Best Value Miter Saw For DIY | 1 Year User Review – METABO KGS 254 M

Metabo KGS 254 M Sliding Compound Miter Saw Reviewed

After being away on a short hiatus I figured I’d jump right back in by telling you about a sense of admiration I have discovered for a seemingly lesser known brand of power tool. An admiration that is largely owed to my decision to purchase the Metabo KGS 254 M Sliding Compound Miter Saw.

I bought my Metabo Miter Saw little under a year ago after being very disappointed in the saw I had at that stage. The Bosch PCM 1800 SD managed to fail on me not once but twice leaving me saw-less while waiting for warranty claims to be settled. With Bosch employees adamantly trying to convince me that I was working the tool too hard as it is only intended for “DIY”. DIY? I’m a woodworking hobbyist who is lucky to squeeze off a couple of hours to mess around in my shop over weekends. What could I possibly be doing that is not considered DIY?
But I digress, this is post is not about the disappointment I experienced at the hands of one of my favorite power tool manufacturer but rather the fondness I’ve found in a brand that might not be as well known or more specifically, their miter saws.

KGS 254 M at first glance – What led me to buy it

Besides Metabo’s simplistic color scheme of green and black with hints of red (that won’t be winning this saw any awards for best-looking), you will notice a well-built machine despite the fact that it is on the lower side of the pricing spectrum for mid-range 254mm(10″) miter saws.

With the exception of the saw’s sharp-edged and bulky motor, things like a slim blade guard that folds up into the blade housing or bed extensions that figure hug the saw base in their stored position give the saw a nice sleek look.

Don’t be fooled by the saw’s slim design as the 254M weighs in at little over 20kg’s so if your planning on moving the saw around a lot maybe considering a miter saw that is a little lighter would suit you better.

I also liked the fact that the saw had measurements printed on its fence, making quick, repetitive cuts that did not need to be deadly accurate seems somewhat simpler.

I must, however, admit that my decision to buy this saw was not only based on what I saw on the shop floor (as to some it may not merit a second look) but in part, also on previous experiences I had when working with the smaller Metabo KGS 216 M.

Specifications

  • Model: KGS 254 m
  • Blade size: 254 x 30mm
  • Cut width: 305mm
  • Cut depth: 90mm
  • Bevel cuts: 45° left
  • Miter cuts: 47° left/right
  • Weight: +\-21 kg
  • Voltage: 240V
  • Power: 1800W
  • Best place to buy: Amazon.co.uk

Set up

 

 

In most cases when unpacking new power tools, especially in the case of precision equipment like miter saws, some degree of setup or fine tuning is required.
I was very pleased to realize upon taking my saw for its maiden spin that almost everything (most notably the laser) was already factory fitted and zeroed to be true.

The laser lined up to the right of the cut line with the miter and bevel setting not needing any adjustment either.

Angle adjustment on the turntable is done by loosening the bed lock knob and pushing down on a spring-loaded release lever. This lever latches in place at 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 30°, and 45° preventing the bed angle from going out when tightening the lock nob.

Power

To allow the KGS 254 M to compete with other saws in its price range and above it is fitted with a powerful 1800W motor. 300W larger than the KGS 216 M allowing it to handle even bigger and denser stock.

While there are cheaper saws with larger motors like the Evolution FURY3-XL (2000W) or even the Einhell TH-SM 2534 (2350W) it seems as if the KGS 254 M has found the sweet spot between power, safety, and quality cuts.

Cutting

Thanks to some sharp German engineering the KGS 254 M does a great job in getting the 1800W down to the 254mm(10″) blade (48 tooth ATB precision cut Metabo blade supplied with the saw) to produce surprisingly high-quality cuts in a range of different lumber types or even when cutting laminates.

The praise for the quality of these cuts is largely owed to the slide that is fitted with precision bearings that offer very little to almost no play on the slide mechanism.

Marrying the 254mm blade with the saw’s 243mm slide stroke allows cuts in stock up to 90mm thick and 305mm wide making it a big asset when cutting large battens or sizing lumber for decking installations.

Features that set the KGS 254 M apart from its competition

The laser and work light is mounted underneath the blade housing.

Some of the features that did not capture my attention at first but have proven to be quite nifty are things like the power cord attached at the rear of the slide or the laser guide mounted at the top of the blade housing.

With the power cord coming in at the back of the slide you will have to sacrifice an additional +/-50mm behind the saw but in return, you won’t have to experience the aggravation that comes with a power cord getting hooked on other parts of the saw while using the slide.

As for the laser, I can imagine placing it at the top of the blade housing must have proven quite a task for designers but the rewards are well worth it. Moving the placement of the laser means that the saw isn’t constantly spewing debris at the laser (which in most other cases is mounted on the slide behind the blade) that can cause a build-up of visibility compromising dust on the lens and in extreme cases even damage to the laser.
In addition to this, fixing the laser to the blade housing leads to greater accuracy because the opportunity for something to go out of alignment between the chopping mechanism and the slide mechanism gets eliminated.

Though not really a game changer the 254 M also has a nifty little work light built into its design allowing you to illuminate the stock when ambient light is lacking.

