Tools like miter saws, circular saws, hand saws, and chainsaws make woodworking easy for us. Every tool in a woodworker’s arsenal has a special purpose and importance. For a professional carpenter or an avid DIY individual, there is a special purpose for every tool. In this article, we will discuss everything a beginner needs to know about a miter saw. This miter saw usage guide will focus on the following aspects of a miter saw.
- Parts of a miter saw
- How to use a miter saw
- Different types of miter saw
- Safety precautions
- Meter saw maintenance
Let’s begin by understanding what a miter saw is and what its purpose is.
What is a Miter Saw?
A miter saw is a powerful tool used to make quick crosscuts and miters on a wood piece. The basic purpose of a miter saw is to make miter cuts on a worksheet. Some people also use miter sleds with a table saw to get crosscuts on the piece, but its accuracy is nowhere near a dedicated miter saw.
Sometimes, a miter saw is also referred to as a chop saw. A chop saw is a low-end version of a miter saw. The main difference between a miter saw and a chop saw is the cutting ability. The chop saw can only make a downward motion, whereas a miter saw can cut at different angles. Let’s learn more about a miter saw by knowing its parts.
Parts of a Miter Saw
For a beginner, it is very important to know about the parts of a miter saw. Unless you have a proper and clear understanding of all the parts and what purpose a specific part serves, you won’t be able to control your saw professionally. A miter saw is composed of the following parts.
Blade and Blade Guard
As the name indicates, the blade is used to cut the wood. The blade’s size varies from one model to another, and different size blades can be used with one miter saw. The size of the blade often determines the cutting capacity of the blade. The most common size of a miter saw blade, which is perfect for DIY people, is a standard 7 ½ inches. Professional woodworkers often use saws with larger blades.
The blade guard
It is the protective cover on the blade. It covers the blade and saves the user from injuries. It is also installed to protect the blade from wear and tear. Some models come with an automatic blade guard, which moves away when you push the handle down. On some older models, the blade guard may not be present, or it may be a manual one.
Handle
As the name indicates, the handle controls the movement of the saw. It is where you will grip the saw and push the blade downwards to make the cuts. A handle is loaded with a power trigger, which helps control the blade movement. This trigger is not the same as the miter saw’s power on/off. The location of the handle is identical in all the miter saws. However, the ergonomics may vary from one model to another. Some come with a better grip and a comfortable-to-use design.
Miter Lock Handle (Miter Gauge Handle)
The miter lock handle is also an important part of the miter saw. It is used to adjust the position of the miter table while making cuts.
Miter Scale
It is the scale that helps you adjust the cutting angle. The angle varies from 0-90 degrees. Some saws come with stops to lock the common cutting angles, such as 45 and 90 degrees. The scale has an adjustment knob, which allows you to adjust the cutting angle.
Table
The table in the miter saw is not as large as in the table saw. Most people prefer to install the miter saw on a large table to support large workpieces.
Fence
The purpose of the fence is to provide stability to the workpiece while you are cutting it. It provides a perpendicular to the workpiece so that you get straight cuts.
Additional Features
Some miter saws come with additional features that enhance working safety, such as a vise. Some latest models have vacuum ports that facilitate the cleaning process. You can also get LED lights on the top, dust bags, and safety equipment while purchasing a miter saw.
How to Use a Miter Saw
In this section, we will be discussing how to use a miter saw. Please note that this is not a professional course. The skill and mastery of tools develop through experience and professional courses. This section serves the purpose of getting beginners familiar with a miter saw and its operation.
Making Miter Cuts
To make a miter cut:
- Connect your saw to a power source.
- Measure and mark a line on the stock according to your desire cuts and place it on the work table.
- Adjust the sheet against the fence and set the miter saw angle to your desired degree.
- Check the cutting point by lowering the handle and confirm that it lands on your desired spot for cutting.
- Adjust and reset if necessary. Once the blade and sheet are set, it is time to make the cuts.
- Hold the handle with one hand and place one hand on the sheet to enhance stability while cutting. You must not put too much pressure or force the blade into the wood.
- If the blade is properly sharpened, it will automatically make the cuts for you. Once you have made the cuts, let go of the trigger and wait for the blade to stop before lifting it.
Making Bevel Cuts
With a Standard Miter Saw: Begin by placing the marked board on its edge. It must not be flat. Adjust the miter saw gauge and check the blade’s cutting position. You will need to clamp or hold the board. Once the board is settled, go for the cut in the same way as we explained above.
