What makes a good miter saw

Which is right for me: 10 inch or 12 inch? The inch. More 12" Reviews. Do you need a saw with a laser guide? Keep in mind the laser is harder to see under bright light, so this is best for indoor use. Is a sliding or compound miter saw better? When determining which type to buy you need to consider what you will be using it for. Where to buy miter saws?

Which miter saw to buy? If you have been wondering what miter saw to buy, you are definitely in the right place. Here are some quick tips on the top 5 brands on the market:. Great for beginners Not ideal for fine detail.

Blade needs to be updated. What is the next step? Read one of our recent reviews. Dewalt DW Click here to learn more. See the top models compared head to head. Start looking at your accessories. Which blade to buy Click here to learn more. Which stand to buy Click here to learn more. Precise, accurate cuts. Great for beginners. Not ideal for fine detail. Easy to control, simple set up, accurate. Cheap dust bag. DeWalt DWS inch. Great cutting power, lightweight, ease of use.

Reduced capacity, fewer features, more space needed for dust bag. Leader for crown molding, adjustable for small angles. Heavy, unclear instruction manual. In this article see which saw has the features you want and Tom's tips for using miter saws correctly. Crosscuts and miters, but does not tilt for bevel cuts.

Pros: Good basic job-site saw. Relatively inexpensive, lightweight for easy hauling and setup. Cons: Can't cut bevels. Width and depth of cut are limited to blade reach. Crosscuts, miters, and tilts to one side to cut bevels.

Some tilt both ways. Pros: Makes all the basic cuts. Cons: Width and depth of cut are limited to blade reach. One-way tilt means you have to make some bevel cuts with the workpiece upside down. Crosscuts, miters, tilts to one side, and slides.

Slide mechanism increases cutting capacity. Cons: One-way tilt means you have to make some cuts with the workpiece upside down. Example Model: Porter-Cable , approx. Crosscuts, miters, bevels to both sides, and slides. Pros: Makes all straight, mitered, and beveled cuts. No need to turn work upside down. Cons: Numerous adjustments to get right; more expensive. Example Model: Dewalt DW, approx. Crosscuts, miters, bevels to one side, and slides, all on battery power. Pros: Battery means it can be used on sites where the electricity has not yet been connected.

They can also be used for miter cuts simply by making a quick adjustment. These types of miter saws come in single bevel and dual bevel designs. Compound miter saws are most effective at cutting crown moldings and the like, performing even more complex jobs with ease and accuracy. For sheer versatility, a sliding compound miter saw is what you need. This is by far the most versatile type of miter saw available and the most costly one as well.

It provides all the benefits and features of a compound miter saw, with the added capability to cut wide and thick pieces of wood due to the inclusion of a sliding arm. Although an overkill for most home woodworking jobs, the versatility and enhanced capabilities of these models make them pretty hard to beat. Power is typically measured in amps. The higher the amp rating of a miter saw, the more effective it will be at cutting.

When considering this factor, you do have to determine just how much power you actually need. While a high amp saw is indeed nice to have around, it will also cost considerably more than a miter saw with fewer specs.

Another factor you will want to look into is blade size. Miter saws typically come with 8-, , and inch blades, although some can accommodate even larger blades. The larger the blade, the more effective it is at making long cuts. Other factors that may be equally important to you are positive stops, depth stops, and articulated blade guards. These features enhance the effectiveness and accuracy of miter saws, enabling you to perform more precise cuts.

Miter saws are some of the most useful tools to have in your shed or workshop. Among their benefits are:. Miter saws are known for their accuracy, which is why they are very popular among woodworkers and practitioners of fine carpentry. Saws that come with angle-locking features are even more accurate, ensuring that cuts are exactly the same angle every time. Another thing miter saws are known for is their ability to make smooth cuts of the highest quality.

This is especially true of compound miter saws, which are routinely used for tasks that require the finest quality results. With such saws, you never have to deal with rough edges that require a great deal of sanding later. If you have ever wondered how experienced woodworkers are able to make so many differently-angled cuts, a miter saw is likely the answer.

The best compound miter saws can even cut in various angles, even without stopping the motor. Despite their ability to perform the most complex tasks, miter saws are surprisingly among the easiest power tools to use. Even if you have never handled a similar tool before, you could probably be performing accurate and complex cuts after a few trial runs.

Miter saws can make even the most difficult jobs go smoothly and more quickly. They are especially useful for making wide cuts in large pieces of material, which would otherwise take a long time to do with other types of saws. A: The blade in the inch miter saw is heavier, which is why it spins a lot slower. It's also more expensive than the inch miter saw, which spins faster and is more portable due to its size and weight.