Upgraded my small single bevel miter saw to this one 2 years ago. I got it used for $200, but the previous owner only used it for 1 project so basically brand new. The best feature I’ve seen was how it stayed perfectly aligned even after moving it between several job sites.
I bought mine on a dare.I was an employee of Woodcraft and it was almost expected that I buy either a Festool or a DeWalt cams.Boy ,did I make the right decision. Hercules is a very good brand without the snob appeal!
Oh wow! Yeah, when I first bought it, I bought that and the Dewalt at the same time figuring I would return the Hercules and instead I return the Dewalt!
I've had mine for 3 years. I really like it and think it's a bargain. I don't use it for precision work often, but it's accurate enough for most any purpose.
@@BitnerBuilt A friend of mine is a cabinet maker and he made fun of my HF saw for a couple years. About a month ago he was in my shop helping me with a project and used it... He grudgingly admitted it wasn't actually that bad. Then made me promise not to tell anyone he had said that. If a guy was doing precision trim work he would probably have a non-slider anyway.
I'm glad to see a long-term review on this saw! I'm very interested in the new cordless version as well. This is a great channel, by the way! Wish I'd found it sooner, but glad I'm finding it now.
I ended up going with the Delta cruiser, $600 saw, with all the same features except it has the smaller footprint with the double hinge system. I’m sure I’ll be putting out a video on that one pretty soon after I’ve been able to use it for a while.
Great to hear about that saw. It appears that Harbor Freight is really coming out with some good tools. The only thing is it only has a 90 day warranty. But for $89 you get 2 years which still cost a lot less than the others and most tools if they last that long are good for a lot longer. Great video
Thanks! Definitely, Harbor freight is definitely still very much a hit and miss, but it does seem like they are putting a lot of focus on trying to put out some much better quality items at an affordable price, which is always welcome by everybody
I just commented on one of your last videos about the Hercules saw. Yes, it is a great saw for the price. Luckily, where my miter station is going I took many measurements and will be able to swing the slider rails. And of course cabinets are going to have to deeper. But where it is going a door is ninety degrees to it so shallower cabinets would have wasted that space. I just get a bit more storage, that's not all bad. Looking forward to your designs for inspiration and ideas.
Yeah, very cool. There are definitely a lot of ways where you can enclose it but still mod that enclosure to utilize as much of it as possible for storage space, just gotta be creative with it!
I am using the Metabo HPT 12-in Sliding Miter Saw and it is awesome. And the slider being on the side really changed things for me for my setup. Only downside is side is it has a laser.
Yeah, I looked at that song. It looked pretty nice, I went with the Delta cruiser because of the laser on that one, but the price was also really nice on the metabo
i do all my cutting outside since i’m a fair weather hobbyist. so dust collection isn’t needed at all . i use my leaf blower for clean up when i’m done . i wear a mask, ear protector and eye protection. great saw for the home owner. i have it mounted on the ridgid rolling miter stand , stored upright with the saw .
I was in the market for a new miter saw and after researching decide on the DeWalt 780, I was looking for reliability and accuracy. I’m an avid DIY, ex air raft mechanic and mechanical engineer who builds to very tight tolerances…honestly sometimes too tight. I was waiting for the yellow to go on sale when this one came out so watched the reviews and was intrigued so went to HF to put my hands on it. Immediately impressed by the quality that I believe is on par with the yellow one. Seeing that it appeared to be great value I waited for it to be out a while to get about a years worth of use to see how it held up for others. Ended up buying on sale for @ 1/2 the price of the yellow one, unboxed and checked set up was amazed spot on out the box and has remained spot on over the years as ai always check all tools prior to building high end furniture piece. There will always be people who think you need high priced tool to make you look like a pro or produce quality cuts but as someone who believes he has a good idea of quality this thing is amazing value. Zero issues after being used for 3 years, cuts extremely accurately, the shadow line is fantastic and powerful!
I've had mine for a couple of years now. It was supposed to be a second saw, but has become my daily driver. Granted, the slides are long, but I built a station deep enough to accommodate the extra room needed. The extra depth of the miter station has come in quite handy, actually. As far as dust collection, I just don't worry about it. I'll clean up every few days when I have nothing else to do.
