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Product Specifications
Part Number GCM12SD
ColorBlue
Item Package Quantity1
Batteries Included?No
Product Features
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Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description
The 12-Inch Dual-Bevel Glide Miter Saw features the smooth cutting motion, accurate performance, and space-saving design of Bosch's patented Axial-Glide System. Pre-aligned Squarelock fences help the saw maintain precision throughout its life, and a soft-grip ambidextrous handle and combination dust chute and vacuum adaptor provide user comfort. The saw also offers a large cutting capacity, easy-to-read bevel and miter scales with detents at common angles, and easy-access up-front controls.
Compact Axial-Glide System Creates Smooth, Controlled Cuts
Bosch's patented Axial-Glide System is designed to create smooth cuts and ensure you have complete control over the saw's cutting action. Axial-Glide doesn't use a traditional rail setup, so this saw takes up to 12 inches less workspace than many competitors.
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 Easily adjustment the upfront bevel, miter controls, and detents for common cutting angles. View larger. |
 Ensure smooth cuts with a patented Axial-Glide System giving you complete control over the saw's cutting action. View larger. |
Bosch's patented Axial-Glide System is designed to create smooth cuts and ensure you have complete control over the saw's cutting action. Axial-Glide doesn't use a traditional rail setup, so this saw takes up to 12 inches less workspace than many competitors.
Blade Compatibility and Powerful Motor for Versatile Performance
In addition, this Bosch miter saw's 15 amp motor delivers no-load speeds of 3,800 rpm for quick, accurate cuts in many materials. For further convenience and versatility, the saw is compatible with a variety of 12-inch blades, and it has a clear lower guard to provide unobstructed cut-line visibility.
Flexible Setup with Large Capacity
With a 14-inch horizontal capacity, a 6-1/2-inch vertical capacity for material against the fence or base, and a 6-1/2-inch crown capacity against the fence at 45 degrees, this miter saw is useful for a variety of cuts.
Additionally, the saw features two sliding integrated base extensions that provide adjustable support for materials measuring up to 40 inches long.
Quick-Release Squarelock Fences Provide Accurate, Easy Alignment
High-precision, trademarked Squarelock fences come aligned at 90-degree angles to the saw's table and require no adjustments. These quick-release fences utilize a one-touch lock/unlock feature that allows you to easily slide each fence into position for accurate material alignment.
Adjustable Miter Detents and Easy-Access Detent Override
An etched stainless steel miter scale with large, easy-to-read markings lets you accurately set cuts measuring up to 52 degrees to the left and up to 60 degrees to the right. Common angles are easy to set with miter detents at 0, 15, 22.5, 31.6, and 45 degrees on the right and left, and 60 degrees on the right.
A push-button miter detent override helps ensure fine miter angle adjustment for precise cuts. This thumb-actuated control is located at the front of the saw for easy access.
Up-Front Bevel Controls, Marked Detents, and Roof Pitch Angles
The saw's all-metal bevel lock lever and range selector are located up front to make bevel adjustments easy.
The bevel capacity allows you to cut at angles ranging from 0 to 47 degrees to the left and the right, while marked detents and roof pitch angles make the most common angles easy to set. The saw features bevel detents at 0, 33.9, and 45 degrees for both left- and right-facing cuts, and it includes a high visibility dual-bevel scale.
Ergonomic Grip and Dust Capture for User Comfort
Weighing only 65 pounds, this compact miter saw is easy to maneuver. It features a large, ergonomic handle with a soft grip for user comfort, and it offers an ambidextrous trigger setup for both right- and left-handed users.
To further ensure user comfort, this Bosch saw's combination dust chute and vacuum adaptor provides dust capture for a cleaner work environment and improved visibility.
Like all Bosch power tools, the 12-Inch Dual-Bevel Glide Miter Saw is backed by a one-year limited warranty.
What's in the Box
Miter saw, 12-inch 60T blade, tool-free material clamp, blade wrench, 90-degree combination dust chute elbow and vacuum adaptor, and dust bag.
