Lightweight sliding miter saws have become all the rage in recent years and Kobalt has been manufacturing some of the best in the game.
We tested their 7-¼” sliding miter saw for many months with different materials to analyze how it performs under pressure.
In this post, we will present our findings to you. We have also provided some alternatives to the Kobalt Miter Saw that you can look towards as well.
| IMAGE | NAME | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
  | ★ WINNER ★ Kobalt 7-¼” Single-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw | The Kobalt 7-¼” has a lightweight Aluminum structure that allows it to easily be moved from place to place. It’s a great saw to have if your work involves traveling to different locations. The miter saw features a double-slide rail framework that enables you to make cuts with ease and efficiency. | Check on Amazon |
| IMAGE | NAME | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
  | ★ Alternate #1 ★ Skil 10" Dual-Bevel Sliding Miter Saw | This miter saw is definitely the most heavy-duty option out of all the products in this post. It features a dual bevel that can perform cuts in four positive stop positions. Additionally, it comes with a built-in LED shadow line that allows you to make cuts with precision. | Check on Amazon |
  | ★ Alternate #2 ★ CRAFTSMAN V20 7-1/4-Inch Sliding Miter Saw Kit | This miter saw has 3800 RPM that is more than adequate for cutting through hardwoods and baseboards. It’s also fairly lightweight so you can easily carry it to different job sites. Furthermore, it has a fairly small form factor which means it can easily be used in smaller and cramped spaces. | Check on Amazon |
Quick Summary of the Main Product
This miter saw from Kobalt may be extremely lightweight but it sure does pack a big punch in terms of performance.
It’s made from Aluminum which explains its low weight. That’s why we imagine if you got this miter saw, you’d have no trouble carrying it from place to place.
The Kobalt Miter Saw even comes with a built-in laser guidance system that can be adjusted easily without any tool. It enables the user to easily check where the blade will land and make precise cuts accordingly.
In addition to being lightweight, the miter saw also has a fairly small form factor. This means that it can be an ideal option for you if your workspace is cramped. Its compact size can allow you to work efficiently even in small spaces.
Features and Benefits
Highly Accurate
Individuals that tackle woodworking projects often need saws for two different reasons: to simply cut wood and to craft intricate objects with the wood.
You don’t need too precise of a saw for the former but it needs to be powerful. For the latter, you need something that is accurate and precise.
It can be extremely bothersome to have two saws for these two purposes. Hence, woodworkers try to find saws that can do both.
The Kobalt 7-¼” Miter Saw definitely fits this description as it can easily cut through many different types of wood. In addition to that, its laser-guide system ensures that the cuts you make are highly precise.
Excellent Blade Quality
We all know how annoying it is to change the blade of a miter saw. Everyone dreads having to loosen the guard and remove the nuts to get the blade changed.
Hence, that’s why having a blade that can last you a long time is extremely important.
You don’t want to use the miter saw just three or four times to find that the blade has dulled.
The blade that comes with the miter saw can cut up to 2″ x 8″ when it comes to molding and framing cuts.
Additionally, the small vertical blade can cut up to 2 x 4 lumber.
Extremely Sturdy
When it comes to sturdiness, the Kobalt 7-¼” Miter Saw is definitely long-lasting thanks to its high-quality Aluminum construction.
It’s highly durable and also resistant to rust and corrosion; All this while also being extremely lightweight.
We definitely feel these qualities are something you can’t get from just any old regular miter saw available in the market.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy the Kobalt 7-¼” Sliding Compound Miter Saw
Size
As you probably already know, the Kobalt Miter Saw has a size of 7-¼ inches which makes it suitable for precise cutting and working with soft as well as some hardwoods.
It’s definitely not something that’s suitable for working with lumber, logs, or boards.
However, if you are working on projects that require precise cutting and craftsmanship, then it’s definitely a miter saw that you should go for.
Sliding or Compound?
It’s a sliding compound miter saw which means that it can pivot forwards and backward in addition to left and right.
While this feature makes it more expensive than most compound saws, the price is definitely worth it since it makes the Kobalt Miter Saw much more versatile.
You can use it in a number of different projects with a number of different lengths of wood. This is because it can be pivoted to easily extend the length of the cut.
Laser Guide or No Laser Guide?
The Kobalt 7-¼” Miter Saw comes with a front-mounted laser guidance system that allows the user to easily figure out where the blade will land on the wood during cutting.
This is a feature that is welcome by both veterans and newcomers.
If you’re a beginner at woodworking, then this feature will definitely help you out immensely. Think of it as training wheels to help you develop an intuition of where the blade will land on the wood while cutting.
It allows for the most precise cuts and enables you to practice intricate craftsmanship with ease.
