Bosch GCM12SD 120-Volt 12-Inch DB Glide Miter Saw

Product Details

Shipping Weight: 88.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
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ASIN: B004323NNC
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Item model number: GCM12SD

By : Bosch
List Price : ~~$1,528.00~~
Price : $695.00
You Save : $833.00 (55%)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
The 12-Inch Dual-Bevel Glide Miter Saw features the smooth cutting motion, accurate performance, and space-saving design of Bosch's patented Axial-Glide System. Pre-aligned Squarelock fences help the saw maintain precision throughout its life, and a soft-grip ambidextrous handle and combination dust chute and vacuum adaptor provide user comfort. The saw also offers a large cutting capacity, easy-to-read bevel and miter scales with detents at common angles, and easy-access up-front controls.

12-Inch Dual-Bevel Glide Miter SawAt a Glance:

15 amp motor delivers 3,800 rpm no-load speed to handle a variety of materials
Compact Axial-Glide System provides smooth, accurate cuts
Squarelock quick-release fences allow for easy, precise alignment
Easy adjustments with upfront bevel and miter controls and detents at common angles
Backed by a one-year limited warranty

Easily adjustment the upfront bevel, miter controls, and detents for commoncutting angles. .
Ensure smooth cuts with a patented Axial-Glide System giving you complete control over the saw's cutting action. .Compact Axial-Glide System Creates Smooth, Controlled CutsBosch's patented Axial-Glide System is designed to create smooth cuts and ensure you have complete control over the saw's cutting action. Axial-Glide doesn't use a traditional rail setup, so this saw takes up to 12 inches less workspace than many competitors.
Blade Compatibility and Powerful Motor for Versatile PerformanceIn addition, this Bosch miter saw's 15 amp motor delivers no-load speeds of 3,800 rpm for quick, accurate cuts in many materials. For further convenience and versatility, the saw is compatible with a variety of 12-inch blades, and it has a clear lower guard to provide unobstructed cut-line visibility.
Flexible Setup with Large CapacityWith a 14-inch horizontal capacity, a 6-1/2-inch vertical capacity for material against the fence or base, and a 6-1/2-inch crown capacity against the fence at 45 degrees, this miter saw is useful for a variety of cuts.
Additionally, the saw features two sliding integrated base extensions that provide adjustable support for materials measuring up to 40 inches long.
Quick-Release Squarelock Fences Provide Accurate, Easy AlignmentHigh-precision, trademarked Squarelock fences come aligned at 90-degree angles to the saw's table and require no adjustments. These quick-release fences utilize a one-touch lock/unlock feature that allows you to easily slide each fence into position for accurate material alignment.
Adjustable Miter Detents and Easy-Access Detent OverrideAn etched stainless steel miter scale with large, easy-to-read markings lets you accurately set cuts measuring up to 52 degrees to the left and up to 60 degrees to the right. Common angles are easy to set with miter detents at 0, 15, 22.5, 31.6, and 45 degrees on the right and left, and 60 degrees on the right.
A push-button miter detent override helps ensure fine miter angle adjustment for precise cuts. This thumb-actuated control is located at the front of the saw for easy access.
Up-Front Bevel Controls, Marked Detents, and Roof Pitch AnglesThe saw's all-metal bevel lock lever and range selector are located up front to make bevel adjustments easy.
The bevel capacity allows you to cut at angles ranging from 0 to 47 degrees to the left and the right, while marked detents and roof pitch angles make the most common angles easy to set. The saw features bevel detents at 0, 33.9, and 45 degrees for both left- and right-facing cuts, and it includes a high visibility dual-bevel scale.
Ergonomic Grip and Dust Capture for User ComfortWeighing only 65 pounds, this compact miter saw is easy to maneuver. It features a large, ergonomic handle with a soft grip for user comfort, and it offers an ambidextrous trigger setup for both right- and left-handed users.
To further ensure user comfort, this Bosch saw's combination dust chute and vacuum adaptor provides dust capture for a cleaner work environment and improved visibility.
Like all Bosch power tools, the 12-Inch Dual-Bevel Glide Miter Saw is backed by a one-year limited warranty.
What's in the BoxMiter saw, 12-inch 60T blade, tool-free material clamp, blade wrench, 90-degree combination dust chute elbow and vacuum adaptor, and dust bag.

Quick release fenses provide accuracy and safety while making cuts.
Push button miter detent lets you preset your cutting options.
From the Manufacturer
The New and Innovative GCM12SD Glide Miter Saw delivers durable precision, compact workspace, and unmatched smoothness of cut! This saw features the Axial-Glide system which operates by folding the articulated arm flush with the back of the saw, saving up to 12-Inch of workspace versus a traditional sliding compound miter saw and enabling the saw to be operated with almost no clearance behind it; ideal for jobsites and cramped workshops.