Yeah, it is surprisingly good, I made an extra deep station for mine as well and yeah, it’s been a good thing having it so deep, a lot more storage space
I've owned my Hercules for 5 years, and I couldn't agree more with your review. Mine has been flawless. I did a lot of research prior to purchasing, and I couldn't find a good reason to spend 600 on the Dewalt. No regrets whatsoever.
Yeah, honestly I just spent $600 on the new saw and there is zero difference between them other than the form factor with the dual hinge. So unless you’re in a situation where you absolutely need it like I do there’s no reason to spend the extra money.
I've been on the fence about buying a replacement for my old 10" (non-sliding) mitersaw and have been looking at this one for years. With your review and several others recently, along with the $299 current price, I'll probably pick one up. Also wanted to let you know I appreciate the price tracker link. Didn't know about it before. - Chris
Oh cool yeah it definitely is a solid saw. That will work really great for most people. I actually didn’t know about the tracker website either until recently, definitely something to come in handy when you’re doing a bigger purchase there.
I bought a Bosch as my first miter saw, which uses double hinges instead of a rail system so it doesn't protrude back very far, and I'm very happy with it except it doesn't have a shadow line (however I have seen mods for adding a shadow line) and the dust collection is pretty bad (Shop Nation sells a kit to improve that). I was weighing it verses the Delta Cruzer but I think the Bosch is supposed to be of higher quality. Looking forward to seeing your new setup!
Well, I bought the Delta cruiser so you’ll definitely see a comparison! I was debating getting the Bosch and adding the shadow kit to it but then when I saw that the cruiser had it, that made my decision. Yeah, honestly all of these have pretty poor dust collection capabilities Outside of I believe the festival, but I haven’t played with that one, so you’re always gonna need some sort of mod whether it be that adapter that shop nation makes
@@BitnerBuilt Nice, I'm sure you won't have any regrets. I have heard about problems with deflection in both saws, but honestly I don't think it affects cuts much if you use a light touch. A spinning blade acts like a gyroscope and "wants" to stay straight through the cut.
I’ve had mine for two years and it’s a great saw. I just upgraded the blade and added the custom dust collection chute from Shopnation. The Shop Nation dust collection port is the bomb!
I will make a video on it with the new saw but they are just straight holes in the fence, I want to cut them in at a diagonal up direction. If you think about the spinning of the saw when it’s shooting wood chips at it, it’s going at a slightly up direction not just straight at it so having those slats bigger wider and in a upward turn would hopefully grab more. I also want to make the slats very thin in comparison to what I have now.
I replaced my Dewalt non-sliding saw with a Rigid R4241 earlier this year. I had to have something compact and it was very inexpensive. I feel it's very comparable to my last saw with a few more inches of capacity. I also needed it to fit a new miter station. I looked at a Hercules model but it was wider than I wanted.
It definitely has a big footprint, I just bought the Delta/rigid model so wasn’t on dual rails and it seems to be an inch skinnier in width and also about a half inch shorter in height, which was a pleasant surprise
added a light to my Dewalt....works great! And THANK YOU for the link to the harbor frieght price tracker site! Never knew that existed. Next major purchase from them will be the new dust vac you reviewed. Looks like a great deal!
I have the discontinued Bauer version of this saw, and it's fantastic. When they went on clearance a couple of years ago it got it with a stackable coupon for $188 out the door including tax. I have no idea why they discontinued the 12" Bauer. They still make the Bauer 10" with shadow cut line. The Admiral 12" has a laser, which makes it a no-go for me.
Very good review, thank you. I am happy to see someone not use the word cheap, it would be preferred to say inexpensive, especially when the product is good. So, keep them coming and all the best. Dave & The Girls
@@BitnerBuilt Harbor freight I usually go to is about a 20 minute drive to it and back and I just found out they’re supposed to be building a new harbor freight that’s been five minutes from me in my town
I purchased the Delta 12 inch. Just unboxed it yesterday so definitely no review on it, but I am happy with the form factor which is why I bought it specifically. Honestly, all of them have pretty poor dust collection, regardless of what model it is.
