Wood Miter Saw Which Is Better

If the saw does not turn on. typical malfunctions and repairs

The miter saw, like any mechanism operating under the influence of high dynamic loads, is prone to defects and malfunctions. Among the most common breakdowns of this tool are the following:

  • combustion of the motor (rotor or stator), the cause of which may be the wrong choice of cutting speed and saw blade feed, or the use of an unsuitable blade for cutting a certain material. all this leads to an overload of the electric motor and its combustion;
  • wear of the gear of the rotor of the electric motor or gears of the gearbox;
  • wear of the brushes of the asynchronous motor;
  • loose or broken belt drive belt.

It is better to entrust all malfunctions associated with the electric motor to professionals, since repairs will require both special equipment and knowledge of the device and the principle of operation of electric motors. You can independently replace worn brushes of the collector of an asynchronous motor or change the gear belt.

Setting up a miter saw. video

engine’s type

The most practical and affordable option is the collector motor miter saw. Such a motor will provide a sufficient number of disc revolutions per minute without weighing the entire tool. Indeed, in most cases, miter saws should be able to be carried closer to the place where construction or finishing work is carried out. A pendulum saw with an asynchronous motor can come in handy for a home workshop. It has large dimensions, and it is best to install it permanently on a specially made workbench.

Making the simplest face saw from an angle grinder. video

How to adjust the degree of inclination of the cutting head. video

Miter saw for wood: choose, customize, make from an angle grinder and circular

Miter saws are widely used for large volumes of work with boards, bars and other sawn timber made of wood or wood-based composite materials. They are electrically powered cross-cutting devices mounted on a flat, horizontal bed for cross-cutting long lumber. Despite the presence of a bed, such equipment is not stationary, since it can be installed anywhere, transported or carried to where it is necessary to cut.

What is the purpose of this instrument and how does it work

A device designed for cross-cutting wood blanks at different angles is called an end (miter) saw. Often such a tool is also called an electric miter box, by analogy with a carpenter’s device in the form of a tray for cutting boards at a certain angle. The design of such a saw allows you to cut by changing both the vertical and horizontal angle of the saw blade.

The functionality of the miter saw makes it possible to use it in woodworking, where precise joining of the ends of two elements of a product or structure is required. It is to ensure the accuracy of the cut that the bed is required, which can have legs or be installed on a table. Such work is often necessary for the following purposes:

  • making decorative frames;
  • cashing out door loot;
  • skirting board devices;
  • construction of wooden building structures for the construction of houses and auxiliary buildings;
  • finishing work with clapboard or plastic panels, as well as laying wooden, parquet or laminate floors.

When installing a certain type of disc on such equipment, it is possible to cut light metal or plastic profiles and pipes. If necessary, you can even select the thickness of the wood with a miter saw, arranging grooves, which are often used to make window or door frames and loops.

Despite the solid appearance, and the fact that such saws are often called machines, their weight is small (about 18 kg) and they can be an excellent tool for a home or summer cottage workshop.

Varieties of miter saws for wood

The modern power tool market can offer a large selection of a wide variety of miter saw models, which may differ in the following parameters and design features:

  • the type and power of the engine, as well as its location;
  • the type of gearbox that transmits the torque from the motor shaft to the saw blade;
  • the presence of an electronic system, which is needed to maintain the speed of rotation of the disk when cutting it into the thickness of the workpiece material;
  • the presence of a broach system, which allows the saw blade to have a horizontal stroke, which ensures cutting of wide workpieces;

Miter saws are equipped with three types of motors:

  • asynchronous;
  • collector;
  • valve.

Asynchronous type electric motors are reliable, economical and work without creating much noise. Their disadvantage is their high weight (up to 20 kg) and low power, which does not allow them to reach speeds of more than 2800 rpm. For these reasons, such motors are rarely used in pendulum saws.

Brush motors are more compact and lighter in weight. They can reach speeds of up to 5-10 thousand revolutions per minute, but when the collector brushes are working, they create a certain level of noise. Such a motor requires periodic maintenance, consisting of replacing the brushes, but despite this, it is used in most models of miter saws.

Electric motors of the third type, valve, are the most modern and perfect device, which takes all the best qualities of asynchronous and commutator motors. Instead of a brush unit, they have an electronic unit that allows a high speed of rotation of the motor shaft to be achieved. But such motors are quite expensive, and are used only on high-quality miter saws of the highest price segment.