Pros and Cons
- Easy to use
- Flexible cutting angles
- Excellent build quality
- Lightweight
- Small and compact
- Not suitable for left-handed users
Social Proof
We checked out what others thought of the Kobalt Miter Saw on Amazon. Many people love how durable yet lightweight it is.
Here are some of the reviews we came across:
Similar to the Kobalt 7-¼” Sliding Compound Miter Saw (Recommendations)
1.Best 10-Inch Alternative - Skil 10" Dual-Bevel Sliding Miter Saw Review
With a powerful 15-amp motor that delivers 4800 RPM, this miter saw is definitely something you can opt for if you want higher power than a 7-¼-inch saw.
It has a dual bevel with four positive stop positions that make creating bevel cuts extremely simple and efficient.
Furthermore, it has a fairly long cord length which makes for easy maneuvering inside your workspace.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Skil 10″ Dual-Bevel Sliding Miter Saw
Size: As mentioned above, it’s a 10-inch miter saw which means it can tackle much bigger and heavier materials than a 7-¼-inch miter saw.
Sliding or compound: It’s a sliding compound miter saw which allows it to pivot in all four directions. Hence, it’s highly versatile and you can use it on a number of different projects with different materials.
Laser guide or no laser guide: It comes with a built-in LED shadow line that you can use as a guideline for where your cuts will land.
- Easy to set up
- Easy to use
- Rarely ever causes tear-out
- Long-lasting blade
- Great build quality
- Fairly heavy and bulky
Best 10-Inch Alternative
The best 10-inch alternative is the Skil 10″ Dual-Bevel Sliding Miter Saw thanks to its great build quality, ease of use and LED shadow line for precision.
2.Best Cordless Alternative - CRAFTSMAN V20 7-1/4-Inch Sliding Miter Saw Kit Review
This 7-¼-inch miter saw can spin up to 3800 RPM and can easily cut through hardwood, baseboards and much more.
It ensures high accuracy of cross-cuts up to 8 inches. The sliding capacity of the miter saw also allows it to cut at angles of both 45 degrees and 90 degrees.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy CRAFTSMAN V20 7-1/4-Inch Sliding Miter Saw Kit
Size: It’s a 7-¼-inch miter saw which is the smallest size you can get for a miter saw in the market.
Sliding or compound: It’s a sliding compound miter saw and you can use it to make all sorts of bevel and angled cuts.
Laser guide or no laser guide: The miter saw features an LED cut line positioning system that you can reference to ensure the accuracy of your cuts.
- Easy to use
- Easy to set up
- Cordless
- Small and compact
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Relatively expensive
Best Cordless Alternative
The best cordless alternative is the CRAFTSMAN V20 7-1/4-Inch Sliding Miter Saw Kit as you don’t need a cord to operate it. It allows for efficient maneuvering and you can use it in any workspace you want with ease.
Buyer's Guide
Size
The smallest size you can get for a miter saw is 7-¼ inches whereas the largest can be 12 inches.
The “size” of a miter saw refers to the diameter of the saw blade inside of it.
As you can probably imagine, smaller miter saws can be utilized for everyday DIY work around the house with softer woods.
On the other hand, if you are working with harder materials such as hardwood, PVC and/or sheet metal, then you may have to invest in a larger miter saw.
If you regularly need to cut harder materials and want a miter saw that will last you a fairly long time, then it’s a very good idea to invest in a 12-inch miter saw.
Sliding or Compound?
Compound miter saws are fairly cheaper than sliding miter saws and they are much simpler in operation as well.
Compound miter saws can be pivoted left and right in order to create compound cuts on soft as well as hardwood.
They can be a great option if you are constructing simple objects that require angled cuts in two planes. Examples of such objects would be picture frames, door frames, etc.
However, if your woodworking projects are more complex and require more intricate cuts, then it can be a good idea to invest in a sliding miter saw.
Sliding miter saws have the ability to move forwards and backwards in addition to left and right. This allows you to increase the length of a cut with ease.
As you can probably imagine, sliding miter saws can be extremely useful if you are working with lumber, logs and/or boards.
Laser Guide or No Laser Guide?
Many miter saws these days come with built-in laser guidance systems. These can be extremely useful as you have a visual aid to determine where exactly the cut will land.
If your projects require your cuts to be highly precise and accurate, then it’s definitely a good idea to get a miter saw that has a built-in laser guidance system.
Many miter saws have laser guidance systems while others have LED indicators. However, both of them work similarly.
These guidance systems can also be extremely useful to beginners.
Wrapping things up
That’s it for our Kobalt 7-¼” Miter Saw review.
We must say we’re highly impressed with its build and performance. Since you can get it at an affordable price too, we feel it’s the ultimate package when it comes to 7-¼” miter saws.