What Can Be Done With A Miter Saw

What is the difference? Miter Saw vs Table Saw Find out the pros and cons of these popular power tools to decide what works best for your woodworking projects and carpentry skill level.

Table saws are less accurate

The miter saw is more accurate because the wood is pressed firmly against the back of the saw (called a fence) throughout the cut. With a table saw, the wood is constantly in motion, and if the craftsman changes the pressure on the wood, this can lead to uneven areas on the cut edge of the board. The slight inaccuracy that can arise when working with a table saw usually does not affect large projects such as building a storage shed, but can lead to a sloppy look when installing wood cladding. When accurate cuts are vital, use a miter saw.

Miter saws are more portable

Some table saws, though, come with a stand on wheels that allows the technician to move it from place to place. Most table saws are considered stationary and are bolted to solid steel legs or built into a workbench, making them heavy, cumbersome, and difficult to move. Most miter saws can be easily loaded into the trunk of a car, or simply moved wherever needed. If you intend to create all of your woodworking projects in the workshop, a miter saw can be bolted to the table top to make it stationary.

Table saws cut large pieces of wood better

The table saw has a flat sawing table that supports the wood as it is cut. The craftsman controls and pushes the wood towards the rotating saw blade in the center of the table, making it a great tool for cutting large sizes such as plywood sheets. With a miter saw, a craftsman places a strip of wood, such as a cut board or laminate flooring, on the narrow base of the saw, and then manually lowers the rotating blade (using a handle attached to the movable head) to cut off a portion of the strip.

What is the difference? Miter Saw vs Table Saw

By Aleksey | Tools | Friday, 25 October 2019

Learn about the pros and cons of these popular power tools, to decide what works best for your woodworking projects and carpentry skill level.

Saws have revolutionized the woodworking industry by giving craftsmen the tools to bring big projects to life in no time. Miter saw and table saw. The two most popular tools in home workshops. While each draws on different principles for cutting wood, their use overlaps in a number of areas.

If you are ready to upgrade your carpentry skills, you may eventually want to master both of these saws! But to be sure, study this guide first and find out how they differ so that you can understand the pros and cons of each.

The blade width determines the length of cut on the miter saw

Since the miter saw is controlled by lowering the rotating blade, it cannot make a cut that is longer than the width of the blade. Miter saws are most often 210 mm, 216 mm, 255 mm, 305 mm. An exception to the rule is the miter saw’s sliding handle, which can be pulled outward as the blade rotates to make a longer cut up to 40cm in length. A table saw, on the other hand, can cut any length of board because the blade is stationary and the wood is fed to the blade.

Miter saws are great for chamfering

In addition to cutting the board at an angle, the miter saw head can be tilted to the side while creating a beveled edge instead of a flat edge. Beveled cuts are used primarily in finishing work to provide smooth transitions when installing finishing in corners. The blade on the table saw can also be tilted. Chamfering with a table saw is an advanced technique in woodworking, so beginners are better off using a miter saw.

Selecting and operating miter saw tables

Tool features
How to choose
Miter saw table
Top Table Miter Saw

A miter saw is a tool designed for cutting various surfaces. Unlike a handcrafted product, it is capable of cutting at different angles. Such a saw is actively used in industry for working with wood and metal products, as well as for cutting heavy-duty plastic, laminate, decorative tiles and other materials. It is impossible to do without his help in the furniture production.

Miter saw table

This technique must have a solid base. If it is used in industry, there are always stationary bases there that are specially designed for the miter saw. They are very large and not suitable for home use.

If you decide to purchase a miter saw and install it on a BAL-KO or in your workshop, then first of all you should choose a reliable base that will not take up much space. There is a huge range of miter saw blades on the market. So that the acquisition does not become a meaningless purchase, you need to build on the technical data of the instrument.

First you need to figure out for what purposes you will use this saw. Models designed for cutting wood surfaces do not have the power of those designed to work with metal sheets or impact-resistant plastic products. The dimensions and weight of the device depend on the performance.

Many bed manufacturers offer adjustable leg heights so that each operator can adjust the table to their height.