I have the Ridgid R4251 12" dual bevel hinged (sliding) miter saw and I love it! With the hinge system, rather than the bars, I can mount it back much further and it requires less space. As far as deflection goes, I can get it to deflect maybe 1/4" at full extension but, honestly...who in their right mind is really wrenching to the side on their miter saw while making a cut? I mean, you really have to push or pull the handle to the side to get it to deflect, like that. In every single cut I've ever made the blade was straight and true and lined up perfectly (of course) with the LED's created shadow line, just like your Hercules. If you can find one (they all seem to be out of stock, at the moment) they're a great buy at around the $400 mark. I've seen one listed for $379, even, and that was right before I wrote this comment. Of course, it, too, was out of stock, so...🤷♂
So I bought the Delta version of your rigid saw as the replacement, it came severely warped so I have another one on order, they must’ve had a bad casting on the base. The rigid and the Delta are the exact same saw they just painted different so fingers crossed the next one comes in good
@@BitnerBuilt Ah, you got the Delta Cruzer, then, eh? Have you heard of Shop Nation? The guy has come up with some 3D prints that he sells that really cuts down on the amount of dust your vac system misses. As you're well aware, I'm sure, miter saws are notorious for creating lots and lots of dust. I haven't bought one for mine, yet, but I will be pretty soon. Actually, I think he sells the gcode for like $10, or so, which is significantly cheaper than buying the finished product which, if memory serves me correctly, is $55, now. Still not bad, though, considering the health benefit.
Why not use a 6" flat ducting PVC pipe as it's about 2.5" x 8" which should give you plenty of room behind the saw, or you can go thinner and wider if needed, just a thought?
I’m trying to do the set up where we’re really adhering to the best practices for maximum airflow and least amount of turbulence. So I’m doing 4 foot runs 45° 4 foot run 45° etc. It’s not that I couldn’t have made it work, but the enclosure that I would’ve ended up making for the saw would’ve just been so large that I would be wasting space so I was up for a change (and it gives me another review video at some point so I’m more up to replace stuff for content than the normal person)
@@BitnerBuilt it makes total sense and if I was in your position I'd done the same. Looking forward to your next video always entertaining and educational.
On that saw no, your looking at under $300 when on sale vs a 600-900 machine from dewalt Milwaukee etc you have to make sure your comparing apples to apples, this is a 12 inch dual bevel compound miter saw with shadow. You’re gonna be in that 600-900 price range for that size and those feature sets in the name brands
Great review. I was going to buy a DeWalt and have changed my mind after this review and then some other research. I also live in NJ, if you have not already sold the saw I wood :-) be interested. I may go to HF this weekend to buy one. Let me know. Have a Fantastic Day
Upgraded my small single bevel miter saw to this one 2 years ago. I got it used for $200, but the previous owner only used it for 1 project so basically brand new. The best feature I’ve seen was how it stayed perfectly aligned even after moving it between several job sites.
Nice!
I bought mine on a dare.I was an employee of Woodcraft and it was almost expected that I buy either a Festool or a DeWalt cams.Boy ,did I make the right decision. Hercules is a very good brand without the snob appeal!
Oh wow! Yeah, when I first bought it, I bought that and the Dewalt at the same time figuring I would return the Hercules and instead I return the Dewalt!
very interesting guys also great info and content
I've had mine for 3 years. I really like it and think it's a bargain. I don't use it for precision work often, but it's accurate enough for most any purpose.
Good to hear!
@@BitnerBuilt A friend of mine is a cabinet maker and he made fun of my HF saw for a couple years. About a month ago he was in my shop helping me with a project and used it... He grudgingly admitted it wasn't actually that bad. Then made me promise not to tell anyone he had said that. If a guy was doing precision trim work he would probably have a non-slider anyway.
@@rexseven93 😂😂 yea it’s not a festool but this is a solid was for 85% of buyers especially at that price
I'm glad to see a long-term review on this saw! I'm very interested in the new cordless version as well. This is a great channel, by the way! Wish I'd found it sooner, but glad I'm finding it now.
