When it comes to miter saws, Delta’s Shopmaster series is a decent choice for those who are looking for great usability and are working between different job sites or rooms due to its lightweight design. Two of these models, the Shopmaster S26-263L and the S26-272L, are both competitive and user-friendly miter saws to consider.
If you want to know more about these two Shopmaster miter saws from Delta, check them out below as I review and compare their specifications.
A Quick Look at the Delta Shopmaster Miter Saws
With an emphasis on convenient features and mechanisms that will keep your cuts precise and fuss-free, these two miter saws focus on usability, particularly if you need to move the saw from place to place.
This 10-inch slide miter saw is a 30-pound (29.5-pound to be exact) unit that is easy to transport from room to room due to its design. If you are working with long objects or materials, it has table extensions on the side to help with supporting it. Moreover, it has a spindle lock that will simplify blade changes, allowing you to save more time between cuts.
It has a left bevel angle of 0 to 45 degrees and can cut up to 2×12 (full-bevel). I like that it has a laser (can be turned off as well) providing you with an accurate guide when cutting your material. With the motor running at 1,800 watts (120V), this miter saw also has an electric brake, which helps make repetitive cuts since it stops the blade almost instantly.
The design is well thought out, as the cord flows from the rear of the slide bar so there’s no way it would get caught by the blade. Despite being a 10-inch miter saw, it has a 12-inch crosscut capacity with its 15-amp motor. It is backed by a 3-year warranty for your peace of mind.
With a 13.5-inch cross-cut capacity at 90 degrees, this 12-inch sliding compound miter saw has angle capacities (miter) of 45 degrees (left) and 50 degrees (right). For crown molding, it has miter stops that will help get the job done fast. It is also a lightweight tool that can be moved easily from room to room.
Aside from those features, it also has an electric brake, which almost instantly stops the blade, so you can switch simply to avoid wasting time between cuts. A dust bag is also included if you want to set it up with your shop vac or dust collector. What’s more, it also comes with a laser guide for added accuracy.
With 3.5-inch fences, this double bevel saw can be easily set up with a shop vac adapter of 1-3/4-inches in size. The guide laser only needs about two minutes to calibrate so it’s easy to set up. Like the previous pick, it is backed by a 3-year warranty.
Delta Shopmaster S26-263L vs. S26-272L: Similarities
As two miter saws from the same manufacturer, they have a few similarities, such as the following:
Electric Brake
Both the Delta Shopmaster S26-263L and the S26-272L have an electric brake, which is a mechanism that almost instantly stops the blade (within a few seconds) so you can remove it and change to another blade that you like.
Repetitive cutting is when an electric brake becomes useful – if you make successive cuts then you need the blade to fully stop quickly to make the next cut. With an electric brake, you’ll save time when you’re working on your material with the miter saw. This would be useful for job sites and when keeping up with short deadlines.
Dust Extraction Capability
The Delta Shopmaster S26-263L and the S26-272L both have dust extraction capability, since they have dust ports that can be connected to the appropriately-sized Shop-Vac adapter.
Keeping your work area dust-free (or at least with minimal dust count) is not only a requirement for most job sites, but is also a way to make the air healthier. If the unit is easy to set up with a dust extraction system then you won’t have to worry much about debris flying around.
Laser Guide
In terms of accuracy, both the Delta Shopmaster S26-263L and the S26-272L have a convenient laser guide that will help you get the best cut possible.
A laser guide is a plus point for those who have difficulty reading the tool guides all the time, especially if they are working in a low-visibility or low-light room. By having a laser guide, it will increase productivity for the operator and save time.
Warranty Period
Both the Delta Shopmaster S26-263L and the S26-272L are backed by a 3-year warranty on the tool to give you peace of mind.
Delta Shopmaster S26-263L vs. S26-272L: Differences
While they do share many similarities, as two different models, they have a couple of differences that make them stand apart from each other, such as the following:
Weight
The Delta Shopmaster S26-263L weighs 29.5 pounds while the S26-272L weighs a sizable 55 pounds. Although both are on the lightweight side, the S26-263L is much better in terms of portability.
When choosing a good miter saw, you have to keep in mind which features you value most, especially if you want to work between job sites or move the unit from room to room. A portable miter saw should be one with less weight, but that is still stable when you place it on a workbench.
In this case, the S26-263L has the upper hand when it comes to moving from one area to another, allowing for work flexibility. This would be useful for home remodels when you need to get the miter saw upstairs or when you’re working on a deck project.
Bevel Capacity
The single-bevel Shopmaster S26-263L can only bevel left up to 45 degrees while the S26-272L is a dual-bevel unit that has left (45 degrees) and right (50 degrees) capacities.
Bevel capacity is important for those who want an easier way of handling the material since double-bevel units don’t require having to turn the workpiece over to the other side, allowing precision without breaking a sweat. If you want a dual-bevel capacity unit, then the Shopmaster S26-272L is a great choice for you.
Cross-Cut Capability
Despite being a 10-inch miter saw, the Delta Shopmaster S26-263L can cut up to 12 inches for its cross-cut ability while the S26-272L has up to 13.5 inches of cutting capacity.
Simply put, if you want a better cutting capacity when working with larger workpieces, the S26-272L is a better tool for you. Nonetheless, I still applaud the Delta Shopmaster S26-263L for having a cross-cut capacity of 12 inches despite being a 10-inch miter saw, which is something not often seen in miter saws of the same class.
When choosing between these models, you should consider the materials you will be working on and their typical lengths. If you ask me, going for a bigger miter saw in terms of cutting capacity will save you more money in the long run, since it also covers the smaller workpieces as well.
Cutting Speed
As the Shopmaster S26-263L is only a 10-inch miter saw, it has a faster cutting speed at 5,500 RPM while the S26-272L is only 4,000 RPM.
The faster RPM speeds are more prominent in smaller blade sizes such as the 10-inch model, while the slower speeds are typically found with the bigger 12-inch blade units. This is because despite the slow speed, if you can cut more material in one go thanks to the bigger blade size and cross-cut capacity, it will be similar to having a high-speed 10-inch blade.
Which of the Delta Shopmaster Miter Saws Should You Get?
If you want a good miter saw and you aren’t very meticulous with the cutting capacity and the bevel features, the Delta Shopmaster S26-263L is a good choice for you. It has sufficient convenience features such as the electric brake and laser guide for ease of use, especially for those who are in a hurry. Plus, it is also a lightweight unit, which is ideal for moving from place to place.
However, if you prefer a bigger cross-cut capability and a double-bevel miter saw, the Delta Shopmaster S26-272L is for you. It might not be as lightweight as the previous pick but it is good for working with larger pieces and for crown molding as well. Nonetheless, it has similar features to the Shopmaster S26-263L, such as the laser guide and electric brake.
Summary
Miter saws like the Delta Shopmaster S26-263L and S26-272L are going to help reduce time consumption, especially if you’re on a job site or working on a home remodel project. They do have differences but all in all, they each have their specialty depending on the task at hand. I hope you liked my reviews and that it helped you to choose which tool to buy!