Some miter saw models are sold with a base. Such tables are ideal, as they will be designed for a specific tool, its dimensions and weight. In such devices, in addition to the main table, there are additional support stands so that the operator can comfortably work with large products.

Of course, you can purchase the base for this product both in the kit and separately. The main thing is that the stand and miter saw are compatible in weight and size.

The most striking representative of the tables is DeWalt DE 7023. It is prefabricated, which is very convenient for transportation in the trunk of a car. For transportation purposes, an ergonomic handle is provided. Such a model can withstand a weight of up to 230 kg, and even the longest workpiece will fit on it when unfolded. An additional table is often called a stand.

The bases for miter saws are very different. The most primitive costs about 15, but it is quite suitable for working with plastic pipes or small wooden products. Industrial models start at 300.

How to choose

The miter saw is a design based on a commutator or asynchronous motor. It is electric and the cutting is done with a rotating disc. The saw is powered by a starter.

Both brushed and induction motors have positive and negative sides. The first version of the motor is able to rotate the cutting element at high speeds, and the second provides ease of use and durability. The negative side of the collector motor is the need for periodic maintenance, and the asynchronous motor has a lower speed and its large dimensions.

One of the most important selection criteria is the location of the engine. It can be positioned to the side of the cutter bar or behind it so that the work area is more open. This is great if you want to cut at a specific angle.

When purchasing a bed, you need to pay attention to the material from which it is made. Experts recommend making your choice in favor of magnesium and aluminum alloys. These are fairly light metals, therefore, the total weight of the structure will be much less. This will not affect the strength in any way, but the unit can be transported without much effort.

Try to purchase a saw with a rotary top table. About this will be discussed below. It is important that the instruments are capable of making the incision at an angle of 40 to 60 degrees on both sides. Therefore, carefully study the technical specifications. You will have to overpay a little for this function, but it greatly facilitates the sawing process.

Another selection criterion is the maximum possible cutting depth. On the miter saw market, you can find models with various bells and whistles: neon lights, speed control and others. If you are going to use this device at home, then you should not overpay for these add-ons.

Before purchasing this device, always pay attention to its maximum power. Many parameters depend on it, for example, the diameter of the cutter and the size of the surface with which your tool can work. The smallest power required for the normal operation of the saw is 0.8 kW, and the maximum is 1.8 kW. In the Russian market, designs in the power range from 1.6 kW to 1.8 kW are especially popular. They are compatible with 2.4 cm discs, great for home use. The models are small.

Tool features

This unit is also used in domestic conditions. Thanks to him, you can easily cut plastic and iron pipes during plumbing installation. The device is used at a construction site, for plumbing work. Very often, this item can be found in the amateur workshops of a novice carpenter.

This design differs from a hand saw in that it is stationary, therefore it must have a solid foundation. A disadvantage is that the operator will not be able to use the tool while it is suspended.

Top Table Miter Saw

The top layer is an additional stand that sits above the miter saw. This add-on is very handy and significantly increases the functionality of the tool.

In addition, these units are considered the most traumatic, therefore all manufacturers pay great attention to the safety of the operator. It provides protection of the starter from unplanned switching on, there is a function of jamming the cutter in emergency situations. The motor is protected from any overload. If the engine reaches its maximum performance, the device will simply shut down. The top table miter saw can cut any surface: wood, plastic or metal.

For an overview of the Makita miter saw table, see the following.

Miter Saw Accessories

Different materials and different cutting quality requirements will require different accessories. Saw blades are produced in different diameters. And the teeth on them differ in size, pitch, shape. There are trapezoidal, multidirectional, with a flat top, with and without soldering from strengthening materials. Over, one disc can have teeth of different shapes.

In general, the larger the diameter of the disc, the more teeth it has and, therefore, the less load on each of them. Therefore, large discs last longer. The slots in the disc body provide good cooling and prevent vibration and noise. Discs with a minimum number of teeth are used for longitudinal cuts in wood, for a cross cut with a maximum.

