I love the capacity that sliding miter saws provide, but I don't like the footprint they require. Most sliders need a lot of real estate behind the saw to accommodate the saw rails.According to the folks at Makita their new LS1016L Sliding Miter Saw, $549, provides best-in-class cutting capacity without requiring lots of space behind the machine.

The specs on the saw are: 12-in. crosscut at 90-degrees, 8-1/2-in. at 45-degrees, 4-3/4-in. vertical capacity when baseboard is held against the fence, and the ability to cut 6-5/8-in. crown molding when it's nested against the fence. The saw is powered by a 15-amp motor, and sports a laser to make it easier to locate your cut. A laser-free version, the LS1016, is available with the same capacities and a price tag of $499.Both machines bevel 45-degrees left and right, angle 52-degrees left and 60-degrees right.

Makita Tools
(800) 462-5482