Bosch 18V PROFACTOR 12” Dual-Bevel Slide Miter Saw

Bosch 18V PROFACTOR 12” Dual-Bevel Slide Miter Saw

4.5/5

Manufacturer: Bosch
Model number: GCM18V-12SDN14
Price: $699.00
Power source: 18V Cordless
Weight: 52.4 lbs.

The narrative for cordless tools has been written time and time again.  The fewer corded tools on site the better.  Fewer cords, fewer tripped breakers.  There are probably dozens of articles and videos out there showing and proving that a cordless miter saw is just as worthy as its corded version.

But why a 12” miter saw?  And why a slider?  Simple answer: More cut capacity.  From 4×6 PT to larger trim stock such as 5/4×12, and even medium-sized pieces of plywood, my general sentiment is that it’s better to have the capacity and not need it, than to need it and not have it.  I’ve always been a firm believer in this.  Sure, some guys have more than one miter saw.  Maybe a 7 ¼ or 8-1/2″ unit for smaller jobs, and/or a 12” “chop” miter saw for bigger or more accurate cutting.  But if I can only have one miter saw, I choose a 12” slider.

Slide vs. Glide

How and why did I choose the Bosch PROFACTOR 12” Slide Miter Saw?  When the original Bosch-Axial Glide miter saw was released, it caught lots of attention and turned lots of heads.  I even had the opportunity to showcase the Bosch 18V Axial-Glide miter saw at JLC Live in Providence in 2021, but never had to opportunity to dig deep.  I had heard murmurings of the Axial-Glide version be less accurate and more difficult to adjust than the traditional slider.  As such, I knew I wanted a slide unit rather than a glide.

Specifications and Benefits

Direct from Bosch, here are the nitty-gritty specs of the PROFACTOR 12” Slide Miter Saw:

• • Bevel Angle Range: 47° left and 47° right
  • Positive Bevel Stops: 0°, 33.9°, 45° and 47° (L/R)
  • Height: 28″
  • Length: 39-1/2″
  • Miter Angles 52° Left / 60° Right
  • Miter Detents: 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 31.6°, 45°, (Left/Right) 60°, (Right)

Select benefits/features include:

• • • PROFACTOR performance – for a truly mobile jobsite solution, this saw provides lightweight and pro capacity
    • Large cutting capacity – 3.5 In. the depth and a 14 In. width/crosscut
    • Shadow LED cut line – provides an accurate guide to quickly line up precise cuts without the need for a tool to adjust
    • Dual-bevel design – allows for large compound cuts to either side of the workpiece
    • Bevel detents – features an easy-to-read scale with detents at common angles
    • BITURBO Brushless Technology – featuring a brushless high-performance motor and drive-train system engineered to take full advantage of the additional power generated by CORE18V® High Power batteries
    • Convenient portability – weighs only 52.4 Lbs. (tool only, not including battery) and features a carry handle
    • Tall fence design – supports taller material for accurate cuts with 5.5 In. fences
    • Dust extraction ready – dust bag included or connect to a vacuum with ease
    • Toolless workpiece clamp – stabilize workpieces while making your cut
    • Spindle lock – for quicker blade changes
    • AMPShare System compatibility
    • All Bosch 18V PROFACTOR cordless power tools are backed by a 180-day no-questions-asked return guarantee
    • Bosch 18V cordless power tools and 18V chargers are covered by a five-year limited warranty; Bosch 18V batteries are covered by a three-year limited warranty

Out Of The Box

The Bosch PROFACTOR 12” Slide Miter Saw required minimal assembly and I had the saw up and running in minutes.  With all controls zeroed out and in neutral positions, I checked the critical relationships of “squareness” that would concern me.  They are as follows:

The relationship of the blade to the table.

Table to the stationary fence.

Stationary fence to the blade.