With a Compound Saw: Making bevel cuts with a compound saw is easy compared to a standard miter saw. Begin by placing the marked sheet and push it against the saw fence. Make adjustments to the bevel gauge and tilt the blade. If you need a miter gauge adjustment, do it now. Check the blade position by bringing it down. If everything is according to your work plan, go ahead and make the cut.
Different Types of a Miter Saw
There are different types of the miter saw. Based on their working ability, they are divided into 5 types.
Original Miter Box and Saw: It is the simplest of all and consists of a wooden box with 90° and 45° slits. It works with a hand guide or backsaw to make miter cuts.
Powered Miter Saw: Also known as the standard miter saw, it runs on electric power and is used to make straight cuts at a wide range of angles. This type of saw is commonly used to make 45° cuts for framing.
Compound Miter Saw: A compound miter saw gives you the ability to make bevel cuts. It can tilt the blade and head at different angles to the workpiece.
Dual Compound Miter Saw: A dual compound miter saw allows you to rotate the head on the left and right-hand sides. You can achieve all the angles without the need to replace the worksheet.
Sliding Compound Miter Saw: A sliding compound miter saw is designed to move the head back and forth on a sliding rail. This feature enhances the size capacity of the miter saw, and you can cut large sheets with it.
Safety Precautions
Working with power tools can be dangerous. Hence, you must make sure to follow all the safety precautions. A list of safety measures to be adopted while working with miter saws is given below.
- Always wear personal protective equipment (PPE) while working with miter saws. Use safety goggles, ear protection, dust mask, and work gloves while handling blades.
- Avoid wearing loose items such as mufflers, chains, bracelets, rings, and any other clothing accessory that can get stuck with the miter saw.
- Make sure you keep children away from your work site. They have a desire to mess with your tools, educate them about a miter saw, and explain the dangers of it.
- Use your common senses while working with a tool like a miter saw. If you notice too much vibration, smell burning odor, or you saw is getting hotter than usual, stop working immediately and inspect the machine.
- Before starting work, you must inspect your miter saw. Make sure nothing is out of order.
- Keep your saw unplugged when not in use. Make sure you properly spread the cable. Keep it out from your standing area.
- Bolt your miter saw on a workstation for a safer working experience.
- Make sure your blades are sharp and use the appropriate blade according to the worksheet specifications.
- Keep a safe distance of at least 6 inches from the blade while operating a miter saw.
- Check the blade guard movement before starting to work.
- Confirm that the blade is properly tightened before beginning cutting.
Miter Saw Maintenance
A properly maintained tool will give you the best performance and will last a long time with you. Maintaining a miter saw starts with the cleaning process and ends at making sure that every part works well and is kept in mint condition.
Dust and Debris: The first thing in a maintenance regime is cleaning the wood debris, and dust from the miter saw. Some miter saws come with a vacuum port. If you don’t have one, you can use a simple vacuum to clean and suck out the wood debris and dust from your saw. Removing the dust particles from the moving parts is of paramount importance. You must keep the blade free from dust and dirt. Not only the blade but the fence and table must be wiped properly to remove dust from it.
Blade Maintenance: Blades get dull over time; you need to make sure that you don’t run your miter saw with dull blades. Dull blades give poor cuts, are a safety hazard, and decrease the blade’s life. Dull blades also impact the life of your saw. Most of the saw’s power will go into moving the dull blade, and this extra load on the machine can harm it.
Lubrication: If you notice that the movable parts of your miter saw are not moving freely as they used to, it is time to lubricate the machine. Before lubricating, ensure that the intended part is free from sawdust and debris. You can use compressed air to kick out the tiny particles. Inspect the area for any corrosion and rust marks; clean it with WD-40 or other corrosion solvents if needed. Before applying the lubrication, make sure that the area is dry and clean. Now apply company-approved lubrication and move the parts a few times to spread the oil along the length of the moving parts.
Power Cable Maintenance: You must ensure that the power cable in your miter saw is kept in good condition. It must be free from any wear and tear. The plug must not spark and must fit nicely into the socket. It must not be loose.
Follow the User Instructions: One of the most important aspects of maintaining a miter saw is to follow the user instructions. Unfortunately, most people ignore these instructions and then end up having a damaged and malfunctioning saw or inflicting a painful injury.