5 Best Miter Saw For Beginners

A miter saw is a multipurpose tool that you can use for both skilled and personal jobs to make your complex cutting job easier than before. It basically makes straight miters and clean crosscuts on a workpiece, making an endless range of projects possible with its cutting expertise. And if you are a beginner in this field, then miter saws are one of the most dependable and heavy-duty tools you could invest in.

Choosing a quality miter saw means looking at performance, power, cutting capacity, versatility, accuracy, features, and so on. So, we have created an article, featuring the 5 best miter saw for beginners with complete guidance that might help you to make an excellent deal.

What is a miter saw?

Miter saw is one of the most common woodworking tools in a carpentry job. It is also known as a drop saw and is mostly used for trimming and molding, and can be used to cut dense materials like metal, and masonry by using the appropriate type of blade.

It is the best miters and crosscutting saw, as it cuts the wood exactly to length and also cuts the ends to a variety of angles. Some other tools do these basic jobs too, but it is by far, the best one you can use both in and off the workshop for cutting the neatest crosscuts and accurate miters. It is the versatility that makes it the best miter saw for beginners as well as professional carpenters.

How do you use a miter saw for beginners?

The miter saw is the easiest and safest saw for beginners to learn. It gives you precise cuts every time with the option of angled cut. When learning how to use a miter saw, you have to follow some basic steps. They are,

Step1:  mark your object and place it against the fence at the back of the saw base,

Step2:  position your clamp, at least 6 inches from the blade. And tighten until it is secured.

Step3:  prepare the saw by miter and bevel adjustment according to your cutting need

Step4:  make your cut by moving from front to back. If you want to make miter cuts, then adjust the turntable at your desired angle. And if you want to make an angled cut, tilt the blade arm at an angle to the bed of the table.

By following these easy steps you can cut efficiently with a miter saw. And you can easily find the best entry-level miter saw at an affordable budget.

Types of a miter saw?

As you become familiar to a miter saw, you will soon find that this functional tool has three basic types according to its features. And the types are,

Standard miter saw:

It is the simplest form of miter saw used to make quick and accurate cuts on wood. In another word, it is called a chop saw that creates any basic crosscuts, at least a 90 to 45-degree angle. It comes in a variety of sizes and power potentiality, but overall not very portable. They are generally cordless miter saws, nowadays corded options are also available in standard form. And the price of the standard miter saw is reasonable compared to others.

Compound miter saw:

Another type of miter saw is the compound version which is able to make the same cuts that a standard saw can, but it is known for its bevel cuts. It is more skilled compared to the standard miter saw due to its cutting quality. They are quite expensive.

Within compound miter saw you’ll find two distinct styles,

1) Single bevel model, and

2) Dual bevel model

The swing arm on a single bevel compound miter saw run typically in one direction to cut a beveled and mitered cut. It is great at tasks like crown molding or roof rafters. On the other hand dual bevel compound miter saw also cut bevels efficiently, but the swing arm of dual model can tilt in both directions which is convenient and time-saving.

Sliding compound miter saw:

A sliding compound miter saw can also make the same basic and bevel cuts that the other two saws can make, but it has sliding capabilities that they don’t have. It allow the user to cut wider boards.  Sliding compound miter saws have three different styles too. They are,

1) Single-sliding compound

2) Double-sliding compound, and

3) Cordless sliding compound

Out of these three types, the specific type you get depends on what task you need it for.

5 best miter saw for beginners review

A miter saw is a dependable expenditure, and choosing the best beginner miter saw will ensure you the best performance possible with ultimate work satisfaction. Out of all the many brands out there, we’ve reviewed 5 of the best ones you can choose from.

1. Metabo HPT 10-Inch Compound Miter Saw 

As an enthusiast, the Metabo HPT 10-inch compound miter saw will be a great power tool for your work, as they maintain both their quality and performance.

When it comes to power capacity, the 15 Amp motor delivers high power with a non-loading speed of up to 5000 RPM for making the toughest and cleanest cut.

The miter saw is in a beautiful green color, lightweight enough that facilitate portability and maneuverability. The large table space offers better material support, and its vice-clamping system secures the workpiece efficiently.

Featuring it with a miter angle that ranges 0-52 degrees in both directions increases the flexibility of cuts, whereas, the 0-45 degrees bevel cutting range to the left ensures precise cuts every time. Some additional features like thumb-actuated positive stops and horizontal handles are also there for quick miter adjustment and secure hold.

2. DEWALT Sliding Compound Miter Saw, 12-Inch 

DEWALT is well-known for its power tools, and this elegant silver DWS779 single sliding miter saw works as a powerhouse for speedy and precise cutting.

It comes with a quality 12-inch stainless steel saw blade with 10 positive stops to make a neat and smooth cut on the working board.  It also includes a precise miter system and machine-based fence support that delivers quick and accurate miter angles. And tall sliding fence supports the base for wider cuts.

 

Due to its signature fence support, it increases cutting accuracy by showing truly where your saw will assemble the cut. And as the blade rotates in both directions, it is greatly useful for intricate works.

Moreover, dual horizontal rails with clamping mechanisms and linear ball bearings are designated for the absolute accuracy and durability of the saw. The cam-lock miter handle offers easy handling and a comfortable grip too.

3. BOSCH Power Tools GCM12SD

While talking about power tools, BOSCH is another big name for their masterpiece power tool models and GCM12SD is one of their best works.

This model is designated with an axial glide system that exactly give everything you need to make smooth crosscuts with absolute accuracy while offering valuable working space for you.

This functional and powerful tool is expanded with cutting capacity at horizontal and vertical angles against the fence base and spring to cut through wood smoothly. Upfront bevel control and easy-to-access range selectors are also featured for easy and quick bevel settings.