By the type of gearbox used, pendulum saws can be belt-driven or gear-driven. Of course, gears provide more reliable traction and better transmission of torque. But they create additional noise during operation, and in case of failure of the gear-type gearbox. difficult repairs in a specialized service will be required. At the same time, the belt can be easily replaced by yourself, and it works almost silently. Plus, the belt drive dampens disc vibrations and extends bearing life.

It is very important to stabilize the speed of the saw blade under load to obtain a high quality cut, especially in hardwoods and tough composites. For this, most modern miter saws have a special electronic unit. Electronics is widely used to create more comfortable working conditions with this tool, namely:

  • to ensure smooth engine start;
  • for its braking when the motor is turned off;
  • for various safety interlocks to ensure the safety of working on the cutting power tool.

The presence of electronics in different models gives them additional advantages, but also leads to an increase in the cost of the miter saw. The more functions this tool has in its design, the more convenient it is to work on it.

In recent years, broach miter saws have become increasingly popular. Two rods, on which the pendulum with the cutting head is attached, allows you to move the saw blade to produce a high-quality even cut in a wide material.

Pendulum saws also differ in the sizes and types of saw blades used. The main parameters of the saw blade are:

  • landing diameter;
  • outside diameter;
  • the number of teeth. the larger it is, the better the cut will be;
  • disc thickness;
  • maximum rotation speed.

All these parameters are printed on the disc itself, in a certain place. Cutting thinner workpieces (e.g. laminate) requires a disc with a larger number of teeth.

Miter saw with a broach. what is it, a device, what is it for, how to choose?

wood, miter, which, better

Carpentry work involves cutting various workpieces. In this case, all actions must be carried out with accuracy, observing a certain angle of inclination. A miter saw with a broach allows you to cope with this task.

What is a broach miter saw for??

The main task of the tool is to make an accurate straight or angular cut. The possibilities of using a miter saw with a broach are not limited, but it is more often used in finishing, furniture production and installing interior doors. Popular jobs that require the use of a broach saw:

  • laying skirting boards and baguettes;
  • the use of wooden blocks;
  • use of lining.

How to choose a feed-through miter saw?

Manufacturers offer a wide range of construction tools, so it is difficult to answer the question of which broach miter saw to choose. A number of parameters must be taken into account:

  • Security. It is important that the equipment is equipped with a lock function that protects against unwanted start-up.
  • Weight and size. For convenient work, it is better to give preference to small models that are comfortable to hold in your hands. Especially if the work is done at a high altitude.
  • Cutting depth of products. For high-quality work, face saws with a disc diameter of 20 cm or more are suitable.
  • Power. For domestic purposes, saws with a capacity of 1.6 kW are suitable. To perform professional work, choose equipment with a capacity of at least 1.8 kW.

Miter saw device with broach

Such a device has three main elements: a disc, a motor and a switching mechanism. Models may vary slightly in terms of configuration. Some of them are equipped with a collector motor, and others with an asynchronous motor. The first type of motors works better, but wears out quickly. An asynchronous motor lasts a long time, but it has less performance and is more expensive than a collector motor.

Attach the base of the saw on wood with a broach to the table. To increase work productivity, you can fix on two planks in parallel. The latter mounting method provides a more free operation of the disc. The saw comes with a frame. a round base, which is movable, but made of aluminum compounds.

What is a Feed Through Miter Saw?

The device is not universal as it is designed for corner cuts. The broaching miter saw is also called a pendulum saw. The main feature of the mechanism is the presence of a rotary module. It makes cutting material easier and more accurate. Stationary models can process boards, bars and slats with high precision. Less commonly, the tool is used when working with plates, laminate and MDF.

Which is the best miter saw with or without feed?

It all depends on the purpose for which the technique is used. The combination miter saw with broach is the optimum technique for industrial work. It is preferable to install it in enterprises and private workshops where work is carried out with a large number of thick sheets. The broach miter saw cuts through workpieces better than conventional saws. It is easier to handle materials containing synthetic components.

For a novice master for household needs, it is better to choose an ordinary miter saw. With its help, you can cut small pieces of high quality. A standard tool does not require special fixtures. All you need is a joiner’s table. The technique takes up less space in the workshop and is much cheaper than the one with trimming.