Technical Details

Patented axial-glide system for durable precision and compact workspace
Expanded cutting capacity: 14-Inch horizontal capacity, 6-1/2-inch vertical capacity, 6-1/2-inch crown capacity (45-degree spring)
Large easy-to-read uniform bevel and stainless steel miter scales with marked detents and roof pitch angles
High-precision Squarelock fence aligns fence 90 degrees to table and requires no adjustment; one-touch lock/unlock to slide fence for added support
Large form-fitting ambidextrous ergonomic trigger handle provides comfort for all-day use

Bosch GCM12SD 120-Volt 12-Inch DB Glide Miter Saw

Customer Reviews

Just picked this saw up from Tool King. they shipped it right away and I got the tool days before the earliest expected delivery date...took just 4 working days. Very heavy saw if you plan to cart it to and use it on job sites which I do. Man the gliding action is sweet. none of the typical resistance from the rod saws I've owned and I've about owned them all. I have the latest Ridgid and Dewalt 12" crosscut saws now and had their previous evolutions as well as the Milwaulke, Makita and Bosch cosscuts.
The high up motor is the first thing that smacks at you...ugly and in your cheek when you carry this beast, and it shoulda come with a lazer (even tho I have never used one) and a quick release material clamp...where's that? For the money all the bells and whistles shoulda been there IMO.
Here's what I see as this saws greatest flaw...The advertised baseboard against the fence height of 6+ inches is ONLY WITH THE BASEBOARD (or other material) ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SAW BLADE Turn the table to the right at 45 deg and the bottom of the belt/spindle housing is the highest a piece of wood can be (4.5 inches). When the saw is pushed back against the fence (or used as a chop saw) the housing is almost touching the fence (at 45 deg right)...The tallest piece of 3/4 inch thick material against the fence cannot be any more than 4 1/2 inches tall to the right sided of the blade. Very very disappointing!
The manual tells you specifically :
Manual page 38: "This saw can miter cut 6-1/2 tall base boards verically positioned against the fence at any angle from 0-52 deg. All angled cuts must be made with the base board placed on the left side of the table. for certain cuts, the base boaard will have to be flipped upside down or placed with the face side against the fence"...
So any baseboard taller than 4.5 inches must be cut on the left side of the blade and that any miters other than at the right end of a board must be turned/flipped to have the finished side (long point of the miter)facing the fence...like who's gonna cut a finished piece of wood that way with all the splintered rip outs Yea right...use a sacrificial fence board (is what the manual says)or lay the piece on the table and use the bevel angle with the crosscut feature...not this finish carpenter! I cut alot of prefinished molding for kitchen work and (e.g.)the typical MTT molding that WoodMode offers for crown detail, which is 6" tall, can only be crosscut on the table with this saw. My Dewalt clears the same molding left and right of the blade, and the Ridgid can cut it if I rip it to 5 inches first. How many of us have an 8 foot piece of tall trim we want to chop cut somewhere close to the middle at 45 deg right miter? how about a 3 foot piece somewhere close to the middle? This saw won't cut it if it's over 4.5 inches tall :-(
Update 12-19-2010: have had more time using this saw and am convinced I would not have bought it if I had had experience with it. As a Kitchen remodeler, I install ALOT of cabinet mouldings. As I stated earlier, one of the upper crown detail moldings I quite freguently install is an L shapped facia between the cabinets and ceiling which measures 3" wide at the bottom by 6" tall. Crown is then applied to this. Since this saw can only cut a miter on the right end of mouldings taller than 4 1/2" when set against the fence vertically, I am forced to use the crosscut option laying taller mouldings flat on the table for the other end's miter cut. BUT, this saw when layed over to the right side at 45 degrees. ONLY ALLOWS A CUT HEIGHT OF 1 1/2". I cannot even cut one of the most common crown detail mouldings used even when using the crosscut option with the saw bevel layed to the right side at 45 degrees. In short, the 45 degree right side bevel crosscut allowance of this saw is only designed to cut a piece of 2x lumber (1 1/2" thick)
The idea of the hinged arms on this saw and the upfront bevel controls is outstanding, but the practical everyday use of this saw's capabilities is less than a cheap Firestorm chop box
I would NOT recommend this saw for anything other than for framing purposes.