 Quick release fenses provide accuracy and safety while making cuts. |  Push button miter detent lets you preset your cutting options. |
From the Manufacturer
The New and Innovative GCM12SD Glide Miter Saw delivers durable precision, compact workspace, and unmatched smoothness of cut! This saw features the Axial-Glide system which operates by folding the articulated arm flush with the back of the saw, saving up to 12-Inch of workspace versus a traditional sliding compound miter saw and enabling the saw to be operated with almost no clearance behind it; ideal for jobsites and cramped workshops.
Product Details
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
159 of 172 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
Just picked this saw up from Tool King. they shipped it right away and I got the tool days before the earliest expected delivery date...took just 4 working days. Very heavy saw if you plan to cart it to and use it on job sites which I do. Man the gliding action is sweet. none of the typical resistance from the rod saws I've owned and I've about owned them all. I have the latest Ridgid and Dewalt 12" crosscut saws now and had their previous evolutions as well as the Milwaulke, Makita and Bosch cosscuts.
The high up motor is the first thing that smacks at you...ugly and in your cheek when you carry this beast, and it shoulda come with a lazer (even tho I have never used one) and a quick release material clamp...where's that? For the money all the bells and whistles shoulda been there IMO.
Here's what I see as this saws greatest flaw...The advertised baseboard against the fence height of 6+ inches is ONLY WITH THE BASEBOARD (or other material) ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SAW BLADE !! Turn the table to the right at 45 deg and the bottom of the belt/spindle housing is the highest a piece of wood can be (4.5 inches). When the saw is pushed back against the fence (or used as a chop saw) the housing is almost touching the fence (at 45 deg right)...The tallest piece of 3/4 inch thick material against the fence cannot be any more than 4 1/2 inches tall to the right sided of the blade. Very very disappointing!
The manual tells you specifically :
Manual page 38: "This saw can miter cut 6-1/2 tall base boards verically positioned against the fence at any angle from 0-52 deg. All angled cuts must be made with the base board placed on the left side of the table. for certain cuts, the base boaard will have to be flipped upside down or placed with the face side against the fence"...
So any baseboard taller than 4.5 inches must be cut on the left side of the blade and that any miters other than at the right end of a board must be turned/flipped to have the finished side (long point of the miter)facing the fence...like who's gonna cut a finished piece of wood that way with all the splintered rip outs?? Yea right...use a sacrificial fence board (is what the manual says)or lay the piece on the table and use the bevel angle with the crosscut feature...not this finish carpenter! I cut alot of prefinished molding for kitchen work and (e.g.)the typical MTT molding that WoodMode offers for crown detail, which is 6" tall, can only be crosscut on the table with this saw. My Dewalt clears the same molding left and right of the blade, and the Ridgid can cut it if I rip it to 5 inches first. How many of us have an 8 foot piece of tall trim we want to chop cut somewhere close to the middle at 45 deg right miter? how about a 3 foot piece somewhere close to the middle? This saw won't cut it if it's over 4.5 inches tall :-(
Update 12-19-2010: have had more time using this saw and am convinced I would not have bought it if I had had experience with it. As a Kitchen remodeler, I install ALOT of cabinet mouldings. As I stated earlier, one of the upper crown detail moldings I quite freguently install is an L shapped facia between the cabinets and ceiling which measures 3" wide at the bottom by 6" tall. Crown is then applied to this. Since this saw can only cut a miter on the right end of mouldings taller than 4 1/2" when set against the fence vertically, I am forced to use the crosscut option laying taller mouldings flat on the table for the other end's miter cut. BUT, this saw when layed over to the right side at 45 degrees. ONLY ALLOWS A CUT HEIGHT OF 1 1/2". I cannot even cut one of the most common crown detail mouldings used even when using the crosscut option with the saw bevel layed to the right side at 45 degrees. In short, the 45 degree right side bevel crosscut allowance of this saw is only designed to cut a piece of 2x lumber (1 1/2" thick)
The idea of the hinged arms on this saw and the upfront bevel controls is outstanding, but the practical everyday use of this saw's capabilities is less than a cheap Firestorm chop box
I would NOT recommend this saw for anything other than for framing purposes.
