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It's not a commercial machine, but it's not priced at a commercial level either, and for what some hire companies charge you to rent out a tile saw for a couple days, you could buy your very own GMC LSTSAW tile saw to keep and use for as long as you want. Sure, the saw is not absolutely perfect, and I have mentioned some minor issues in the text above, but in the end, I found it achieved the task it is designed to do; to cut tiles quickly and easily with good accuracy. A handy little tool to have for your next tiling job. DEWALT DW907K-2 battery
Global Machinery Company (GMC) are currently experiencing some extraordinary growth in the power tool market worldwide, thanks to a line of tools offered that are suited to the budget conscious, re-modeler, or DIY enthusiast. Originally, the company offered a basic line of tools but has since been on a steady curve upwards in bringing to the market some better quality tools with some unique features, as well as a line of tools better suited to the commercial and trade sector. DEWALT DW907K2H battery
The company recently released two new sliding compound miter saws, and we thought we would take a look a look at these and see how well they perform in common woodworking tasks... DEWALT DW907Z battery
We looked at two models, the LSMS210 and LSMS250. Essentially, apart from the size and motor specs, DEWALT DW915 (Flash Light) battery both saws have the same features and build design, so we will review them together and highlight any differences between the two models as we go. Note that the models reviewed are wired for Australian power supply, so power specs may be different if this model is, or does become available outside of Australia. We used the saws on a folding miter saw stand which we reviewed previously on the site (this is not included with the miter saw purchase of course). DEWALT DW912 battery
As we can see from the table above, there is a difference of 800 W of power between the LSMS210 (8 1/4" saw) and the LSMS250 (10" saw), DEWALT DW917 (Flash Light) battery the horsepower for the 250 being larger because it sports a larger blade, and because it can cut thicker stock due to its larger cut capacity (70mm vs 50mm for non-beveled cuts). In both cases, the saw is powerful enough to cut to its maximum capacity, so we had no problems with lack of power from either tool. No load speeds are pretty much average in comparison to other tools, and perhaps the only major consideration with this spec is to ensure any blades you buy for the saw are rated to run safely at the indicated saw RPM figure. DEWALT DW924K-B2 battery
Naturally, larger blades do cost more money, so you will have to factor overall saw size into the equation if you decided to purchase either of these models. First determine the maximum cut depth and width you will need for the majority of your projects and see if the smaller saw will meet those needs. If not you need to go for something larger. As you can see from the table, the cutting capacities are significantly different between the two models. DEWALT DW924K-B3 battery
Warranty
I will make note at this point that both saw models come with a full 2-year replacement warranty for both home and commercial / trade use! Many other tools in the GMC range (aside from their platinum series) are only covered for home use, but both these models are also good for warranty claims with commercial and trade use as well. GMC are also very good with warranty claims, and do offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee with all their tools, so both items offer a "risk-free" purchase option. DEWALT DW924K2AR battery
The Blades...
One thing that may stick out more than anything else in the spec list above is the blade. DEWALT DW924K2B2 battery Both saws are fitted with a 24 tooth TCT blade. I am not sure why this was done. Perhaps to keep the cost down, but a 24 tooth blade is far from ideal for cross cutting tasks on a miter saw. It is pretty much a rip blade, and to get good results from your cuts, you will need something with a little more teeth. I'd recommend a 60 tooth blade as minimum, and one designed for use with miter saws if you are serious about good cut quality. DEWALT DW924K2B3 battery
You should also factor a replacement blade into the tool price, because, DEWALT DW924K2BR battery in my opinion, you will need it, unless all you plan to cut is rough lumber or make cuts where cut quality is not important or relevant. The blade supplied is not a terrible blade as such, it just doesn't have the number of teeth you need for fine cross-cutting work. It can be used for rough carpentry or framing cutting successfully however. If you decide to use the included blade, be aware that the outer egde and teeth are painted, and a few quick cuts through some scrap material might be required to remove the paint from the blade's teeth so the sharpness of the teeth underneath is exposed. The first few cuts are pretty rough, but once that paint has worn off, cut quality does improve markedly. DEWALT DW927K battery
Sliding Miter Saw
Both the LSMS 210 and 250 models are sliding miter saws. The head slides forward and back on metals bars to essentially allow a wider/longer cut to be made. This is very handy if you work with pre-dimensioned timber or boards with widths that fall under the maximum cutting capacities listed above. The sliding mechanism allows you to cut boards up to this width, whereas a fixed (non-sliding) miter saw's width cutting capacity is much less. DEWALT DW927K-2 battery
The good thing about these saws is that you can still use them in fixed mode by locking the sliding mechanism. It's the best of both worlds really. Sliding miter saws are usually more expensive as a result however, but as we will find out later, GMC retails these sliding saws at an attractive price. DEWALT DW927K2 battery
If you look around at different sliding miter saws, you will find models with either one slide bar or two slide bars. In almost all cases, two slide bars or dual-sliders are more accurate and offer smoother travel than a single slide saw. I have owned a Ryobi single slide bar saw in the past, and while it was a very good saw and gave me great service, the single bar slide mechanism was not overly smooth throughout it's entire range; it had a 'sticky' point toward the end of its range that didn't allow for smooth saw travel throughout the entire movement range. Both the two GMC models tested here feature dual sliding bars. DEWALT DW927KV-2 battery
