When you start woodwork, you need some basic tools. You may need at least one saw to cut the boards quickly. But you must be looking for the right way to cut these boards into shorter lengths?
A miter saw is quite suitable for this purpose. In fact, the saw is static, which means you can place it on a table and put it on a tree. You can simply cut boards with a cross-section. On the other hand, the circular saw is held in your hand. You can use it for similar cuts as the miter saw. But it may not be easier.
Today, I am going to describe what is a miter saw used for and why is it crucial for your wood workshop. I hope you will enjoy it!
What Is a Miter Saw
A miter saw is a perfect tool for carpenters and manufacturers. In fact, it is quite handy for cutting corners and for creating cross-sections at work. Also, some people use it to cut different ingredients like vegetables (as fun).
The miter saw has a knife with a pivot arm that rotates left or right to cut at an angle. You can use the saw to quickly cut cornices, frames of doors and windows and more. However, you will find three options out there.
- Compound Miter Saw
It has blades that rotate right and left for cuts and one-sided tilt for cuts. The work of the saw on both axes leads to complex cutting. They are useful for frames, cornices or any design that requires corner cuts on two levels. Also, they offer the service of compound cutting in one way.
- Double Compound Miter Saw
It acts as a compound saw. While the compound miter saws are tilted in one way, the double compound miter saws can be tilted right and left. In fact, they can instantly deviate at any angle.
- Sliding Miter Saw
It has composite ribs that have all the flexibility of saw composite angles and has a sliding function similar to a radial saw, which lets you to budge the blade back and forth. The main advantage of the slip function is the long cutting length.
Why Woodworker Uses Miter Saw
Actually, a miter saw can easily accomplish three main tasks. Working with another type of saw or tool, as a rule, only complicates the situation. Yet, I am not limited to these goals, and I will now focus on this.
1) Usual Crosscuts
This is always the right option when you cut the board in half. The possible cause behind this is threefold:
This machine is durable and sturdy. It is unlikely that you will find a table that you cannot cut. Since it is relatively heavy and static, you can place it on any workbench. Also, you don’t need to worry about moving it when you cut a plank of wood on it.
Aligning the cut line is very easy. By placing the board on the fence, you can transfer the arm down to view wherever the edge will cut the plank. Some have laser designs that clearly show where the cut will be made. Even you do not need to place the saw on the work piece.
With sliding saw, you could cut the wide boards. This task will be tough to accomplish with the same accuracy as almost everyone except a table saw, or radial saw. And it doesn’t make any sense if you previously own a miter saw.
2) Angled Cuts
This type of cut is what we usually recognize as a miter cut. However, this incision is useful in several situations.
In fact, you can do a lot of carpentry and furniture at the right angle. But in the end, you will encounter a situation where you have to cut several boards together.
An attachment should reduce all kinds of angles. You will need a saw to perform this type of work when you repair your home or finish a basement. I can’t come up with any other way to reduce DIY investment.
There are countless conditions wherever you have to slide the saw and cut it a bit at an angle. If you are laying the floor, you may have to cut several rails at an angle.
3. Bevel plus Compound Angle Cuts
A bevel and complex angle cut are created by displacing the saw from one side to the other and then tilting the cutting path. In fact, this cutting is useful for compound angles. For example, the board that runs diagonally at two different levels.
One of the benefits of having a miter saw is that you can cut a corner on a wide board, for example, 1 × 10. It can easily be done with a sliding saw.
Other Benefits to Consider
Here are a few things to analyze when considering the utility of a saw. I will mention a few additional uses here:
Repeated Cutting
Sometimes you have to do too many cuts of the same length. For this, you can stop at one end of the work piece and place a blank on it. It allows you to execute multiple cuts of the same length. However, it would not be easy with anything like a hand tool or circular saw.
Built-in Workplace
You can create a workstation that includes a miter saw. It facilitates the installation of boards and keeps them in place when cutting. The saw is below the surface, so the working area is on the opposite side.
Sliding Saw
The sliding saw allows you to cut more scattered woods. I recommend you to go for a sliding saw if you get the chance. That’s because it is tedious to rotate a piece every time you cut a board too wide.
How a Miter Saw Can Cut Metal
Cutting and chop saws have a straight cut in the profile at an angle of 90°, where the miter saw cuts the profiles at an angle. Although miter saws have traditionally been used to cut timber, with the right blade, you can do light work cutting aluminum and steel.
Equipment such as the miter saw blades make it easy to cut aluminum and non-ferrous elements, or these high-quality blades provide good results for cutting stainless steel and steel with clean, precise cuts. As with any other metalwork, take the eye’s protection, wear gloves and earphones to protect you from injuries caused by flying and metal objects.
Using a miter saw with an open engine case, simply cover a small amount of thin cloth over the holes and ventilation holes to defend the engine from metal shards.
If you cut a hollow profile or have a thin wall, such as an aluminum corner, it may be useful to reinforce it with a piece of wood to support it. Also, it increases the risk of knife cracking on the metal.
However, it may cause the deformation of the metal. Before opening the saw, make sure that the blade guard is in good condition and that all wires are clean from the cutting zone.
Set the saw on the table and fasten the board with any angle vise or locks, make sure it is mounted on guard to ensure accurate cutting. Once you are satisfied with the machine setting, hold down on the work piece, press the power switch. And then hear the blade gaining full pace before cutting the blade slowly and leaves sequentially through the metal.
Wrap Up
Owning the proper tools makes carpentry and other DIY works a lot more comfortable. With a miter saw, you can accurately cut wood, both angled and beveled. Regardless of whether you pick a sliding or non-slip miter saw, your wood will be much less heavy than you expected. So, enjoy your woodworking with a miter saw!