
If you regularly work with thick boards, you will want a miter saw with a larger blade. The size of the blade determines how thick of material you can cut. The higher the RPM, the faster the blade can cut through wood. RPM, or rotations per minute, is the speed at which the blade on a miter saw is measured. Typically made of metal, this piece helps keep the wood in place while it’s being cut. The fence on a miter saw looks like a small fence and is located toward the back of the table. This is a helpful feature to have if you are cutting wood for custom frames, trim, or baseboards. Some miter saws also have a bevel cut feature, which allows you to tilt the head of the saw at an angle to cut diagonally through wood. Depending on whether or not you want a battery-powered or electric power tool, a lightweight saw for easy transportation or a heavy-duty machine that can make cuts every day may be better for you.Ī basic miter saw can cut straight through a piece of wood at 90 or 45 degrees. However, the average DIYer may not need that many features.

It has the ability to cut through the thickest materials and make the largest range of angled cuts. With so many options it’s hard to know what’s right for you and your skills.įor working on the widest range of projects, “my recommendation would be a sliding compound miter saw,” says Brian Shaunfield, store manager at Lowe’s in Charlotte, North Carolina. There are also sliding compound miter saws that allow the blade to move forward to cut and slide the blade through thicker materials, and dual compound miter saws that can make miter cuts and bevel cuts to the right or left. An angled bevel cut cuts through the wood at a slant, creating a sloped edge. Many of them are compound miter saws, which means you can also tilt the blade to make an angled bevel cut. The best miter saws do much more than just cut wood at a couple of angles. Being able to match up angled trim boards makes trim installation go quickly and smoothly.


When it comes to installing trim or putting up your own crown molding, any avid DIYer will tell you it’s essential to have a good miter saw for the project.Ī miter saw allows you to cross-cut a board at 90 degrees or at an angle, such as 45 degrees. Having the right tool for the job makes any home improvement project go a little more smoothly.