The high up motor is the first thing that smacks at you...ugly and in your cheek when you carry this beast, and it shoulda come with a lazer (even tho I have never used one) and a quick release material clamp...where's that? For the money all the bells and whistles shoulda been there IMO.
Here's what I see as this saws greatest flaw...The advertised baseboard against the fence height of 6+ inches is ONLY WITH THE BASEBOARD (or other material) ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SAW BLADE !! Turn the table to the right at 45 deg and the bottom of the belt/spindle housing is the highest a piece of wood can be (4.5 inches). When the saw is pushed back against the fence (or used as a chop saw) the housing is almost touching the fence (at 45 deg right)...The tallest piece of 3/4 inch thick material against the fence cannot be any more than 4 1/2 inches tall to the right sided of the blade. Very very disappointing!
The manual tells you specifically :
Manual page 38: "This saw can miter cut 6-1/2 tall base boards verically positioned against the fence at any angle from 0-52 deg. All angled cuts must be made with the base board placed on the left side of the table. for certain cuts, the base boaard will have to be flipped upside down or placed with the face side against the fence"...
So any baseboard taller than 4.5 inches must be cut on the left side of the blade and that any miters other than at the right end of a board must be turned/flipped to have the finished side (long point of the miter)facing the fence...like who's gonna cut a finished piece of wood that way with all the splintered rip outs?? Yea right...use a sacrificial fence board (is what the manual says)or lay the piece on the table and use the bevel angle with the crosscut feature...not this finish carpenter! I cut alot of prefinished molding for kitchen work and (e.g.)the typical MTT molding that WoodMode offers for crown detail, which is 6" tall, can only be crosscut on the table with this saw. My Dewalt clears the same molding left and right of the blade, and the Ridgid can cut it if I rip it to 5 inches first. How many of us have an 8 foot piece of tall trim we want to chop cut somewhere close to the middle at 45 deg right miter? how about a 3 foot piece somewhere close to the middle? This saw won't cut it if it's over 4.5 inches tall :-(
Update 12-19-2010: have had more time using this saw and am convinced I would not have bought it if I had had experience with it. As a Kitchen remodeler, I install ALOT of cabinet mouldings. As I stated earlier, one of the upper crown detail moldings I quite freguently install is an L shapped facia between the cabinets and ceiling which measures 3" wide at the bottom by 6" tall. Crown is then applied to this. Since this saw can only cut a miter on the right end of mouldings taller than 4 1/2" when set against the fence vertically, I am forced to use the crosscut option laying taller mouldings flat on the table for the other end's miter cut. BUT, this saw when layed over to the right side at 45 degrees. ONLY ALLOWS A CUT HEIGHT OF 1 1/2". I cannot even cut one of the most common crown detail mouldings used even when using the crosscut option with the saw bevel layed to the right side at 45 degrees. In short, the 45 degree right side bevel crosscut allowance of this saw is only designed to cut a piece of 2x lumber (1 1/2" thick)
The idea of the hinged arms on this saw and the upfront bevel controls is outstanding, but the practical everyday use of this saw's capabilities is less than a cheap Firestorm chop box
I would NOT recommend this saw for anything other than for framing purposes.
76 of 82 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Verified Purchase
i just had to buy one 2 weeks ago and had high hopes it would be better than the 4 yr old makita 12 " slider i am currently using in my custom cab shop. mistake . it was not. could not get it to cut sq. ....there is so much play in the arm and flex in the turn table i had to call bosch tech to try to understand why. the table was not flat across from left to right as well. got the run around from bosch and was told it was within their tolerance specs and that the saw was not really designed for precision cabinet work. ???? i boxed it up and sent it back pronto. was very disappointed that bosch did not want to help in the least. i have now bit the bullet and ordered a kapex in the hopes that it will be a step up from my makita which is getting a little tired. i was suprised that as tired as it is it still cut better than the new bosch glider. and the dust collection on the bosch is a joke. my bench and surrounding area were covered after a few dozen cuts in a 3x6 trying to square this saw up. DO NOT BUY THIS SAW unless you are framing houses or other rough work. it might work for that.to heavy to lug aroud a job site. i am disappointed in bosch service and i have 8 of there routers and 6 drills which have worked great. but not this new glider.