The Bosch PROFACTOR 12” Slide Miter Saw needed very few adjustments out of the box.  Upon running the saw just to get familiar with it, I made a test cut on a piece of 1×6 kiln-dried pine shiplap.  Over the width of the board (5 ½”), the cut was off less than a 1/32”.  Not too shabby!  I measured this using a standard, steel speed square.  In order to then check where and why the cut was off, I used a square and a smaller aluminum trim square.

Some folks might argue or ask that a miter saw and its cuts should be checked with an engineer’s square.  I would counter that by saying that the vast majority of contractors, carpenters, and remodelers are not using those squares.  “Use what you have” and trust it.  In fact, the user manual from Bosch instructs the operator to use a combination square to check the saw and even has a quick guide on how to check your combination square to make sure IT is square.

Operations Manual

The Bosch PROFACTOR miter saw was sent with an extremely thorough and clear operating manual.   Nearly everything you could imagine regarding the use, transport, adjustment, and maintenance of the saw is clearly spelled out in the 55-page manual, including a guide for cutting crown molding.

Making the necessary adjustments to address the miter accuracy couldn’t be any easier.  The adjustments are literally spelled out right on the detent plate.  Nice touch, Bosch.  The plate loosened with 4 screws using the onboard wrench, and a quick bump of the table brought it to 0 degrees.

On The Job

The first job I used the Bosch PROFACTOR 12” Slide Miter Saw was a porch build with several different types of materials.  On that job, we cut and mitered cellular PVC trim boards, 5/4 x 6” mahogany decking, as well as made “regular” crosscuts in pressure-treated and kiln-dried 2x, and also composite decking.  We even cut 1” aluminum “angle iron” with a non-ferrous blade.  All miters turned out nice and tight when fastened, but more importantly – those miters were square!

Factory Blade

I didn’t care too much for the cut quality with the OEM Bosch blade, so I switched to a 40-tooth Spyder blade- something I hadn’t used before.  The cut quality and subsequent tear-out were improved.

The saw was easy to walk around with and set up and proved to be very stable on a plywood workstation.  There are plenty of holes in the base plate if you choose to screw the saw to your workstation, and there’s even a recessed “cutout” where you could cinch the saw down with a clamp.

Controls

All of the controls and adjustments are in intuitive, familiar locations, especially if you are accustomed to Bosch miter saws.  I’ve heard a few folks complain that you need to reach behind the saw to adjust the bevel.  This doesn’t bother me, because my go-to DeWalt miter saw for the last 18 years had the bevel adjustment in the same position.  For me, this has become natural and doesn’t feel inconvenient.

Rather than using a laser, the Bosch PROFACTOR miter saw uses a shadow line to create a kerf indicator.  This shadow is mostly accurate and is visible when working both indoors and out.  The light for the shadow line can be illuminated by depressing the trigger lock.  This is nice because you don’t have to actually spin the blade to activate the light.  After illumination, the shadow-line LED stays on for 20 seconds. This is generally ample time to alight the shadow with the intended cut/kerf location.

Battery Life and Performance

The Bosch PROFACTOR 12” Slide Miter Saw was sent with a CORE18V 8Ah High Power Battery.  Fundamentally, the CORE18V 8Ah battery has served my needs well.  When it comes to cordless tools, I believe that some folks get too hung up on battery life.   In my opinion, the convenience of cordless and the great features of a tool always trump run time.  On a jobsite, I make sure that I either always have a fresh battery on standby, or throw the battery I am using on the charger during lunch or a longer break such as running to the lumber yard.  For these reasons, I didn’t want my review to get bogged down on the number of cuts I could make with a full battery.  I feel as though that type of testing can sometimes be too subjective, especially because end-users of tools often use them in different ways.

A couple of times I ran out of battery life prior to finishing a set of cutting tasks, I was able to use a Bosch CORE18V 6.3Ah battery on the PROFACTOR miter saw and noticed zero lack of performance.  In a pinch, I even had to use a 4Ah battery.  While I wouldn’t want to get in the habit of this, it did work and got me through the job until my 8Ah pack was charged and ready to use.

