Bosch GCM12SD

After 20+ years of service our Craftsmen 12″ miter saw had given about as much as we could have asked of it. When the fence was deemed no longer able to be squared it was time to face the task of finding a suitable replacement. Technology had come quite a long way in the decades since the original purchase. We knew that it had to be a 12″ model and we really wanted to go with a sliding model. However, most sliding saws have long support bars that extend from the rear which wouldn’t have worked in the location we needed the saw to go. This limited our choices significantly but one saw kept popping up in our searches and had amazing reviews. After a little hunting to find the best price we chose this Bosch GCM12SD.

The first thing we will say about this saw is that the slide mechanics are smooth and amazingly sturdy. A big point of our initial concern was that the arms that control the saw wouldn’t give us an accurate and repeatable cut. This has proven to be unfounded as time and time again we are seeing flawless results.

It’s also important to note the slide action is very smooth and allows us to cut lumber up to 16″ wide. This is an absolute treat for a shop that was previously limited to the dimensions of a fixed 12″ blade. Ah, the simple pleasures in life.

Something that is particularly nice that most people wouldn’t care about is the fact that the trigger handle works for both right and left handed users. This is important in our shop as the left-handed world is well represented.

Here’s some specs right from the Bosch website:

The Bosch-exclusive Axial-Glide offers wider cross-cuts, enhanced alignment and smooth glide for the life of the tool. The Bosch miter saw’s 15 Amp motor delivers no-load speeds of 3,800 RPM for quick, accurate cuts in many materials. For added convenience and versatility, the saw is compatible with a variety of 12 In. blades and it has a clear lower guard to provide unobstructed cut-line visibility. The GCM12SD provides easy adjustments with upfront bevel and miter controls and detents at common angles. The saw’s all-metal bevel lock lever and range selector are located up front to make bevel adjustments easy.

  • The Bosch GCM12SD is a 12 In. Dual-Bevel Glide miter saw that features a smooth cutting motion, accurate performance and a space-saving design of the Bosch-exclusive Axial-Glide system
  • Pre-aligned SquareLockfences help the saw maintain precision throughout its life
  • A soft-grip ambidextrous handle along with a combination dust chute and vacuum adaptor add to 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 upfront controls
  • Integrated expanding base extensions: 60% more left-to-right material support than leading competitor – 40 In. left to right
  • Large easy-to-read uniform bevel and stainless steel miter scales: 52° left/60° right miter capacity; 47° left/47° right bevel capacity with marked detents and roof pitch angles
  • Adjustable miter detents: detents at 0°, 15°, 31.6°, 22.5°, 45°, 60° right super-accurate and durable design
  • Push-button miter Detent override – easy-to-access thumb actuated control right up front for fine miter angle adjustment
  • Bevel detents: 0, 33.9°, 45° left/right for accurate cuts
  • Category best 90% dust collection – optimized for cutting 2x material with a vacuum
  • Ergonomic ambidextrous trigger handle with soft grip – large form fitting ergonomic handle provides comfort for all-day use