Bosch 3912 Miter Saw Review – 15 amp 12-inch Compound Miter Saw
I’ve owned a number of other Bosch tools over the years and they have always performed extremely well, thanks to Bosch’s reputation for well engineered, high quality products and this one by all accounts is no different. The Bosch 3912 is a 12-inch compound miter saw powered by their heavy duty 15 amp, 3.3 HP motor, which runs at an incredible 4300 RPM for smooth, clean cuts every time.
It’s capable of miter cuts ranging from 0-52˚ to the left and right, and has a bevel angle range of -3˚ to 45˚ which makes it very versatile when it comes to cuts you can perform. It also sports a wide variety of features including a speed-track sliding fence system, a large base with sliding extensions, electric brake and spindle lock for quick blade changes.
What to Look For When Buying a Miter Saw
Trying to find the right miter saw to suit your needs can be a very frustrating experience, given how many different makes and models are on the market today. I ran into the same problem when I started my search and found that it was easier to simply break down the search process by focusing on what I considered to be the four most important elements when selecting a miter saw:
- Type (basic miter, compound miter, sliding compound miter)
- Capacity
- Portability
- Additional Features
What Type Of Miter Saw Do You Need?
When it comes to choosing what type of miter saw to go with, your best bet is to select one like the Bosch 3912, which is a compound miter saw. These offer the best balance of function and price and will be able to handle the vast majority of projects you’re likely to encounter. You could upgrade to a sliding compound miter saw, but you will have to pay significantly more for only a small increase in capabilities.
What Capacity Is Best For Your Needs?
In terms of capacity, obviously the larger the blade diameter, the larger the stock your miter saw will be able to handle. That’s why many users choose to go with a 12-inch miter saw like the Bosch 3912, which allows you to handle just about any size or thickness material you’re likely to encounter.
Should You Go Cordless?
Going with a cordless miter saw does have its advantages, such as increased portability, but there are significant drawbacks. The problem of course is that they rely on battery power. If you are planning on using a miter saw with any kind of regularity on the job site throughout the day, chances are you’re going to find yourself out of power, which can be a major pain and hold up your project. You can solve this problem by having extra batteries on hand, but they aren’t cheap. A better solution is to simply go with a corded miter saw like the Bosch 3912, because odds are most of the time you’re going to have access to some kind of outlet, and even if you need to run an extension cord, it’s much cheaper than buying batteries.
What Other Features Do You Need?
Bosch included pretty much every extra feature most users like to see on miter saws, including an electric brake to prevent accidental cuts to your material, a spindle lock system for quick blade changes, sliding extensions to support longer stock and an extra tall fence for working with crown moldings and other materials vertically.
Bosch 3912 Miter Saw - How Much?
What’s Included
- Bosch 3912 miter saw
- 12” 40-tooth carbide blade
- Quick action clamp
- Blade and stop wrench
- Fence and base wrench
- Dust bag
- Directional dust chute
Does It Come With A Warranty?
Yes, Bosch includes a one year warranty, 30 day money back guarantee and one year service protection plan on this model.
What Others Are Saying about the Bosch 3912
“When shopping for a miter saw I looked at the Makita, the Dewalt and the Delta. Then I came across the Bosch. Bosch has an excellent reputation for their motors and quality construction. What set this one apart for me was the awsome back fence, the crisp detents and the little features that many other makers offer only as options.” “As a trim carpenter, this saw has seen a lot of abuse and has taken it well. It’s smooth, quiet, and well worth the money.” “Well made – like better than Dewalt or Makita. Plenty of power. Easy to set up – made no adjustments. Love the right or left handed operation – old school. No laser but I’m old and doing workwork for 40+ yrs. – wouldn’t use anyway.”
Any Problems or Complaints? The vast majority of owner reviews that I found for this model were positive, however a small number of users felt that the owner’s manual could have been improved on.
Where Can You Buy the Bosch 3912? The best price on this miter saw I’ve found is over at Amazon. They were also offering free Super Saver shipping the last time I checked, which is a great deal on a heavy item like this.
Where Can You Read More Reviews for the Bosch 3912? The best place to read owner reviews on this miter saw is over at Amazon.
Read More miter saw review