How To Use A Miter Saw?

Imagine a garage or workshop without a power tool. It would be impossible to finish some work without those handy tools. Each power tool is useful for some activity. One such versatile tool is the miter saw. They are very powerful and are excellent for the angled cuts. But many of the buyers have a lot of confusion about using after getting the miter saw. So here we have a short guide which may give a hand while using the miter saw.

How To Use A Miter Saw For Different Cuts

Lets look at different use of miter saw in detail:

Steps For A Normal Cut

Steps For An Angled Cut

There are two different angled cuts that the miter saw can cut perfectly. They are the bevel cut and miter cut. The bevel cut is a cut through the thickness of the board at a certain angle. The miter cut is a cut made across the width or face of the board at some angle. For example, the steps given are for miter cuts. 

Step 1

Measure and mark the line of cut in the material. It’ll help prevent errors.

Step 2

Place the board on the saw and make sure it is against the fence at the back. 

Step 3

Loosen the hand on the miter gauge and get your blade pivoted to the needed angle. Make sure the lock handle gets depressed. 

Step 4

4. After setting it right for the needed angle, tighten the miter gauge. Adjust the handle in such a way the blade is ready to meet the material. 

Step 5

Maintain a six-inch gap between the saw and material for better results. Position yourself in such a way to get a good view of the material.

Step 6

Turn on the device and allow the blades to rotate to its full speed.

Step 7

Without any hurry, bring the saw to the wood and pass it through the material. Don’t give too much force on the saw; it may cause mistakes.

Step 8

8. Release the trigger as the cut is over and let the blade come to rest. Then raise the saw.

Step 9

These are the simple steps to get a neat miter cut. If the user still needs more guidance for the angled cuts, they can get the saw guides. This may help the user learn it well.

Uses Of A Miter Saw

A miter saw has many uses due to the different cuts they can make. They are one of the most versatile saws in the industry. So here are a few uses of them.

• Baseboards and frames– The miter saw can help the user make some simple frames. 
• Crown moldings
• Door frames
• Window casings
• Craft pieces which need precise and angled cuts
• Furniture works
• Trim works 
• Flooring projects
• Any other woodworks which need angled cuts

The Miter Saw

The miter saw in a saw which is very versatile and can make many different types of cuts. The name miter in the saw doesn’t mean its only good for miter cuts. They can make the bevel cut, miter cut, crosscuts, and even the compound cuts. They are very powerful and can make high-quality cuts for the user. There are different types of miter saws. Here are a few points on the different types.

Types Of Miter Saw

1. Sliding Miter Saw

They are almost the same as the radial arm saw. They have a metal track where the blade is present. The design is in such a way that the blade moves forward. This gives the saw a better cutting capacity. The sliding head makes the saw work for large and wide materials. They may weigh a bit more than the other saws. They are good enough to make crosscuts and miter cuts.

2. Compound Miter Saw 

Here the blade comes mounted on the arm. This makes them cut downwards. They can move towards both sides i.e., the right and left, to make the cuts. They can even tilt for making the cuts at specific angles. All these make them perform all the cuts. They even come in a dual bevel option. This allows the user to make both compound and bevel cuts without flipping the material. They are apt for very narrow workpieces.

3. Sliding Compound Miter Saw

By the name itself, we can guess how their design will be. They are like a child born to the previous two types. They combine the advantages of the sliding and compound miter saw. They can cut as versatile as the sliding saw and as flexible as the compound model. If the user needs a saw to cut long and from different angles too, the sliding compound miter saw is the perfect model. 

Our Top Miter Saws

There are a lot of miter saws in the market. Here are a few good suggestions.

1. 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 come with a high precision square lock release, which gives more accuracy.
• They have a decent dust collection system and a very stable base.
• The soft trigger handle gives the user 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.
• They are not in the cheap category but are worth every penny spent. This is because of the quality the product gives the user.

2. Dewalt DWS779

• They are a 12-inch sliding compound miter saw.
• They have a perfect back fence design, which can cut up to 2 x 14.
• They have a good motor with a speed of 3800 RPM.
• They come with an excellent dust collection system. The user won’t have problems with the sawdust.
• They weigh around 60 pounds.
• The user can make easy adjustments with a cam lock miter handle.
• They also come with a carbide blade and blade wrench.
• They have a very ergonomic design, which gives the user more comfort while using.
• The price is in the affordable range. The quality given by the saw is worth any price paid for it.

3. Hitachi C10FCG

• This is a 10-inch single bevel compound miter saw.
• It comes with a powerful 15-Amp motor that can handle powerful cutting jobs with around 3 HP.
• They come with a decent dust collection port.
• 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 aren’t very expensive as many other miter saws in the market. They fall into the affordable range.

Safety Tips

• The miter saw is also a dangerous tool to work with. So before working with the miter saw, remember to follow these tips.
• Turn the tool off while changing the blades or working with any components of the tool.
• A kickback is the most common injury while working with power tools. So position yourself well before doing the work.
• Wear proper eye and ear protective equipment. There are many chances of getting minor injuries.
• Wear tight clothing and avoid very loose ones for more safety.
• Check the tools often for any damages, especially the blades as they can get dull.

FAQs

Final Thought 

We hope we have cleared your doubts on how to start working with a miter saw. The miter saw is one versatile tool, and learning to use it is very good. It can help with various work in different areas. We hope your miter saw is now ready for some serious work.