Best Non-Sliding Compound Miter Saws

Any wood workshop or project site would need a non-sliding compound miter saw as their cutting station. This power tool allows you to do miter cuts and bevel cuts efficiently and more precisely. While sliding miter saws look more sophisticated, non-sliding has a wider arc to offer since there’s no rail limit to the cutting area.

On the other hand, it offers quick cutting operations for common woodworking projects including cutting wood frames, crown moldings, etc. We’ve listed the Best Non-Sliding Compound Miter Saws along with the buying guide below.  A miter saw is a valuable addition to your workshop so you need to get the best possible product in hand.

1. Makita LS1040 10″ Compound Miter Saw

Makita LS1040  is an all-around 10-inch compound miter saw with high performance, capacity, and accuracy for angled and bevel cuts. It has everything you need for a cutting station in your workshop or project site since it’s quite light and portable.  As one of the world’s largest power tool manufacturers, we can expect top quality products from Makita. Still, let’s have a look further at the Makita LS1040 miter saw.

Performance and Applications

Makita LS1040 is a versatile compound miter saw with high performance. It comes with a 15 amp direct motor that can deliver up to 4600 RPM for powerful, smooth cutting performance.  You no longer need to worry about slipped belts and the replacement as the motor directly spins the blade. Woodworkers can expect soft start and constant power when cutting work pieces.  Makita LS1040 is manufactured for a range of applications including professional woodworking projects, wood crafts, general carpentry, cabinetry, decking, flooring, siding installation, and so forth.

Miter and Bevel Capacity

Makita LS1040 comes with maximum miter adjustment range of 52 degree to the right and 45 degree to the left. For quick angle setup, Makita LS1040 has nine positive miter stops to both directions including 0° (90°), 15°, 22.5°, 30°, and 45°. The miter saw comes with the dual post compound pivot arm that enables you to do bevel up to 45°.

Features

Makita LS1040  has an eligible fluorescent light that ensures you have clear sights on the work surface. The compact size and lightweight allow Makita LS1040 to be installed on the fixed workstation or mounted on a portable miter saw stand.

Verdict

Makita LS1040 has everything you need for general cutting works that demand performance and accuracy. Whether it’s for a workshop or project site, you can’t go wrong with this compound miter saw.

2. Metabo HPT C12FDH

Metabo HPT C12FDH  is a 12-inch dual compound miter with a laser feature for more accurate guidance. It comes with a solid design and powerful cutting performance. With a larger base, Metabo HPT C12FDH provides a wider work base and flexibility. Metabo HPT itself was formerly Hitachi Power Tools so it’s natural if you find Metabo HPT C12FDH looks similar or even identical to other Hitachi miter saws.

Performance and Applications

Metabo HPT C12FDH  comes with a powerful 1950-watt motor for heavy-duty performance. Along with its 12-inch 32T TCT saw blade, you can cross-cut wood posts smoothly.  A larger base and motor make it heavier than comparable miter saws.  With heavy-duty performance and construction, Metabo HPT C12FDH well suits workshop or project site applications as long as there is an adequate power source.  For project site applications, you better invest in a portable miter saw stand that enables you to move your saw more easily because it’s a big 12-inch miter saw.

Miter and Bevel Capacity

It has a smooth angle and bevel mechanism that allow you to quickly set or change particular degrees with positive spots. The miter angle ranges from 0-52 to the left and right while you’re allowed to do bevel cuts of 0-48 degrees to both directions.  The compound miter saw offers more flexibility with these cutting ranges.

Features

Despite its heavy-duty performance, the superior features of Metabo HPT C12FDH are, of course, the laser and a 5-year warranty. Keeping miter cuts precise and accurate with the help of a laser guide.   You can keep peace of mind when using this miter saw for more labor-extensive woodworking projects with your purchase guaranteed.

Verdict

Metabo HPT C12FDH is a powerful general-purpose compound miter saw. It has a powerful cutting performance with a reliable miter and bevel mechanism. If you’re looking for an all-range miter saw with laser, Metabo HPT C12FDH is a great option to consider.

3. Rockwell ShopSeries RK7136

Rockwell has many interesting products for woodworking workshops with its ShopSeries and  RK7136 is definitely one of them.  ShopSeries RK7136 is a 10-inch miter saw that comes with a solid compatible stand. The lightweight miter saw offers both cutting performance and accuracy for various cutting jobs including woodcrafts, DIY projects, or even home improvement.  It offers a lot of features that extend your miter and bevel cutting experience.