I have a 12" Dewalt DW703 that has served me well. I put a furniture grade blade on it and when it's sharp, I don't have to sand the cuts much at all. I wanted something that would cut wider pieces of material and I also wanted something for dados. I really hate my table saw dado insert. I never made a zero clearance insert for dados and that big hole just scares me. My lovely bride of almost 35 years bought me this saw for my birthday. I am one lucky guy.
The saw seems rock solid. The things I noticed that are different from the Dewalt.
1. As just about everyone notices, the glide is very loose. Bosch put an adjustment to add some resistance but I haven't done it yet.
2. It's not a soft start motor so there is a kick that I didn't get with the non-sliding Dewalt. It's just a thing.
3. One thing I didn't expect but should have is that the blade doesn't bury itself as deeply. The Dewalt, to get maximum cut width, went way down. The bed on this saw is about a half inch lower than the Dewalt. Again, just a thing but I was cutting some Baltic Birch plywood and I had some tearout on top. I don't think I would have had that with the Dewalt.
4. The handle seems higher than the Dewalt. I wound up rebuilding my stand and shortening it by 2" so it wouldn't be awkward. Part of the awkwardness comes from the safety (see item 1 below)
A couple of negatives (maybe)
1. There is a thumb safety release that I didn't have with the Dewalt. It's pretty stiff and I haven't quite got the hang of it.
2. The saw is very awkward to carry. The way the weight is distributed on the saw and where you are supposed to grab it make for a difficult lift. On the positive side of that, Bosch put in some locking pins that are easy to find and engage.
3. I am used to a zero-clearance insert on the Dewalt. It was a solid piece of plastic that I installed and then cut. Bosch has two pieces of plastic that can adjust inwards but they don't make for true zero clearance. I haven't figured out whether I care about that or not given item 3 above. It may be that I need zero clearance along the back more than the bottom. It could be that I never needed it at all.
I should mention that I am a hobby woodworker and that this saw won't travel.
Now I have to figure out what to do with the Dewalt.
Update:
1. The saw may be soft start. I was using it this morning and that's how it's behaving now. I did change blades but I can't imagine that having anything to do with a change in behavior. I started a support case with Bosch.
2. The table on my saw is not flat. The center is low by .029" which seems excessive to me. I have started a support case with Bosch.
Update:
Bosch told me to take the saw in for repair. They said that the saw isn't repairable but I could save shipping that way. The repair people tell me that the process will take about 3 weeks. I am waffling about what to do. The box is long gone so shipping back to Amazon would be a hassle.
Update:
Sadly, this saw is going back to Amazon. Customer service was great to deal with. I told them that the saw is defective according to Bosch tech support. The representitive I had was unfamiliar with woodworking tools so I dictated the reason for her as she typed and she was very appreciative that she didn't have to do that herself. I was informed that a shipper would come to my house to pick up the saw. I told them that the original shipping container is long gone and they said that wasn't a problem. Too bad about the saw but Amazon customer service gets 5 stars.
I will still buy the saw but I will be going to my local Woodcraft where I can see and touch the thing. I would have gone for a replacement with Amazon but I didn't want to get another bad saw and go through the whole process again. I thought it best to go brick and morter for this item.
Update:
I'm happy to report that everyone involved couldn't have been better.
Amazon offered to replace the saw or give me a refund. They offered to pay for return shipping even though I didn't have the original packaging. Because the saw is heavy, they scheduled a pickup with a trucking company. Amazon said I didn't even have to box the saw. The trucking company wanted me to box it in something...anything.
My experience with Bosch was better yet. I approached it from two directions: a support phone call and an email. The phone support guy told me that the saw was out of spec and was not repairable. He said I could return it to Amazon for refund or take it in to a local repair place where they would determine what was wrong (everything) and take care of me. They also said I could ship the saw back to them at my expense. That's about the best I could expect from a frontline support guy.
Meanwhile, the email folks were evaluating my case.
I consulted with my local retailer and they gave me the name of the Bosch Rep for Kansas/Missouri. I called him. I was trying to decide whether to go for a replacement or refund and then buy the saw locally. We have a couple of woodworking shows soon and I thought I might show up with my straightedge and get the pick of the litter. He expressed a lot of interest in my saw and talked with his techs who were more interested yet. They offered to order in several saws, pick the best and ship that one to me. Then I would use the box and ship mine to the techs for analysis. They would pay shipping. That sounded good to me so I accepted their offer. After all, I do like the saw, I just want one that's right.
Meanwhile, the email support folks got back to me. They wanted to ship me a new saw and have me ship mine back at their expense. It seems that their techs wanted to see my saw. That would make two genuine expressions of interest in what happened to my saw.
I have to say that one offer from Bosch might just be anomalous curiosity by a single person. Two such offers suggest a corporate culture.
I will update again in a week or so when I have more to report.
Update:
Bosch sent another saw in a prototype improved package. Basically, there was a box around the box with foam inserts between. The gaps in saw 2 were just about identical to saw1. I contacted Bosch. It just so happened that the Woodworking Show was in town last weekend and my Bosch guy was working the show. Last Friday morning before the show opened he and another Bosch tech came by and did their own measurements. They got roughly the same results I did. It was nice to have a pro verify my measurements. I wasn't at all indignant. They offered to try again and had even brought another base with them. I said I was going to give up and send the saw back. Bosch offered to buy the saw and pay shipping. So the saw is gone and I have been promised a check in a couple of weeks.
[start opinion]
I am still convinced that this saw is top quality. Assuming I get the check, I have no complaints about how Bosch handled the situation. I have no complaints about Amazon.
Based on my experience with these two saws, I am still convinced that this is fine saw. If it were shipped upright on a pallet with other saws and handled correctly in shipment, I think it would be very accurate. However, I don't think the packaging is adequate for single shipping to my house. This is an 88 lb saw and most of the weight is not in the base. When that saw is dropped, all of that force comes down on the four feet and exerts a bending moment that would take a lot of aluminum to overcome.
If you are interested in the saw, buy it locally or go get it. Don't have it shipped to you.
[end opinion]