Sliding Miter Saws
3 Tips For Evaluating Sliding Miter Saws – Know What You Want!
If you are into woodworking then you know how important bevel cuts are and you probably already know that sliding miter saws can make the job go so much easier and so much faster. If you’re still working with a chop saw or a miter saw without a slide, then take a moment to check out the features of sliding miter saw and see if it isn’t time to join the 21st century of woodworking.
Sliding saws can make smooth and accurate cuts on everything from rough stock to fine cabinet work. The biggest advantage of this type of saw over the others however, is the ability to make crosscuts on wider pieces than you can with a chop saw. Chop saws are great on smaller pieces and will give a fine smooth cut but you will have to reposition the piece and do a second cut if the lumber is too wide. It’s this second cut that has to be lined up perfectly to make the total cut correct. This takes time and has the potential of resulting in a sloppy cut. With the sliding miter saws you can make the cut in one pass which is obviously faster and it also reduces the chances for error.
If you’re thinking about adding one of these to your inventory of woodworking tools, here are a few tips to help you pick out the right model.
How Are You Going To Use It?
First know what you’re going to use the saw for and where you’re going to use it. If you plan to permanently mount it in your workshop then weight is really not a question. But if you are going to lug it from job site to job site, then weight and even the placement of the carry handles become an issue.
How Critical Are Your Cuts?
The next question is how fine and critical will the cuts you make be. If you are just doing repetitive crosscuts then maybe you don’t even need one of these if your chop saw can handle a 2×4. But if your working with expensive hardwoods and the cuts are critical, then accuracy is something that you absolutely need. Accuracy starts with the stability of the saw. If the set up is solid enough there won’t be any vibrations to throw off the cut. Another feature you might like is the laser guides that are now becoming popular. This gives you a visual line on the stock that you either cut just to the left or right of. There is one model that has two lasers, one on each side of the blade, which will show the kerf before you cut.
How Versatile Do You Need It To Be?
Next take a look at the versatility of the setup particularly in setting up angles. Can the saw be adjusted to greater than 45 degrees? Are there stops already in place for common angles? Can you cut near, but not directly on the stops? Can you do micro adjusting easily? These are questions that are critical to making the right decision.
Most sliding miter saws are priced about the same so the real question is finding the model that is best suited for your intended use. You can do a great deal of research on the internet but the best way of making a comparison is in person and side by side. Once you’ve narrowed your selection to two or three brands, visit your local dealer and see them for yourself. Picking the right saw will just make a huge difference in the speed and quality of work that you can turn out.