Miter Saw Basics
Miter saws are used by the professional and handyman to make cross-cuts in long stock; to cut baseboards, chair rail and crown molding; and to quickly cut multiple boards to a common length. The miter saw cuts angles efficiently and accurately. Miter saws are available in three common varieties: the miter saw, the compound miter saw and the sliding compound miter saw. Classified according to blade size, the readily available sizes for miter saws are 8 inches, 10 inches, 12 inches and 14 inches. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Miter Saw
-
The miter saw is suitable for applications that require frequent cutting of angles. A miter saw is mounted on a swing arm that allows positioning of the saw according different angles marked along the base of the miter saw. Cutting base board, shoe mould and picture frames are common uses of the miter saw.
Compound Miter Saw
-
The compound miter saw expands on the miter saw with the addition of the ability to tilt the saw blade, giving the operator the ability to make beveled cuts. Compound miter saws perform the same tasks as a miter saw but the added ability to cut bevels is useful when cutting crown moulding.
-
Sliding Compound Miter Saw
-
The sliding compound miter saw functions like the miter saw and compound miter saw with the addition of a slide that allows it to move forward. This increases the overall length of the cuts the saw can make. While able to perform the same functions as the miter saw and compound miter saw, the most important benefit the sliding compound miter saw offers is the ability to cut wood up to 11 inches wide. This feature is useful when cutting wide base boards and crown moulding, or when installing hardwood flooring stair treads.
Additional Features
-
In addition to cutting angles, bevels and wood up to 11 inches in width depending on the miter saw used, each version has several other common features. Miter saws come with a retractable blade guard. This feature protects the operator from the blade when the saw is raised but retracts as the saw is lowered to increase visibility for accurate cuts. Another common feature of each miter saw is positive stops, which are points set by the factory that lock the saw at angles common in carpentry. Positive stops contribute to less set-up time required when making common cuts.
Miter Saw Costs
-
Miter saw prices vary depending on the size, type and brand lines. Known for dependability, Dewalt, Hitachi, and Bosch are some common brands. The lowes.com website offers eight miter saws from several manufacturers that range from $99 to $729.
-
