The right miter saw can bring craftsmen years of satisfaction with professional results and convenient operation. While finding the saw that best meets your specific needs may take some time, it's time well spent. Follow these simple steps to find the miter saw that's best for you.
First, it's important to know what you'll be using your miter saw for. Homeowners and builders typically need two completely different tools. Familiarize yourself with the differences between a standard, combination and sliding miter saw. A standard miter saw is the perfect tool for most homeowners - it's usually the least expensive and, as a result, has the fewest features.
Miter saws are only slightly more expensive and have the ability to perform miter cuts or tilt the blade either left or right (0° - 50°). Some can bevel in both directions, allowing the operator to perform both a miter and a bevel within the same cut (-50° to 50°). A sliding miter is capable of miter cutting just like the chop saw, and has extension rods that allow the saw blade and motor to move back and forth; this allows the length of cut to be greater than the blade diameter.
For this reason, the miter saw will usually get the most out of your wallet. Serious carpenters, craftsmen and contractors should invest in either a miter saw or a miter band saw.
Determine the size of saw blade you need for the tool. Saw blades come in 8", 10" and 12" sizes (with 10" and 12" being the most popular). Just as the cost of the saw blade will likely increase with size, so will your application base. The more you want to do with your saw, the larger the blade should be.
Many homeowners buy a miter saw for renovation work and for projects like molding, because the larger the saw, the easier and more precise the end result will be. Let your needs determine the size and power of a tool to ensure you are using the right one.
Research the different brands to find out which manufacturer will best meet your needs. Many craftsmen are already loyal to a particular brand, but that shouldn't stop you from comparing other manufacturers to make sure you're getting the most for your money. Remember that no two manufacturers or tools are built completely alike; just like you, most manufacturers have a specialty or tool that they build best - for the best miter saws, I prefer Festool, Makita and Bosch.
Festool is always the most expensive investment, but if you are lucky enough to own or have experienced Festool, you know why, and you know it's worth it. Otherwise, Makita and Bosch produce extremely powerful miter saws with a range of options to suit all types of users.
After you've done a little research, you should also set a budget. Remember that it's far too easy to either overspend or underspend - determine what you can (and want to) spend on a saw, and stick to your budget; if you already have a limit in mind, you'll be much more likely to stick to it. Also, remember that cheap and expensive power tools are cheap and expensive for a reason. The adage "you get what you pay for" is perhaps truest in the tool industry.
Make sure you have a good warranty. A good warranty on your tools usually means you're buying from a company that is fully confident that its product will satisfy you - a good feeling to take with you on the job. Most industrial manufacturers offer a one-year warranty on their miters.
Before making the final cut, play around with the saw a bit, if possible, to make sure you're comfortable using the tool. Many specialty stores also offer demonstrations if you ask. This way, you can make sure you invest in the tool that best suits your individual needs.
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