Bosch 18V Cordless 8-1/2″ Miter Saw Cuts the Cord and Keeps the Performance
The new Bosch 18V Cordless 8-1/2″ Miter Saw offers Pro cutting capacity and the convenience that comes from cutting the cord on the jobsite. It runs on the brand’s 18V battery platform and uses Core18V battery packs for better performance and longer runtimes.
What’s the Big Deal?
The Bosch GCM18V-08N is an 8-1/2″ single-bevel (45º), sliding compound miter saw that can tackle up to 3-5/8″ nested crown molding. It can miter 47° left to 47° right against the fence and has a 10-5/8″ crosscut capacity at 90º.
This Bosch 18V cordless 8-1/2″ miter saw still remains very portable with a bare tool weight of 31.5 lbs.
With its brushless motor, and using a Core18V 8.0 Ah battery, the GCM18V-08N delivers up to 377 cuts on a charge. Bosch doesn’t tell us what material that’s in, though.
It features a laser guide system to help guide your cuts and centered sliding rails.
It comes with a dust chute and collection bag to keep your workspace clean as well.
Right now, the GCM18V-08N Bosch 18V Cordless 8-1/2″ Miter Saw runs $499.99, but we’re seeing prices a little lower than that on Amazon. It comes with the saw, an 8-1/2″ 24-tooth carbide-tipped blade, a clamp, a wrench, and a dust bag. It also comes with a 1-year warranty, though if you sign up for the Bosch Provantage Plan, you can extend that to a 3-year warranty.
If you’re new to the Bosch 18V platform, you can snag a Core18V starter kit for around $206 with a 6.3Ah battery or just an 8.0Ah battery for $100.
Thoughts on the Bosch 18V Cordless 8-1/2″ Miter Saw
We got to see this saw first-hand at STAFDA and it’s a pretty impressive unit that our trim guys are anxious to get their hands on. It’s a size that makes sense for that crew, too. With a relatively light weight, it’s easy enough to move around a trim job as you progress with enough capacity to tackle your case, base, and crown.
Its biggest limitation is its vertical capacity, so that’s something to keep your eyes on when you’re working with larger crown molding. It can handle 2-3/4″ max vertical base or 3-3/4″ nested crown (45º).
Bosch is being very particular about suggesting you use a Core18V battery. Because of its advanced design, it can produce up to 1440 watts—80% more than a standard Bosch 18V battery. You can still use a regular 18V battery to power the saw, but you’ll see a dip in performance.
The rail system is worth pointing out. It’s a two-rail design that needs clearance behind the saw to operate. Bosch’s centering design is what I’m interested in, though. Keeping the rails sliding dead-center with the blade should help eliminate the little bit of deflection we sometimes see on side rail designs when less-experienced people use them.
Of course, it’s the minimal blade deflection that attracts trim carpenters to smaller miter saws in the first place, and I like that the rail design can help keep your cuts tight.
Bosch 18V Cordless 8-1/2″ Miter Saw Specs
- Model: Bosch GCM18V-08N
- Bevel Angle Range: 0° to 45° (single bevel)
- Bevel Stops: 45°
- Height: 18″
- Length: 18.5″
- Miter Angle Range: 0° – 47°, Left and Right
- Detents: 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 45° (Left/Right)
- Weight: 31.5 lbs
- Width: 32″
- Price: $619 (kit)
