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Compound Miter Saws Reviews
Updated September 2008
Power miter saws make quick work of crosscutting lumber and molding. They take less space than most table saws, and since they're mounted on a stand, they're faster and less tiring to use than circular saws. The most basic miter saws, often called chop saws or cut-off saws, just cut straight across the board or miter an angle. (A miter is a joint formed by cutting equal diagonals at the ends of two pieces of material so they fit together exactly to make a corner.) These are fine for cutting steel. However, for woodworking and carpentry, reviews recommend a compound miter saw that can cut precise miter angles and bevels. That's the kind of miter saw covered in this report. We found an excellent review of the smallest, simplest 10-inch compound miter saws (the least expensive size) at Consumer Reports, where 13 miter saws are ranked based on objective tests. An earlier miter-saw review at American Woodworker includes some of these small miter saws. Other miter saw sizes and types are compared in woodworking and construction publications. We found the most recent reviews at Woodworker's Journal and at Tools of the Trade Online, both of which compare the new Festool Kapex (*est. $1,300) with less expensive miter saws. Some earlier reviews are also still useful, since miter saws tend to stay on the market for many years, and the reviews are based on rigorous comparison tests. Most new miter saws come equipped with a laser guide to speed setup and
improve accuracy, but reviews say some laser guides are much easier to
use than others. An inaccurate and nonadjustable laser guide can be more
frustrating than not having a laser guide at all. Not surprisingly, reviews
say the best laser guide is on the expensive Festool Kapex miter saw.
Experts prefer a laser guide that's not only adjustable, but has a separate
switch so you can use it to set up the work without having to work under
a spinning blade. DeWalt miter saws usually come without a laser guide,
and the optional DeWalt laser guides (*est. $70) get mixed reviews. If you need a miter saw for very precise, smooth cuts and can't afford the Festool Kapex, reviews suggest upgrading a budget miter saw to a better blade with more teeth. If you plan to do this, be sure the blade is designed to withstand the miter saw's rotational speed, and of course, add the cost of the new blade to that of the miter saw itself. For example, a top-quality 10-inch Forrest blade with 80 teeth, the Forrest CM10806105 (*est. $130), costs more than the least expensive miter saw reviewed here. Even a less expensive blade like the 80-tooth Freud TK806 (*est. $55) can add significantly to the total price. ... Continued
Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our Bosch and Makita make the most-recommended miter saws. DeWalt and Hitachi follow close behind -- partly because they're sold at more retailers that publish owner-written reviews. Ridgid is the leading budget brand. Advertisement
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Compound Miter Saws Reviews |
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© 2008 ConsumerSearch, Inc. A service from 
, a part of The New York Times Company. All Rights Reserved.
ConsumerSearch and ConsumerSearch.com are registered trademarks of ConsumerSearch, Inc. Other trademarks or service marks on this site are the property of their respective owners. ConsumerSearch is not sponsored by any source reviewed, and we accept no consideration or payment for including, excluding, or ranking any reviews, products or services in our reports.
* Pricing information is approximate as of the time this report was written and is based on observed market selling prices and/or list prices. Actual selling prices may differ.
