PROS
- Axial-glide system for easy movement
- Very large cutting capacity
- Great customer support
- Good dust management
- Optimized for cutting 2x material with a vacuum
CONS
- Doesn't come with laser
- Very large saw. Need a stand with wheels to move
For me, few things are as exciting as the first moments you spend with a Highly-anticipated new tool. Would it perform as well in House as the demonstrations and previews we witnessed? Would it help us get work done faster, or with more efficiency or capacity? The Bosch GCM12SD Dual Bevel Slide Miter Saw is a very good quality miter saw with many features and access to some great accessories. The motor is plenty powerful and should be able to stand up to the rigors of everyday use.
Contents
Specifications-
Product Depth (in.) | 31 in | Product Height (in.) | 24.25 in |
Product Width (in.) | 22.5 in | Table Length (in.) | 16 |
Table Width (in.) | 40 in | Cell | Cell |
Important Features of Bosch GCM12SD Dual Bevel Slide Miter Saw
To be effective, a 12″ miter saw has to be two things above all else: accurate and powerful. Once you have that figured out, you can build sliding and beveling around your solid foundation. If you’re one of the companies that have managed to figure it out, you just don’t change it up often.
Bosch tackled the issue of vertical clearance with this model in an effort to really push the value for trim carpenters installing larger crown molding. They moved the motor a little bit in order to create more clearance.
Crown molding chop lock stop
They also added a crown molding chop lock stop (say that three times fast!). This feature simply swings into place to stop the slide at the exact position offering the most clearance for cutting crown. Lock the slides once you’re against it, and you have 6-1/2″ nested crown cutting capacity and 6-3/4″ base capacity against the fence.
The 4-3/4″ sliding fences provide excellent support for a wide range of material lengths, including the crown molding that this saw is designed to maximize. A pair of base extensions offers to support up to 40 inches. These extensions are a welcome addition if you aren’t planning on using a miter saw stand.
The Bosch GCM12SD came out of the box in pretty good shape. The miter and right bevel were each about 1/4 of a degree off.
Miter adjustments haven’t really changed. Positive stops on all the popular angles are solid and easy to find. At 0 degrees, this Bosch 12″ compound sliding miter saw offers 4 x 14-dimensional cutting capacity. Miter over to 45 degrees, and you’ll still have enough room to cleanly cut through a 4×10.
Thankfully, Bosch Hasn’t messed with their bevel lock. It’s one of the few that are on the side of the saw within easy reach. One of the relatively new features (and completely new on this 12″ saw) is the rotating turret bevel stop (there’s one on each side).
Rather than having a mechanism slip into a decent like the miter stops, you simply twist the bevel stop to the degree you need it on either side. On the right, you’ll need to pull a plate back that acts as the 0 degrees stop in order to continue your bevel.
Bosch GCM12SD Performance
The Bosch GCM12SD is like most 12″ miter saws on the market—it has a 15 amp belt-driven motor. The Bosch GCMD12SD motor is certainly powerful enough to make any cuts you’re likely to come across.
The stock blade is solid, but there are better 12-inch thin kerf miter saw blades out there if you want to upgrade. If you’re doing general construction, the stock blade will work fine, and the quality of the cut was good for basic trim work.
One thing Bosch does well that other miter saws often gloss over are on the positive miter stops. If you don’t have the override lever engaged, you’re going to slip into the next miter stop you come across and go no further. This isn’t the case in other saws that allow you to kind of click-and-go over the top of the stops if you’re quick enough. It’s not a make or break kind of issue, but it does promote confidence in Bosch’s build quality.
Ergonomically, the Bosch GCM12SD is a monster saw. Its weight can be attributed to the amount of steel used in the design, which is a great thing from a build quality standpoint. I’d highly recommend the Bosch T4B miter saw stand if you want to haul this saw around to and from job sites.
The gravity rise stand is one of the best designs we’ve ever seen. Its wide wheel base keeps your saw from wanting to tip over when transporting it across uneven ground and it fits perfectly in a small enclosed trailer or in the back of a truck. Given the fact that you can collapse and deploy it from a standing position, your back will thank you every time you use it.
How does it compare to other miter saws?
Bosch GCM12SD Dual Bevel Slide Miter Saw
By comparison to other miter saws and compound miter saws on the market, it is affordable. Yet, at this affordable price, it will save on the problem of lugging around different saws, or attempting to size trim when the old bulky saw is down three flights of stairs and the room being fitted with trim is upstairs.
With this compound miter saw you can eliminate any guesswork, and ensure accuracy into the angled cuts, right from the first cut.
User Reviews
Bosch GCM12SD Dual Bevel Slide Miter Saw
That is an odd way of thinking of this 65 pound saw, but it has been a pleasure to use over the last few months. I have replaced the saw that was on my mobile stand with this unit because of how comfortable it is to use. For workshops, the Bosch GCM12SD Axial-Glide System might fit better, but owning that saw also makes me appreciate the bevel adjustments of the CM12SD. The bevel locking lever gives me more confidence on this saw. They do share a few similar features, but I like the accuracy and adjustability on this saw.
The biggest complaint was the dual slides of the saw that stick when retracted.
Final Thoughts
With dust collection and a slight change to the handle Height as my only suggestions for improvement, it’s easy to recommend the Bosch GCM12SD 12″ miter saw to any professional. You’ll get the power you’re used to and maybe more compared to the other 15 amp saws. Where this model from Bosch really stands out is in its build quality, accuracy, and deep cut capacity.