What to Search for in a Miter Noticed

Energy Supply

When selecting a miter noticed, you’ll have two decisions for the facility supply: batteries or AC present.

Nearly all of miter saws are corded energy instruments that run off your family AC present. The frequent motor sizes are 10-amp, 12-amp, and 15-amp. However whereas the decrease powers are ample for mild, occasional use, in the event you anticipate to depend on your miter noticed for frequent use, cuts by way of massive or thick items of wooden, or prolonged reducing classes, you’ll doubtless be happiest with a 15-amp motor.

Cordless miter saws usually run on a 20-volt battery. The benefit of those instruments is which you can take them anyplace with no need to fret about {an electrical} outlet or a wire getting in your method. On the draw back, they don’t seem to be as highly effective as their corded counterparts and also you’ll must preserve monitor of the battery’s obtainable life to keep away from working out of juice halfway by way of a challenge.

Whether or not corded or cordless, most miter saws attain a most unloaded pace of someplace between 2,500 rpm and 5,000 rpm.

Kind

There are a number of several types of miter saws, primarily based on the cuts and angles they’ll obtain. Because the identify suggests, all miter saws are able to a miter reduce, which is an angled reduce throughout the width of the board, and a crosscut, which is an easy reduce straight throughout the board, however some miter saws transcend that to incorporate bevel cuts, that are angled cuts that create one thing like an “overhang” on the reduce edge. The 5 primary forms of energy miter noticed are:

• Primary: This noticed cuts miters and crosscuts, however doesn’t tilt for beveled cuts.
• Single Compound: The best compound miter saws reduce miters, crosscuts, and tilt to the left for bevel cuts. The one-way tilt signifies that you’ll want to show the board over to create a bevel from the opposite route.
• Twin Compound: Like a single compound miter noticed, this device cuts miters, crosscuts, and bevels, however can tilt in each instructions, making it a way more handy alternative in the event you reduce plenty of bevels.
• Compound Sliding: These single compound miter saws have prolonged rails so you possibly can reduce longer boards.
• Twin Compound Sliding: Probably the most versatile alternative, these miter saws are able to crosscuts, miter cuts, bevel cuts from both route even on longer boards.

Blade Measurement

The 2 commonest sizes of miter noticed blades are 10 inch and 12 inch, though there are additionally saws with 8-inch blades for detailed work.

In case you solely anticipate to make use of your miter noticed for reducing trim or siding, and don’t plan on reducing something greater than an inch thick or 6 inches large, a 10-inch miter noticed needs to be ample. But when you want to reduce bigger boards, or simply need extra versatility, a 12-inch miter noticed is the higher alternative.

Why Belief The Spruce?

This text is edited and up to date by Michelle Ullman, the device skilled for The Spruce. She has in depth expertise not solely in writing about all issues associated to the house, but additionally in finishing up numerous DIY initiatives, together with landscaping, portray, flooring, wallpapering, furnishings makeovers, and easy repairs. For this roundup, she thought of dozens of miter saws, evaluating every for primary options, extras, and buyer suggestions, in addition to enter from Andrew Wilson, dwelling enchancment contractor and founding father of Contractor Adviserly.