and beveled and examined the quality of the cut and it's squareness in all applicable directions. I was very pleased by the results.
Other features I like about this saw are; Upfront controls, repetitive length stop, built-in extension tables, bevel scale visibility (much better than DeWalt 708), and the simple Detent Over-ride. It's really great not having to fight for that 1/4 degree adjustment as you would on almost any other saw. The included toggle clamp is also very useful. I would recommend you use it especially when making precision cuts (test or otherwise), as I have noticed that the workpiece has a tendency to migrate if only hand held on any saw.
To sum it up, I would say that a tool that I was initially disappointed in has become the best on the market because Bosch cared.
P.S. The Product Manager from Bosch Woodworking Tools contacted me shortly after this review was posted to correct me on two points. He informed me that this was not a second generation saw, but a first generation saw that had an updated arbor output assembly and rail guide bushings. He explained that the updated parts have "since been incorporated into production for some months, and anyone who has had similar issues with their saw can bring it to a Bosch Service Center to have the problem corrected."
The second point he addressed was my statement that "The rail bearings now incorporate separate adjustment." He informs me that this adjustment feature has been present "on all 4412 units from the beginning." I stand corrected and apologize if I may have misled any potential purchaser because of these errors.

There are many excellent sliding compound miter saws on the market today, but none combine all the best design attributes into one machine quite like this Bosch 4412.

I've owned mine since mid February. I can't write a comprehensive review of this tool after such a short period of time, but I can describe my initial impressions. So far, they've been decidedly favorable.

The 4412 arrived well packed, clean and dry. It was wrapped in a heavy plastic bag, secured in thick Styrofoam forms, all contained within a sturdy cardboard carton. It came nearly fully assembled. If you were familiar with the machine, you could probably have it up and running in a matter minutes. I took great care to thoroughly read the manual, complete the minor assembly, test the features, and measure the factory settings (they were all dead on). The operation of some controls took a little more time to fully master - understandable, given that they're unique to this saw. Almost all controls are located at the front of the machine. Each button, lever, or switch has a positive, precise feel - the feel of a solid well-built machine.

The dark blue color tells you it's a Bosch product, but when I first saw it, I was reminded of the DeWalt DW708. In overall configuration, the two machines appear similar. The Bosch might also seem familiar to Hitachi and Makita SCMS owners. You can see influences from their designs in this tool, as well. Other design features show a direct link to previous Bosch miter saws.

The main operating handle merits special mention. It rotates and can be locked into a number of positions. This could be of great value to some users. I sometimes experienced soreness in my wrist after making repetitive cuts on my old miter saw. With the Bosch, I've found a comfortable handle position, resulting in reduced discomfort and increased control. The trigger can be operated with either hand, but is, no doubt, more comfortable for right handed users.

This machine is hefty. Carrying it is made possible thanks, in large measure, to two well place carrying handles, though, I would advise the use of a mobile stand if you want true portability. I have my saw on Ridgid's new Miter Saw Utility Vehicle. This is a superb combination.

The 4412 is made in Taiwan. It has a smooth, quiet 15 amp motor. It comes with an 80 tooth carbide tipped blade, a multi-tool, a clamp, and a small dust bag. Until that little bag fills, it has reasonably good dust collection. The sliding fences are the tallest I've seen on such a saw. Two extension arms are built in, and can be locked into their extended position; one has a movable flip stop.

I've been favorably impressed with my 4412, but it has one issue in need of correction. The depth of cut isn't quite right on my machine. The blade does drop below the surface of the platform, but not deep enough to completely avoid causing tear-outs on some compound cuts. I've spoken to my local Bosch rep, who has proposed a number of simple fixes. I'm just waiting to hear which corrective measure Bosch opts to take.

