Bosch has come out with a new 18V cordless miter saw, model GCM18V-305 GDC. Taking a closer look, this is a cordless axial-glide miter saw, with special space-saving gliding arm action.
And, it’s a 12″ model, joining only a handful of other cordless 12″ miter saws on the market.
Advertisement
Unfortunately, the newest Bosch cordless miter saw looks to only be available in other parts of the world. It has launched in the UK, Europe, and Australia, but there has not been any information or indication about a release in North America.
We reached out to Bosch USA for comment, and have not yet received any response.
Meanwhile, we still have not seen any launch of Bosch’s “MegaWatt Crew” 8-1/2″ cordless miter saw, dubbed “the Surgeon.” That saw was first teased about nearly two years ago, and we haven’t heard a peep about it since.
Update: Bosch USA never sent us any announcement or press release on the 18V cordless 8-1/2″ miter saw, but it appears to be in-stock and available for sale at Amazon, model GCM18V-08N.
Bosch Tools boasts about the new 12″ cordless miter saw’s impressive cutting performance, saying that it delivers power equivalent to a 2000W corded miter saw.
(In theory a 15A miter saw could draw up to 1800W of power if you consider 120V AC line voltage.)
The saw also features Bosch’s axial glide movement. To date, only Bosch and Delta Tools’ Cruzer saws feature this kind of non glide-rail type of saw blade movement.
Although there are an increasing number of space-spacing cordless and corded miter saws today, engineered with forward-sliding glide rail bearing mechanisms, Bosch’s axial glide design is still distinct.
There is one downside to Bosch’s hinged-arm glide mechanism, and that is its weight.
Bosch says that this new cordless axial glide 12″ miter saw weighs 26.9 kg, or ~59.3 lbs.
In comparison, Milwaukee’s M18 12″ cordless miter saw weighs 47.6 lbs. This means that Bosch’s new cordless miter saw is nearly 25% heavier than Milwaukee’s.
The new Bosch cordless 12″ miter saw comes with Bluetooth connectivity and Bosch “ToolBox App” compatibility, with the interface providing for battery status and speed selection. There’s also ECO mode selection, which I would guess drops down speed or power to help extend battery life.
The saw also features a laser, dust port, LED light, soft-start motor, intelligent brake system, and is said to be tool-less.
It’s not clear as to what is tool-less about the saw, but a tool-free blade change would be a significant convenience, and an industry first – or at least we think so. The parts list mentions a hex socket wrench, and so the tool-less part might simply refer to the fence adjustments, miter angle, or bevel angle, which are typically tool-free on miter saws.
Update: Bosch Australia’s listing says it has a tool-less saw blade change.
Features & Specs
- 12″ blade size
- 2550-4000 RPM
- Miter range: 52° left, 60° right
- Bevel range: 47° left and right
- Cutting capacity
- 104 x 341 mm (4.1″ x 13.4″) at 0° without spacer
- 120 x 250 mm (4.7″ x 9.8″) at 0° with spacer
- 45 x 400 mm (1.8″ x 15.7″) at 0° with spacer
- Weighs 26.9 kg (59.3 lbs)
Price: €1199
Pricing seems to be all over the place, ranging from £774 excluding VAT (tax) and into the 900 GBP range. Bosch EU has a list price of €1199.
That would correspond to $1000 to $1400+ price range at current conversion rates.
Compare: Dewalt FlexVolt Saw via Amazon
Compare: Milwaukee M18 12″ Saw via Acme Tools
Compare: Makita 18V X2 10″ Saw via Amazon
Discussion
Bosch’s new GCM18V-305 GDC 18V cordless miter saw has several appealing features:
- 12″ blade size
- Glide arm mechanism
- Dual bevel angle adjustment
- Biturbo brushless motor
- “Simply connected” Bluetooth user controls
- Maximum performance with ProCORE 18V batteries
- Compatible with all Bosch 18V batteries
The launch of an glide-arm-style Bosch 18V cordless miter saw, especially one with a 12″ blade size and dual bevel range, is exciting. As mentioned, we’re waiting to here back from Bosch USA about the saw’s availability here. At the time of this posting, it is only available in the UK, Europe, and Australia.
The weight could be a concern for some. At a hair over 59 pounds, Bosch’s saw out-weighs Milwaukee’s 12″ cordless miter saw by quite a bit, and Dewalt’s FlexVolt miter saw by a couple of pounds as well.