Performance

ShopSeries RK7136 comes with a 14-amp direct-drive motor that delivers optimum cutting power for diverse applications. Whether it’s for home improvement or DIY woodworking projects, ShopSeries RK7136 has everything you need.  On the other hand, ShopSeries RK7136 offers accuracy, ease of use, durability, and reliability.

Miter and Bevel Capacity

ShopSeries RK7136  comes with common angle positive stops for miter cutting. For bevel cutting, it also comes with the preset where you can reach and click common angles used.  This way, you can perform cutting jobs more efficiently and get your jobs done more quickly.  With a stand and feeder extension, you can do miter or bevel cuts even on lengthy materials.

Features

ShopSeries RK7136 has many valuable features including the stand, built-in dust collector, and limited warranty. It comes with a four-legged compatible miter saw stand with an extended base and material feeders on both sides. This way, you can cut longer materials and no need to buy a separate stand or build one. Keep the cutting area clear and clean with the built-in dust collector for optimum productivity. A 2 -year limited warranty allows you to rest assured with the extensive usage.

Verdict

ShopSeries RK7136 offers a complete package of miter saw cutting stations that you can set in the workshop or project site easily.  The decent stand and limited warranty are certainly irresistible features to consider from this miter saw.

4. Homecraft ‎H26-260L

Homecraft ‎H26-260L is another basic compound miter saw that should be on your list. It comes with a lightweight and streamlined design but covering everything you need for miter and bevel cutting jobs.  The 10-inch miter saw offers adequate performance for DIY or workshop woodworking project sites. This power saw is universal in terms of measurement and usage. You can mount it in any compatible miter saw stand.

Performance

Homecraft ‎H26-260L comes with a 14-inch motor that delivers a no-load speed of up to 5500 RPM. The motor is quite powerful to cut most wood materials up to 4×4 with no problem. Whether it’s wood crafts or DIY woodworking projects, Homecraft ‎H26-260L can cater to them all. For more stable operation, you can separately buy the compatible stand and turn your Homecraft miter saw into a cutting station.

Miter and Bevel Capacity

Homecraft ‎H26-260L enables positive stops at common angles including 0,15,22.5, 30, 45 degrees for quick setup. When it comes to the bevel cuts, it can range from 0 to 47 degrees to the left even though it doesn’t support a double bevel yet.  Homecraft ‎H26-260L offers functional capacity for everyday use or DIY woodworking projects.  For miter cutting, the miter saw allows you to cut up to 4×4 posts with no problem while you can bevel cut 2×6 with no problem.

Features

Homecraft ‎H26-260L comes with a battery-powered laser guide to help you cut the workpieces more accurately. For a standard miter saw, it’s stunning to know that Homecraft ‎H26-260L comes with a 3-year warranty.

Verdict

Homecraft ‎H26-260L is a great entry-level miter saw to purchase for everyday use, woodcraft, or DIY projects. It has everything that all generic miter saws can provide and even comes with a laser guide that more expensive saws might not have. Certainly, it’s not for heavy-duty industrial cutting jobs but it would be a good collection for any workshop or home garage.

5. PORTER-CABLE 10-in 15-Amp Single Bevel Laser Folding Compound Miter Saw

The 10-inch miter saw from PORTER-CABLE comes with an innovative design and powerful performance. The head is foldable that allows the miter saw to collapse into a compact size for space-saving storage with no tools. Once folded, you can put the miter saw on the support base to store it safely in the corner of your workshop.  PORTER-CABLE miter saw also allows you to cut lengthy workpieces as your purchase also includes additional feeding support.

 

Performance

PORTER-CABLE 10-in compound miter saws come with a powerful 15-amp ball bearing motor. You can cut a range of materials in your workshop or project sites.  For better accuracy, PORTER-CABLE equips this miter saw with a front-mounted laser that you can adjust without any tool. It should cut any material within its cutting capacity with a suitable blade. Since it’s quite portable,  you can move this miter saw easily from one site to another.