Adjustments and Controls

Every single adjustment or control knob on the Bosch PROFACTOR 12” Slide Miter Saw is color-coded in red.  This continuity across the entirety of the saw makes it super easy to identify what you actually need to put your hands on to make adjustments.  Need to make an adjustment?  Look for red.  Need to bevel the saw?  Look for red.  Need to make a miter?  Look for red.  I find this to be very helpful when navigating the usage of the saw.  My only gripe with these control knobs is that they are plastic, and I’m fearful that may degrade or break over time.  So far, and especially in warm weather, the plastic has held up well and hasn’t been an issue.

Improvements Needed

I hate to make such a bold statement, but the dust collection on the Bosch PROFACTOR 12” Slide Miter Saw is poor.  Even with a corded Hilti dust extractor hooked up, I struggled to keep sawdust at bay.  The built-in dust port just behind the blade seems to be a bit short.  I’m thinking there has to be a reason that it doesn’t sit lower, perhaps for reasons of interference on the back fence.  From pine to cedar, to mahogany, the saw and vacuum combo just didn’t do a good job.  Dust collection is not only a concern for some of our clients, but it makes intermittent cleanup more necessary.

An on-board battery-life indicator would be a welcome feature, but not a deal-breaker when considering whether or not to purchase this saw.  No battery-life indicator on this saw is what I would put into the category of “first-world problems.”

Summary

Other than lackluster dust collection, the Bosch PROFACTOR 12” Dual-Bevel Slide Miter Saw checks all the boxes.  Accurate cutting, easy-to-use controls, tons of power, and cordless freedom make this miter saw a new favorite tool of mine.

There seemed to be a period of time when Bosch was gearing its tools more toward commercial users with its grinders, rotary hammers, impact drivers, and corded tools.  Their marketing and social media videos appeared to focus on commercial construction sites.  But more recently, and especially with the addition of more carpentry tools to the PROFACTOR cordless lineup, Bosch is proving that it’s back for the residential carpenter.  Well done.

Bosch 18V PROFACTOR 12” Dual-Bevel Slide Miter Saw Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Ridgid 18v 6½” Circular Saw (model R8656B)

Ridgid 18V SubCompact Brushless Cordless 6 1/2 in. Circular Saw

4/5

Manufacturer: Ridgid
Model number: R8656B
Price: $149.00
Power source: Lithium Ion battery
Motor size: 18v
Weight: 7.5 lbs

I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that I never owned a 6 ½” cordless circular saw until I received the Ridgid 18v 6½” Circular Saw to review.  My work partner Ed and I were skeptical of the saw, particularly because Ed had previous experiences with 6 ½” cordless circular saws that were underwhelming.  The smaller saw with a smaller blade and smaller batteries translated into smaller performance.  Thankfully, this new Ridgid 6 ½” saw was different.

Overview

The Ridgid 18v 6½” Circular Saw follows a similar layout and design to other 6 ½” cordless circular saws I have handled in the past, with a left-blade configuration that is extremely common for the blade size.  Personally, I love left-bladed circular saws because they offer a nice sight-line to the blade for right-handed users.  The base plate on the saw is a full 5” wide and plenty long enough to engage the work surface.  The over-molded top handle feels comfortable and substantial, and the levers to change blade height and bevel are easy to access and adjust.  There’s even a rafter hook for slinging the tool onto the side of a sawhorse or nearby 2x framing member.

Features and Benefits

The Ridgid 18v 6½” Circular Saw is packed with all sorts of features that you might find in a larger 7 ¼” sidewinder circular saw.  Ridgid advertises the following on its website:

• Lightweight Design. Heavyweight Performance.
• Pair with MAX Output batteries for maximum power
• 5,000 RPM
• 30% Lighter Weight when compared to RIDGID’s R8657 Brushless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw
• 27% More Compact when compared to the R8657 Brushless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw
• 50° Bevel Capacity cuts the most common angles
• 2-1/4 in. Depth of Cut
• Lightweight and Durable Magnesium Guard stands up to the toughest job sites
• LED Light for improved visibility in low-light situations
• Accepts 1-3/4 in. and 1-1/4 in. vacuum hose attachments

