GMC LSMS210 and LSMS250 Sliding Mitre Saws: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead
GMC's sliding compound mitre saws, gone with the brand in 2008. What decides whether a slider cuts square, and the current benchmark.
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The LSMS210 and LSMS250 were GMC’s 210mm and 250mm sliding compound mitre saws. GMC Australia went into receivership in 2008 and the brand left the market.
The one thing that separates good sliders from bad
Rail slop. A sliding mitre saw carries the head on rails, and every thousandth of play in those rails shows up as a cut that is not square to the face — worse at the end of the stroke than the start, because the head is furthest from its support.
Test any slider, new or used, the same way: crosscut a wide board, flip one half over, butt the cut ends together. Any error doubles and you will see it as a wedge of light.
If a used saw fails that test, look for rail adjustment grub screws before writing it off. Many sliders have them and most owners never touch them.
The other things worth knowing
Blade, not saw. A 60- or 80-tooth ATB blade in an average saw beats a 24-tooth blade in a good one for finish work. This is the cheapest upgrade available.
Detents are convenience, not accuracy. A saw that clicks into 45 degrees is not necessarily at 45 degrees. Set the fence with a reliable square and check it, then trust the detent.
Dust collection on mitre saws is poor across the board. Bags catch a fraction. If you are cutting indoors, plan for a shroud or an extractor hood behind the saw.
What to buy
The Bosch GCM12SD, linked below, solves the rail problem differently: instead of rails it uses an articulated glide arm, which removes the slop mechanism entirely and also lets the saw sit flat against a wall rather than needing clearance behind it. That second point matters more in a small workshop than most spec comparisons admit.
If you only crosscut narrow stock, a non-sliding mitre saw is stiffer, cheaper and cuts squarer. The slide is only worth its compromises if you cut wide boards.