What is Miter Saw?
A miter saw is a stationary power saw with a circular blade mounted on a pivoting arm, designed for fast, accurate crosscuts and angled miter cuts in lumber, trim, and molding.
A miter saw (also called a chop saw) is a stationary power tool with a circular blade mounted on a pivoting arm that swings down through the workpiece. It is the fastest, most accurate tool for crosscutting lumber to length and making angled miter cuts.
Three types exist. Standard miter saws pivot left and right for angle cuts but do not tilt. Compound miter saws add bevel tilt (single bevel tilts one direction; dual bevel tilts both). Sliding compound miter saws add rails so the blade slides forward and back, increasing crosscut capacity by up to 50%. A 10-inch sliding model crosscuts boards up to 12 inches wide; a 12-inch slider handles up to 16 inches.
Common blade sizes are 10 inch and 12 inch. A 60 to 80 tooth ATB crosscut blade gives the cleanest finish. Budget compound saws start at $150-200. Professional sliding models (DeWalt DWS780, Bosch GCM12SD) run $400-500. Cordless pro models (Milwaukee M18 FUEL) run $600-700.
Repeat cuts with stop blocks are where miter saws shine in the cut list workflow. Set a stop block at the required length, and you can crosscut dozens of identical pieces without re-measuring each one. This is the fastest way to execute the "cut to length" portion of any cut list.
For crown molding, compound miter saws handle the combined miter and bevel angles in a single cut. Standard 90-degree corners with 52/38 spring angle crown require 31.6-degree miter and 33.9-degree bevel settings.
Miter saws only crosscut. They cannot rip (change width). For rip cuts, you need a table saw. In most shops, the miter saw and table saw work as a pair, cutting parts from the list SmartCutList generates: the table saw rips stock to width, the miter saw crosscuts to length.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What size miter saw should I buy?
- A 10-inch miter saw handles boards up to 5.5 inches wide (a 2x6). A 12-inch sliding miter saw cuts boards up to 12+ inches wide, making it the better choice for trim, crown molding, and furniture parts. For most woodworkers, a 12-inch sliding compound miter saw is the most versatile option.
- Can a miter saw cut plywood?
- A miter saw can crosscut narrow strips of plywood, but it cannot rip full sheets. Use a fine-tooth blade (80+ teeth) to reduce splintering. For cutting large plywood panels, a circular saw with a guide or a track saw is a better choice.
- What is the difference between a single bevel and double bevel miter saw?
- A single bevel tilts the blade in one direction only. A double bevel tilts both left and right, so you can make compound angle cuts without flipping the workpiece. Double bevel saves time on crown molding and picture frames. Single bevel costs less and works fine for basic crosscuts.
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