Thanks, Jim! Oh cool didn’t know they came out with a cordless version I’ll have to take a look
I also have mine for 4 years. I'm in the same boat as you thinking of replacing mines because of the same reason with the dust collection pipe 😅
I ended up going with the Delta cruiser, $600 saw, with all the same features except it has the smaller footprint with the double hinge system. I’m sure I’ll be putting out a video on that one pretty soon after I’ve been able to use it for a while.
Great to hear about that saw. It appears that Harbor Freight is really coming out with some good tools. The only thing is it only has a 90 day warranty. But for $89 you get 2 years which still cost a lot less than the others and most tools if they last that long are good for a lot longer. Great video
Thanks! Definitely, Harbor freight is definitely still very much a hit and miss, but it does seem like they are putting a lot of focus on trying to put out some much better quality items at an affordable price, which is always welcome by everybody
I just commented on one of your last videos about the Hercules saw. Yes, it is a great saw for the price. Luckily, where my miter station is going I took many measurements and will be able to swing the slider rails. And of course cabinets are going to have to deeper. But where it is going a door is ninety degrees to it so shallower cabinets would have wasted that space. I just get a bit more storage, that's not all bad. Looking forward to your designs for inspiration and ideas.
Yeah, very cool. There are definitely a lot of ways where you can enclose it but still mod that enclosure to utilize as much of it as possible for storage space, just gotta be creative with it!
I’ve had mine for a couple of weeks and I am very pleased with it. I also got it on sale with a coupon at 265. 😊
Ooo nice deal!
I am using the Metabo HPT 12-in Sliding Miter Saw and it is awesome. And the slider being on the side really changed things for me for my setup. Only downside is side is it has a laser.
Yeah, I looked at that song. It looked pretty nice, I went with the Delta cruiser because of the laser on that one, but the price was also really nice on the metabo
I'm surprised all these saw makers don't use the same system with the rails coming forward instead of to the rear like this.
@@JohnC1might be a patent issue
i do all my cutting outside since i’m a fair weather hobbyist. so dust collection isn’t needed at all . i use my leaf blower for clean up when i’m done . i wear a mask, ear protector and eye protection. great saw for the home owner. i have it mounted on the ridgid rolling miter stand , stored upright with the saw .
Thanks for sharing!
I was in the market for a new miter saw and after researching decide on the DeWalt 780, I was looking for reliability and accuracy. I’m an avid DIY, ex air raft mechanic and mechanical engineer who builds to very tight tolerances…honestly sometimes too tight. I was waiting for the yellow to go on sale when this one came out so watched the reviews and was intrigued so went to HF to put my hands on it. Immediately impressed by the quality that I believe is on par with the yellow one. Seeing that it appeared to be great value I waited for it to be out a while to get about a years worth of use to see how it held up for others. Ended up buying on sale for @ 1/2 the price of the yellow one, unboxed and checked set up was amazed spot on out the box and has remained spot on over the years as ai always check all tools prior to building high end furniture piece. There will always be people who think you need high priced tool to make you look like a pro or produce quality cuts but as someone who believes he has a good idea of quality this thing is amazing value. Zero issues after being used for 3 years, cuts extremely accurately, the shadow line is fantastic and powerful!
Wow great to hear from somebody who’s been checking on the high tolerances!
I've had mine for 2 years and love it
👍
I've had mine for 3 years. Incredible saw.
Awesome! Yea best affordable saw out there hands down
I've had mine for a couple of years now. It was supposed to be a second saw, but has become my daily driver. Granted, the slides are long, but I built a station deep enough to accommodate the extra room needed. The extra depth of the miter station has come in quite handy, actually. As far as dust collection, I just don't worry about it. I'll clean up every few days when I have nothing else to do.
Yeah, it is surprisingly good, I made an extra deep station for mine as well and yeah, it’s been a good thing having it so deep, a lot more storage space
I've owned my Hercules for 5 years, and I couldn't agree more with your review. Mine has been flawless. I did a lot of research prior to purchasing, and I couldn't find a good reason to spend 600 on the Dewalt. No regrets whatsoever.
