Do you prefer to do your work by yourself in the house? So purchasing a miter saw is the best option for woodworking and carpentry projects. This would indeed help you a lot in your job by making it easier and faster. Especially if you frequently cut boards, a compound miter saw can be of significant advantage over a circular saw.
Do you know what the reason behind it is? It is because the blade is always in the same position, and you can also accurately make repeated cuts. Therefore, in such cases, a chop saw will be more convenient. So would you like to know more about the uses of a miter saw? Stay with us until the end as we will share some of the significant points about this equipment. Let’s look at some of the terms associated with it before we move on to the uses.
Table of Contents
What is a Miter Saw?
Since you are reading this article, it is evident that you are interested to know about the best miter saw in detail. You are at the right place as we will share all the significant information on a miter saw here. Let us check out some of the important terms that you must know before purchasing a miter saw.
Miter Cut
This is one of the cuts made when swiveling the blade in one direction or another to cut a board at something other than a 90-degree angle to the back fence of the saw. So indeed, it is one of the important concepts you need to know.
Compound Miter Cut
As the name suggests, the blade here is titled in relation to the base of the saw in addition to swiveling it. Do you know where this sort of cut works? Well, it works for crown molding. This is because the molding will sit at an angle to the wall. Therefore, before you work with it, you need to know about it as well.
How can You Select the Best Miter Saw?
So are you worried about how you can select the best miter saw? Well, you need not worry as we will help you out with what you need to look for when purchasing a miter saw for woodworking and carpentry. Here are some of the essential aspects that you need to check if your miter saw has it.
1. Single/Dual-Bevel
If you have previously used a miter saw, you must be familiar with the terms. As the name suggests, a single bevel allows the blade to tilt in one particular direction. Often this tilting is towards the left when you look at the saw from the front. In fact, the dual bevel also tilts left and right. Do you know how it helps? Well, it gives the user more flexibility to set up cuts. So make sure you check this before purchasing.
2. Appropriate Blade Size
So you must have seen that usually, miter saws have 10-inch or 12-inch diameter blades with a larger blade, and it is with this blade that you cut more extensive areas. However, some smaller saws use a 7-¼ inch blade. It might not be as versatile as the previous one, but it is naturally less expensive. This is because it is the most common size blade for a circular saw. So if your purpose suits this blade, go ahead and use it.
3. Sliding Functionality
This is one of the aspects that you need to take care of. This is because a slide allows the blade to be pulled on rails or by some other mechanism through a wider board. Do you know how it helps? It helps increase a smaller and less expensive blade’s cutting capacity to that of a larger, more expensive blade.
You might also hear that, at times, the slide function can be a bit bulky and, therefore, sticks out behind the saw. So you need to be a bit cautious about it before purchasing it.
4. Cost
So many of you must have this question on your mind regarding the cost of the miter saw. Let us share with you the details. Well, as per the sources, they can cost you around $200 to $1600. It depends on which type of miter saw you choose and also some other aspects. The more advanced your miter saw will be, the higher the cost.
5. Portable Or Plug-In
Needless to say, miter saws are highly accurate. After using it, you will notice that the ends of your workpieces will be smooth and square. In fact, you can cut a perfect 45-degree for boxes and frames of all sorts and any angle in between. At the same time, they are also portable. This makes them quite easy to carry from one place to another. Therefore, it saves a lot of your time and effort; you need not go back and forth to your workshop.
Therefore, cordless models are actually the best if you work at a construction site. If you are working at home, you can do it with either; however, cords become a problem on construction sites.
What are the Best Miter Saws for your Home?
Here are some of the types of miter saws that you can select from for your home. Let us have a look!
1. Metabo HPT C10FSHCTM
When we talk about miter saws, the name which tops the list is Metabo HPT C10FSHCTM. This is because it provides you with great features at a great price. In fact, its 12-inch blade offers plenty of cutting capacity. Moreover, a sliding function also extends a maximum cut width to 12-½ inches. Since the saw can fit tightly against a wall, it can fit in a small shop.
2. Makita LS1018 Miter Saw
If you are familiar with miter saws, you must have indeed heard Makita LS1010 miter saw’s name. In fact, tradespeople have highly regarded them as high quality for decades. Not only does it offer you with 12-inches of cutting capacity with a 10-inch blade, but it also provides you with a soft-start 13-amp motor. This increases the speed significantly every time you pull the trigger.
3. Bosch GCM12SD Miter Saw
This miter saw features a patented “axial glide” system which extends the 12-inch blade to a cutting capacity of 14 inches. They also don’t clog with sawdust as easily as traditional slides. Therefore, it takes less maintenance even after heavy use. Despite its functionality, you need not worry as the glide system does not take up any extra space.
4. DeWalt DWS715 Miter Saw
Are you looking for a miter saw for your home? Well, then DeWalt DWS715 is one of the best options you can select from. This is because it is pretty simple, rugged, and reasonably priced; therefore, it is often called the favorite choice of the contractors. They would, in fact, use this 12-inch single bevel version over every other type of saw. So you well understand its effectiveness. Therefore, you can purchase it as well.
Ending Note
By now, you must have got a brief idea regarding the functionality of the miter saw. Yes, people nowadays often make use of it in their daily life. Therefore, we have summed up some of the best miter saws and discussed their features. You can have a look at them.
Also read: Band Saw Vs. Scroll Saw: Which is the Best for Your Needs?
