How bad are "Tool Shop" miter saws?

[samson]

I can get a really cheap one.

Thanks,

S.

[Chuck]

S,

I don't know about that brand; I've never heard of it. From my own experience, my first miter saw was a cheapie. I could NEVER get miters to close right - they were always a little off. I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I was just no good at mitering. Then I helped a friend do some trim work and used his DeWalt 705. All of the sudden, I was consistently turning out excellent miters. I bought one of my own and have had no problem turning out great miters ever since. So, to me the bottom line is: You will get what you pay for. If you buy a cheap miter saw you are probably going to get bad miters.

Chuck

[Mortimer Schnerd, RN]

Yeah, but look at all the money he can save!

[Lou]

Most people in this group wouldn't give tool shop tools another look because of their price. I however try alot of things no matter what it takes. Tool shop electric tools are suprisingly good for the price. Remember it may not last for more than a couple of years or forever depending on how abusive you want to be. Gee, sounds like advice for any tool. Their hand tools are just ok, but the power tools actually last. The other day I was in a big box store looking at some Jet stand up machines and right next to the Jet were the tool shop with the same colors, stickers, and switches in the same place. It may mean something, It may not. Lou

[Jim Harvey]

Menard's carrys Tool Shop in this area (Chicago) They appear to be very similar to Harbor Freight merchandise. Do some googleing for the HF equivalent.

[daryl1138]

I have one that my father in law purchased for me. If you are cutting

2 x 4s for construction work its ok. Think of it as a chop saw and your ok. Don't expect it to provide a true miter or cut perfectly square. If you have nothing else AND only a little to spend AND your need is construction work not cabinet work then its probably worth it. If you can afford more, have time to save up or want accurate cuts...pass on this deal. Otherwise after you buy it, you will never like it and eventually spend even more to get something decent.

[samson]

Thanks Daryl and everyone else for their responses to this. I passed on it and I'm trying to find a used Dewalt instead.

S.