We literally counted our pennies (and quarters, dimes and nickles) and came up with just over $250, and we're going to use it buy ourselves a good mitre saw! About the only thing we know for sure is that we want a good quality compound mitre saw. We will be using it a lot when renovating a building on our property (cutting lots of 2x4's - 2x8's and molding at all angles) and cutting the wood to build a deck.

What do y'all recommend? And of course, if you know of any good sales going on, or if there's a great one for our needs that will give us some money left over, all the better!!

If you don't have specific brand recommendations (or brands to avoid), at least tell me about features - what to definitely get, what I don't really need.

Thanks!

You could buy a very good saw for that amount. Any of your top brands would be OK, Delta, Dewalt. Craftsman would not be on my short list.

OK, research brought me to choosing between these two, both of which I can get for $200. Anyone care to help me make sense of the little difference between the two and figure if there's any real advantage to one over the other?
http://www.deltawoodworking.com/catalog/default.asp?cat_id=12&model_no=MS275

or
http://www.deltawoodworking.com/catalog/default.asp?cat_id=12&model_no=MS350

Thanks!!

It looks to me like the 350 is the new, improved vesion. Basically same motor but lever actions and locks are different for locking bevels and mitres in place - see the dentil notches in the swing table on one of them.

Best way to see which you will be more comforatble with is a trip to Woodworkers ware house or HD to put your hands on it.

For finer trim work, you'll want a finer toothed blade, about 80 teeth.

looks like a good choice ...but if you want to cut 2x8's you'll need a 12" miter saw...i know HD has a 12" ridgid compound miter saw on sale for like $260 it has a lifetime warranty and an adjustable fence that you can tweak if the saw ever gets knocked out of square...i've been using this saw for about a year and a half now and it's taken good care of me