The Milwaukee 6955-20 12-inch sliding dual miter saw is a sight to behold. Its digital miter angle readout sets it apart from the competition and allows precise miter measurements at up to 0.1-degree increments. We reviewed this saw against the competition in our Best 12″ miter saw reviews write-up, so be sure to check that out.
Pros
- No start-up jump, very large dust port, dual work lights, digital miter angle readout, 5-year warranty
Cons
- Expensive, heavy, material clamp not included
Standout Features That Set This Saw Apart
The digital miter system on the Milwaukee 6955-20 miter saw gives you an LCD with precise values for making miter cuts. You simply pull the detent lever up to engage the “drive-shaft” and then push the fine adjustment ring forward to enable the system. Turning the ring now moves the miter angle in 0.1-degree increments, and displays the setting on an integrated LED readout. While precise, the system allows fairly speedy angle changes, and it never felt slow.
To swing the saw from the left to the right we’d disengage the system and re-engage it when the blade was in position. Behind the fine adjustment ring sits a locking knob. Milwaukee recommends you use this to lock down the miter angle before making your cuts. That’s good advice.
The other key “feature” about this saw has to do with its immense weight. You may not want to drag it around on the job site. If you do, consider grabbing a rolling miter saw stand to help you out.
Check out our review of thin kerf 12″ miter saw blades to see which gives you the best cut for your dollar.
Milwaukee 6955-20 Miter Saw Build Quality
The Milwaukee 6955-20 Miter Saw uses a clear lower blade guard—a HUGE improvement over the typically opaque guards you see on products like the DeWalt DWS780 12″ miter saw and others. A clear guard typically lets you more easily follow the cut without having to lift the guard to inspect your work.
The work area seems smaller than most miter saws. However, since you have a three-point contact with the cutting surface, it had no problems handling even larger pieces of lumber—we still recommend a miter saw stand. The Milwaukee 6955-20 12-inch miter saw carves a 13-1/2 inch wide line at 90 degrees. Even better—it does that at a height of 4-inches!
At a 45 degree miter, you get around 9.5 inches. The motor on this saw is also (impressively) mounted parallel to the blade. It works similarly to the Skil MAG77LT worm drive circular saw or the Skilsaw 12-inch worm drive miter saw. This eliminates the start-up torque you feel with traditional perpendicular motors and belt-driven systems.
Milwaukee 6955-20 Miter Saw Bevel Adjustment
The bevel adjustment on the Milwaukee 6955-20 Miter Saw uses a large red lever. It allows for easy left or right pivoting movement. Lifting it partially allowed us to use popular detent positions (perfect for cutting large crown molding). Depth of cuts can be set using a depth stop adjustment knob on the left side of the blade. This is a somewhat rough depth adjustment system, but certainly does the job with only a minimal amount of hassle.
The dust collection feature on this saw is efficient but nonstandard. You’ll need to purchase an adapter to get it to work with your system.
A pair of integrated dual work lights really rounded out the feature set of this sliding miter saw and, in our opinion, should be the standard operating procedure on all tools of this genre. Who doesn’t want a little light on their workspace?
Milwaukee 6955-20 12-inch Miter Saw Specs
- Model: Milwaukee 6955-20
- Motor: 15-amp 3.3 HP (max) direct-drive w/soft-start
- Arbor: 5/8 or 1 in.
- Speed (no load): 3,200 RPM
- Blade size: 12 in.
- Bevel: 0° – 48° left/right
- Digital LCD miter angle display
- Mitering resolution: 0.1° fine adjust with detent override
- Dual job site lights
- Integral dust channel
- Dual horizontal Steel Rails w/3 linear bearings
- Single lever bevel adjustment w/9 positive bevel stops
- Weight: 65 lbs
- Warranty: 5-years
- Price: $749
Conclusion
The Milwaukee 6955-20 sliding dual miter system is one of the most rugged products you’ll find. It also has some pretty advanced features. We’ve also caught it at close to $200 off retail. That makes it a deal for those looking for a professional shop tool, contractors, or serious DIYers who just want quality.