it is just to flexable in the head and table. i was also suprised and disappointed that it was made in china, blade and all. for me i try to buy american made when i can or at least from places that have a fair living wage etc. the bosch has a miter clearance pblm as well. there is a insert in the manual explaining the miter set up that could cause the saw to come in contact with the fence. obviously a problem they found out about after the fact. they will probably address it on the next version of the saw. i too was impressed when i first tried the glider; but not after a week of use. just my opinion and findings. everyone demands different uses and accuracy from their tools. the bosch just did not cut it for me.
just a note:
ps. amazon gets 5 stars. they are a class outfit and stand behind what they sell. i will continue to buy from them !!! GREAT customer service !!
This is posted in my comment section, but i thought i would bring it forward as it compares the bosch (which i owned VERY briefly) and the kapex and makita i now own.....it may be of help or not to someone.
i posted this earlier, but thought i would repeat it here as well. having used both the bosch and now a kapex following are some observations.
The kapex is a good saw and so far it is working great for my furniture needs. Time will tell. The saw out of the box cut true and square and had none of the flex that the bosch had. I had an issue with the table on the first saw i received ( i am very critical of saws after my bosch incident, and festool sent me a replacement and picked up the one i received from woodcraft.....no hassel and very quickly !! ) i was very impressed with customer service from festool. The handle/saftey switch on the bosch was a little clunky and awkward for me. It is similar to my dewalt ;but a little clunkier imo. The kapex has a vert. handle sim. to my makita, so not hard to adjust to. The lasers,which i did not think i would ever use, are turning out to be very useful and a feature i am glad to have. The one thing i think is far ahead of the bosch and the makita 1214L i have is the head angle adjustment. in my furniture making i use a lot of angles and compound angles in thick hardwoods and repeated accuracy is very critical. the makita is a p.i.t.a. at best and you are never quit sure what exact angle you are on. the bosch is a little better at adjusting the angle although the head seems a bit big and clunky to move; but on the saw i received the table would move slightly/flex every time you would clamp the head down from the front. not good in my work. the kapex has a geared head adjusted from a handle on the front of the right slide. seems smooth and very accurate so far.The forward slide rails are very smooth and have no play what so ever. I think having the slide forward puts the hinging closer to the cut. Seems tighter than my makita, (which is 4 yrs old). For me the hinge mech on the bosch seems to far back and seemed like it had a lot more flex with all the hinge points, especially when the saw was pulled out. the miter/angle tool included with the festool seems great; but i do very little trim work outside of the shop, so not sure if i will ever really use it. If i had to take a saw to the jobsite day after day, the bosch is big and heavy......its a beast and i would not want to lug it around. the kapex is compact and lighter. trim work in a house i would take the kapex. rough framing were the saw could be left...i would take the bosch. BUT my saw never leaves my shop so... weight and compactness,are not issues for me. Accuracy is #1, and so far the kapex seems to be the most accurate saw out there of the ones i have tried, for me. I had both saws hooked up to the same shop vac, and the dust collection was far better on the kapex. Again i have a big dusty shop ..always... so this is not a big issue for me. I have never hooked my saw up to a vac before... maybe i will now... it was kind of nice. don't let the review above fool you about the bosah cutting capacity. it is not 6.5 " . included in the manual is a slip of paper that warns of the saw coming in contact with the fence during some comb. miter cuts. the capacity is not more than 4.5 " on the right. the first review on this forum covers it very well. Price is always an issue; but for me if it works better and is more of a pleasure to use .... every day.... it is well worth it. The kapex is expensive and worth every dime to me. Just a few observations on the 2 saws after limited use.
UPDATE ADDED 1 25 2011: Was contacted by bosch main tech saw guy and we talked about the table problems and other concerns i had. He was understanding and explained that their appeared to be a problem with the packing and they were working on a couple solutions. He apologized for the poor customer service i had received . Said we may talk more after they had resolved the issues. not sure what that does !