This seems like a very interesting new tool. Your thoughts?
CountyCork says
The older model GCM18V-08N has been out at least a year now in US you just have to visit Bosch US website once in a while to see the new tools available. Hopefully the new model makes it as I only have the dewalt 10″ non-axle but so far but that’s met all my needs so far. Price would be out of my reach anyhow so I guess it’s all a mute point for me.
Stuart says
I found during proofreading that the 8-1/2″ saw did launch at some time, and added the Amazon link. I can’t find any press release or announcement from Bosch USA, and so I can’t tell when it launched, or if it was a silent release.
Amazon only shows a single user review for the 8-1/2″ saw.
I’m still waiting to hear back from Bosch USA about the 12″ saw’s potential launch here, hopefully their reply is a positive one.
Big Richard says
It’s on Acme, too. And yes it has been out for a while, I think it was “released” at STAFDA last year and was available shortly after? I don’t think Toolguyd had any STAFDA coverage though.
Also, with their rating of “2000W power”, that would have to be with their unicorn 12Ah 3p battery pack, as they themselves admit their 8Ah 2p battery puts out a max 1440W. You can actually see in the pics it is the 12Ah. So, if they are going to release the saw to the US market, you would have to assume they would release the 12Ah battery to the US market as well.
CountyCork says
Yes why do they not release the 12AH battery? What would the hold up be there?
fred says
Bosch continues to march to the beat of its own drum and seems to eschew shipping some of their line to the US. That’s true of other manufacturers as well – but seems more prevalent with Bosch. With some tools – like saws – it may be that compliance with USA size norms, standards and regulations might be an issue – but with other tools who knows.
BTW – I really like my Bosch GCM12SD – used it for 7 years now with no issue. But I don’t use it anywhere close to everyday so can’t judge if some user comments on Amazon about the glide mechanism becoming sloppy over time is a real issue or just a one-off problem. The GCM12SD on its gravity rise stand is a bit of a beast to move – and rolling it up into the pickup truck is not a kid’s job.
Big Richard says
Other manufacturer’s definitely do it, too. Europe/Australia get the DeWalt DCS727 60V 10″ miter saw, and they had previous 8 1/2″ and 10″ versions available, too (DCS777 and DCS778). Milwaukee also had their 8 1/2″ M18 miter saw in Europe before they introduced a NA miter saw.
thomas says
As a former Bosch employee 8 years ago, I can confirm that yes it is difficult to bring a tool to market in the US. Regulations are tougher such as product safety ratings are more difficult here than in other countries where they do not have the product liability laws that we have in the USA.
Jared says
Good to see Bosch coming out with something different, innovative and potentially industry-leading. Seems like they’re the slowest of the big power tool companies to release new products.
This looks like a really nice saw. Expensive luxury territory if you’re not using it professionally though. Not that I mind – maybe some of the features will trickle down to budget options. The Bosch power tools I own seem a little more refined and ergonomic than tools I have from other brands – so I wouldn’t be surprised if it feels like it merits a large price tag when you play with it in person.
Rafe says
I could see why they don’t offer this in the states. Virtually no one runs Bosch cordless systems here, at least where I live. This saw is going to be expensive, it’s heavy, and 12″ miter saws aren’t ideal for the cordless saw market. Those things on top of no one having a Bosch system to integrate it into, could be money losing to distribute them here.
fred says
Might be true – but its sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. If you don’t offer it you can’t very well see if it sells.
In our GC/Remodeling business – the guys were big fans of Makita tools – so when the transition came to 18V LiIon – we went with Makita. We had Makita corded miter saws too. But if we were to compare ourselves to what others in our area were using at that time (now for me some years ago) – we were in the minority – with mostly Dewalt and Milwaukee in use.
BTW – while I’d see the occasional Hitachi corded miter saw in use – and we liked their pneumatics – I don’t believe I’ve ever seen any of their (now Metabo HPT) cordless tools out in the wild. That doesn’t;t seem to stop them, however, and Lowes is offering their cordless/corded combo miter saw for sale – but certainly not priced like this Bosch:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Metabo-HPT-was-Hitachi-Power-Tools-MultiVolt-10-in-15-Amp-36-Volt-Dual-Bevel-Bevel-Sliding-Compound-Cordless-Corded-Miter-Saw/1000615721
Rafe says
I suspect it has more to do with an unfavorable market analysis, but who knows… I’m certainly not an expert that area of knowledge!