Miter and Bevel Capacity

PORTER-CABLE  allows you to cut miter and bevel with a range of what you can expect from all compound miter saws. For miter cuts, you can set angles in a range of 0 -47 degrees to the left and 0 – 55 degrees to the right.  Bevel cuts are allowed in a range of 0-47 to the left but it doesn’t support the right bevel yet. With this miter and bevel capacity, you can have more flexibility when cutting materials for your woodworking projects.

Features

You can definitely take advantage of this miter saw’s features, especially the laser guide and the foldable design. Regardless of what angle you’ve set, you can enhance the cutting line accuracy with the laser guide.  Last but not least, PORTER-CABLE provides you with a 3-year limited warranty on this miter saw purchase.

Verdict

PORTER-CABLE 10-inch compound miter saw offers all generic functions plus innovation for storing and moving the power tool. If you need a miter saw with some degree of portability, this miter could be your solution.  Even though it doesn’t support dual post bevel pivoting yet, you can have robust performance for one-side bevel cuts and general miter cuts.

6. Genesis GMS1015LC

Genesis GMS1015LC is a 10-inch compound miter that offers reliable performance and diverse applications. Coming with a laser guide,  Genesis GMS1015LC comes with a high degree of versatility that enables you to cut a variety of materials for carpentry, DIY woodworking projects, or even home improvement projects.

 

Performance

Genesis GMS1015LC comes with a 15-Amp that delivers no-load speeds up to 4600 RPM. The compound miter saw is designed to efficiently cut wood frames, shadow boxes, and crown molding but it would likely cut a variety of materials with no problem. For more accuracy, Genesis GMS1015LC already has a battery-powered laser guide.  Your purchase would include a 10-inch 60T carbide blade to support general-purpose cutting jobs with this miter saw.

Miter and Bevel Capacity

Genesis GMS1015LC supports standard miter cuts and left bevel cuts. It’s quite unfortunate that this miter saw can only do miter cuts up to 45 degrees in both directions while its competitors can reach 47 or 52 degrees. Anyway, it still has 9 positive stops on commonly used miter cutting angles for quick and accurate compound miter cuts.  It allows you to cut 2×6 on bevel cuts and 4×4 on miter cuts as you can expect for a generic compound miter saw. Still, a laser guide is a very helpful element to achieve more precise results.

Features

Despite laser guide features, Genesis GMS1015LC has standard features you can expect from a compound miter saw. These include material support extension, hold down clamp, 60T carbide blade, dust collector bag, etch. Most importantly, your purchase on Genesis GMS1015LC is covered with a 2-year limited warranty for US-based sellers.

Verdict

Genesis GMS1015LC is another versatile 10-inch compound miter saw you can predict. It’s a straightforward compound miter saw for wood crafts, woodworking projects, and crown installation. Even though it doesn’t support dual bevel pivoting, it’s still a workable miter saw for diverse applications.

7. Craftsman Mach 2 Silver Series

Craftsman Mach 2 Silver Series is the last 10-inch miter saw in our list. Coming with a 60T carbide-tipped circular saw blade,  the miter saw offers smooth cutting performance for your workshop or project site. Craftsman Mach 2 is heavier than its competitors(31.8 pounds) , which indicates that it has a more solid material.  It’s not a sophisticated miter saw but yet a great option for general purpose uses that help you with most cutting jobs in your garage, workshop, or project sites.

Performance

Craftsman 28877 comes with a 15-amp motor that directly spins the blade for constant power. You can cut a variety of materials just like other basic compound miter saws. However, the actual cutting performance of the Craftsman Mach 2 Silver Series would also depend on the blade you’re using.  If you use blades with lower teeth, you can even cut workpieces faster but with rougher results. Ensure that you purchase only compatible blades for its 5/8-inch arbor. Overall, customers have found that the Craftsman Mach 2 Silver Series has great performance.

Miter and Bevel Capacity

Craftsman Mach 2 comes with standard miter and bevel capacity. You can do miter cuts at a range of 0-45 degrees to the left and right. When it comes to bevel cuts, you can do it at an angle of 0-45 degrees to the left but you’d need to calibrate the exact angle.  There are some positive stops for miter positions so you can reach common cutting angles instantly. You can cut up to 4×4 for miter cuts and up to 2×6 for bevel cuts.

Features

Craftsman Mach 2 comes with all standard features you can expect from a miter saw product like material down clamp, material support extension, etc. However, you can expect good quality blades included in your purchase.