3 08 2011 update; I have never heard from bosch again. The box i received had no damage to it at all. it was in perfect shape. 2 ups guys delivered this to my shop. so.... i honestly do not believe this to be a packaging issue, at least not alone. i believe it to be a quality control issue or manufacturing problem. just my belief. i have seen a lot of imported stuff that was great and a lot bad. very inconsistent. if you buy one hope your lucky and get a good one. mine was not.......and by now i have put some time in on my new kapex,..........I have no regreats.
it is just to flexable in the head and table. i was also suprised and disappointed that it was made in china, blade and all. for me i try to buy american made when i can or at least from places that have a fair living wage etc. the bosch has a miter clearance pblm as well. there is a insert in the manual explaining the miter set up that could cause the saw to come in contact with the fence. obviously a problem they found out about after the fact. they will probably address it on the next version of the saw. i too was impressed when i first tried the glider; but not after a week of use. just my opinion and findings. everyone demands different uses and accuracy from their tools. the bosch just did not cut it for me.
just a note:
ps. amazon gets 5 stars. they are a class outfit and stand behind what they sell. i will continue to buy from them !!! GREAT customer service !!
This is posted in my comment section, but i thought i would bring it forward as it compares the bosch (which i owned VERY briefly) and the kapex and makita i now own.....it may be of help or not to someone.
i posted this earlier, but thought i would repeat it here as well. having used both the bosch and now a kapex following are some observations.
The kapex is a good saw and so far it is working great for my furniture needs. Time will tell. The saw out of the box cut true and square and had none of the flex that the bosch had. I had an issue with the table on the first saw i received ( i am very critical of saws after my bosch incident, and festool sent me a replacement and picked up the one i received from woodcraft.....no hassel and very quickly !! ) i was very impressed with customer service from festool. The handle/saftey switch on the bosch was a little clunky and awkward for me. It is similar to my dewalt ;but a little clunkier imo. The kapex has a vert. handle sim. to my makita, so not hard to adjust to. The lasers,which i did not think i would ever use, are turning out to be very useful and a feature i am glad to have. The one thing i think is far ahead of the bosch and the makita 1214L i have is the head angle adjustment. in my furniture making i use a lot of angles and compound angles in thick hardwoods and repeated accuracy is very critical. the makita is a p.i.t.a. at best and you are never quit sure what exact angle you are on. the bosch is a little better at adjusting the angle although the head seems a bit big and clunky to move; but on the saw i received the table would move slightly/flex every time you would clamp the head down from the front. not good in my work. the kapex has a geared head adjusted from a handle on the front of the right slide. seems smooth and very accurate so far.The forward slide rails are very smooth and have no play what so ever. I think having the slide forward puts the hinging closer to the cut. Seems tighter than my makita, (which is 4 yrs old). For me the hinge mech on the bosch seems to far back and seemed like it had a lot more flex with all the hinge points, especially when the saw was pulled out. the miter/angle tool included with the festool seems great; but i do very little trim work outside of the shop, so not sure if i will ever really use it. If i had to take a saw to the jobsite day after day, the bosch is big and heavy......its a beast and i would not want to lug it around. the kapex is compact and lighter. trim work in a house i would take the kapex. rough framing were the saw could be left...i would take the bosch. BUT my saw never leaves my shop so... weight and compactness,are not issues for me. Accuracy is #1, and so far the kapex seems to be the most accurate saw out there of the ones i have tried, for me. I had both saws hooked up to the same shop vac, and the dust collection was far better on the kapex. Again i have a big dusty shop ..always... so this is not a big issue for me. I have never hooked my saw up to a vac before... maybe i will now... it was kind of nice. don't let the review above fool you about the bosah cutting capacity. it is not 6.5 " . included in the manual is a slip of paper that warns of the saw coming in contact with the fence during some comb. miter cuts. the capacity is not more than 4.5 " on the right. the first review on this forum covers it very well. Price is always an issue; but for me if it works better and is more of a pleasure to use .... every day.... it is well worth it. The kapex is expensive and worth every dime to me. Just a few observations on the 2 saws after limited use.
UPDATE ADDED 1 25 2011: Was contacted by bosch main tech saw guy and we talked about the table problems and other concerns i had. He was understanding and explained that their appeared to be a problem with the packing and they were working on a couple solutions. He apologized for the poor customer service i had received . Said we may talk more after they had resolved the issues. not sure what that does !