Yeah, honestly I just spent $600 on the new saw and there is zero difference between them other than the form factor with the dual hinge. So unless you’re in a situation where you absolutely need it like I do there’s no reason to spend the extra money.
I've been on the fence about buying a replacement for my old 10" (non-sliding) mitersaw and have been looking at this one for years. With your review and several others recently, along with the $299 current price, I'll probably pick one up. Also wanted to let you know I appreciate the price tracker link. Didn't know about it before. - Chris
Oh cool yeah it definitely is a solid saw. That will work really great for most people. I actually didn’t know about the tracker website either until recently, definitely something to come in handy when you’re doing a bigger purchase there.
I bought a Bosch as my first miter saw, which uses double hinges instead of a rail system so it doesn't protrude back very far, and I'm very happy with it except it doesn't have a shadow line (however I have seen mods for adding a shadow line) and the dust collection is pretty bad (Shop Nation sells a kit to improve that). I was weighing it verses the Delta Cruzer but I think the Bosch is supposed to be of higher quality. Looking forward to seeing your new setup!
Well, I bought the Delta cruiser so you’ll definitely see a comparison! I was debating getting the Bosch and adding the shadow kit to it but then when I saw that the cruiser had it, that made my decision. Yeah, honestly all of these have pretty poor dust collection capabilities Outside of I believe the festival, but I haven’t played with that one, so you’re always gonna need some sort of mod whether it be that adapter that shop nation makes
@@BitnerBuilt Nice, I'm sure you won't have any regrets. I have heard about problems with deflection in both saws, but honestly I don't think it affects cuts much if you use a light touch. A spinning blade acts like a gyroscope and "wants" to stay straight through the cut.
I’ve had mine for two years and it’s a great saw. I just upgraded the blade and added the custom dust collection chute from Shopnation. The Shop Nation dust collection port is the bomb!
Yea I have heard good things on it!
I'm really enjoying mine. And like you, I don't think that I would buy another one without the shadow line.
Yea love the shadow line!
Could you go into more detail about the changes you'd make on the dust collection box you made?
I will make a video on it with the new saw but they are just straight holes in the fence, I want to cut them in at a diagonal up direction. If you think about the spinning of the saw when it’s shooting wood chips at it, it’s going at a slightly up direction not just straight at it so having those slats bigger wider and in a upward turn would hopefully grab more. I also want to make the slats very thin in comparison to what I have now.
Loved it!
Well done, Sir!
Thank you kindly!
I replaced my Dewalt non-sliding saw with a Rigid R4241 earlier this year. I had to have something compact and it was very inexpensive. I feel it's very comparable to my last saw with a few more inches of capacity. I also needed it to fit a new miter station. I looked at a Hercules model but it was wider than I wanted.
It definitely has a big footprint, I just bought the Delta/rigid model so wasn’t on dual rails and it seems to be an inch skinnier in width and also about a half inch shorter in height, which was a pleasant surprise
added a light to my Dewalt....works great! And THANK YOU for the link to the harbor frieght price tracker site! Never knew that existed. Next major purchase from them will be the new dust vac you reviewed. Looks like a great deal!
Awesome! Make sure to get that aftermarket filter bag and still wear your PPE!
I think I have had mine for 3 years and have commented several times on YT and FB groups trying to let folks know exactly what you said here.
Nice! Yes it’s definitely the dark horse of miter saws
So helpful thanks! Learned a lot!
Awesome I’m glad!
Great video Justin Thanks for sharing
Thanks Jim!
I have the discontinued Bauer version of this saw, and it's fantastic. When they went on clearance a couple of years ago it got it with a stackable coupon for $188 out the door including tax.
I have no idea why they discontinued the 12" Bauer. They still make the Bauer 10" with shadow cut line. The Admiral 12" has a laser, which makes it a no-go for me.
Oh cool never knew that! Definitely a good deal!
Very good review, thank you. I am happy to see someone not use the word cheap, it would be preferred to say inexpensive, especially when the product is good. So, keep them coming and all the best. Dave & The Girls
Thanks!
