Bosch GCM12SD VS. Makita LS1219L

The miter saw for you!?

[@danyo41]

Love the comparison. Cut size, weight, etc... are easily accessible, so it's valuable to have someone with real life experience explain the differences. I have an old Rigid 12" that has been going for prob 10 or more years. Still an absolute beast after tuning it up and tightening the belt. But it takes up wayyyy too much room as it can't sit against the wall. Really need to upgrade to a 0 clearance for my small shop. I've been back and forth on the Bosch and Makita as I have gear from both brands and love them. I think after this vid I'll be leaning towards the Makita as there are a few extra features that I enjoyed. Dust collection especially where as it will be a shop only saw. Also love how you pointed out the differences in detents, great point. Thanks for your vid!

[@PerryChristensen]

Justin - Thanks for the comparison of these two saws. It was helpful as I try to decide which miter saw I will purchase.

[@josstyk]

Dude - I loved your review. I've had the Bosch for years and am on the hunt for a new saw for my shop. I didn't realize all the bennies of the Makita (primary being dust control and ease-on power). THANK YOU for this video. The cost of the Makita had me looking back to Bosch, but I'm gonna save a bit more and make the right purchase.

[@robertdavis411]

Hi Justin, just wanted to say I have enjoyed both your videos and hope you make more. I've been a self employed carpenter for over 40 years and have been a makita guy for as long as I can remember and for the past few years a Atlas 46 fan. I wear the Saratoga vest and now the Stratos open core vest.

[@justincarroll6979]

Thanks for the comment Rob. Heck yea Makita!

[@user-ef7gw5pg2l]

Justin, Thanks for the video. I retired from contracting and now am focusing on shop work only. I've used the Makita LS 1018 on a Dewalt portable stand for almost 10 years. Now the need for portable is gone I'm building a MS cabinet/ stand and don't like the cabinet depth it will take for my LS1018. Your comparison was detailed and covered some of the key differences in the two saws I was looking at. Where I live no store stocks either saw for me to look at before buying. I graduated from The Dewalt MS to the Makita LS 1018 and now as this might be the last MS I buy I wanted to get a real good one. The big brother to the 1018 looks like my next purchase thanks to your review.

[@6milesup]

@user-ef7gw5pg2l I am picking up my new Makita LS1219L tomorrow. The store that I went to had the Bosch and Makita right alongside each other. The Makita operated more smoothly than the Bosch in my opinion. It just felt like a more expensive saw. They also had a Kapex there, but I was less than impressed, plus, I was not going to spend $1600 on a MS. One thing I am not sure about on the Makita is the fence system, but after I started thinking about it, I would say it is pretty rare that I cut a bevel and miter at the same time with the wood standing up. Another point between the two saws is the handle and the power trigger. The Bosch felt huge and clunky, whereas the Makita was much more natural and ergonomic.

[@ligngood3787]

Wow, what a great and helpful video! I greatly appreciate this because I have been trying to decide between these two saws. I currently have a cordless/corded 120V, 12" Dewalt DHS790 but it takes way too much space behind it. I have been able to examine the Bosch but not the Makita. I have examined three of the Bosches at Home Depot and Lowe's and all of them had that same slop in the miter detents that you mention. I notice it looks like you can see through the guard pretty well on the Makita, which is great because I never trust lasers. I learned to split hairs by sighting down the side of the blade 🙂 Thanks for a great video!

[@justincarroll6979]

Thanks for the feedback lign. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@MarshallDjurhuus]

From pro to pro: great review! Make more videos man, show us that accessory table you have on the stand.

[@debarkeddesigns5376]

Finally a quality review, not focusing on the useless hold down 😅 Thanks my dude 🤙🏻

[@bobmcconnell3123]

Great review thanks Justin. I think the only thing I would add is there is $200 price difference with the Makita being the higher priced. The features on the Makita make it worth it to me but everyone will have to make their own decision of course. Again great practical review. Thanks

[@jhoelrosale4969]

Helped a lot! Now I know which one to buy now!

[@davidbutler3523]

I had the 12" dewalt for maybe 15 year and it was truly a bullet proof uber accurate saw, I loved it but the terrible dust extraction and the crazy jolt when pulling the trigger to start was always a negative. Had the Makita for about a year now and the dust extraction is the best out there. The soft start is an absolute game changer. The difference is so subtle that it's hard to describe but once you've tried it there's no going back. Great video by the way, honest no thrills appraisal. 10/10.

[@LeNimph]

This was a great video. These were the two saws I was comparing and it looks like I'm going with the Makita for the better dust collection.

[@1975oldschool]

Nice real world comparison man! 👍🏻

[@FearsomeWarrior]

I’ve had the 12 inch DeWalt for over ten years and have kept looking at Makita’s saw. I do love that I never have to move the rear fence wings on mine. As long as they’re slid out an inch from all the way in you can cut any compound angles without hitting them. If I get a Makita it’ll stay in the shop and making a zero clearance board for the bottom and back is something I’d be more likely to do. Curse the DeWalt for its long bars sticking out the back because I never made a spot in the bench or cabinets because of the bars going back. I keep the saw mobile and have the sawhorse stand. Curious if you’ve had time with the Festool just for your opinion of cost-value or adjustments being good enough.

[@enzodp1416]

Hello Justin. Bosch GCM12GDL sold in Australia 2.5 years ago has a slow start fuction. Great smooth mitre saw.

[@mak4374]

I have the Bosch and everything you said was on point. What bothers me about it is that the ones sold outside the US, they all have soft start, laser guide and a much better wood holder. Why not here? As for the slide, yeah, nothing else comes close.

[@Angel283]

Great video!!!!! Exactly what I'm looking for to help me decide which saw to buy!! Thanks!!!!!! Subbed. :)

[@PL-wj9tr]

Brilliant thank you exactly what I was looking for.