3 08 2011 update; I have never heard from bosch again. The box i received had no damage to it at all. it was in perfect shape. 2 ups guys delivered this to my shop. so.... i honestly do not believe this to be a packaging issue, at least not alone. i believe it to be a quality control issue or manufacturing problem. just my belief. i have seen a lot of imported stuff that was great and a lot bad. very inconsistent. if you buy one hope your lucky and get a good one. mine was not.......and by now i have put some time in on my new kapex,..........I have no regreats.
55 of 59 people found the following review helpful
I have a 12" Dewalt DW703 that has served me well. I put a furniture grade blade on it and when it's sharp, I don't have to sand the cuts much at all. I wanted something that would cut wider pieces of material and I also wanted something for dados. I really hate my table saw dado insert. I never made a zero clearance insert for dados and that big hole just scares me. My lovely bride of almost 35 years bought me this saw for my birthday. I am one lucky guy.
The saw seems rock solid. The things I noticed that are different from the Dewalt.
1. As just about everyone notices, the glide is very loose. Bosch put an adjustment to add some resistance but I haven't done it yet.
2. It's not a soft start motor so there is a kick that I didn't get with the non-sliding Dewalt. It's just a thing.
3. One thing I didn't expect but should have is that the blade doesn't bury itself as deeply. The Dewalt, to get maximum cut width, went way down. The bed on this saw is about a half inch lower than the Dewalt. Again, just a thing but I was cutting some Baltic Birch plywood and I had some tearout on top. I don't think I would have had that with the Dewalt.
4. The handle seems higher than the Dewalt. I wound up rebuilding my stand and shortening it by 2" so it wouldn't be awkward. Part of the awkwardness comes from the safety (see item 1 below)
A couple of negatives (maybe)
1. There is a thumb safety release that I didn't have with the Dewalt. It's pretty stiff and I haven't quite got the hang of it.
2. The saw is very awkward to carry. The way the weight is distributed on the saw and where you are supposed to grab it make for a difficult lift. On the positive side of that, Bosch put in some locking pins that are easy to find and engage.
3. I am used to a zero-clearance insert on the Dewalt. It was a solid piece of plastic that I installed and then cut. Bosch has two pieces of plastic that can adjust inwards but they don't make for true zero clearance. I haven't figured out whether I care about that or not given item 3 above. It may be that I need zero clearance along the back more than the bottom. It could be that I never needed it at all.
I should mention that I am a hobby woodworker and that this saw won't travel.
Now I have to figure out what to do with the Dewalt.
Update:
1. The saw may be soft start. I was using it this morning and that's how it's behaving now. I did change blades but I can't imagine that having anything to do with a change in behavior. I started a support case with Bosch.
2. The table on my saw is not flat. The center is low by .029" which seems excessive to me. I have started a support case with Bosch.
Update:
Bosch told me to take the saw in for repair. They said that the saw isn't repairable but I could save shipping that way. The repair people tell me that the process will take about 3 weeks. I am waffling about what to do. The box is long gone so shipping back to Amazon would be a hassle.
Update:
Sadly, this saw is going back to Amazon. Customer service was great to deal with. I told them that the saw is defective according to Bosch tech support. The representitive I had was unfamiliar with woodworking tools so I dictated the reason for her as she typed and she was very appreciative that she didn't have to do that herself. I was informed that a shipper would come to my house to pick up the saw. I told them that the original shipping container is long gone and they said that wasn't a problem. Too bad about the saw but Amazon customer service gets 5 stars.
I will still buy the saw but I will be going to my local Woodcraft where I can see and touch the thing. I would have gone for a replacement with Amazon but I didn't want to get another bad saw and go through the whole process again. I thought it best to go brick and morter for this item.
Update:
I'm happy to report that everyone involved couldn't have been better.
Amazon offered to replace the saw or give me a refund. They offered to pay for return shipping even though I didn't have the original packaging. Because the saw is heavy, they scheduled a pickup with a trucking company. Amazon said I didn't even have to box the saw. The trucking company wanted me to box it in something...anything.