Feed Miter Saws Rating

Tools of this type are more expensive than standard tools. The best miter saws with a broach on wood, optimally meeting the criteria for “price-quality”:

  • Makita Drag Miter Saw. It has a powerful motor that protects the mechanism from overheating during operation. Models serve as long as possible (up to 15 years), even with careless handling. This is achieved thanks to the smooth running of the saw. The dust extraction system has a large bag, so the user does not need to take frequent breaks to clean the tool.
  • Miter saw Metabo with broach. The tool has special stops that allow you to quickly create grooves. It is able to handle large workpieces because it is securely fixed to the support units. Another benefit of the saw is the built-in light, which improves the visibility of the work area.
  • Miter saw with Bosch pull-through. The tool is completed with additional elements that provide it with a wide working area. The saw is equipped with a laser beam that cuts with a high level of precision. The design has an excellent degree of electrical insulation, so working with it is as safe as possible.

Miter saw base with broach, saw table and its turning angles.

The support part of the device is a thick-walled cast aluminum base with a high-quality milled surface. The cheapest models also have a massive, but plastic base with a stamped steel pad.
A marking scale is made in its front part. Numbers can be cast on the case or printed on a steel ruler.

In the lower part there are ebbs with holes for stationary rigid attachment to the workbench and supporting stops that increase the tool’s resistance to tipping.
When using a miter saw with a broaching function, the saw unit not only rises, falls, tilts, but also moves along the guides; the center of gravity is constantly changing.
Supports are arranged at the front to support the turntable clamping handle and at the rear. Can be made in one piece with the base and in the form of folding brackets.

Vertical stop.

Rectangular or trapezoidal element with one beveled part, which serves as a stop for the workpiece. It is implemented in two parts; often with length-guiding scales when sawing short workpieces or as a solid part of the base (budget versions).
On some devices, they slide along the grooves to the side to free up space for the rig when pushed.

Table extenders.

Serves for better positioning of long boards. On inexpensive angle cutters, they have a U-shape bent upwards, made of steel bar or tubes with a diameter of 8 to 12 mm.
For professional miter saws for wood, the end ends with an aluminum support or a steel profile, with a fine adjustment mechanism to form one plane with the work table.
They are inserted into the holes on the sides of the support and are fixed with a spring-loaded mechanism or threaded clamps. Easy to remove during transportation.

Workpiece clamping device.

Rigid fixation of the board avoids vibration transmitted from the bed, improves positioning accuracy and protects the worker.
It is carried out with clamps of various shapes and designs (threaded, stepped, hinged), acting vertically (to the base) or horizontally (to the stop).

Miter Saw Rotary Table.

By pulling back the spring-loaded handle of the angle lock, you can move the saw head horizontally to the left or right, which is rigidly connected to the rotary table. This means that when lowering, the rig will always hit and sink into the slots. The immersion depth in the groove can be adjusted with a stopper.
An elongated protrusion with such a slot, extending from the round section, for end faces with a broach is much longer 280-340 mm compared to 80-180 mm for a tool without such an opportunity.

Most angle saws rotate 45 ° to either side for facing. But there are models that have a maximum left / right shift: 47 ° / 47 °; 45 ° / 47 °; 47 ° / 60 °. Such small deviations from the “half perpendicular” serve to fit the timber and planks in place.
Fitting the moving parts of a good saw should ensure that a given angle is accurately repeatable, i.e. when scrolling the turntable and returning to the previous position, the cut angle will not differ.

Rotation is performed by unlocking the handle, or, in its absence, by unscrewing the locking screw and aligning the pointer with the scale readings. It is convenient when there are many fixed values: 5; ten; 15; 22.5; thirty; 35; 40; 45 degrees.

Crosscutting 305 mm with a broach Holzmann KAP 305JL

Combined miter saw 250mm Einhell Home TH-MS 2513 T

Miter saw 216mm JET JSMS-8L

Wood trimmer 305mm with broach Holzmann KAP 305ECO

Combi miter saw 254mm Scheppach MST254 KITY

Electric motor.

Most devices have a brushed motor. It is much smaller than asynchronous, with similar dimensions and weight, has a high torque and is able to develop 5000-6000 rpm. The disadvantages include increased operating noise and the need for maintenance.
An asynchronous electric motor is preferable, but rarely installed on miter saws. Its main drawback is weight. It is difficult to lift the saw unit with a motor over 10 kg.

The connection of the electric motor with the equipment can be carried out:

Directly.
The saw blade is mounted directly onto the shaft. The absence of contacting parts ensures high reliability of such a circuit and quiet operation. The disadvantages are: low, compared to other installation methods, torque and minimum cutting height. When inserting and tilting the saw unit, not only to the left, but also to the right, it will rest against the workpiece with its end part of the body, not allowing a deep cut at an angle.

