What is a miter saw?
A miter saw is a tool that helps you make cuts at many different angles. It is a specialized saw that has a blade mounted on the swing which moves left to right to create angled cuts. A miter saw can be used quickly to make cuts for picture frames, door frames, window castings, and many more. It is a tool without which a workshop is incomplete. To know which miter saws are the best suitable for you and which features they should possess, visit mitersawratings.com.
You can know the best types of miter saws through the Miter Saw reviews along with the Miter Saw ratings through the provided link.
What to look for while buying a miter saw
SAW TYPE
Miter saws usually fall into three main categories.
- The stationary compound
- The sliding compound
- Sliding dual compound
The sliding dual is also known as the double or dual bevel.
The sophistication of the design of the saw leads to an increase in the price as well. The stationary compound miter saws make the miter cuts to the right and left.
However, the bevel cuts into one direction only. The sliding compound miter saws tend to have the capability of moving forward along the rails, and back as well. The sliding dual compound has more capabilities in terms of what the other saws can do. The sliding designs are the most popular ones due to the rails increasing a blade’s crosscut capacity.
You might have seen many saws that resemble the miter saw, but it is important to understand that there is a difference between the miter saw and the bevel saw, along with the other saws as well. This particular saw is categorized as chop saws and is more often used for abrasive cutting wheels, especially for metal cutting.
There are a lot of multi-chop saws, and they are used specifically for wood cutting and metal cutting. Chop and miter saws are the best ones and aren’t considered as one tool, but two separate tools.
POWER SOURCE
Most of the miter saws are known to be corded tools that have 10-, 12- and 15-amp motors.
Always know the importance of powerful motors as they are important in making a lot of wide crosscuts and using the hardwoods. In case the saw cuts thinner, there would be a need for a less powerful motor.
BLADE AND CROSSCUT CAPACITY
The miter saws are traditionally made in 8-1/4, 8-1/2, 10- and 12-inch diameters. If the blade is bigger, it will allow a much longer cut i.e. a bigger crosscut, bevel, and the miter capability. If you want to cut dimensional lumber or on a cut wide molding, make sure that the blade and combination of blades along with the sliding capacity exceed that particular width.
The major advantage of the 10-inch blade diameter you would have is the interchangeability feature with a table saw. You wouldn’t feel the need to buy two separate sets of circular blades.
NOTABLE ACCESSORIES AND FEATURES
The major features of the miter saw include having the arm lock that causes immobilization of the blade action and the nesting in the table’s blade channel.
This armlock makes the saw more compact and secure. There is a handle on the top of the saw, which makes it easier to move the saw around when needed.
There are new battery-powered miters that are built for enabling portability. Moreover, make sure to check that the miter saw you select has all these features, including a built-in material clamp.
The best and the handiest accessory which a miter saw should have is a miter stand. It helps to hold it securely which leads to limiting the vibration, and has good material support as well, especially for the cutting of long stock.