I would by that one in a heartbeat but my closet sized shop can’t accommodate that type. But I do LOVE it
👍
@@BitnerBuilt Harbor freight I usually go to is about a 20 minute drive to it and back and I just found out they’re supposed to be building a new harbor freight that’s been five minutes from me in my town
I'm worried about the saw you are going to find with a shadow line and good dust collection...any hints?
I purchased the Delta 12 inch. Just unboxed it yesterday so definitely no review on it, but I am happy with the form factor which is why I bought it specifically. Honestly, all of them have pretty poor dust collection, regardless of what model it is.
I have the Ridgid R4251 12" dual bevel hinged (sliding) miter saw and I love it! With the hinge system, rather than the bars, I can mount it back much further and it requires less space. As far as deflection goes, I can get it to deflect maybe 1/4" at full extension but, honestly...who in their right mind is really wrenching to the side on their miter saw while making a cut? I mean, you really have to push or pull the handle to the side to get it to deflect, like that. In every single cut I've ever made the blade was straight and true and lined up perfectly (of course) with the LED's created shadow line, just like your Hercules. If you can find one (they all seem to be out of stock, at the moment) they're a great buy at around the $400 mark. I've seen one listed for $379, even, and that was right before I wrote this comment. Of course, it, too, was out of stock, so...🤷♂
So I bought the Delta version of your rigid saw as the replacement, it came severely warped so I have another one on order, they must’ve had a bad casting on the base. The rigid and the Delta are the exact same saw they just painted different so fingers crossed the next one comes in good
@@BitnerBuilt Ah, you got the Delta Cruzer, then, eh? Have you heard of Shop Nation? The guy has come up with some 3D prints that he sells that really cuts down on the amount of dust your vac system misses. As you're well aware, I'm sure, miter saws are notorious for creating lots and lots of dust. I haven't bought one for mine, yet, but I will be pretty soon. Actually, I think he sells the gcode for like $10, or so, which is significantly cheaper than buying the finished product which, if memory serves me correctly, is $55, now. Still not bad, though, considering the health benefit.
So what are you going to do with the old one? Could become a mobile unit on a folding stand for on-site work, if you're not selling it.
Prob selling it to recoup some money paying for the new saw
The Fast-Cap zero clearance tape is the only way to go with the throat plate on the mitre saw
How did I not know about these! Great recommendation!
@@BitnerBuilt Glad I could help, have a great day
Why not use a 6" flat ducting PVC pipe as it's about 2.5" x 8" which should give you plenty of room behind the saw, or you can go thinner and wider if needed, just a thought?
I’m trying to do the set up where we’re really adhering to the best practices for maximum airflow and least amount of turbulence. So I’m doing 4 foot runs 45° 4 foot run 45° etc. It’s not that I couldn’t have made it work, but the enclosure that I would’ve ended up making for the saw would’ve just been so large that I would be wasting space so I was up for a change (and it gives me another review video at some point so I’m more up to replace stuff for content than the normal person)
@@BitnerBuilt it makes total sense and if I was in your position I'd done the same. Looking forward to your next video always entertaining and educational.
The bad thing is hercules is about as expensive as the name brands
On that saw no, your looking at under $300 when on sale vs a 600-900 machine from dewalt Milwaukee etc you have to make sure your comparing apples to apples, this is a 12 inch dual bevel compound miter saw with shadow. You’re gonna be in that 600-900 price range for that size and those feature sets in the name brands
If you need a new home. I gladly give it a new home.. just a suggestion
😂👍
Great review. I was going to buy a DeWalt and have changed my mind after this review and then some other research.
I also live in NJ, if you have not already sold the saw I wood :-) be interested. I may go to HF this weekend to buy one.
Let me know.
Have a Fantastic Day
Oh cool yea it’s a good find. Sorry already sold mine!
No problem. Thank you for responding I appreciate it. Have a Wonderful Weekend!
@@BitnerBuilt
I just read through all the comments looking for the HF price tracking link that I saw mentioned.
Would you mind sharing it again.
@@muchengo2571sure it’s in the description for the video hfpricetracker.com