My experience with Bosch was better yet. I approached it from two directions: a support phone call and an email. The phone support guy told me that the saw was out of spec and was not repairable. He said I could return it to Amazon for refund or take it in to a local repair place where they would determine what was wrong (everything) and take care of me. They also said I could ship the saw back to them at my expense. That's about the best I could expect from a frontline support guy.
Meanwhile, the email folks were evaluating my case.
I consulted with my local retailer and they gave me the name of the Bosch Rep for Kansas/Missouri. I called him. I was trying to decide whether to go for a replacement or refund and then buy the saw locally. We have a couple of woodworking shows soon and I thought I might show up with my straightedge and get the pick of the litter. He expressed a lot of interest in my saw and talked with his techs who were more interested yet. They offered to order in several saws, pick the best and ship that one to me. Then I would use the box and ship mine to the techs for analysis. They would pay shipping. That sounded good to me so I accepted their offer. After all, I do like the saw, I just want one that's right.
Meanwhile, the email support folks got back to me. They wanted to ship me a new saw and have me ship mine back at their expense. It seems that their techs wanted to see my saw. That would make two genuine expressions of interest in what happened to my saw.
I have to say that one offer from Bosch might just be anomalous curiosity by a single person. Two such offers suggest a corporate culture.
I will update again in a week or so when I have more to report.
Update:
Bosch sent another saw in a prototype improved package. Basically, there was a box around the box with foam inserts between. The gaps in saw #2 were just about identical to saw#1. I contacted Bosch. It just so happened that the Woodworking Show was in town last weekend and my Bosch guy was working the show. Last Friday morning before the show opened he and another Bosch tech came by and did their own measurements. They got roughly the same results I did. It was nice to have a pro verify my measurements. I wasn't at all indignant. They offered to try again and had even brought another base with them. I said I was going to give up and send the saw back. Bosch offered to buy the saw and pay shipping. So the saw is gone and I have been promised a check in a couple of weeks.
[start opinion]
I am still convinced that this saw is top quality. Assuming I get the check, I have no complaints about how Bosch handled the situation. I have no complaints about Amazon.
Based on my experience with these two saws, I am still convinced that this is fine saw. If it were shipped upright on a pallet with other saws and handled correctly in shipment, I think it would be very accurate. However, I don't think the packaging is adequate for single shipping to my house. This is an 88 lb saw and most of the weight is not in the base. When that saw is dropped, all of that force comes down on the four feet and exerts a bending moment that would take a lot of aluminum to overcome.
If you are interested in the saw, buy it locally or go get it. Don't have it shipped to you.
[end opinion]
The saw seems rock solid. The things I noticed that are different from the Dewalt.
1. As just about everyone notices, the glide is very loose. Bosch put an adjustment to add some resistance but I haven't done it yet.
2. It's not a soft start motor so there is a kick that I didn't get with the non-sliding Dewalt. It's just a thing.
3. One thing I didn't expect but should have is that the blade doesn't bury itself as deeply. The Dewalt, to get maximum cut width, went way down. The bed on this saw is about a half inch lower than the Dewalt. Again, just a thing but I was cutting some Baltic Birch plywood and I had some tearout on top. I don't think I would have had that with the Dewalt.
4. The handle seems higher than the Dewalt. I wound up rebuilding my stand and shortening it by 2" so it wouldn't be awkward. Part of the awkwardness comes from the safety (see item 1 below)
A couple of negatives (maybe)
1. There is a thumb safety release that I didn't have with the Dewalt. It's pretty stiff and I haven't quite got the hang of it.
2. The saw is very awkward to carry. The way the weight is distributed on the saw and where you are supposed to grab it make for a difficult lift. On the positive side of that, Bosch put in some locking pins that are easy to find and engage.
3. I am used to a zero-clearance insert on the Dewalt. It was a solid piece of plastic that I installed and then cut. Bosch has two pieces of plastic that can adjust inwards but they don't make for true zero clearance. I haven't figured out whether I care about that or not given item 3 above. It may be that I need zero clearance along the back more than the bottom. It could be that I never needed it at all.
I should mention that I am a hobby woodworker and that this saw won't travel.
Now I have to figure out what to do with the Dewalt.