On the blade of the disc, there is always a marking of its size and maximum rotation speed, showing the compatibility of the equipment with the tool, as well as the direction of rotation, article number, etc.

With your own hands. How to make yourself Which is the best miter saw to choose Stop, more stop

All kinds of stops, built-in clamps, serve to securely fix the workpiece. For work

With long parts, additional supports and the possibility of expanding the bed are provided, for example, folding stands.

The round turntable pivots easily for precise angle adjustment. To set the most common values, there are special latched slots and do not need to be installed, which makes work faster.

Required power of the miter saw

The higher the power, the higher the productivity, the cleaner the cut, but the greater the weight and dimensions of the tool. As a rule, the diameter of the cutting disc is also directly related to the power. It is clear that for cutting thick material, larger equipment is needed. Therefore, it is one thing to cut skirting boards, and quite another to work with a bar or floorboard.

If the scope of work is large, it is worth choosing among a professional line of tools. Utility saw motors are not designed for continuous use. Although, in terms of basic performance characteristics, some household models differ little from professional ones.

Miter saw

What is a miter saw?
Cross-cut is a tool for precise, mainly cross-cutting, cutting of a workpiece. Most miter saws are small and portable. Unlike stationary miter saws, you can pull it out and set it on a temporary base by placing a drop mechanism (sometimes called a drip mechanism) over your workpiece. The blade sizes most commonly used for miter saws range from 8 “to 12” (20-30 cm).

What is a miter saw used for?
You can use it to create cross cuts on a workpiece in one quick motion. But more importantly, you can do it at your chosen angle. It is the best choice when you need to cut trims and moldings.

Pros
The miter saw is useful when you need precise cross-cuts in your workpieces. This saw is also a great option for miter cuts.
This is one of the main competitive advantages of this saw over other types of saws. Most importantly, the miter saw is one of the safest.

Minuses
Despite all the advantages, a miter saw is useless when you are about to cut large workpieces. While it is the best choice for cross-sections, trimming can be ineffective with long cuts (over 15 centimeters).
Miter saws are a luxury rather than a necessity.

Which circular saw or miter saw to choose?

Are you looking to make a cute table to match your couch but can’t decide between a miter saw and a circular saw?

Don’t worry, read our comparison guide to find out all the differences between the two saws and decide which one is the best for your task.

Some people think that one of them is better than the other, others that there is not much difference between them, and one can replace one saw with another. Nevertheless, each of them has its own characteristics and it is better to use the saw exactly for its intended purpose.

So let’s first take a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages of both types of saws.

A circular saw

Also called circular saw, this saw is equipped with a toothed or abrasive disc that allows you to cut various materials in a rotary motion around an axis.

What is a circular saw used for?
The circular saw is commonly used in a variety of woodworking projects. However, the cutting tasks depend to a large extent on the type of blade that is mounted on the circular saw. This saw can be produced for both left and right hand. During operation, the circular is largely based on that part of the structure in which the engine is located.

Pros
Circular saws are very compact, making them easy to move. Usually, you transfer the circular saw to the workpiece, and conversely, in the case of miter saws, you take the material where the saw is already installed.
These saws are capable of making long rip cuts.
Minuses
This type of saw is much more difficult to use than a miter saw. A circular saw requires more skill and a lot of experience is required to use it.
From a safety standpoint, a miter saw is a better choice than a circular saw.

What can you do with a miter saw

Hand, table or machine miter saw is a professional sawing power tool used for miter, longitudinal, transverse, oblique and oblique cuts. Its full name is a miter saw, this operating tool received for the ability to perform an ultra-precise and ultra-thin accurate sawing operation of the so-called mustache joint, when the joining of two parts with angled edges is as tight as possible (for example, two plinths in the corner of the room). In general, most often, in the everyday life of masters, a miter saw is simply called a miter saw.

Modern miter saws application

Modern trims can be used to cut wood and metal, as well as plastic and composite materials (chipboard, fiberboard, plywood, laminate, etc.). This makes this tool a popular equipment in wood and metal processing enterprises.