Unbelievable! The saw cuts beautifully and everything about it is well designed except for the fact that the detents that are cast into the base are not accurate relative to 0 degrees. When I calibrate 0 degrees accurately and swing the saw table clockwise to the 45 degree detent, it cuts 45.1 degrees. Not bad. When I swing the table CCW to 45 degrees, it cuts 45.4 degrees. There is absolutely no adjustment for the position of the detent! Okay for framing but not finish work. Makes fitting 8" crown a challenge. I know I can simply override the detents but feel strongly that the priciest of 12 sliders should have accurate detents.

FWIW, the 4412 is made in Taiwan. I will reserve judgement pending the resolution of this problem with Bosch.

Well, I really wanted this saw. It is by far the necest looking saw of it's type and had all the controls and markings such that even my girlfriend can see them (she likes it too).
I have several other Bosch tools that I'm very happy with.
I was worried though after reading some of the reviews, especially the one's listing spindel play. My hopes were revived by another review that claimed this was a problem on the "first generation" saw.
So I hopped over to the local tool store to look for myself. Held my breath, wiggled the blade, clunk clunk, &&*%%^%! Looking up inside the saw you could see noticable play on the spindel and a good +/-.020" play at the blade edge. Not giving up I asked how long they had this saw (hoping for the first generation thing). "Came in last week!"
Finally I tried the same test on four other brands they had, at least seven different saws and none showed this blade/spindel play.
Price is not really an issue but I can make scrap wood a lot cheaper on my bandsaw.

I seen the Bosch 4412 at the home show in Las Vegas Jan. 04 and could not wait to get home to buy one. I found one at a local tool suppler on Feb 3 and am returning it today Feb 4. The wobble in the blade is totaly unacceptable. I own a trim company in north west Florida and we do high end homes on and near the beach. We could really us a saw with the features that are offered on the 4412 but without the wobble.

I was intrigued with this saw's up-front bevel controls feature, and decided to ignore many of the negative posts about this saw, and decide for myself. After setting up the saw and cutting some test pieces of crown molding, I quickly discovered that this saw has a MAJOR problem with blade deflection.

Blade deflection basically causes pieces of cut-off scraps to fly out from the rear and side of the saw, and these pieces travel QUICKLY. From what I saw, if you were ever hit with a flying piece, it could do some major damage. I tried adding an auxilary fence, but this did not help.

In addition, this saw also has other poor features worth noting: After wasting many hours trying to get the saw squarred, I still was unable to make straight cuts at a 0 bevel / 0 miter. This saw does not cut accurately, even worse cuts were experienced on compound miters.

This saw does have some great features, ie the up-front bevel control is a great idea, the mitering left / right base was very smooth, the variable position handle was VERY comfortable - *but* in my opinion, none of these features matter if you can not get straight, accurate cuts.

I own an interior trim company, I specialize in baseboards, window / door casings with decorative cross heads, built-up crown moldings & wainscot, and this saw just does not work for me - I offer my clients the best, and a saw that does not cut right does not fit the bill.

After asking around, I learned that a lot of professional carpenters love Makita tools. I am not trying to hype up Makita, but I recently purchased their dual-bevel sliding compound miter saw - LS1013L - it cuts beautifully right out of the box, I did not have to adjust anything.

The Makita cuts precisely, and this is what matters most. The left / right miter base is very smooth, and the handle is very comfortable as well.

The only thing that is taking me some time getting used to is that Makita has their left / right miter marker off to the right side of the saws base, not upfront like other comparable saws.

This is new to me, and it is taking a bit of time to adjust, but in the end this saw cuts precisely with no deflection. I highly recommend the Makita LS1013, if you want a saw with great, dead-on accuracy and smooth cutting, definately try this saw and decide for yourself.

This is bosch's specific response to those with blade wobble problems. I bought my saw 3 weeks ago and it does not have any blade wobble.

"Dear Tyson,

Thank you for writing!

The blade wobble problem which affected approximately 1% of all units manufactured was corrected July, 2003.  Consequently any saws that you purchase today do not experience this problem.

Please write back if I can assist you further.

Michelle
Bosch Customer Service"