Compound Miter Saw Information

For more portable use at jobsites, a comparison review at Workbench recommends the 7.25-inch Craftsman Miter Saw with Laser Trac 21180 (*est. $90), which also gets mostly positive reviews from owners at Sears.com. For bigger capacity, owners reviewing miter saws at Amazon.com like the 8.5-inch Hitachi C8FB2 sliding compound miter saw (*est. $340). The Hitachi weighs only 30.5 pounds, the smaller Craftsman just 16.

If the miter saw you really want is beyond your budget, you may be able to find a reconditioned model or an older (possibly discontinued) model at a lower price at some retailers. The major difference between older and newer saws is often the addition of a laser guide. Reviews note that accuracy and smooth cutting are much more important than a laser guide, so some of these earlier miter saws might be excellent buys.

You can add a laser guide to most miter saws at modest cost. Reviews recommend the Irwin laser saw guide Model 3061001 (*est. $30), which projects a line left of the kerf. (It doesn't fit Bosch, Ridgid or Pro-Tech miter saws.) Users reviewing it at Amazon.com give it an average four-star rating. These user reviews include some tips on adjusting it to work on various miter saws.

At OnlineToolReviews.com, Bill Esposito reviews the Laserkerf (*est. $80), another aftermarket laser guide. It comes in either of two line widths, to match the kerf of the blade you use most -- 1/8 or 3/32 inch. This laser guide also gets good reviews at Wood Magazine and Shop Notes.

If your main interest is in cutting moldings for picture frames, power framing saws can cost thousands of dollars, but there are special hand miter saw outfits that cost much less. One example is the Logan Pro Framing Saw (*est. $130).

The 10-inch Evolution Rage3 sliding compound miter saw (*est. $270) is unique in its ability to cut both metal and wood. Most reviews are positive so far, though one notes that it cuts slowly. Its big advantage is in remodeling, where hidden screws and nails might otherwise be a problem. At 44 pounds, it's also fairly lightweight. You can see a video of this saw in use, crosscutting lumber studded with nails.

Miter saws used for cutting steel are usually called chop saws, cutting straight down at 90 degrees without a bevel adjustment. Some have no miter-angle adjustment either; these are often called cut-off saws. All these tools use an abrasive blade without teeth. The 15-inch Evolution Steel Saw 2 (*est. $425) 15-inch metal cut off saw is designed just for cutting metals. DeWalt and Makita chop saws get relatively low ratings from owners at Amazon.com, with complaints about poor quality.

Note that you can cut steel with a regular circular saw as well, fitting it with a similar abrasive blade, though special metal-cutting circular saws are safer. (We have a separate report on circular saws.)

In November 2007, the WMH Tool Group and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled Performax 90206 and Wilton 34570 10-inch sliding compound miter saws for a faulty handle switch. The year before, WMH Tool Group recalled the WMH 99164 and WMH 99192 10-inch compound miter saws for a different problem. All these miter saws were made in China.

The last miter saw recalls prior to this were in 2001, when both DeWalt and Black & Decker recalled 12-inch miter saws. Experts recommend registering any miter saw with the manufacturer, so that you'll be notified right away in case of a recall. The CPSC website is the best source of information on product recalls.

Wikipedia has a good article on miter saws.

Fine Homebuilding offers an excellent guide to selecting and using a miter saw, covering all types and sizes.

Subscribing to the eZine from Woodworkers Journal is a good way to keep up with news about miter saws.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has an article on how to use a miter saw safely.

Better Homes & Gardens has a good user's guide with some simple illustrations.

Fine Homebuilding expert Gary Katz has a two-part DVD on how to use a miter saw; you can preview it free.

Forums are good places to ask specific questions about miter saws. Often other users have tips on selection, use and even repairs:

Wood Magazine Forums

Sawmill Creek

WoodNet

Women in Woodworking

Fine Woodworking

LumberJocks

Miter Saw Manufacturers:

Bosch

Craftsman (Sears)

Delta (owned by Black and Decker)

DeWalt (owned by Black and Decker)

Evolution

Hitachi

Makita

Northern Industrial

Ridgid (owned by Emerson, made by TTI)

Ryobi (owned by TTI)

Skil (owned by Bosch)

Worx