Before you understand what a miter saw is, how to use it in everyday life and in the carpentry industry, you should get acquainted with its main design features.

Like the closest relatives, circular saws, miter saws are equipped with a left and right tiltable saw head with a disc (smooth-edged or serrated). For the operator’s safety, the saw equipment is housed in a protective cover that automatically opens the saw blade when starting work.

The tool is started by the start button, which activates the operation of the gearbox with the electric motor. The tool can be purely manual, with a convenient bracket-shaped handle, it can have a table-top base, or it can be installed on a workbench with rubber-knob legs that prevent the machine from sliding on the floor.

In contrast to the circular, not only the saw head tilts at the trimming, but also the working surface of the table (bed). This provides a wide field for the joiner who can create different types of cuts in the workpiece by tilting both the saw head and the work table. That is why in the technical parameters of miter saws there can be several values of sections (width and depth of cut) with different positions of the head and bed.

Also, in contrast to the circular saw, in the trimming the saw head is fed to the workpiece, and in the circular saw the workpiece is moved to the fixed tool. The axis of the saw blade in the miter saw is located above the plane of the work table: to make a cut, the saw is lowered, crossing the workpiece and the surface on which the workpiece is fixed.

Miter saws are most in demand at factories for the manufacture of floor coverings, doors, furniture. Taking into account large-sized blanks in furniture production, in order to securely fix them to obtain the most accurate and accurate cut without chipping, bevels and burrs, a crosscut saw with a broach is used here.

What can you do with a miter saw

Modern miter saws application

Before you understand what a miter saw is, how to use it in everyday life and in the carpentry industry, you should get acquainted with its main design features.

What is a miter saw for?

The main task of trimming is to make a very accurate and perfectly even cut at a given angle. It can be a horizontal cut at 90 or at an angle of 30, 45, and so on. Most often, a miter saw is needed in woodworking and furniture enterprises, often its use in finishing work. She is an irreplaceable assistant in the manufacture of door and window openings, furniture. Cross-sections have also found their application wherever it is necessary to work with polymeric materials or soft non-ferrous metals. To do this, they replace the saw blade with a cutting blade for metal. Sometimes a miter saw is called a cutting saw because it is directly involved in the installation of something.

If you do not need frequent use of cross-cutting or the accuracy of the cut does not need to be so critically accurate, then we recommend that you pay attention to a cheaper and easier-to-use circular saw.

What you can do with a miter saw

What is a miter saw for? What can be done by trimming. What types of saws are there and how they fundamentally differ. The most popular miter saw manufacturers in the world.

In the household, you rarely find a miter saw due to the peculiarities of its scope. It is also worth noting that the cost of this construction device is quite high compared to the more common grinders. So let’s figure out why you need a miter saw and for what work it is bought.

Types of trims

First of all, I would like to divide the whole variety of types of miter saws by design into:

Standard;
Multifunctional.

In the multifunctional version, the saw has a movable cover or table that easily converts it into a miniature circular saw. This is a more professional type of instrument, which we do not recommend purchasing for home use because of the significantly (2.5-3 times) overpriced.

Secondly, miter saws can be divided according to functionality. The more advanced versions have a retraction, a very popular feature that allows ripping cuts to be made significantly wider than the saw blade diameter. Or the ability to cut at different angles. The most inexpensive miter cuts are usually only sawed perpendicularly.

What Can Be Done With A Miter Saw

Table saws are less accurate

Miter saws are more portable

Table saws cut large pieces of wood better

What is the difference? Miter Saw vs Table Saw

The blade width determines the length of cut on the miter saw

Miter saws are great for chamfering

Selecting and operating miter saw tables

Miter saw table

How to choose

Tool features

Top Table Miter Saw

Miter Saw Accessories

With your own hands. How to make yourself Which is the best miter saw to choose Stop, more stop

Required power of the miter saw

Miter saw

Which circular saw or miter saw to choose?

A circular saw

What can you do with a miter saw

Modern miter saws application

What can you do with a miter saw

Modern miter saws application

What is a miter saw for?

What you can do with a miter saw

Types of trims

Most popular manufacturers