Bosch GCM 12 GDL
Pros
- Super accurate
- High power
- Compact
- Very large cutting capacity
- Great customer support
Cons
- Expensive
- Bulky to transport
The Bosch GCM 12 GDL Review
Calling all woodworking geeks! The Bosch GCM12GDL has it all, huge cutting capacity, superb accuracy and the latest technology. Whether you are cutting small fine cuts for furniture or chopping large roof timbers, this will have a well deserved place in your workshop.
Not one for the odd job around the home, this is built for woodworkers who are looking for the best finish and reliability. The space saving technology and dual arm technology ensure nothing but the most accurate angles for years to come, coupled with the ability to tackle of the hardest construction timbers. Click the blue button to avoid disappointment!
Overview
The GCM12GDL is designed to push the boundaries of mitre saw technologies. The two arm sliding mechanism allows for super accurate cuts for long periods of time, whilst also being a compact design allowing users to have a chop saw with huge capacity in a small space.
As many mitre sliding mitre saw mechanisms wear over time the cuts get less accurate and the saw needs to be re calibrated, that’s if it can be. The dual arm mechanism on the model gives absolute precision, moving using bearing. There is nothing to wear out and the accuracy of your cuts will be be of the best quality all of the time.
As well as being a very accurate saw for the finer finishes and cuts, this is a saw that can really cut some large timbers. A step above most of the mid range saws in capacity this model is designed to tackle big jobs with a very powerful motor and robust build quality.
For the tradesman out there that want the best machine to get the job done well and quickly this is one of the best mitre saws available. It many be a bit on the expensive side for the less frequent user but for the professionals this is a great investment.
If you a serious DIY or hobby woodworking fan and have gone through a number of cheaper mitre saws this could be a great investment.
Pros
This is undoubtedly one of the finest mitre saws on the market so the benefits of owning this are endless. Below are the top few in our opinion.
- Smooth gliding action (axial-glide system: AGS gives smoother cuts)
- Very accurate cuts
- Powerful 2000 watt motor
- Compact design
- Huge cutting capacity
- Double bevel
Cons
Even though this is one of the best mitre saws on the market it does have it’s downsides.
- Dust collection could be better
- Very expensive
- Overkill for many jobs
- Very heavy
The Bosch GCM 12 GDL Features
Below we are going to run through the features of this Bosch sliding mitre saw. This powerful and robust has a lot of features to offer that really set it apart from its competitors and some unique technology.
Powerful 2000 Watt Motor
The motor on the GCM12GDL chop saw is a very powerful 2000 watt electric motor. To take on some of the large construction timbers on a regular basis anything less powerful wouldn’t do the job. This model is the 240 volt model that uses a mains power supply. You won’t find many other models with a motor this powerful, it really is worth paying the extra for this power if you need a hard working mitre saw.
Very Large Cutting Capacity
This saw is designed to cut some very large pieces of material, the motor and blade size are well balanced to take on some of the toughest cuts. The cutting capacity at 0 degrees is 104 mm (4.1 inches) by 341 mm (13.4 inches). This might not sound like a big step up from the saws that cut to a 3 inch depth but it is! That extra inch allows a whole new set of timbers to be cut for large construction jobs. The capacity makes it a good saw for roofers and building wood frame buildings.
Bevel And Mitre Angles
This double bevel saw allows a lot of tight angles to be cut very accurately. The mitre angles can be set to 52 degrees on the left and 60 degrees on the right. The bevel angles can be set to 47 degrees on both the left and right sides.
Compact Design
One of the key features this model have over other large capacity saws is the compact design using the dual arms to slide the saw rather than guiding rods. The arms fold back into the back of the saw when it is not being used and extent out for the larger cuts. This makes it ideal for tighter spaces and workshops where tools need to be kept as small as possible. The GCM12 GDL dimension are 673 cm depth by 822 cm in length and 686 in height. It;s still a fairly large unit but for the cutting capacity it is compact.
Even though it is compact it still weighs in at a heavy 32kg!
305mm Blade
This model comes with a very large 305 mm blade for all of the large cuts. This 72 tooth blade is a wood cutting blade offering the best finish.
Double Laser Guide
The double laser guide offers you the best accuracy of cuts. It gives great visibility and the best way of accurately following wider cuts. This is a nice high end feature that you won’t fond on many other mid range saws.
Groove And Trench Cutting
The depth of the cut can easily be adjusted to allow trench and groove cutting for nice finishing carpentry. It is easy and quick to set with the well designed usability.
Maintenance Free Sliding Action
Another big bonus of having the axial glide dual arm action rather than sliding bars is that the GCM 12 gliding mitre saw should need less maintenance and calibration. The bars and sliding mechanism on a standard sliding mitre saw will start wear after a while giving you less accurate cuts. The arms move with precision bearings meaning accuracy will be far superior and for a much longer period of time.
What The Customers Say
Finding customer reviews of this product is a little harder then for some models as there are not many on some of the popular sites. As we always like to give you the views of owners as well as our own we have read around many posts about the GCM12GDL and picked out some of the common themes.
Fantastic All Round Saw
One of the more general points we picked up on was that this was one of the best mitre saws a lot of owners had used. Many of them had owned other models previously but this one hard eclipsed them in terms of performance and accuracy. For the experienced wood worker the speed and accuracy of a job is very important and this one seems to do the job.
A Bit On The Heavy Side
It has been noted this is pretty heavy, especially for a site saw that is carried from job to job often. It weighs in at a heavy 32kg which is quite a lump. Saying that if it is on a site where it stays on one place it will certainly assist in many jobs with no problems. Bosch have put handles on the body for easier movement to try and balance out the weight.
Very Accurate For Large Cuts
The GCM 12 gliding saw is purchased mainly for the superb cutting ability and accuracy. Many have commented on forum posts about how well this saw cuts very accurate angles. This saw is great for cutting very tough big timbers for construction as well as tackling some fine angles giving you a great finish.
Dust Management Not Ideal
One of the common downsides we have see mentioned more then once is that the dust management could be better. It still doesn’t stop people using the saw as it is so good but you may need a bit of help to clear the air of saw dust with heavy use.
Conclusion
You really are going to struggle to get a better mitre saw than the GCM12GDL gliding mitre saw. If you need to tackle larger pieces of timber then you are probably best to look at a different type of saw.
The accuracy of this mitre saw is second to none, even though it is a tough saw for big cuts it will slice through small tight angles leaving you with a brilliant finish. The gliding motion of the arm is much easier and smoother to use as well.
Reading around the owner posts and reviews, you will quickly realise what a great model this is. As with any product there are a couple of small downsides but many wouldn’t be without the trusted GCM 12 GDL.
Sitting at the top of the Bosch range this is a mitre that will serve all of your needs. We highly recommend it if you have deep enough pockets!
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