Differences Between Miter Saws

Chopsaws and miter saws are used to cut wood, metal and other materials at various angles.

A"chop saw" or "miter saw" consists of four basic types of saw motor and blade assemblies mounted on a single spring-loaded arm that pivots at angles to the material being cut (stock). This type of power saw is often called a chop saw because of the "chopping" or downward movement of the blade when cutting. Miter saws were later developed that added bevel cuts and other capabilities to the straight angle cut capability of the original chop saw.

Background

The miter saw's original purpose was to make angular cuts to stock placed against a single alignment face on a cutting frame below the saw blade. The base of the pivot on which the saw is mounted is marked with degree indications. As the saw swings left or right on the pivot arm, an indicator needle marks the exact angle the blade will cut. The user clamps the stock to the table or holds it in place with his or her hands and presses the trigger starting the blade turning. The blade is lowered, cutting through the stock. When the cut is complete, the saw returns to its raised position.

More complex miter saws were eventually developed from the original angle-cutting chop saw. The new saws also included the ability to tilt the perpendicular blade so that the blade can make bevel cuts at any angle. Users soon applied the term "chop saw" to the new types of miter saws, but the new miter saws are rather more complex than the original chop saws. Four basic styles of miter/chop saws are used to cut crown molding and trim for doors and windows.

Standard Miter

The simplest style of miter saw is the standard chop saw. This miter saw mounts at a fixed spot on an pivoting arm. It doesn't tilt and cannot cut bevels. The standard miter saw cuts perpendicular to the face of the wood (at whatever lateral angle it is set up to cut). The pivot arm swings in an arc right or left to cut the angle. The pivot arm swings up and down to lower the saw blade onto the stock to make the cut. The standard chop saw is used in ordinary framing and trim work. It cannot cut stock that is wider than the chop saw blade.

Compound Miter

The blade and motor assembly of the compound-miter saw, like the standard miter saw, is fixed to a single spot on a pivoting arm. The motor and blade can, however, be tilted to one side so it can cut both a miter and a bevel at the same time--a compound miter cut. The compound miter saw is used for joining crown molding, for cutting stairs or framing roofs where cuts that are both beveled and angled at the same time are needed. The blade still swings down, but the pivot arm tilts with the blade so the downward motion of the arm is set at the selected angle. The compound-miter saw is still limited to cutting stock no wider than the saw blade.

Sliding Compound Miter

The sliding compound miter saw combines regular miter angle cuts and the tilting ability of the compound miter saw for bevel cuts with a sliding mount on the pivot arm instead of the fixed point mount. Because the blade slides back and forth on the pivot arm like a radial arm saw, it can cut stock that is wider than the saw's blade.

Dual Compound Miter

Basically, a sliding compound miter saw, the dual compound miter version allows the motor and blade to be tilted to either side. This simplifies cutting angles because the user doesn't have to reorient the stock to cope with the limits of the one-way tilt of the simpler compound miter saws. Because it also slides, it can cut stock that is wider than the blade.

References

• US Department of Labor: Chop Saws
• Sawdust Making 101: Miter Saws
• Fine Home Building: Choosing and Using a Miter Saw
• Amateur Woodworker: Miter Saws