The Winner

The best saw overall is the Hitachi. This solid machine has plenty of power and capacity, and some nice features that make it easy to set up quickly. I relied on the built-in laser and digitally displayed miter and bevel angles for speed and accuracy.

The second place saw is the brand-new Milwaukee. This company's first 12-inch miter saw provides a fresh take on the category with some advanced features, such as the built-in worklights, the digital miter angle display, and the easiest bevel-locking operation.

Sharing third place are the Craftsman and DeWalt saws. The Craftsman was the second strongest of the test and has the most efficient dust collection, and the DeWalt is just an all-around good saw. Next comes the Ridgid with its extra-wide cutting capacity.

For my money, I prefer saws that offer the flexibility of dual bevel cutting, so the Makita and Bosch placed next, followed by the Ryobi. The Makita showed the greatest power of all the saws in the test, so if you only need a single bevel model, it is a strong machine for a good price.

Greg Londos is a veteran trim contractor in Hailey, Idaho.