Comments on: Stanley 20-800 Contractor Grade Clamping Mitre Box http://popularhandtools.com/stanley-20-800-contractor-grade-clamping-mitre-box Get the right tool for the job Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:21:59 +1000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Charles Hall http://popularhandtools.com/stanley-20-800-contractor-grade-clamping-mitre-box/comment-page-1#comment-168 Charles Hall Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:34:28 +0000 http://popularhandtools.com/stanley-20-800-contractor-grade-clamping-mitre-box#comment-168 I'm no contractor, but I knew I wanted something better than the one-piece plastic miter box I had. I was able to pick this up at Lowes for $35. I then proceeded to use it to cut moldings for a couple of rooms in my house. I found this device to work perfectly. I was even able to use my left hand forefinger to support the blade guide a slight amount and get as smooth and light a saw cut as I wanted. Within a short time I was making smooth accurate cuts, better cuts than I have ever gotten with a simple box and back saw. <br /> <br />Cosmetically, the aluminum base casting has some cracks it but it seems perfectly strong enough. It cuts accurately, and has a number of preset angles which it can cut. Degrees are clearly marked for you to identify any angle you wish (not sure if it clamps at those angles though). <br /> <br />Some of the other reviewers seem to be contractors or something. I think this is a fine value for people who don't want to spend $100+ on the professional grade models. Rating: 5 / 5 I’m no contractor, but I knew I wanted something better than the one-piece plastic miter box I had. I was able to pick this up at Lowes for $35. I then proceeded to use it to cut moldings for a couple of rooms in my house. I found this device to work perfectly. I was even able to use my left hand forefinger to support the blade guide a slight amount and get as smooth and light a saw cut as I wanted. Within a short time I was making smooth accurate cuts, better cuts than I have ever gotten with a simple box and back saw.

Cosmetically, the aluminum base casting has some cracks it but it seems perfectly strong enough. It cuts accurately, and has a number of preset angles which it can cut. Degrees are clearly marked for you to identify any angle you wish (not sure if it clamps at those angles though).

Some of the other reviewers seem to be contractors or something. I think this is a fine value for people who don’t want to spend $100+ on the professional grade models.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: David Manthey http://popularhandtools.com/stanley-20-800-contractor-grade-clamping-mitre-box/comment-page-1#comment-167 David Manthey Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:42:48 +0000 http://popularhandtools.com/stanley-20-800-contractor-grade-clamping-mitre-box#comment-167 I've owned one of these saws for a few years, and I just broke it completely. I'm not sure what I'll replace it with, but it certainly won't be with the same model. <br /> <br />If all you intend to cut is very small (1/4" x 1") pieces, this saw might be accurate enough for you, but don't bet on it. For anything large, the initial contact point of the saw is okay, but the blade is too flexible (regardless of how much you tighten it), and it will wander off of straight. Frankly, I can cut a truer cut with a standard hand saw. <br /> <br />The plastic peg clamps work on lightweight work, but won't hold a two by four firmly enough to make cutting easy -- you'll always want another clamp. The length guide is ridiculous. The height guides are difficult to set, but work effectively once set. <br /> <br />What I did like about this saw, is it did provide a handy cutting station for small cuts. This is a useful feature, and, despite the lack of trueness, made the saw worth having. The angles were close enough for framing (house, not picture) work. <br /> <br />Lastly, I accidentally bumped one of the uprights with something, and bent the base that holds the uprights. While trying to bend it back, I snapped the base (it is just thin cast aluminium). This has ended the limited utility of the saw. Rating: 2 / 5 I’ve owned one of these saws for a few years, and I just broke it completely. I’m not sure what I’ll replace it with, but it certainly won’t be with the same model.

If all you intend to cut is very small (1/4″ x 1″) pieces, this saw might be accurate enough for you, but don’t bet on it. For anything large, the initial contact point of the saw is okay, but the blade is too flexible (regardless of how much you tighten it), and it will wander off of straight. Frankly, I can cut a truer cut with a standard hand saw.

The plastic peg clamps work on lightweight work, but won’t hold a two by four firmly enough to make cutting easy — you’ll always want another clamp. The length guide is ridiculous. The height guides are difficult to set, but work effectively once set.

What I did like about this saw, is it did provide a handy cutting station for small cuts. This is a useful feature, and, despite the lack of trueness, made the saw worth having. The angles were close enough for framing (house, not picture) work.

Lastly, I accidentally bumped one of the uprights with something, and bent the base that holds the uprights. While trying to bend it back, I snapped the base (it is just thin cast aluminium). This has ended the limited utility of the saw.
Rating: 2 / 5

]]> By: Stuart R. Hammett http://popularhandtools.com/stanley-20-800-contractor-grade-clamping-mitre-box/comment-page-1#comment-166 Stuart R. Hammett Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:50:39 +0000 http://popularhandtools.com/stanley-20-800-contractor-grade-clamping-mitre-box#comment-166 Good quality, works well at a great price. Much better than a power tool for precision framing work. We use the tool in building picture frames and canvasses. Rating: 5 / 5 Good quality, works well at a great price. Much better than a power tool for precision framing work. We use the tool in building picture frames and canvasses.
Rating: 5 / 5

]]> By: D. Michel http://popularhandtools.com/stanley-20-800-contractor-grade-clamping-mitre-box/comment-page-1#comment-165 D. Michel Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:59:22 +0000 http://popularhandtools.com/stanley-20-800-contractor-grade-clamping-mitre-box#comment-165 At first this was a passable tool and cut quite well. But after a while I came to realize that there is no way on Earth to get a replacement blade. I tried ordering it from three places and, finally, Stanley themselves. Even the Stanley employee was shocked. <br /> <br />And lest you think that this was a temporary problem, it is not. It has been over a year since I first started looking. Today I decided to throw this one away and buy a better brand. Nice job Stanley. I will remember this every time I shop for a tool; and you can bet that I will not buy Stanley if there is any other option. Rating: 1 / 5 At first this was a passable tool and cut quite well. But after a while I came to realize that there is no way on Earth to get a replacement blade. I tried ordering it from three places and, finally, Stanley themselves. Even the Stanley employee was shocked.

And lest you think that this was a temporary problem, it is not. It has been over a year since I first started looking. Today I decided to throw this one away and buy a better brand. Nice job Stanley. I will remember this every time I shop for a tool; and you can bet that I will not buy Stanley if there is any other option.
Rating: 1 / 5

]]> By: Karen S. Noel http://popularhandtools.com/stanley-20-800-contractor-grade-clamping-mitre-box/comment-page-1#comment-164 Karen S. Noel Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:03:29 +0000 http://popularhandtools.com/stanley-20-800-contractor-grade-clamping-mitre-box#comment-164 The mitre box came in a timely fashion. I haven't used it yet, but it is a Stanley product and I am confident that it will be good. Rating: 5 / 5 The mitre box came in a timely fashion. I haven’t used it yet, but it is a Stanley product and I am confident that it will be good.
Rating: 5 / 5

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