OK, so a pocket-sized miter saw would be a really bad idea. Some things just aren’t meant to be too small, or in your pocket. But a more compact, still full-featured miter saw is a great idea. Which is why we were happy to test out the new CM12 miter saw Bosch sent our way recently. We first tweeted about it back at the National Hardware Show in Vegas. This 12″ model packs plenty of power into a form factor that won’t necessarily put your chiropractor’s kids (and grandkids) through college. It’s priced within reach as well. But just how useful is it, given it’s svelte form-factor? Read on to find out more.



Portability & Capacity
Keeping your miter saw close to your install point is a good efficiency move regardless of how particular you are with your cuts. At 43 pounds, vs. 65 pounds for the 12″ Axial Glide, the CM12 still isn’t something you’re going to curl with your pinky. However, Bosch took a number of steps to make the CM12 one of the more portable saws in its class. First, Bosch added two handles to the saw. The top handle is something we’ve seen before, and it’s useful for initially getting the saw off the ground, or just repositioning it. Like the bedroom in most episodes of Cribs, the back handle is where the magic happens. Bosch actually designed the handle so that the saw hangs almost perfectly balanced, straight down. Why is that important? Assuming you keep the flat part of the base closest to your body, you can actually carry the CM12 at your side. Sure, you can carry other similar saws at your side too, but usually doing so results in some collateral damage to your knees and legs. I said almost perfectly balanced in that I think the handle could have been shifted just a tad so the bottom of the saw would hang just a touch kicked-out, but that’s a minor quibble. While it’s still not exactly a briefcase, and you’ll want to use caution moving through doorways with it, the CM12 makes transporting other similar saws look downright awkward. Don’t let the major selling point of portability fool you. The CM12 is no limited hobby saw. If you’re just doing a straight “chop cut” (no miter), this saw will chomp right through a 2 x 8 (or a 2 x 6 if your doing a 45 degree cross cut). It can handle 6 inches max for crown and a full 6 3/4″ for base up against the fence.

Bevel, Miter and Politics

Blade Changes

Function
Looking for more details? Our intrepid buddy Barnaby of ToolSelect.com talks with Bosch’s Jason Feldner for a quick overview. Please note; we endorse the use of flip-flops at media events, but not so much on the job site.
Overall, we think the CM12 is a highly versatile saw that’s well designed for quick and easy transport. Whether you’re cutting framing, trimming-out your windows, or putting in crown or base, the Bosch Compact Miter Saw can handle most jobs you put it to task on. It’s a single bevel, and it doesn’t slide or glide, but that’s partly how it retains its portability. With one of the most thoughtfully designed carry-handles around, it’s a right at home in your garage, truck, jobsite, and everywhere in between. Thanks to the 12″ blade, most people won’t find themselves limited by the saw’s functionality or capacity. At a price point of just over $350 on Amazon, the Bosch CM12 12-Inch Single Bevel Compound Miter Saw is within the grasp of both pro’s and homeowners alike.
Keep buying those cheap German goods and faster than you can say “yogurt, rice and biscotti” and you’ll be starving 1000’s of Greeks, Spaniards and Italians.
I have to say these days the more portable options are looking better and better all the time. When I first started getting tools together in anticipation of starting my one-man ban… er… carpentry business I was all about capacity. I’m a big guy! I can lug around heavy saws and tools! But just a few years later my 70 lb Milwaukee sliding compound miter saw and full figured Bosch table saw with rolling stand are looking less and less “fun” to move from job to job. Plus… I can barely fit anything else in the back of my truck once I’ve got both of these behemoths in there. So learn from my mistakes! Bigger is not always better (although the capacity on the Milwaukee is pretty sweet).
Agreed Ethan! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!