Verdict

If you’re looking for a compound miter saw that simply works great, Craftsman Mach 2 Silver Series could be a straightforward option. It might not have advanced features but you can’t go wrong with satisfied customer’s testimonials.

 

We’ve listed some Best Non-Sliding Compound Miter Saws but there are tens if not hundreds of more products available in the market.  To get the best possible product, you better consider some factors below.

Cutting Performance

The cutting performance of a miter saw would strongly depend on its motor and the blade. Common miter saws usually come with a 14-amp or 15-amp motor with a no-load speed of 4000-6000 RPM. Lower teeth blades also allow you to cut workpieces more quickly but higher teeth blades are more recommended for finer results.

Blade Size

Generally, there are two major blade sizes of the non-sliding compound miter saw including 10-inch and 12-inch. A 12-inch blade of course provides you with more cutting capacity than the 10-inch blade. However, if your workpieces are no more than 4×4, a 12-inch blade for miter cuts isn’t necessarily needed.

Miter and Bevel Capacity

Check their miter and bevel capacity whether or not they suit your woodworking requirements. Standard miter saws allow a miter angle range of 0-45 degrees but more saws come with a range of 0-52 degrees. When it comes to bevel cut, check the angle range and consider whether you need the dual post pivoting that enables you to bevel right and left.

Features

Consider all features that can improve your cutting jobs like laser guide, led light, miter stand, extensions, dust collector, etc. Generally speaking, miter saws with more features are more pricey but it’s worth the advancements they offer.

Inclusions

Check what’s included in your non-sliding miter saw purchase. Despite assembling tools and basic accessories,  there are more inclusions that you may want to consider and compare among different products. Most importantly, it would be great if your miter saw purchase is covered by a full or limited warranty from the manufacturer or distributor typically for 1- 5 years.

FAQ

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

Unlike a sliding miter saw, a compound miter saw has a fixed cutting mechanism with no rail. A sliding miter saw allows you to cut wider materials as it can slide through the ranged rails. A compound miter saw cuts only what’s beneath the saw blade.

What is the advantage of having a non-sliding miter saw?

Non-sliding miter saws actually have advantages that most sliding miter saws don’t have. While it can’t slide through the rail to cut wider materials, no sliding miter saws have a wider arc capacity. It means that you can go into a wider angle range that most sliding miter saws can’t. Some miter saws even allow you to miter cut workpieces at up to 52 degrees.

Why are miter saws so expensive?

Miter saws are a powerful tool in woodworking projects, carpentry, DIY, or home improvements. These power tools are certainly more expensive than manual tools. The overall price of a miter saw is constituted by many factors including the motor, engineering, materials, features, inclusions, brands, and so forth. Still, the market is not hosting various miter saws at a wider price range. Even beginner woodworking hobbyists can purchase entry-level miter saws that cost them no more than $150.

Can a 7 1 4 miter saw cut a 4×4?

The maximum cutting depth of a 7-1/4 miter saw is less than 3-5/16 after it’s cut by the arbor size. At this point, you won’t likely be able to cut a 4×4 with a 7-1/4 miter saw in one pass, but you can possibly cut through it after another pass on another side. You’d need at least an 8-1/4 miter saw to cut 4×4 in one pass while 10-inch or 12-inch miter allows you to cut even larger workpieces.

Is it worth getting a miter saw?

In modern woodworking, a miter saw plays a key role as one of the primary cutting stations. It allows you to crosscut, miter cut, trim, and bevel cut workpieces efficiently. A miter saw can cut woods, boards, composites, frames, molding, and other materials. A 10-inch or 12-inch miter saw is definitely a great investment for your shop and projects.

Conclusion

Non-sliding compound miter saws are versatile power tools for diverse applications like woodworking, woodcraft, decking, molding, framing, etc.  We’ve reviewed the Best Non-Sliding Compound Miter Saws and we don’t find an absolute winner. However, Metabo HPT C12FDH and other miter saws with laser guides are considerable products to purchase as it’s become a key feature to improve the accuracy and precision of your cuts.  Anyway, you must choose a non-sliding compound miter saw that suits your needs and preferences. Take your time in researching and comparing specs and inclusions of different miter saw products for the best possible purchase decision.