Welcome to Woodwork.Reviews. In this post, we are going to compare two glide miter saw by Bosch Company. These are high-end tools by Bosch, used by a lot of professional woodworkers around the world.
Bosch is always known for making high-end products in a different power tool category. These two models are no different and deliver their best to its users. We would be comparing various aspects of the miter saw that includes build quality, performance, safety features, fence system, and more.
So, read the whole article thoroughly so that you have proper clarity about the product that you are buying. Before buying a miter saw, you must take your budget and requirement into consideration. No matter how good a miter saw is, if it doesn’t meet your demand, then it’s not worth your investment.
You should ask yourself questions like “what kind of projects you are going to work upon,” “what is the frequent size of lumber that you’ll be dealing with,” “how often you’ll be moving your saw from one place to another” and “what is your budget?”. These questions will give you better clarity about the kind of product you want and help you in making a better decision.
So, let’s dive into different aspects. At the end of the post, we would be presenting the Winner Saw, “Our Recommendation,” which is based on our rigorous research. So, you can go for our recommendation or make the choices depending on your common sense, that is entirely up to you.
1- Build Quality
When it comes to building quality of the power tools both have durable build, Bosch GCM12sd looks very sturdy and pretty solid comes with high power motor, and 60 teeth saw blade. If you use the machine in the right way, it will last for years without any glitch. It allows you to have very smooth and accurate cuts easily. The tool is easy to use, and after a couple of usages, you’ll become used to of it. All the measuring components of the machine are well designed and you can easily to bevel calibration. It weighs around 65 pounds, and dimensions are 31 x 23.8 x 22.5 inches.
While CM12sd weigh around 74 pounds and dimensions are 34 x 22.2 x 24 inches which makes it bit heavier and bulkier in size. It also has a decent build quality, and you can easily carry it from one place to another. It also has a 15 Amp motor, and it comes with a 12-inch blade.
2- Safety
Safety is one of the most important features that you should consider before buying any power tool. As these are unforgiving tools and it would be foolish to compromise with safety and security. GCM12SD Model has a very stable base that reduces the vibration, and you feel better control while making the cut. You also have blade guard to keep your fingers away from the blade. You can read about the general safety guidelines here.
While CM12SD Model also has all the safety features that you need in a miter saw. It has dual bevel adjustment. What i really love about this model that it has an electronic braking system that stops it quickly and reduces the chances of an accident. It also has two safety switches which you can easily access from the miter saw handle. Also, it’s recommended to wear all the safety gear while working on it like glasses, helmet, and gloves. You can also use the earplugs to reduce the noise.
3- Dust Collection
This part of the miter saw is mostly overlooked by the buyers. It is also a very crucial factor that you have to take a look at. If the power tool doesn’t have a proper dust collection system, you’ll end up having a very messy workspace and sawdust around you which is not very good health-wise and also not very conducive to effective work atmosphere.
Bosch GCM12SD has decent dust collection system. It collects around 60-70% of the dust. You can use the dust bag or hook up the vacuum and get rid of sawdust.
Though CM12SD dust collection system is not of a kind that a lot of users are happy with, it comes with 35mm dust port and also includes dust bag with the package.
4- Ease of Use
Ease of Use is a very important factor that you should consider before buying a miter saw. If you are not comfortable working on the tool, you will not be able to complete your project effectively. If you are buying it offline, make sure that you hold it, see the grip and line of sight and other aspects.
Bosch GCM12SD comes partially assembled, and you need to assemble some parts of it. If you are not sure, you can watch the youtube video or go through the user manual. You have to install the miter lock knob and the bevel lock lever. It won’t take more than two minutes. For tightening the bolt, you can use the wrenches. Make sure that all the fining tuning is done properly.
Bosch CM12SD also has a very simple assembly, and you can get it done very easily. The adjustment and calibration process is pretty straight forward. What i really about this tool that you don’t have to do the fine-tuning once in a while. The calibration remains as it is even after several usages. Bevel adjustment is also very effective and precise, and you can have stops at different angles like 22.5˚, 33.9˚, 45˚ &, 47˚.
