The Best Miter Saws
by maksimee / Shutterstock If you're looking to build and install cabinetry, customize crown molding for your ceiling, or design floorboard trim for your home, you're going to need a miter saw. Precise, angled cuts are the calling card of this power tool, which uses a combination of an adjustable saw blade and wood placement to accurately cut at the angle you need. With their powerful motors and high-RPM speeds, miter saws can cut through a variety of different building materials, making them indispensable on a construction job site. So, which one is best for the DIY tradesman and the professional homebuilder? Can you really get power, precision, and reliability in the same tool? We've got the answers, and we're glad to share them here.
Genesis 10-Inch Compound Miter Saw
All The Right Angles
A compound miter saw provides all the versatility you need, as it features blades that pivot left and right for angled cuts and can tilt in a single direction for beveled cuts. This one from Genesis can even create compound miter cuts by cutting on both of its axes at once. With an integrated laser guide and 9 positive miter stops, you get incredible precision, while the 15-amp motor delivers powerful speeds up to 4,500 RPM. It also includes an arbor lock for a quick change to other blade types.
Pros:
- Includes 60T carbide blade, dust bag, and extension wings
- Available with miter stand
Cons:
- No rear leg to create added balance
- Only goes about 6 inches on angled cuts
Tacklife 10-Inch Compound Miter Saw
Miter New Saw
What we like most about the Tacklife 10-Inch Compound Miter Saw is that it has features well beyond what you’d expect in its class. It has two speed adjustments — 4,500 and 3,200 RPM — allowing you to adjust the speed according to the kind of material you’re cutting. It also includes 3 blades instead of 1 — two 10″ 40T TCT blades for wood and plastic, and one multifunctional 10″ 48T TCT blade for wood, metal, and other materials. It even includes a 35mm dust port that hooks directly to your shop vac to keep sawdust out of your work area. It’s a terrific value on a high-quality miter saw.
Pros:
- Double safety switch
- Built-in laser guide
Cons:
- Not for cutting tile
- All built-in scales are graduated in metric
Metabo HPT-C10FCGS Compound Miter Saw
Miter Made
You don’t have to sacrifice quality, features, and power for the price, and the Metabo HPT-C10FCGS demonstrates this aptly. Equipped with a 15-amp motor that rotates the 10″ blade at 5,000 RPM, this miter saw has the power to cut through all kinds of material. It can cut miter angles between 0 and 52 degrees – both left and right – with a bevel range between 0 and 45 degrees. The rounded base table is larger than most, with a vice-clamping system that provides extra support. Yet it’s also lightweight enough to be portable, making it a great choice for job sites and outdoor projects.
Pros:
- Also available with a VPR fine-finish blade
- Thumb-actuated positive stops for more accuracy
- Horizontal handle for a secure hold
Cons:
- Cannot adjust the depth of cut
- Short power cable
DeWalt 12-Inch Miter Saw with Rolling Stand
Take Mi(ter) With You
If you’re a professional working on a job site – especially in construction – you know what a hassle it can be to lug a heavy miter saw around. DeWalt solves this problem with their powerful 12-Inch Compound Miter Saw with Rolling Stand. The saw itself is pure DeWalt: a high-quality, name-brand power tool with a whopping 15-amp motor and integrated XPS cross-cut positioning system. The rolling stand has easily-adjustable mounting rails and can support up to 8′ of material and 300 pounds of total weight, while its 3-position pneumatic-assisted raising and lowering provides incredible flexibility and ease of use.
Pros:
- Collects 75% of dust generated
- Saw available without the stand
- Easy-to-assemble
Cons:
- Replaces laser guide with LED light
- You’re definitely going to need a truck for this
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a miter saw when I already own a table saw?
If you find yourself doing a lot of angled cuts, then yes, because a miter saw will do a much better job. A table saw is comprised of a flat table that supports a piece of wood as it’s being cut. Since the user feeds the piece into a spinning saw blade in the center of the table, it’s a great tool for cutting large pieces into small pieces. With a miter saw, on the other hand, the user takes a piece of trim board or a siding plank, for example, and sets it on a narrow base at the front of the saw. She then manually lowers the spinning blade, which is adjusted to the proper angle, to create the cut on the strip.
What does “miter” mean?
It’s the verb used to describe the joining of two pieces of wood at a 90-degree angle.
Is a miter saw safer than a table saw?
Many people consider miter saws to be safer than table saws. The most dangerous part of using a table saw is “kickback,” which occurs when the blade catches on the wood and either throws the wood back in the user’s face or pulls the user’s hand into the blade. Miter saw injuries typically occur when the user tries to switch the hand that’s holding the wood with the hand that’s lowering the blade, then accidentally crosses their hand or an arm in front of the moving blade. All power tools are dangerous, so please exercise extreme caution when operating one.
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