Where the KGS 254 M Falls short

Perfection is objective and though the Metabo KGS 254 M has done a good job of impressing me it has fallen short in some areas.

The most notable shortcoming of this saw is its depth restriction guide that is lacking in accuracy.
Though it is not often that I have to restrict the depth of cuts I do feel that on a saw like this a little more attention to the design of the mechanism could have made for a better quality and more accurate cut.

The 254 M is a single bevel miter saw and can only tilt up to 45° to the left and though it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that simply turning the stock around would produce the opposing bevel, the operator will be sacrificing the convenience of a double bevel miter saw when purchasing the 254 M.

Conclusion

The Metabo KGS 254 M has thoroughly impressed me. It may not be the sexiest saw out there but the quality of the machine along with the quality of the cut it produces is not something I would have expected from a saw in its price range.  With the exception of the saws obvious shortfalls like its depth restriction and its weight, I think Metabo have done an exceptional job at providing consumers with a well built, cost-effective alternative to some of the markets biggest names.
Considering all of this is what led me to my conclusion that the KGS 254 M is the best value miter saw for DIY on the market at the moment.
I have been using mine for almost a year now and am currently looking at adding the Metabo MPTDH330 thicknesser to my tool arsenal as well.

You can check out some of my recent builds using the saw on the Woodshop Junkies Youtube Channel.

 

Building a fold-away station for my Metabo Miter Saw

 

Posted by Jean

Website: http://woodworkjunkie.com

This article has 22 Comments

  1. I have miter saw tool but I learn that how to use it on this blog. Thanks for sharing this post.

    1. Hi, i bought a metabo 305m based on your review and videos. I went slightly larger as I had the room and gave my more flexibility, albeit its a big beast!
      Its worked really well out of the box for me, with one exception that when cutting wider stock the blade seems to curve the cut and does not give 90 degree square cuts. Did you have this problem and if so how did you rectify it?

      1. Hi Chris,

        I did not. Those blades aren’t really made to be able to deflect. Could it be that you may need to zero the bevel angle?

  2. Hi,
    Great review, thanks for sharing your opinion!

    You mentioned that your are considering to add the Metabo MPTDH330. Since this review was posted last year, did you add the H330 ? I am curios if you did, i am currently osculating between H330 and Makita’s 2012NB.

    Cheers!

    1. Hi

      Sadly, I have not been able to add the Metabo to my tool arsenal but I definitely still intend to. That being said, I wouldn’t go so far as to try and compare the H330 to the 2012NB without officially reviewing the two. Especially considering that the 2012NB cost a lot more than the H330.

      When it comes to quality for affordability I think Metabo takes the cake.

      1. Hi, thanks for the comeback. I have to disagree in regards to affordability :), at least in my area, the prices of DH330 and 2012NB are in the same neighborhood(~500 euros).
        For the DH330 i found a thorough review, but unfortunately is in my natal language(you can find it here if translate is your friend). The rows put down by this user convinced me to decide in favor of Makita’s tool.
        Currently i am struggling to acquire the last 3 tools i need in my personal wood-shop:
        Makita 2012NB
        Metabo KGS 254
        Makita MLT100.

        Cheers!

        1. Well, if they cost the same where I am from I would probably also have gone for the Makita. I really like Metabo because here in SA, they are generally a very good quality and more affordable alternative to brands like Makita and Bosch.

          I would advise you do good research on the MLT100 before buying it. I does have a 1 or 2 flaws that some people can’t get past.

          1. Hello,
            As far as i understood, there are two areas where “poor quality” is observed, the play of the fence and the play of the miter gauge, which i believe can be improved considering the the bigger sister 2704 adds ~ 270 euros to the bill …
            But never the less, i will continue to study the reviews, pro and cons for a while before i will take decision:)
            Cheers mate!

  3. Hi,
    Great review of the miter saw, I purchased one a while back without much knowledge but thanks to this detailed review, I know the ins and outs of the saw! Thank you

  4. Hi Jean

    Great site, I am also in SA. Where do you buy your tools from in SA? I can get the KGS 254 from couple of online stores here in SA, current best price is R5400.00. About to pull the trigger if I cant find it cheaper.

    Groete

    Elde

    1. Hey,

      I often buy from my local Brights hardware store as they are closest to me but when I am looking for imported brands or more specialized equipment I shop from Toolcraft or Hardware Centre.
      I would say R5400 is a good price as I paid slightly more for mine about 2 years ago. It is a great saw and worth every Rand.

      1. Thanks for the info check out tools4wood.co.za if you have time will be getting my saw from there cant wait.

  5. Great minds think alike! Ek het so 2 maande terug vir my ook die 10″ Metabo gekoop by Brights in Uitzicht.
    Hulle het verjaar, en ek het daardie saag vir R4500 gekoop! Ek het ook die Bosch stofsuier, en ‘n Triton router wat onder my Martlet saag gemonteer is. Het jou videos gekyk van jou werksbank. Wow baie nice!

  6. Ek woon net om die draai van Brights in Uitzicht. Doen houtwerk vir ‘n stokperdjie uit my garage.
    Was baie jare terug ‘n Patternmaker. Woon jy ook in hierdie area? Sal jou graag wil ontmoet vir ‘n lekker chat!

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