A miter saw is a tool that will save you a lot of time on your home projects and give your wooden pieces precise angles.
This is a must-have tool for any DIYer who wants to work on a wooden project. It will also allow you to work safely and offer you a higher quality result than working exclusively by hand.
Whether it is to cut plinths, panels, planks, joists, all these pieces will at some point or another need to be worked and cut at an angle. In that case, a miter saw is just what you need.
In this article, we are going to talk about the 5 best miter saws for your home projects. Visit PickTheTools.com for Crown Molding Miter Saw Reviews & get the buying idea.
Types Of Miter Saws
Before we start, let’s first take a look at the 4 types of miter saws available.
Standard Miter Saw
These are also known as “chop saws”. It’s because you can just angle them and pull their arm down to chop through materials. The useful tool, which you can check here, is mostly used to make blunt cuts.
Single Compound Miter Saw
Aside from cutting angles the single compound ones are also used to cut bevels. The saw can be tilted and that makes it useful for installing crown molds creating picture frames that require the beveled cuts.
Dual Compound Miter Saw
The swingarm on the single compound saw only moves in one direction that is mostly towards the left. But the dual compound saw can be tilted in both directions. The dual-compound mostly does the same things a single compound does but it saves you more time since it moves both ways.
Compound Sliding Miter Saw
It’s just a compound miter saw but with added sliding rails. This makes it easier to cut wider boards. In general non-slider saws can cut boars that are narrower than the diameter of the blade. If the blade is about 10 inches, the saw will be able to cut a 5.5-inch diameter board.
But with a sliding miter saw you can cut much wider boards with ease. You can easily go up to 8 to 10 or even more inches depending on the board.
Without further ado, here is what you came for. The top 5 saw currently available
1. DEWALT S715 12-Inch Single Compound Miter Saw
The saw can cut wide boards up to 8 inches and cut bevels in a single direction. The Dewalt miter saw has a vertical clamp that can hold the board steadily as you cut your way through.
We all know how annoying the sawdust can be when they fly around and mess up the work station. To solve that the Dewalt also has a dust collection bag.
And for safety purposes, the saw features a locking system that holds the spring arm in a steady position. You can also use it manually by unlocking with a button that is located in the backside of the saw.
2. Metabo 12-Inch Dual Compound Laser Miter Saw
The Metabo 12 inch is the most budget-friendly miter saw on our list. The whole system is powered by a powerful 15 amp motor. The saw is also able to tilt to both directions which saves a lot of time while cutting angles.
The most unique part is the leisure that enables you to see accurate cutlines on the board so you can easily make precise cuts without any error.
The handle of the saw is elastomer-coated which greatly reduces vibration, hand slippage, and fatigue. Considering the budget price, the number of features it provides is very impressive.
3. Hitachi 10-Inch Single Compound Laser Miter Saw
This one is particularly best for our beginner woodworkers. If you are not planning on any complicated projects and just want to start with the basics the Hitachi should be a great choice.
Powered by a 15 amp motor the saw will certainly provide enough cutting power. You will be able to move it in one direction. And the saw follows the general diameter rule. Meaning, since the diameter of the blade is 10 inches, it will be able to cut about 5.5 inches, wide boards.
The saw comes with a nice, sturdy, and ergonomic handle that significantly reduces any vibrations. Just like the previous one, the Hitachi also has that laser guiding feature that will help you make accurate cuts.
4. Makita LS1018 10-Inch Compound Miter Saw
This power full miter saw comes with a 13 amp motor that enables a whopping 4,300 RPM in the blade. This makes it a perfect candidate for working with both soft and hardwood.
Despite the amazing RPM you don’t have to worry about stressing the motor too much because the saw is equipped with a soft start that enables the saw blade to steadily reach that high RPM. This makes the motor durable and powerful.
The saw has a great angle range and can move to both directions. It can move about 60 degrees to the right and about 47 degrees to the left.
Although the blade is 10 inches it can cut up to 12 inches if the board is set up 90 degrees and about 8.5 when it is angled in 45 degrees. The one downside is the use of stickers to mark the boards.
The machine does come at a hefty price so it could have used a laser feature like the previous two.
5. Kobalt SM1850 Lightweight Mitre Saw
This is the lightest miter saw in our list and this feature makes it stand out. The Kobalt is portable and weighs about 30 pounds.
This is due to its aluminum construction. However, in terms of durability steel frames last longer than aluminum ones.
This saw, however, comes with the laser-guided mechanism. You can make quick and easy cuts with it but will have a hard time keeping the place tidy because its dust collecting bag isn’t the most ideal one.
This miter saw comes at a very reasonable price with some good features a beginner can use. However, it would be best to switch to another model once you get the hang of it.
Things To Consider While Buying A miter Saw
Blade Size
Since you are going to be using it for home projects, the size of the blade is important. Remember the general diameter rule and choose accordingly. For normal house projects, a 10- inch or 12-inch sized blade is more than enough.
Motor Power
There are many options here. You can choose between 10, 12, or even 15 amp motors. In most cases, an average 10 amp motor will suffice.
Features
It is important to look out for these features-
- Laser guidance
- Dust collecting bag
- Sturdy handle
Final Thoughts
Miter saws are amazing tools used for home projects. The right one can save you a lot of time and provides precise results. Be sure to consider the ones that we talked about here the next time you are in the market to buy one to get the best out of your home projects.