The Ridgid Subcompact Circular Saw has some impressive stats for its size.  They are as follows:

On The Job

I quickly found that the Ridgid 18v 6½” Circular Saw was a welcome addition to the job site. The first job I used the subcompact saw on was framing a garage.  What better place to test a circular saw than a framing site.  The compact design was light and nimble.   …so light that it could hang off a toolbelt while walking around the job.  The OEM blade from Ridgid was somewhat underwhelming, so after only about a dozen or so cuts through 2×6 lumber I decided to swap the blade for a new Diablo from Freud.  This definitely improved cut quality.

When paired with a Ridgid 18-volt, 4 Ah lithium battery, the saw has decent power and runtime. I managed to make 55 crosscuts on 2×6 SPF framing lumber with one battery.  I think this is respectable considering the size of the saw and the battery.  The Ridgid circular saw had no problem cutting “tough” building materials such as pressure-treated sill plates and ¾” OSB sheathing.

After the framing was complete on the garage, I started to see where this subcompact saw really shines – making quick cuts at different places around the job site.  I loved grabbing this subcompact saw for pre-cutting long lengths of trim lumber to bring them to a miter saw station, cutting small furring strips for our rain screen, and even breaking down waste to better fit in a burn pile or dump trailer.

Room For Improvement

I don’t have too many gripes about the Ridgid 18v 6½” Circular Saw. None of my gripes are deal breakers, nor do they prevent me from grabbing the saw when I need or want it.

The blade guard and its handle feel light-duty to me, but after a ton of use it has held up with no issues. I honestly thought it would break, but it hasn’t.  The base plate of the saw is a bit thin, so running the plate against a speed square as a fence requires the user to handle the saw with a little more diligence.  The dust port is oriented directly facing the user.  At times, depending on what I’m cutting, this results in a ton of sawdust ending up in my tool belt.  The blade depth indicator is a little tough to read as it is a relatively small arrow on an already narrow piece of steel.  Positive stops for bevel adjustment would be nice but are really only a convenience when making repetitive adjustments between 0 degrees and 45 degrees.

Final Thoughts

The Ridgid 18v 6½” Circular Saw is great.  I use the saw all the time, as does my new apprentice.  While this saw probably doesn’t have a full-time position on a framing site, I would darn near consider it a “must have” for a remodeler, general contractor, DIYer, or homeowner.  Compact.  Light.  Easy to use.  What else can you ask for?

Ridgid 18v 6½” Circular Saw Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

Ridgid RC-2375 Plastic Pipe Cutter

Ridgid RC-2375 Plastic Pipe Cutter

4.5/5

Manufacturer: Ridgid
Model number: RC-2375
Weight: 1 lb. 4 oz.

Overview

This Ridgid Plastic Pipe Cutter (Model 2375) is a simple and lightweight aluminum hand tool. A game-changing tool that has no motor, no batteries, and no cord?  That’s right.  The user of this tool can manually cut plastic pipe with an outside diameter of up to 2 3/8”.  The body of the tool is cast aluminum and has a “C”-shaped throat that the plastic pipe nests into.  As the user advances and indexes the handle, the steel blade swings across the pipe and towards the throat, cutting through the pipe. The result?  A clean, easy cut that is immediately suitable for piping.  No rough edges, no burrs.  It takes 15 strokes to advance the blade from fully open to fully closed.  Pulling the handle open releases the fully-closed blade. Then it’s opens 90 degrees and ready for the next cut.

Features and Benefits

The Ridgid RC-2375 is capable of cutting PVC, CPVC, PEX, polyethylene, polybutylene, and rubber hose.  The amount of hand force needed to cut through material is minimal.  I have never needed two hands to cut anything with it- even 2” Schedule-40 PVC.  Ridgid advertises the following:

• Durable aluminum construction for heavy-duty use
• Ergonomic grips on the bottom handle are spaced at ½” increments to act as a quick pipe measuring scale
• Easy turn-thumb latch for reliable storage
• X-CEL quick change blade
• Large 2 3/8” (63 mm) O.D. capacity
• Burrless cutting operation provides a square cut
• A quick-change blade pin enables the user to change blades in a matter of seconds without tools, saving valuable time and increasing productivity

At 10 inches long and just over 4 inches wide the tool is fairly compact.  It’s also relatively slim at a mere 1 3/8” thick.  It’s also really lightweight at approximately 1 lb. 4 oz.

