The best saw in our review of sliding compound miter saws from five manufacturers has many features that make it exceptionally easy and enjoyable to use. The adjustable, four position grip is ideal for either hand; up-front controls make this saw the most convenient for permanent mounting; and the large workpiece clamp operates like a bench holdfast and is the easiest to position. In addition to its miter-detent override, the saw features a microadjustment knob for fine tuning a cut 2° on either side of a detent. That’s good, because the miter scale and its chubby pointer aren’t all that precise (though the detents are). The laser cutting guide aligns with only the left edge of the blade and is too blurry for accurate work.
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Festool Cleantec CT 26 E HEPA Dust Extractor
The clear winner here is Festool’s CT 48 Dust Extractor. It has amazing capacity relative to its size, and unmatched suction power. It packs in a number of subtle but very helpful design touches, like a clever foot brake and easy hose and cord storage.
The Festool Rotex is a top-of-the-line choice. On its coarse setting, it removed stock nearly twice as quickly as the second-fastest model. But that speed doesn’t mean you’ll have to wrestle with it. It’s no huge task to control it with two hands, and its long body gives you plenty of room to find a sweet spot while holding it.
With its graceful curves, cabriole legs, and ornamental back splat, a Queen Anne side chair is a bucket list build for many woodworkers. Dan Faia had a very specific Queen…
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