The Bosch GCM12SD – A Compound GLIDING Miter Saw
Bosch has come up with a truly revolutionary new idea in compound sliding miter saws. And actually, it is a concept that bypasses the sliding miter saw paradigm all together. No longer will you have to worry about bent or sticky glide rails, making your job more difficult.
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The articulated arm that takes the place of the slide rails on a typical compound slider operates so smoothly that there is actually an adjustment that allows you to make the action stiffer if you’d like.
Aside from the “Cool” factor of the Articulated arm, the most obvious advantage of the arrangement is that it does not require space behind the saw to allow for the travel of the guide rails, saving a foot or more behind the saw. This can be a huge factor, especially in shops where space is at a premium (and that’s probably every shop).
Another advantage of the new arrangement according to Bosch and borne out by reviewers is that it actually allows for tighter tolerance in cuts, and that the saw will stay in spec for much longer.
J. Finkel on the Fine Homebuilding Forum had this to say:
“New Bosch – still has up-front controls, which are great. The hinge-arm mechanism allows the saw to get right up tight to the wall, which is a huge space saver in a shop setup, and the hinge setup is far more stable and true than any rails I’ve ever seen.”
As with other Bosch Miter Saws, the bevel controls are upfront. If you have never had the pleasure of using these controls for adjusting your bevels, you are in for a treat. I find that not only is it much more convenient, but I find it is much easier to make accurate adjustments when I don’t have to make them while craning my neck around to see what I’m doing.
The new Bosch GCM12SD dual bevel compound glide miter saw will be a cherished addition to your shop, whether you are a dedicated professional or a hobbyist with a home shop. How could that not be the case when the saw offers features like this.
- Extremely tight tolerances mean extremely accurate cuts – sloppy, inaccurate miters are a thing of the past
- Up front controls so you can easily make accurate, repeatable cuts – forget to make that last cut before you reset the saw? Not a problem
- 14 inch crosscut capacity makes cutting wide boards a snap – no more flipping boards and guessing at matching up the cut
- No slide arms projecting from the rear so you can place the saw tight to the wall, saving valuable space in your shop
From a Fine Woodworking Editor’s Review:
“Bosch has solved these problems with its newest 12-in. slider. The saw uses a pair of hinged arms, each with three knuckles, to provide the travel for its 13-1/2-in. crosscut capacity. The big benefit is that you can put the saw right up to the wall. In addition, it’s very accurate because of the tight tolerances in the hinged arms. And you can adjust the tightness of the mechanism to your personal preference…
Bosch’s new saw (No. GCM12SD) is accurate, the controls are precise and intuitive, and the space-saving design is icing on the cake.”
Here are the Bosch GCM12SD specs at at glance:
- Powerful 15 Amp Motor
- 6-12″ cutting capacity on base against the fence
- 6-1/2″ crown cutting capacity against the fence
- Miter Capacity is 52 degrees Left/60 degrees Right
- Bevel Capacity is 47 degrees Left/47 degrees Right
- Miter detents at 0 , 15 , 31.6 , 22.5 , 45 and 60 degrees
- Bevel detents at 0, 33.9 and45 degrees
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The one thing you will have to take into consideration when buying the Bosch GCM12SD is your true need for constant cutting of wide boards up against the fence. More than one reviewer commented on the fact that when the operator tries to make a 45 degree cut to the right, the motor gets in the way. You’ll need to judge for yourself whether that is a show-stopper or not.
From Paul W. Dwight on Amazon:
“I have had this saw set up in my home work shop for about a month and I love it. After setting up the saw and tweaking the adjustments, the saw performs beautifully. Every cut is dead-on accurate within the limits of my ability to measure. I’m still amazed at the cross-cut capacity of this saw…”
Power, accuracy, ease of use, and “Cool”. What more could you possibly ask of a miter saw?