On The Job

When I think about cutting plastic pipe (particularly PVC) bathroom and kitchen remodels are the first jobs that come to mind.  Historically, when cutting PVC pipe for installation, I set up a miter saw on a proper workstation.  Even a general-purpose blade ensures the cleanest, most-square cuts- particularly on larger PVC pipes such as 3” and 4”. However, not all jobs require larger pipe diameters, nor do they require a chop station.  Some jobs are smaller- such as swapping out a sump pump or reconfiguring a condensate drain.  The RC-2375 is great for these smaller tasks.

PVC pipe removals and cut-ins are where the tool really shines.  While using a reciprocating saw or oscillating multitool to remove older plastic pipes may be a common practice, the action of a power tool can sometimes vibrate the pipe that you are trying to cut- thereby minimizing the cutting action of the tool.  Placing a second hand on the pipe to be removed isn’t always possible or safe.  The Ridgid RC-2375 is a true one-handed tool, and the gentle ratcheting action makes removals a breeze.

And due to its size and configuration, the tool is easy to throw in one of the pouches on my toolbelt.  That’s just not possible with an equivalent battery-operated tool.  Several times I have brought the Ridgid pipe cutter into attics or crawlspaces, right in the back pocket of my Carhartts.  The tool also has no set-up required, no batteries to charge, and no cord to manage.

The clasp at the tail of the handle to keep the tool “closed” has never come unlatched or slipped open.  Similarly, the slide pin that keeps the blade retained has never loosened or fallen out.  The tool remains durable after 4 years of use.

Limitations

The Ridgid RC-2375 is a great tool, but it does have a few drawbacks.  First, it doesn’t cut PVC pipe very well in colder temperatures.  While this isn’t a deal-breaker if you’re considering purchasing this tool, it is something to be aware of when working with cold PVC.  To Ridgid’s credit, there is a disclaimer directly on the blade of the tool that reads “Cut slowly when pipe is below 50 degrees F.  (10 C.)”  Cutting cold PVC can result in jagged cuts because the pipe wants to shatter, rather than shear.  Essentially, the pipe breaks before it’s fully cut.

Second, the RC-2375 is also not great on all materials, including foam core PVC. To Ridgid’s credit, polypropylene is not a material they advertise can be cut with the RC-2375. Being a curious guy, I tried anyways and sadly it doesn’t work well.  The polypropylene pipe (such as a plastic p-trap) compresses, rather than cuts.

Lastly, I don’t cut PEX or polyethylene tubing with the Ridgid pipe cutter because I find the ratcheting action to be too slow.  I prefer to cut those types of tubing with a single-throw tubing cutter, which is much faster and more productive.

Overall Impression | Ridgid Plastic Pipe Cutter (RC-2375)

I bought the RC-2375 from the plumbing supply house F.W. Webb in 2017 and paid $115.  After about 3 years of periodic use, I replaced the blade for a cost of $85.  A professional plumber might expect to replace the blade more frequently. The tool is completely serviceable, as replacement parts are available online.  It can be repaired in the field or in the shop- something that is generally prohibitive with a power tool.  I have used similar generic “price-point” tools from the box stores, and they simply don’t compare to the quality of this Ridgid unit. The blades don’t hold up as well, plus they aren’t always replaceable or serviceable.

Something can be said for modest, well—made tools with no bells and whistles.  The Ridgid RC-2375 is simple, reliable, and portable, and has one purpose: To cut plastic pipe.  ….and it does that job well. It’s a relatively low-cost investment for a tool that is built to last.

Ridgid Plastic Pipe Cutter Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz