Miter saw is the main tool that is the requirement of every woodworker. Whether you are a DIYer or a professional woodworker a miter saw is something you must have. Because woodworking is not possible without having a professional-grade miter saw at your workshop.
Therefore, I have compiled a list of the top 5 best miter saws for woodworking. Along with this list, you will also get a buying guide. This buying guide includes all the top specifications that you must check while making a purchase.
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Best Miter Saw For Woodworking
Now a days miter saws are extremely improved as compared to the older versions. The modern miter saws are equipped with advanced technologies to upgrade your woodworking experience.
The miter saws work best for trimming work therefore they are referred to as trimming tools. This is because of the mitering process that fits two boards together at an angle.
Instead, a miter saw is an essential tool for woodworking but still, there are some fields where they are invaluable. The woodworking projects including cross cuts and end cuts on flooring strips have no value of miter saws.
Choosing the best miter saw isn’t an easy job when you have multiple options available in the market. Also, the performance of the miter saw depends on your kind of woodworking project. But still, there are some key factors you need to learn before buying a miter saw for your woodworking projects.
Types Of Miter Saws
Almost all of the miter saws feature a circular blade. This circular blade is placed in a swing arm that is pivoted side by side. It allows you to cut the narrow wood strips ranging from 5 to 18 inches wide.
The width of wood strips depends on the size of the miter saw. Because every individual miter saw comes in different sizes therefore you must choose according to your requirements.
Here are the types of miter saws that could meet your woodworking project requirements.
Standard Miter Saw
This is one of the most simple miters saw types that is often named a chop saw. This saw is used to make some blunt cuts. You can put the material under the blade, pivot the arm at the required angle and pull it down to cut through the material.
This is the simplest miter saw that doesn’t allow you to create accurate angles. Therefore it is not the most famous kind of miter saw. Other types that allow you to cut through any angle are often preferred to the standard one.
Single Compound Miter Saw
A single compound miter saw is used to make some angles. It tilts on one side to provide you with the required level of angles. It tilts particularly in one direction typically to the left. With this type of saw, you can create bevels and angles.
A single compound miter saw is often helpful in the projects of making picture frames and other similar tasks. All the tasks in which wood strips need to be beveled to get fit perfectly require a compound miter saw. In the market, you will see a lot of single compound miter saws.
Dual Compound Miter Saw
A dual compound miter saw is designed to cut the bevels on the wooden strips. The single compound miter saw cuts bevels by tilting on one side. Whereas the dual compound miter saw tilts on both sides to cut the bevels.
The dual-compound miter saw is extremely a time saver machine that cuts on both sides. The single compound miter saw also cuts both sides but the user is required to turn the board over to cut a bevel.
In this way, it cuts the bevels on both sides. But while using a compound miter saw you don’t need to turn the board over. So it’s a time saver machine that offers convenience.
Compound Sliding Miter Saw
You can cut the board of large widths by adding rails to the compound miter saw. Without a rail, you can cut the board to a limited width by using a compound miter saw. For example, a miter saw of 10 inches blade will cut only a board of width about 5.5 inches.
In order to cut the wider board, you will have to turn it over. But you can face trouble if you fail to line up correctly. If you want even and perfect cuts on wider boards then a sliding miter saw is the best solution.
You can cut through a wider board by just pulling the arm after lowering it on the board. A sliding miter saw can cut from 10 to 18 inches wider boards perfectly. The width can vary from model to model.
Buying Guide
Which type of miter saw you need for your project depends on the type of your project. But still, there are some features you need to look for while purchasing a miter saw for your woodworking projects.
The professionals know that what they need and for what but the DIYer must read this thorough guide. The professional will also love to know about the importance of the following features.
Size And Intended Use
You can see that a miter saw is labeled by the size of the blade it can fit. The size or width of a board you can cut through a blade can be identified by the size of the blade. The larger the blade number, the wider board you can cut.
The professionals keep miter saws of larger blades but you don’t actually need to keep them. Because a larger blade means it is hard to move the miter saw. Easy maintenance is only associated with a smaller blade miter saw. There are some miter saws available in different sizes. But the most commonly used blade sizes are 8, 10, and 12 inches.
8-Inch Miter Saw
You can get a 90-degree cut on a 2 x 4 and a 45-degree cut on a 1 x 2 with an 8-inch miter saw. It is suggested for household woodworks.
10-Inch Miter Saw
You can get a 90-degree cut on a 2 x 6 and a 45-degree cut on a 2 x 4 with a 10-inch miter saw.
12-Inch Miter Saw
You can get a 90-degree cut on a 2 x 8 and a 45-degree cut on a 2 x 6 with a 10-inch miter saw. 12 inches is the largest blade size often used by professional builders.
If you combine a sliding arm with a miter saw you can cut the wider boards. For example, you can make a 90-degree cut on a 2 x 12 with a 10-inch miter saw with a 6-inch sliding arm.
Corded v/s Cordless
A few years ago almost all the miter saw had been corded. The corded miter saws have their own benefits because you never run out of power. But the corded saws have no value where there is no electricity.
Hence there come cordless miter saws to help the users to complete their projects even without having an electricity connection. The rechargeable cordless miter saws come with a 20-volt lithium-ion battery.
The runtime of the battery depends on the intensity of your woodworking projects. The number of cuts and wood strip thickness determines the battery life. Normally a fully charged battery can give almost 150 to 275 cuts.
Some miter saws are brand-specific and don’t accept batteries other than their brand. For example, you cannot operate DEWALT miter with a battery other than Dewalt.
Safety Aspects
Working with miter saws isn’t a dangerous job at all. But still, there are some aspects you need to consider. If your miter saw isn’t equipped with suitable safety features then you can face some serious accidents. Hence you must note the following safety aspects while buying a miter saw.
Blade Guard
The blade guard is the most important safety factor because without a blade guard you can get hurt. It is a kind of clear cover of the spinning blade of the miter saw.
The guard rotates out of the way to protect the user when he lowers down the blade to cut a piece of wood. Similarly, the guard rotates back over the blade when you lift the blade. It covers the blade so that you don’t get hurt accidentally.
Trigger Brakes
Not all the miter saws come with trigger brakes. But the blades stop spinning after releasing the trigger brakes.
Lockout Button
This feature provides double safety benefits. If a miter saw has a lockout button then the saw will not operate until you pull the trigger and lockout button. It means that you will be safe from unintentional cuts with these dual safety aspects.
Clamps
The advanced miter saws are equipped with some safety clamps to hold the cutting material in place. The clamps help you to focus on the work rather than holding the board with one hand. It also prevents you from getting undesired accidents.
Top 5 Best Miter Saw For Woodworking
There are multiple miter saws available in the market. But as mentioned earlier that every individual has specific needs. Therefore we have chosen some best miter saws that would be beneficial for all categories of woodworkers.
DEWALT 12-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw (DWS780)
Product Specs
- Type: Dual compound saw
- Blade size: 12 inches
- Sliding: Yes
If you are looking for a versatile miter saw that could handle all of your woodworks with efficiency then check this one. DEWALT 12 inch sliding compound miter saw is equipped with all the necessary features you need to complete your woodworks with the required accuracy.
With this sliding miter saw you can cut a board of width up to 16 inches. It is equipped with a powerful 15 amp motor that allows you to get your job done smoothly. It is a dual compound miter saw that allows you to cut the board from both sides without turning it.
The bright LED light feature of DEWALT allows you to see where you are cutting. This feature enables the users to cut the boards with accuracy. Also, it comes with a dust collecting bag that collects up to 75% of the dust it generates.
Pros
- Precision blade-positioning system
- Cuts dual bevels
- Bright LED light illuminates the cutting field
- Dust collection system
Cons
- No laser guide
- No sliding locks
BOSCH Power Tools GCM12SD 15-Amp 12-Inch Corded Dual
Product Specs
- Type: Dual compound saw
- Blade size: 12 inches
- Sliding: Yes
The second powerful saw in this list is packed with all the top-notch features required to win the game. It combines 12 inches blade with a sliding arm that can cut through an almost 12 inches wide board.
You can stabilize the boards up to 40 inches long with the help of pull-out material supports of a BOSCH miter saw. Also, you can get your job done quickly as it can cut through bevels in both directions.
It features a clear blade guard that allows you to locate the exact point of cutting without getting disturbed. Moreover, the comfort element is added through an ergonomic grip of the trigger handle. It can be used comfortably both by left-handed and right-handed users. It is highly durable with stainless steel miter scale numbers etched on it.
Pros
- Cuts dual bevels
- Cuts wide boards
- Ergonomic grip
- Dust collection system
- See-through safety guard
Cons
- No light
- No laser guide
Metabo 12-Inch Dual Compound Miter Saw with Laser
Product Specs
- Type: Dual compound saw
- Blade size: 12 inches
- Sliding: No
Why look for other options when you have such an affordable option that doesn’t make you compromise on efficiency. Yes, this affordable but powerful dual compound miter saw is coupled with all the quality factors you might be searching for.
Above all, it is equipped with a laser function that allows you to navigate the line where it is going to cut. This function saves your time and effort and prevents you from making uneven cuts.
It can cut the bevels in both directions with its dual compound nature. Also, its 15 amp powerful motor ensures that you get everything done so smoothly and quickly. The elastomer-coated handle reduces hand fatigue and vibrations. This is so unexpected feature at this price range.
Pros
- Full, 12-inch blade
- Dual bevel cuts
- Precision laser guide
- About half the cost of competitive models
Cons
- Does not slide
CRAFTSMAN V20 7-1/4-Inch Sliding Miter Saw Kit
Product Specs
- Type: Single compound saw
- Blade size: 7-1/4 inches
- Sliding: Yes
The most admiring feature of CRAFTSMAN is its cordless feature. You can use it even in areas where there is no electricity. Thanks to its Lithium-ion battery that can give you 585 cuts after getting fully charged.
It can make 585 cuts at 3-1/4-inch medium density fiberboard on a single charge. It can be operated with a CRAFTSMAN V20 lithium-ion battery that is included in the box. The package also includes the charger.
Other than the above features it is fitted with a powerful 3800RPM motor. It can also slide to make every cut possible on wider boards. You can cut through 8 inches wide boards with this single compound miter saw.
Pros
- Battery-powered; portable design
- Makes up to 585 cuts on a single charge
- Dust collection port
Cons
- No light or laser guide
- Only cuts the single bevel
Hitachi C10FCH2 15-Amp 10-inch Compound Miter Saw
Product Specs
- Type: Single compound saw
- Blade size: 10 inches
- Sliding: No
We have discussed the most high-end professional-grade miter saws above. But let’s make a choice for beginners as they need the best miter saw too. Therefore, this 10-inch Compound Miter Saw with a laser guide function will be helpful for beginners.
Its laser guide function helps beginners get their job done, with minimum errors and cut through each board with high precision. It is fitted with a 15 amp powerful 5000 RPM motor that ensures you cut through each bevel with super efficiency.
This miter saw allows you to cut through 5.5 inches wide boards. You will thank for the paddled and ergonomic handle that reduces fatigue and vibrations. So that you can complete your task without getting exhausted. Moreover, the fence is adjustable and can be raised to 4 inches for cutting large sections of crown molding vertically.
Pros
- Laser guide for precision
- Reduced vibration system
- Dust collection port
Cons
- Cuts angles in only one direction
- Does not slide
Final Word
A miter saw is no doubt an essential tool for woodworking projects. You cannot get accurate cuts without having a professional-grade high-quality miter saw. I have reviewed the top 5 best miter saws for woodworking projects.
But you should also work to improve your skills. Only professional hands can handle the high-end tools. You cannot just rely on the value and worth of your tools. Instead, you need to have a perfect grip on your skill.
Then no matter which type of tool you have, you can get your job done. Moreover, you must follow the buying guide whenever you buy a miter saw for your woodworking projects. Some features cannot be ignored to get a professional level of performance.