How to Use a Miter Saw & Free Instructions
Miter saws come in three styles, which are designed for easy-angle cutting, and they are important tools for carpenters to own. The standard miter saw, also known as a chop saw, pivots from a single point and the blade always cuts parallel to the table. A compound miter saw can lean over to one side and cut miters and bevels at the same time. A sliding compound miter saw leans to either side and slides backwards and forwards, enabling it to cut wider boards than a stationary compound miter saw.
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Instructions
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Make practice cuts on a straight line to familiarize yourself with the saw. Draw a guideline on a piece of wood. Lift the blade guard with your thumb and sight down the blade to align and lock it into position. Squeeze the power switch and wait for it to get up to speed before lowering it onto the wood. Wait until the blade has stopped before lifting the saw.
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Adjust the blade to cut at an angle and repeat the process. It will take practice to get the angles so they will fit one another correctly, and even then they may still be a fraction off, in which case you will have to fine tune the gauge setting until the angles are correct.
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Use a sharp blade. If the blade is dull it will not make clean cuts and will labor to get through the wood. Although it is possible to sharpen the blades, new blades work better.
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Use a compound miter saw for cutting crown molding. This saw allows the blade to pivot in two directions which makes for easy fabrication with crown molding and roof rafters for certain types of roofs. Different makes work in slightly different ways, which makes it important to obtain the manufacturer's operating instructions.
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Tips & Warnings
Make a saw stand out of scrap wood of you don't have a table.
Keep your fingers away from the blade and always wear safety goggles and hearing protection. Never try to touch the blade while it is turning.
References
- Photo Credit construction tools, saw image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