Update:
1. The saw may be soft start. I was using it this morning and that's how it's behaving now. I did change blades but I can't imagine that having anything to do with a change in behavior. I started a support case with Bosch.
2. The table on my saw is not flat. The center is low by .029" which seems excessive to me. I have started a support case with Bosch.
Update:
Bosch told me to take the saw in for repair. They said that the saw isn't repairable but I could save shipping that way. The repair people tell me that the process will take about 3 weeks. I am waffling about what to do. The box is long gone so shipping back to Amazon would be a hassle.
Update:
Sadly, this saw is going back to Amazon. Customer service was great to deal with. I told them that the saw is defective according to Bosch tech support. The representitive I had was unfamiliar with woodworking tools so I dictated the reason for her as she typed and she was very appreciative that she didn't have to do that herself. I was informed that a shipper would come to my house to pick up the saw. I told them that the original shipping container is long gone and they said that wasn't a problem. Too bad about the saw but Amazon customer service gets 5 stars.
I will still buy the saw but I will be going to my local Woodcraft where I can see and touch the thing. I would have gone for a replacement with Amazon but I didn't want to get another bad saw and go through the whole process again. I thought it best to go brick and morter for this item.
Update:
I'm happy to report that everyone involved couldn't have been better.
Amazon offered to replace the saw or give me a refund. They offered to pay for return shipping even though I didn't have the original packaging. Because the saw is heavy, they scheduled a pickup with a trucking company. Amazon said I didn't even have to box the saw. The trucking company wanted me to box it in something...anything.
My experience with Bosch was better yet. I approached it from two directions: a support phone call and an email. The phone support guy told me that the saw was out of spec and was not repairable. He said I could return it to Amazon for refund or take it in to a local repair place where they would determine what was wrong (everything) and take care of me. They also said I could ship the saw back to them at my expense. That's about the best I could expect from a frontline support guy.
Meanwhile, the email folks were evaluating my case.
I consulted with my local retailer and they gave me the name of the Bosch Rep for Kansas/Missouri. I called him. I was trying to decide whether to go for a replacement or refund and then buy the saw locally. We have a couple of woodworking shows soon and I thought I might show up with my straightedge and get the pick of the litter. He expressed a lot of interest in my saw and talked with his techs who were more interested yet. They offered to order in several saws, pick the best and ship that one to me. Then I would use the box and ship mine to the techs for analysis. They would pay shipping. That sounded good to me so I accepted their offer. After all, I do like the saw, I just want one that's right.
Meanwhile, the email support folks got back to me. They wanted to ship me a new saw and have me ship mine back at their expense. It seems that their techs wanted to see my saw. That would make two genuine expressions of interest in what happened to my saw.
I have to say that one offer from Bosch might just be anomalous curiosity by a single person. Two such offers suggest a corporate culture.
I will update again in a week or so when I have more to report.
Update:
Bosch sent another saw in a prototype improved package. Basically, there was a box around the box with foam inserts between. The gaps in saw #2 were just about identical to saw#1. I contacted Bosch. It just so happened that the Woodworking Show was in town last weekend and my Bosch guy was working the show. Last Friday morning before the show opened he and another Bosch tech came by and did their own measurements. They got roughly the same results I did. It was nice to have a pro verify my measurements. I wasn't at all indignant. They offered to try again and had even brought another base with them. I said I was going to give up and send the saw back. Bosch offered to buy the saw and pay shipping. So the saw is gone and I have been promised a check in a couple of weeks.
[start opinion]
I am still convinced that this saw is top quality. Assuming I get the check, I have no complaints about how Bosch handled the situation. I have no complaints about Amazon.
Based on my experience with these two saws, I am still convinced that this is fine saw. If it were shipped upright on a pallet with other saws and handled correctly in shipment, I think it would be very accurate. However, I don't think the packaging is adequate for single shipping to my house. This is an 88 lb saw and most of the weight is not in the base. When that saw is dropped, all of that force comes down on the four feet and exerts a bending moment that would take a lot of aluminum to overcome.
If you are interested in the saw, buy it locally or go get it. Don't have it shipped to you.
[end opinion]
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