Koko The Talking Ape says
I remember reading on a woodworker’s forum that an early version of the Axial Glide was impossible to square, or something like that. And there are many other miter saws that don’t require so much rear clearance. I’ll wait for reactions from users. Also, I don’t need my miter saw to be cordless.
fred says
When I got my personal GCM12SD- there were lots of comments online about the saw being out of square – or having misaligned fences and/or warped tables. I also saw comments about shipping issues. The problems may have been cause and effect. Mine came shipped strapped down to a pallet. The saw is very heavy – and its cardboard box and foam packaging (back then anyway) was not up to much if any rough handling. The glide mechanism is not adjustable – as far as I can tell. So if you get a saw that had a manufacturing defect – or was damaged in shipping – you will need to send it back. The good news for me was that the blade tracked dead on square. The table was acceptably flat. The fences were coplanar and square to the blade. And – the miter and bevel calibrations did not need tweaking. Mine was manufactured in China. Of course the blade that came with the saw – was not great.
We had bought a few of these saws for our business. The first one we picked up locally and checked it out before loading in the truck – so that may be the way to go if you are concerned. But the ones we did buy (both Taiwan and China made) worked OK. I have not checked lately, however, to see if are still in use.
Doc John says
Koko the Talking Ape
I have the Bosch corded axial saw. Incredible. Square, precise, efficient compact.
Mike says
Nice saw but a little too expensive for my taste, that axail glide is great it is by far the smoothest
EJ says
I used to own the 10in glider 5 years ago. Very disappointed. I eventually sold it for really cheap. The new owner didn’t care about the defect because he only used it for rough dimensioning.
There was a slight twist in the glide mechanism which was very hard to detect. I originally thought the inaccuracy of my cuts were caused by the work pieces not being properly held down, until I installed the laser guide. The laser guide showed very clearly the bevel angle changed while the arm moves. This makes it impossible to calibrate unless I disassemble the mechanism and mill the joints. I was not the only owner who had this problem.
My next saw was Festool Kapax and the difference in accuracy was like night and day.
Adam says
Nice saw but to big, a 10 inch would be better with a scaled down axial glide, I’ve used the 12 inch I like the axial glide, but just to big to carry on to jobs.
Eric K. says
Hey Stuart,
Could you ask Bosch about their next gen 18v Circular Saw. The 6 1/2″ CSS-180 is getting very long in the tooth (Amazon “First Release Date” says 7/7/2009).
Keep up the good work, I really appreciate your Bosch coverage.
Derek Garcia says
Agree would be great to know. I’ve asked BoschNA R+D many times when tradesmen like myself who invested in the bosch platform can expect some new saws and other useful (18v) tools in the US….they profusely thanked me for my questions and said they would take it up with department heads 🤣. Lol. Have never heard a word.
I love the bosch tools I have now, but as others have said…things are getting long in the tooth and I need new tech. I just invested in the Milwaukee platform (18v compressor) and will follow up with one of their cordless miter saws as well. Unfortunately the Bosch cordless 8 1/2” miter saw we waited years on is only single bevel and has no depth stops…..basically Bosch us not forward thinking as their competitors and the carpenters in NA are paying the price for it. Good luck waiting on that new 18v circular saw….we might see it in 5-10 years.
Skye A Cohen says
I’m sure I’m in the minority here but I really dislike the axial glide saws, they have great capacity and they seem to stay true for a long time and they’re accurate.. I can think of other nice things to say as well but for finish carpentry I absolutely hate them for just a couple of reasons.. it is very difficult to see the back of the workpiece, sometimes the fastest most accurate way to mark boards is on the back of them but that saw is so bulky around the blade that you can’t stick your head anywhere and see it. Also miter adjustment is very slow, you cannot go from all the way left to all the way right very fast, when running trim, especially cutting mitered returns where you’re going back and forth for 20min or so left to 90 to right to 90 on and on, you really feel that slowness. Also it is so heavy and bulky.
We have one in our cabinet shop and it’s a good tool for that but I prefer just about any other saw for jobsite use, at least for running case and base.
To me a cordless one wouldn’t make any sense at all but to each their own I know most people really love those axial glide saws