Bosch GCM12SD Review

In case you want to cut parallel cuts or wedges on the wood, then getting a miter saw would truly help. With its miter and bevel, these saws allow you to make smooth and accurate cuts at the angles you want. While one of the easiest and most versatile form of miter saws are the sliding saws, most of these sliding saws have a set of rails on which the blade can move to ensure that the cutting is done. However, these rails come with an inherent problem of not being able to cut the wood properly, especially if the saw is to be used in a limited area space, where the rails will protrude out and take more space.

To help in cutting well without compromising on the sliding features, Bosch came up with the innovative model Bosch GCM12SD, which uses a smooth horizontal and vertical arm movement instead of the sliding rails to make the cuts. This design not only provides better control for making smooth cuts, but also requires the saw to occupy almost 12-inches less space as compared to the traditional design. For its power, the Bosch GCM12SD relies on a 15-amp motor that results in 3800 RPM of the blade on 0-load.

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Features of the Bosch GCM12SD:

• With a 15-amp motor and a 3800-RPM with no load, the Bosch GCM12SD miter saw comes with a 12-inch blade to make the cuts quickly and smoothly. Apart from this, the saw is also compatible with a variety of 12-inch blades that make it a convenient solution for making different types of cuts.
• The patented axial-glide system of this saw allows it to move horizontally and vertically in a smooth fashion, thus providing the operator with more flexibility more making the cuts. The absence of rails also makes the saw require less space.
• The saw also makes use of Bosch’s patented squarelock quick-release fences to easily glide the fences in whichever position needed for proper alignment.
• Concerning cutting capacity, the Bosch GCM12SD comes with a 14-inch horizontal capacity, a 6.5-inch vertical capacity and a 6.5-inch crown cutting capacity at 45 degrees that makes this saw useful for making different types of cuts.
• The device also has adjustable miter detents that allow accurate settings of angles up to 52 degrees on left and 60 degrees on the right. The common settings like 0, 15, 22.5, 31.6 and 45-degree angles are also preset on both left and right, and a 60-degree setting on the right. There is a push-button miter detent for providing accurate settings for finer angle-settings.
• The saw also has a high visibility dual-bevel scale and allows angles to be set from 0 to 47 degrees on left and right, with preset values of 0, 33.9 and 45 degrees.
• On the flip side, this saw weighs 65-pounds, which makes it slightly less portable, however, once it is setup properly, it is pretty easy to use. For better control for the user, the Bosch GCM12SD comes with an ergonomic handle, and ambidextrous trigger setup so both left and right-handed operators can make use of the saw with ease.
• The Bosch GCM12SD set comes with the miter saw and a 12-inch 60T blade. The kit also contains dust bag, blade wrench, 90-degree combination dust chute elbow and a vacuum adapter.
• Like all Bosch products, the GCM12SD comes with a one-year limited warranty.

With its innovative design that saves space and smooth finishing, the Bosch GCM12SD is one of the best miter saws that I have worked with.  Not only does the design ensure that there is a smooth sliding, but when used, the saw almost works without any vibration, which is an excellent thing.

Pros of the Bosch GCM12SD

• The Bosch GCM12SD has an innovative space saving design that allows the operator to have more control over the cutting.
• 15-amp motor with 3800-RPM power to cut through even hard wood very smoothly.
• The Bosch GCM12SD makes use of a combination dust chute and a vacuum adapter with the normal dust bag, which ensures that the work area remain free from the dust generated due to the cutting.
• Highly adjustable miter detents and bevel settings to allow the user to make cuts with high accuracy.
• The Bosch GCM12SD is also versatile to support various other 12-inch blades and other add-ons like the Bosch T4B Gravity-Rise Miter Saw Stand to help the user get more control and flexibility from the saw.

Cons of the Bosch GCM12SD

• With the saw being 65-pounds in weight, it is among the less portable devices.
• The device misses a laser-pointer to guide the operator in cutting straight cuts, however, with its accuracy; this is not much of a shortcoming.
• The Bosch GCM12SD comes with a limited one-year warranty, which is less as compared to the type of warranty offered by other similar devices.

Get Bosch GCM12SD at 55% off the retail price from Amazon now.

This is a good miter saw for people who want accurate cuts. One of the reviews from a knowledgeable wood-worker MezaJarJarBinks on Amazon sums up this saw perfectly. A part of the review states, “I’m the guy you may have seen complain about sliding miter saws in other venues. I have tried many saws, but they all had the same problems. First, the blade was never perfectly aligned with its path (heel), and there was no way to adjust it. The resulting cut would be OK in some places, but not OK in others. Secondly, the slide always had vibration. This would impart a less than smooth cut.  I have been waiting to try this new design; it just looked like it had to work the way it should. I have it now, and I absolutely love it! It is smooth as silk, with no vibration, and the blade is almost perfectly aligned with its path. I am thankful they finally made a miter saw I could appreciate.”

Overall, if you are looking for a good saw that you would not want to move too often, then the Bosch GCM12SD is a highly recommended choice.

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