[@MD-en3zm]

Great review - new sub. Hope you keep. making more vids. Have you noticed any difference in the deflection of the blades between the 2 saws when all the way extended? I still have my trusty old DeWalt 10 inch non-slider, which cuts square since the blade doesn’t slide out. I’m wondering which of the zero-back-clearance type 12 inch sliders have the least deflection. Also - any difference in the lasers between the 2? Debating making my own shadow guide. Some vids on youtube suggesting it’s easy. Oh and 1 more thing - have you used the depth settings on each (e.g. for cutting dados etc.)? If so is one any better than the other?

[@RickHansen-ro1nh]

I'm looking for excellent dust collection so it looks like the Makita is the way to g. Thanks for the excellent comparison.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

Thanks for the video. I no longer travel with my saw so I got rid of my gigantic DWS779 because it needs too much room. I'm considering these two saws as a replacement so it was very helpful.

[@justincarroll6979]

Thank you for the comment Ray. I’m glad it helped!

[@SuperPhoReal]

…..the makita is heavier and it’s about the same size as 779. However, makita is better overall.

[@MD-en3zm]

Not needing to travel with mine is why I want to upgrade to a 12 inch slider from my 10 inch fixed.

[@HouseDoctorRay]

@@MD-en3zm well, get ready for those black Friday sales and go get the Makita. You deserve it!

[@greatbiggiesize3644]

Thanks for the great video. Trying to decide between these 2 myself. Does either have a shadow line? And, did you check the blade/rail deflection of both at full extension? Which was best?

[@pf5658]

Great information man. Thanks! I’ve actually been doing research on both these saws for my next saw. Hence the reason I’m here. I am a bit disappointed to hear Bosch has plastic on the detent instead of aluminum. Which saw would you say you prefer overall?

[@DrCoCoBanana]

Very helpful, thanks for taking the time and the real world use (no fluff) review. In the process of upgrading from a DeWalt 780 miter saw, mainly looking for better space savings and dust collection the Bosch GCM12SD and Makita LS1219L saws were where I've netted out... looks like I'll be going with the Makita. I have found over the years my shop (especially saws) has been becoming more and more Makita blue. My DeWalt and other brand tools have been fine but Makita just tends to be better engineered and usually of better quality overall. Curious if you have any preferences on Miter Saw Blades? I use Diablo a lot but have found some of the Makita to be very good as well.

[@TxEdelassi]

Very helpful video. What stand are you using for the Makita?

[@somguy5035]

Thanks, helped me choose

[@tristo931]

ones in aust have soft start in Australia for the bosch

[@tywilkinson469]

Thank you!

[@giuseppecastaldo644]

Hi, I'd like to have your advice. I'm undecided between makita ls1219l and kapex festool. I would like to make a good purchase.

[@RonSoss]

Very helpful. Thanks

[@davebond2381]

I've been looking at both of these saws and trying to decide which one to get. I've read about dust collecting in the bottom of the Makita that builds up and makes if more difficult to move the table for mitres. I'm thinking just blowing it out with air should help with that. What are your thoughts? Thank you for making this video. Very informative and exactly the type of information I was looking for.

[@justincarroll6979]

I think as long as you blow it off after the day the makita is your best bet. I do production work and even a full day of cutting doesn’t gum up the table. I do give it a quick clean at the end of the day and it seems to be all it needs along with cleaning the slider arms. Five minutes of clean up and it continues to work great. Thanks for the comment Dave!

[@davebond2381]

@@justincarroll6979 thanks for your input. Much appreciated

[@nickcase2635]

I messed with the axial glide on the display at Lowe’s yesterday. I gotta have one. 😂😂😂

[@bobmartin6055]

Very helpful!!

[@pjones8212]

I have the bosch, the turntable is higher than the infeed and outfeed table. Just shy of 1/16. When bosch was contacted, they said that is a feature? It makes everything about that useless, clamps etc. I ordered a new saw. If it is the same way I am dropping bosch. I have a video up showing the problem.

[@ceretomer5987]

Blade deflection? What about blade deflection on wide cuts?

[@yeltayyesbolat7566]

I have Makita LS1219L now, it's my cute monster, I am thinking about buying a work table for it, I see you use Bosch, which model is it? And if you have a second chance which one you gonna buy (another model or Makita or self-made one)?

[@sonomafred]

Justin, one year in, how is the Makita working out for you? I'm ready to purchase one and seeing some very conflicting reviews of it. While it's garnered mostly positive comments, some reviewers report that the saw fails to cut straight and true or makes "concave looking" cuts. They attribute this to the slide bars not being spaced far enough to provide lateral stability. These reviewers also state they are working professionals who use the saw everyday, not DIY's who might not notice the lack of precision (and therefore posting good reviews). So, does the saw cut straight? I'd appreciate any insight you might have. Thanks, Fred

[@SharpSh00ter165]

Any milwaukee guys in here?

[@justincarroll6979]

I’m actually big on a lot of Milwaukee tools as well. I have all their nailers and the pack-out vacuum. love all the stuff I have from them. I just don’t like the miter or table saw as much. I’m not stuck on any brand. I use a Dewalt job site table saw too haha.

[@Menelyagor12]

probably one of the only things i wont buy from milwaukee currently is their mitre saw. bad reviews all around.

[@MD-en3zm]

Concord Carpenter on youtube had real issues with the Milwaukee overheating. Also - I don’t think it’s a zero rear clearance like the Bosch/Makita/etc. Milwaukee makes some great tools - I’ve bought 3 so far this season and eyeing some of the nailers, a bandsaw, and a router…

[@user-bk6db7we1o]

Seems like a very biased review against his old toy Bosch

[@cloutgangster]

What a goofball