You can see the bars and their position on the saw in the accompanying photos. Their accuracy is determined in part by the tolerances of machining of the bar and the slots they ride within, and the smooth travel dictated by the ball bearings they slide on. I can say that I was pleasantly surprised with the smooth travel of the saw head throughout the entire range of motion on both models tested. I had expected worse, but they are actually quite smooth. DEWALT DW930 battery
I'll fall short of comparing them to the slide action on the Makita LS1013 (considered to be one of the best sliding miter saws in recent history), but they will certainly give you a pretty smooth and accurate cut with good tool technique. Having dual bars is a great aid in keeping the blade aligned as you move the saw head, as well as distributing the saw head weight and load across two bars, as opposed to one, which may have been the reason my old Ryobi saw did have trouble in a small section of its slide range. DEWALT DW930K battery
A yellow turn knob behind the head of the saw on the slide rail casing allows you to lock the sliding feature so you can use the tool just like a fixed, non-sliding saw. DEWALT DW940K battery
Operating Handle & Blade Guard
GMC, in my opinion, have made a good choice with incorporating the horizontal D-handle type design on both saw models. DEWALT DW940K-2 battery I first used this design on a Bosch miter saw and found I favored it almost immediately. Some claim these handle types are more prone to side deflection by the user, but I have never had a problem. I find this much more ergonomic and easier to drop the head of the saw and control the slide action than other types of handles. Your mileage may vary of course. The rubber over-mold grip helps keep your hand from slipping during use - this is a feature we would expect to see on all saws these days. If you take a look at the close-up photo of the handle we have displayed in the right hand column, you will see a number of yellow controls. DEWALT DW953 battery
The one on the far left is the blade guard release "button". When you push this in, DEWALT DW953K battery the stop preventing the blade guard from opening as you lower the saw head is moved out of the way and the blade cover is free to pivot and you can safely lower the saw head to make a cut. The blade guard, which is constructed of rigid, clear plastic virtually covers the entire blade constantly as the saw head is lowered, helping protect your hands and fingers from coming close to or touching the blade. Without releasing the blade guard stop, you cannot lower the saw head and make a cut. It's a fairly standard feature on just about every miter saw available. It is well-positioned if you are operating the saw via the handle with your right hand. Unfortunately, if you operate the handle with your left hand, the handle itself and controls are not as easily used. The handle is really designed for right hand use primarily. DEWALT DW953K-2 battery
Under the rubber grip you can see the power button. Nothing fancy here, just push it in to power up the saw and release it to power down the saw. On the right lateral side of the handle is a small round yellow push button. This is the power on/off button for the "Redeye" laser line generator that is fitted to the saw... DEWALT DW953KF-2 battery
"Redeye" Laser Generator
GMC have managed to put a laser on just about every tool imaginable it seems. DEWALT DW953KS-2 battery Some tools certainly can benefit from them, others might not be as useful. A laser on a miter saw can be helpful, assuming it is accurate. The laser on both models tested features dual lines, that is, two individual laser lines are generated from the laser unit fitted behind the blade just below the head spring (see photos). Each line is intended to project the cutting line for each side of the blade, so in theory, you can get a good idea of where the blade will cut no matter which side of the blade you wish to use for material alignment. The ability to power up (or power down) the laser independent of the rest of the tool is a good safety feature. Other methods of generating a laser line can require the blade to be powered up and spinning before the laser will switch on. The laser is also powered via the mains power, so no batteries or power packs to contend with. DEWALT DW953KV-2 battery
The primary issue with adding lasers to tools is the user's ability to see the laser lines in bright, outdoor environments. Unfortunately, the laser on these models suffers that same problem. In bright light, it is very difficult to see. It is easier to see if weather conditions are overcast, or if you work in a shed or workshop with artificial light sources - these are generally not as bright or have as much glare as natural sunlight. So outdoors in bright light, the laser becomes somewhat ineffective, but it is quite visible and much more effective indoors, even under moderate artificial light. DEWALT DW953RFK2 battery
One thing I do like about this laser generator is that it is fixed to the lower body of the tool, independent of the saw head, DEWALT DW965 battery so even as you lower the saw head, that laser line position does not change and remains fixed. The laser lines do move with forward back slide motion accordingly, but your alignment should have already been completed before this action takes place, and regardless, they dont really move off track anyway. Additionally, the laser lines are adjustable to accommodate different blade kerf widths, or if you wish to fine-tune the laser's position for greater accuracy. The lasers are factory set out of the box, but even so, I found a little adjustment was in order. The beams are fairly narrow, but there is still a little ambiguity to them in that they are not ultra-sharp with sharp beam edges. However, I found that by adjusting the laser so the outer edge of each laser line marked the actual blade cut line on each side delivered the best result, plus your pencil-marked cut line on your material is then not obscured or "hidden" under the laser line itself. Even at bevel angles the laser line retains accuracy well, although it is most accurate when using the saw in the upright 90 degree, non-beveled position. DEWALT DW965K battery
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