Buying a Miter Saw – What to Look For?
Not only experts but also many do-it-yourselfers have discovered the advantages of a miter saw. Anyone who values a professional result will need a saw like this. The miter saw helps with wood processing, both with right-angled cuts and with miter cuts. This work is no problem with this tool. Now let’s look at certain features and learn how to choose a miter saw for your workshop or job.
What are the areas of application for the miter saw?
If you want to saw wood or aluminum, the miter saw is the right choice. Very different areas of application can be processed with this saw. The tool can also be of excellent service for furniture design and for cutting laminate for the floor or laying a covering for the terrace or balcony. The possibilities are almost unlimited and depend entirely on your creativity.
Whenever wood is used as a building material and needs to be cut to fit, a miter saw can be used. So if you have a lot of fun doing handicrafts and crafts, you will have a lot of fun with it.
The areas of application of a miter saw include:
- Cutting, i.e., shortening
- Miter cuts
- Dado cuts
The saws are available in different designs and with various additional functions. Which model is the right one depends on the user. After all, there are different requirements for a hobby saw than for a professional craftsman. These differences are also clearly noticeable in the price. Therefore, before you buy, consider what your requirements are in terms of the quality of work with a miter saw and how often it will be used.
What functions should a miter saw have?
To judge whether a miter saw is the right model, one should know what basic functions such a saw should have. The different models have great differences in performance, depending on how they are to be used. For clean cuts, the power must be at least 1,000 watts.
The maximum width and depth of the cuts are also important. The size of the saw blade is crucial here. To use a saw at maximum capacity, these dimensions should not be too small. The saw blade plays a major role in the quality of the cuts, so it should be made of hard metal. Find the best miter saw blade here
You should also look at the number of saw teeth, as this is crucial for a clean cut. The more teeth there are the fewer tears the cut shows. A good saw blade should have 40 teeth per multi-tooth blade. It is also practical and helpful when changing the saw blades to be easy and not complicated. You should also choose a cordless miter saw if you want more portability from your unit.
Since safety plays an important role in working with these tools, protective devices should always be used. This includes tools to prevent accidental switching and good and safe fixation options for the workpiece, and a non-slip rubber coating on the handle. If the miter saw has a soft grip, it offers a particularly comfortable hold and good security.
The miter saw you choose should be well made and be both convenient and safe to use.
Other properties
In addition to the basic functions mentioned, there are also additional properties that some models offer. For example, some saws are very suitable for workpieces that are rather wide and long. If you want to lay floor coverings frequently, you can certainly use such a model. A pulling device and flexible extension of the sides are also practical. While a normal miter saw usually offers cutting widths of around 5 inches, the additional pull function can achieve 12 inches or more.
If the saw disc can be rotated, the angular range becomes larger, which is again important for making miter cuts. If it is a modern miter, saw, then angles in the range from -47 degrees to +47 degrees are possible via the undercut function, which will be of particular interest for professional use.
If groove cuts are to be made with the saw, a depth stop is recommended.
If you want to make a double miter cut, i.e., a shifter cut, a swiveling saw head is practical. It is also helpful if the usual working angles can be automatically locked. This enables precise work.
To avoid incorrect cuts, make sure that the saw has a laser. A work light that is integrated into the miter saw is usually also helpful. With this light, the interface is always optimally illuminated, which makes work more precise and easier.
Dirt can be reduced using a dust bag. Connecting an external extraction system is usually even more effective. Also, the place of work and the view of the cut are always free.
It is attractive when the miter saw does not generate a lot of vibrations. In particular, modern saws can now be operated with little force, which makes the work very gentle.
Does the price match the performance?
The selection of miter saws is large. You should always pay attention to the price-performance ratio so that you can also discover the model that most closely matches your wishes among the wide range. Of course, this also depends on the type of use and the frequency of use. It depends on whether a more professional model is suitable for you or whether a cheap hobby model is sufficient.
