Miters saws are exceptional and indispensable tools for any DIY arsenal. It is a must-have tool especially if you want to enjoy in a fully functioning workshop that you will have within your household.
Miter saws can easily make straight cuts and help you finish general assignments, but it is difficult to choose which one is the best for your needs and requirements because you will notice numerous price tags and abilities.
We are here to provide you with an ultimate guide that will help you determine why miter saw is the vital tool for your needs so that you can find the appropriate one and make a quality purchase.
Miter Saw Uses
When it comes to miter saws, you should understand that it features and comprises three main tasks which are unique when compared with other tools on the market.
Since there are numerous power saws available, you should check these out and determine which one is the best for your requirements:
1.Regular Crosscuts
If you have a miter saw and you wish to cut some board in half, you should have in mind that it is an excellent choice for your needs. Of course, you can use other types too such as a circular saw, radial arm saw, hand saw and many more, but this particular one is the best.
Since the tool is both powerful and stable, it is difficult to find a table or board that you won’t be able to cut through. At the same time, it is bulky and stationary, so you will be able to equip it with workbench so that you can move it around with ease.
You will be able to set a board next to a fence so that you can move it around or handle it while blade goes to cut the board. Some high-end models feature laser guide that will provide you exact idea where the cut will be so that you can follow the line and enjoy all the way.
In case that you purchase a sliding miter saw, you should have in mind that you can cut wide boards up to 12-inches wide but everything depends on the thickness of the board.
Using other tools would be challenging to accomplish because you won’t get tools that feature the same level of accuracy especially when compared with this particular one.
2.Angled Cuts
This particular type of cuts is the specific things that you will get with a miter saw. You can quickly turn the angle from one way to another, and most of them can make cuts around 50-degrees to the right and left.
High-end ones will feature a more extensive range, but it will be limited by the length of the cut and size of the blade. However, angled cuts are useful in numerous situations.
Have in mind that some types of woodworking projects require that you make angled cuts.
With it, you will be able to make a lot of furniture as well as woodworking projects by using right angles wherever you are. It is a useful situation in case that you come across a situation where you have to miter a few boards altogether.
When you’re doing trim work, you will have to add angles to it, especially if you are finishing your basement or remodeling your house, because miter saw is the perfect tool for those requirements.
3.Bevel and Compound Angle Cuts
This is the main reason why people choose miter saws instead of other types, because things may get complicated with it.
Bevel in combination with angle cuts means that you will be able to move saw from left to right, but angling the path of the cutting.
It is useful if you want to make multiple angles, mainly because the board tends to span diagonally across a few different planes.
You won’t have to use these cuts too often, but it is a feature that will help you deal with certain things and projects.
Other Considerations
1. Repeatable Cuts
Sometimes you will have to make additional cuts that are in the same length as the previous one. You will be able to do it by stopping on one end of the work surface and place the material against this particular stop.
That will allow you to make cuts that are in the same length, which is less time to consume than controlling and make repetitions.
2. Built-in Workbench
You will be able to find a workstation that features a workbench in combination with miter saw which will provide you the possibility to position materials you wish to cut through so that you can make more accurate cuts than before.
3. Sliding Saw
Sliding feature will give you the possibility to cut wider pieces of wood, and we recommend you to find the one that features this particular capability during the purchase. Therefore, you can rest assured and you do not have to flip the piece each time you wish to cut something wider than usual.
Miter Saw Model Variations
1.Compound Miter Saw
It features blades that will pivot right and left so that you can make angled cuts in a single direction which will reduce time consumption you will need for it. You will be able to use it to manipulate the saw on both parts so that you can make a precise miter cut.
They are perfect for crown molding, picture frames and other projects that require angled cuts in two different planes.
2.Dual Compound Miter Saw
This particular type of miter saw features the same functions as a compound miter saw, but it can tilt both left and right so that you can easily make bevel cuts.
3.Sliding Compound Miter Saw
On the other hand, you will be able to use the versatility of this particular miter saw due to its sliding feature that will allow you to deal with extensive materials with ease.
It comes with a function which tends to be similar as a radial arm saw, which means that you can move the blade backward and forward.
Miter Saw Features
- It features a saw motor that we measure in amps, and if you want to get more cutting power, you should choose the one with more amps
- Blade size is vital when choosing the appropriate model and the most common formats are 8, 10 and 12-inches. The larger blade you get, the more extended cuts you will be able to make as a result.
- It comes with positive stops that will give you the possibility to make quick and precise cuts on various angles. The more positive stops it features, you will need less time to set up curls for the appropriate angle.
- Most of them feature depth stops so that you can adjust the height of the blade which means that you can control the intensity of cutting.
- Blade guards will protect blades from the debris, and you will have a better view of the cutting line. Some high-end saws feature laser guide that will help you make more accurate cuts than on other power tools.
- Dust blowers and chutes will protect you from sawdust and clear the cutting area so that you can always see the cutting line. Most of them feature dust bags that you will be able to mount directly with the idea to collect sawdust.
Conclusion
As you can see from everything that we’ve mentioned above, miter saws are excellent tools, and as the DIY enthusiast, you must have it in your tool arsenal.
Of course, it requires from you to have a proper understanding of its capabilities and features so that you can learn how to use it properly.
We recommend you to reread the article in case that you’ve missed something important and have in mind that you can ask us anything in the comment section below and we will answer you on short notice.