A square lock quick-release fence requires no adjustment and a one-touch lock/unlock slide fence is featured for increased support and convenience.

Also, it is very easy to adjust as adjustments are done here with beveled miter scales to a detente and roof pitch angle that makes it abundantly feature-full.

4. DEWALT 12-Inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw, Double Bevel 

The DWS780 is another standard miter saw collection from DEWALT that serves for great speed and performance with quality.

This model comes in a classic black color with a premium 12-inch blade. The integrated cutline blade position system offers adjustment for free cut line indication for better accuracy and visibility.

Featuring the saw with a LED factor, it projects light to create a shadow on the cutline and enhance cutting quality. Also, an adjustable miter detent plate influences working capacity and improves the precision of cuts.

Also, it has a tall sliding fence that adds support while cutting wider board and the back fence design of the saw maintains both accuracy and safety. Cutting capacity is enhanced by allowing miter cuts in both directions which help to make different types of angle cuts precisely.

Lastly, an impressive dust collection arrangement captures the maximum of dust generated that adds more beauty to it. You may have questions about saw and blades 12 inches in your mind, You can see if you have any questions about 12 inches saw blades The best 12 inch miter saw blade.

5. Genesis GMS1015LC 15-Amp 10-Inch Compound Miter Saw with Laser Guide and 9 Positive Miter Stops:

This Genesis GMS1015LC is our very last collection which is a versatile yet functional tool on our list at an affordable range.

It includes a 10-inch premium blade and performs compound miter cuts with ease. Bevel cut can be done up to 45 degrees left and miter cuts up to 45 degrees in both directions with 9 position stops to improve your cutting quality. And its arbor lock mechanism helps to change blades quickly too.

A laser cutting guide is featured for quick alignment and improved accuracy. It shows impressive results in compound cutting like crown molding, shadow boxes, picture frames, and so on. Also features like an electric brake stops the blade in seconds the influence your work.

In addition to these, there are some more functions in it, including a carbide blade, hold-down clamp, dust bag, two extension wings, blade wrench, and two AAA batteries for the laser.

What to look for buying the best miter saw for beginners

Here is a short guide to help you sort through your choices and figure out what features to look for.

Engine power:

Engine power is a crucial factor when buying a quality miter saw. The more powerful the engine, the easier the saw cuts. For a good evaluation of cutting speed, quality miter saws come with the most RPMs. Higher RPMs make the blade rotation faster and make the cuts effortless. Also, e blade size influences the rotation greatly. So, ensure the saw with a standard blade size that offers the maximum RPMs possible.

Blade:

If you want an impressive working result, then no doubt blades are the most essential feature. Large saws come with large blades, which speed up the work and allow to cut through wider pieces. And bigger blade lasts longer and ensures maximum flexibility while a small blade cannot cut dense materials and become dull easily. Also, carbide blades are extremely durable and allow for precise cuts.

Portability:

As a beginner, you might need to go to different places for work. In that case, the saw should be lightweight and portable enough for you to carry from one place to another. Large size saw is also great at work but it will be better if you don’t have to move on a regular basis or your work is limited in your home or workshop. But as a migrant worker, you must for portable miter saws.

Dust collection:

Working with materials like wood means there will be a ton of sawdust generated. It is quite nasty and unhealthy for one working space. You need to extract them to prevent dust from getting into your eyes, nose, mouth, or ear. Also if there is lots of dust in the working area, it creates complications to work. That’s why there should be an efficient dust management system to suck up the dust and keep clean your space.

Safety features:

While working with a power tool, it’s necessary to ensure your safety first as many accidents can happen. Safety features like blade guards, electric brakes, safety clamps, extension cords, and dust extractions must be featured in a saw. Also, you should take personal safety precautions like wearing glasses, masks, gloves, protective footwear, and so on to avoid injuries. But it is best to have a saw that comes with built-in safety features.

Warranty:

It will be great for you if your miter saw comes with a warranty. Sometimes, some defects are found in a tool due to faulty materials or it doesn’t meet the quality they ensured. In that situation, the warranty gives you legal rights to exchange it from the buyer without any hassle. So, go for a miter saw that offers you a warranty.

FAQ

(1)Can A Beginner Use A Miter Saw?

Yes, without a doubt, he/she can use a miter saw for almost any project. You can consider it the best beginner saw and it’s handy literally for everything from making a simple frame to building a house. So, grab it.

(2)What is the first feature to look at while buying the best miter saw for beginners?

The very first thing you have to look for is the size of the blade according to the saw. Only the right coordination between the blade and saw size will help you to achieve the most accurate cutting.

(3)What is the ideal size I should choose while buying a miter saw?

Actually, you can go between the range of 10 to 12-inch blade diameter sizes as both serve quite well. Make sure the blade has more teeth while choosing blade size. Because large blades with more teeth make longer cuts and run fast.

(4)What is the difference between a compound and a sliding miter saw?

They both make basic and bevel cuts efficiently but there is a slight difference between them. A sliding miter saw has the sliding ability that can handle much wider materials than a compound miter saw.

(5)How do lasers help in cutting?

The laser cutting process uses a high-power laser beam to direct the material the increasing cutting quality. It has a small kerf width with a small heat effect zone to make cuts precise and clean.

Conclusion

Finally, we reached the ending line of our article. Now, you have the 5 best miter saws for beginners, all with different features and benefits. Choosing one of these saws can be very confusing to a beginner as there are a lot of factors to consider and the definition of a perfect saw varies for each.  But we can assure you that all the 5-miter saws are excellent options for beginner woodworkers who are all set to make an investment in their art. So, if follow the entire article, we are confident you definitely find the right pick. Best of luck.