A miter square is one of the most versatile power tools. Having a miter saw in the garage is a huge advantage. They can make the standard cuts and angled cuts without any problem. Woodworking is one area where these saws get used the most. Various furniture and other jobs may need the user to cut squares out of the wood. So here we have few tips for cutting wood square with the miter saw.
Contents
Recommended Miter Saws For Woods
How To Cut A Wood Square With The Miter Saw – Step By Step Guide
Step 1: Setting The Wood
Step 2: Measurements
Step 3: Use A Carpenter Square
They are very light and will be handy with these square cut. Hold the carpenter square to the wood and mark the square in the wood. Slide the square and make sure it rests on the tip. Mark along the square to get a perfect accurate square. The user can even do this with an engineer square or triangle set square.
Step 4: Vertical Sides
Step 5: Cutting With The Miter Saw
The miter saw can cut at right angles without too much effort from the user. Re-adjusting the grub screws is all the user needs to do. Start the miter saw and let the blade run to its full speed. Then place the saw in the wood and begin the cut. Raise the saw after the cut is over and on the line marked. If you’re not familiar with the miter saw, it is better to practice some extra scraps. After cutting the wood, check the accuracy with the framing square.
Things Needed
- The miter saw
- Measuring tape
- Chalk or pencil for marking
- A carpenter square or any other for checking the shape
- Extra blades
- Sanding tool, if your wood doesn’t have a smooth surface
Miter saw
A miter saw is a stationary tool that rotates in both directions. This helps you choose the angle of your crosscuts. Then the capacity of the cut depends on the qualities of the blade. They can make the compound cut, miter cut, bevel cut, and even crosscuts. There are many different types of miter saws with variations.
- Sliding miter saw
- Compound miter saw
- Sliding compound miter saw
See the difference between them.
The compound miter saws are also called compound saws. The blade gets mounted on the arm, and they can move in different directions. They are good enough to make all the different types of cuts. The sliding miter saw is almost like a radial arm saw. The blade can move forward, and they have an excellent cutting capacity. They can make crosscuts and miter cuts without any problem. The sliding compound miter saw is like the child of the remaining miter saw. They combine the advantages of the other two miter saws. They can make different cuts at complex angles.
Getting A Good Miter Saw
So before choosing a good miter saw, there are few features of the miter saw which are essential. Have a look at these features of the saw before buying them.
1. The Type
There are different types of miter saws. Choose the one which will be apt for your need. Getting the wrong saw might make your job more challenging and time-consuming. The standard miter saw is suitable for making some simple crosscuts at right angles. The user can also make 45-degree cuts with the miter saw. The compound miter saw is better than the standard. It can make crosscuts, bevel cut, and miter cut. The sliding miter saw has an extra ability to slide, which can help the user with wide boards.
2. The Motor
A powerful motor is better for more extensive and more robust materials like hardwood. The miter saw comes in 10 Amp, 12 Amp, and 15 Amp models. The brushless motors are very popular because of the long life they give. They also do not need too much maintenance from the user.
3. The Blade
The blade is the material that is going to play a significant part in the cut. So choosing the right blade for your job is the main activity before getting your miter saw. Sometimes the saw might not come with the blade the user needs. It is better to buy them separately in the market. A blade with higher TPI is better for cuts in harder and denser materials. After purchasing, maintain the blades well. Check them at regular intervals for any problems and sharpen them if needed.
4. Laser Guide
Having a laser guide in the miter saw is an advantage to the user. It can mark the blade’s path, which can help the user get some accurate cuts. Every saw doesn’t come with a miter saw, but having a laser guide will be suitable for beginners.
5. Dust Collection
Make sure the miter saw has a good dust collection system. The sawdust can ruin your job and make the place clumsy too. They are slippery and can even ruin your cuts.
These are a few essential factors to check before getting your miter saw. Having it in your garage or workshop will help us finish some challenging jobs in minutes.
Our Top Miter Saws
There are a lot of miter saws in the market. Here are the top three brands of the miter saw.