5- Ripping Capacity
Ripping Capacity is the core any miter saw. Bosch GCM12SD has a ripping capacity of 14inch horizontally. You can also make vertical cuts at 90degree and 45degree. At 45 degree, you get 6-1/2-inch vertical capacity. It is a very versatile machine, and its axial gliding system gives you better, and you can make different angular cuts at your disposal.
While CM12SD Model is ready to use and comes pre-assembled, though little bit fine-tuning is required before use, make sure that you do the proper fine-tuning before you start using the machine. This miter is known for making quality cuts without the need for too many adjustments.
6- Fence System
Fence system is also a very crucial factor that you have to take a look at before making a purchase of a miter saw. GCM12SD comes with an excellent measurement system, and you can easily do the calibration, and you can also change angle as well for different cut option.
It has a square lock fence system that provides you the better precision. You can also tilt the base from 0 to 47 degree in both left and right direction.
Users are really happy with its mechanism. It provides you the 14inch rip capacity and also decent vertical capacity at 45degree angle.
The latter model also has a decent fence system, and you can easily work on a taller piece of wood. Its dual bevel system is also pretty convenient to use. The fence plates are nicely marked, which allows you to have proper clarity during the calculation.
Bosch GCM12SD Blade Deflection
7- Performance
Both machines are versatile and can be used for various projects. You can use them from smaller projects to bigger projects. Both the miter saws are sturdy and last for years if you know how to use them properly. Make sure that you clean them properly and lubricate the moving parts.
Both the models have a very powerful motor and can easily cut through the tough wood. Its fence provides very good support, and you can use a wide variety of wood material that helps you working on bigger projects.
8- Disadvantages
As both models are by the same Bosch Brand, there are a few things that can be improved. A lot of users are not happy with its weight, which makes the machine less portable. Having a 40kg miter saw is not very convenient to move around. The second thing is the assembly. Though the models come pre-assembled, there are a few things that you have to do by yourself. Fine-tuning can be a real pain if you are not used to of using a miter saw.
9- Maintenance & Warranty
Both models are low maintenance tools. They come with one year of warranty. Make sure that you make the purchase from the authorized seller only. In case you face any problem, you can call their customer support, they are quick to help.
We have also covered the comparison between different Table Saw Models that you can have a look at.
Bosch Table Saw GTS1031 vs. 4100
Bosch Table Saw 4100-09 vs. 4100-10
10- User Reviews & Conclusion
Bosch GCM12sd is heavier, weighs around 88 pounds but Bosch CM12sd weighs a little less around 65 pounds. While Bosch CM12sd provides a higher load speed of 4000 rpm with a great dust collection mechanism whereas Bosch GCM12sd which provides 3800 rpm with an average dust collection mechanism.
When it comes to online user reviews, Bosch GCM12SD seems to be more popular than the CM12SD Model. Bosch GCM12SD has hundreds of positive ratings on Amazon. It costs around $600 and has also received Amazon’s Choice Award. While Bosch CM12SD is not that popular but bit cheaper than the earlier model.
BOSCH CM12SD | Watch the Video till End
Technical Differences
Miter Saw | Bosch GCM12sd | Bosch CM12sd |
---|---|---|
Weight | 88 pounds | 65 pounds |
Dimensions | 31 x 23.8 x 22.5 inches | 34 x 22.2 x 24 inches |
Power source | Corded | Corded |
Motor | 120V, 15 amps | 120V, 15 amps |
No Load Speed | 3800 RPM | 4000 RPM |
Blade Size | 12″ | 12″ |
Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
Dust Collection | Decent | Great |
Reviews | Trusted Reviews | Trusted Reviews |
At the bottom, we have mentioned Our Recommendation, which is the winner model on this competition. You can have a look. In case you have any questions, don’t forget to let us know in the comments below, we’ll try to respond as soon as possible.
Our Recommendation
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