A 12 in dual-bevel sliding compound miter saw for accurate crosscuts, miters, bevels, and compound cuts in wood. The head slides on the Axial-Glide arm for boards up to 13½ in wide, and a shop vacuum switches on automatically when you pull the trigger. You must be checked out before using this machine.
The 5 things you must never forget
- Keep your hands outside the 6 in No Hands Zone marked on the table. If a piece is too small to clamp or hold outside the zone, don't cut it on this saw.
- Never pull the saw toward you while cutting. Pull the head out first, start the saw, then push it back through the cut.
- Never trap the offcut. Don't clamp or hold on both sides of the blade, and never put a stop block against the offcut.
- Lock the miter knob and bevel lever before every cut.
- Hold the head down until the blade stops completely before raising it or reaching for anything. The brake takes about 5 seconds and is not a safety feature.
Capabilities at a glance
| Blade | 12 in diameter |
| Chop cut | Up to 5½ in wide |
| Slide cut (0°/0°) | Up to 3½ in thick × 13½ in wide |
| Miter range | 52° left to 60° right. Detents at 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 31.6°, 45°, and 60° right. |
| Bevel range | 0–47° left and right. Stops at 45° left, 0°, and 45° right. |
| Materials | Wood and wood-like products only. No metal, fiber cement, masonry, or stock with nails or screws. |
| Dust collection | Shop vacuum via the yellow Senctrl switch on the wall, right of the saw |
Before you start
- Reserve your time in Makerspace Wizard.
- Safety glasses on. No loose sleeves, jewelry, or gloves; tie back long hair.
- Check that the lower blade guard moves freely and snaps closed on its own.
- Check that the Senctrl switch is on AUTO and the vacuum's own switch is ON.
- Make sure the vacuum hose is clear of the blade and the slide path, and the table is clear of offcuts.
Making a cut — step by step
- Set your angle and lock the miter knob and bevel lever. For bevel cuts, slide the fence on that side out of the way.
- Position the stock tight against the fence and table. Clamp it, or hold it with your hand outside the No Hands Zone. Support long boards with the extensions or a stand.
- Dry run with the saw off. Lower (and slide) the head through the cut to check the blade path and clearances.
- Chop cut or slide cut?
- Chop cut (up to 5½ in wide): push the head all the way back and lift the mechanism lock lever so it can't slide.
- Slide cut (wider boards): press the mechanism lock lever down, then pull the raised head all the way toward you.
- Start the saw. Press a thumb Lock-OFF button, pull the trigger, and wait about 1 second for the vacuum to start.
- Cut. Lower the head through the stock. For a slide cut, push it back to the fence.
- Finish. Release the trigger with the head still down and hold it there until the blade stops. Then raise the head.
If something goes wrong
Blade or workpiece jams: release the trigger, wait for the blade to stop, cut power/unplug the machine, then free the stock.
Vacuum doesn't start: check that the Senctrl switch is on AUTO and the vacuum is switched ON. Don't plug the saw in somewhere else; report it.
Vacuum keeps running after you stop: that's normal. It runs about 7 seconds to clear the hose.
When you're done
- Return the saw to 0° miter and 0° bevel and lock both. Leave the head locked down.
- Switch the Senctrl to ON to vacuum the table, fence, and floor, then set it back to AUTO.
- Empty the vacuum if it's more than half full.
- Leave it better than you found it.
Stop, unplug, and report if…
The blade takes much longer than about 5 seconds to stop · the lower guard sticks or doesn't close · a lock won't hold · the blade is damaged or wobbles · you hear, feel, or smell anything unusual · the vacuum won't start in AUTO or a breaker trips · cuts aren't square at 0°/0°.
Report problems in #woodshop SLACK Channel. Don't change the blade or adjust the saw yourself.
Resources
- Bosch GCM12SD manual [[link]]
- Senctrl AVS2005 vacuum switch guide [[link]]
- Recommended intro video [[link]]