1. Hitachi C10FCG
- Hitachi Power Tools has renamed to Metabo HPT. Same great tools, with only a new name.
- 0 to 52 degree miter angle range to the right and left for increased flexibility , Motor Horsepower 2.57 hp
- 0 to 45 degree bevel range to the left to provide clean and accurate bevel cuts.Thumb actuated positive stops for quick...
They got renamed as Metabo HPT instead of Hitachi. This is a 10-inch single bevel compound miter saw. It comes with a powerful 15-Amp motor that can handle robust cutting jobs with around 3 HP. They come with a decent dust collection port. They aren’t very expensive as many other miter saws in the market. They fall into the affordable range.
They have the right level range, which can give some neat cuts. They also have thumb actuated positive stops. This helps in making any quick adjustments too. They weigh around 30 pounds. They are apt for workers who move to different sites for work. They get covered by Hitachi’s 5-year warranty.
2. Bosch GCM12SD
They are a 12-inch corded dual bevel sliding miter saw. They come with a 60 tooth saw blade and weigh around 90 lbs. They have an axial glide system, which gives more space to work with the material. They have a good dust collection system and an excellent base for different tough jobs. They come with a high precision square lock release, which gives more accuracy.
They are not in the cheap category but are worth every penny spent. This is because of the quality the product gives the user. The soft trigger handle provides the user with a good grip on the saw. They also have an upfront bevel lock, which is very useful. They are straightforward to use and are a versatile tool.
3. Dewalt DWS779
- Stainless steel miter detent plate of the 12-inch miter saw blade comes with 10 positive stops
- The mitre saw has a precise miter system and machined base fence support
- Precise miter system and machined base fence support Cam-lock miter handle with detent override delivers quick and...
They are a 12-inch sliding compound miter saw. They have an excellent back fence design, which can cut up to 2 x 14. They are not a very heavy tool, and they weigh around 60 pounds only. The motor is beneficial, and the tool has a rotational speed of 3800 RPM. After buying, the user also gets a carbide blade and blade wrench. Compare it with DWS780.
They come with an excellent dust collection system. The user won’t have problems with the sawdust. The user can make easy adjustments with a cam lock miter handle. They have a very ergonomic design, which gives the user more comfort while using. The price is in the affordable range. The quality provided by the saw is worth any price paid for it.
FAQs
1. What is a square tool?
A square tool is a tool that has two big straight edges at 90-degrees to each other. The user can check the accuracy of the right angles with the square tool. There are different types of square tools available in the market. Some good examples are the framing square, engineer square, and triangle set square. Carpenters use this tool for many other different jobs too.
2. Can the miter saw make only angled cuts?
This is a popular rumor that the miter saw can only make angled cuts like bevel cut. The miter saw can also make some excellent accurate cuts. With the right blade, they won’t have any problem making the straight cross cuts and even compound cuts. A miter saw is a versatile tool, and a reason for this is the many different cuts it can make.
3. What does TPI of a blade mean?
The TPI of a blade stands for Teeth per Inch. This is very important for a blade. This tells the user for what job the blade will be the right choice. The teeth on a blade affect the speed of the tool, and even the finish a cut can give—more teeth in the blade results in finer cuts. Lesser teeth give more speed, but the cuts won’t be as fine as the latter.
5. Which is better- the miter saw, or the circular saw?
A beginner might find the circular saw easy to learn and the right choice for the normal cuts. But for better-angled cuts, the user should prefer the miter saw. It is a versatile tool making many different types of cuts. The miter saw may need the user spending more than the circular saw. But it is worth the money spend on it.
Conclusion
A miter saw is a versatile tool which can make some excellent cuts. But cutting a square with the miter saw is not something you’ll get right the first attempt. A miter saw is a tool that needs some good practice before working on your projects. We hope our tips help in getting some accurate squares with your miter saw. Remember to follow all the necessary safety tips before using it with your miter saw.
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