Through straight gears.
This design allows you to raise the trimming motor higher, and when installing helical teeth, turn it as much as possible from the axis of attachment of the equipment.

Belting.
By using pulleys, you can significantly distance the motor from the blade and place it not on the right, but behind the saw unit. Belts, due to their elasticity, partially damp vibrations that occur when the fibers are cut, which in the case of a direct drive would affect the bearings. The elasticity of the connection softens the action of overload in the event of a jam. Belts will just slide over the pulleys.

Miter saw for wood 210mm Utool UMS-8

How the instrument works?

Stationary miter saws for wood are compact devices that are mounted on workbenches using screw fasteners. The bed of the workbench is cast, which ensures stability in the process of processing large workpieces. A massive base, a cutting head, an electric motor and a working handle are the elements that are equipped with stationary miter saws for wood. indicate that this tool, unlike a manual one, is not easy to operate and requires serious maintenance.

Where are the Japanese “trimmings” made??

Edging saws of this manufacturer are represented today by 350 types. They are produced in eight factories. Countries such as Romania, Great Britain and Germany are involved in the production of miter saws. There is one enterprise on the territory of these states. Five more factories are located in Japan.

Features of “trims” from various manufacturers

The cutting end of the miter saws from the manufacturer Hitachi is adapted for inclines of 30 and 15 degrees. This was a real discovery, since earlier the possibilities of “facing” were limited to 45 degrees.

Miter saws for wood: which one to choose? Manufacturer reviews

Miter saws for wood are an indispensable attribute of every carpentry and furniture workshop. Professionals involved in the manufacture of flooring, window frames and doorways appreciate the ability of this tool to cut at an angle. Now ordinary hacksaws are a thing of the past. Their place was taken by miter saws for wood. They have proven to be effective in particle coating applications. The equipment is used by both professional craftsmen-finishers and home craftsmen.

Today miter saws for wood are represented by a wide variety of models: they can be hand-held, stationary and combined (hybrid).

Professional machine Makita LS 1040

You can work with a 26 cm saw blade. This diameter is ideal for trimming flat workpieces with a width of 13 cm. At an angle of 45 degrees, the cutting depth is 67 mm, and at an angle of 95 mm, 95 mm. The assembly of the units of this miter saw is very high quality. The electrical product provides a broaching mechanism, which is highly appreciated by consumers working with wide wooden blanks.

Hybrid features

If the craftsman needs to cut or unfurl boards, the combined miter saws for wood will come in handy. Hybrid models are effective for light, routine jobs. The tool is equipped with a disc and a riving knife. If it is necessary to dissolve the board in the set, a special table for the workpiece is attached to the product. Hybrid saws are in great demand among the consumer who wants to acquire quality tools and at the same time save money.

According to many professional craftsmen, hybrid trimming models, in comparison with specialized ones, are much worse, since combined saws do not differ in high accuracy and reliability in operation. Therefore, the hybrid model cannot replace a power tool such as a specialized wood miter saw.

DIY wood miter saw

It is not difficult to make such a tool on your own, especially for those who love and know how to craft. For work you will need:

  • an “angle grinder” engine, the power of which is 2.2 kW, the number of revolutions is 2800 per minute;
  • steel sheet;
  • corner;
  • welding machine;
  • set of files.

The manufacturing process consists of the following steps:

  • Make a bed. It is necessary because the future trimming is a rather heavy tool.
  • A metal corner and racks from an iron bed are well suited for the bed.
  • Use a sheet of steel to make a work surface. Its edges should be processed using a file.
  • Build a pendulum saw stand. It is welded from a channel.
  • Place the stand on a metal sheet. Its height should be 800 mm.
  • Install the electric motor on a special stand that moves on hinges.
  • Adapt the box. It is necessary for protection against swarf.

Circular saw or miter saw. which one to choose?

You want to make a nice table to match your couch, but can’t decide between a miter saw and a circular saw?

Don’t worry, read our comparison guide to find out all the differences between these two saws and decide which one is the best for your task.

Some people think that one of them is better than the other, others that there is not much difference between them, and one can replace one saw with another. Yet each of them has its own characteristics and it is better to use the saw exactly for its intended purpose.

So let’s first take a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages of both types of saws.

Miter saw

What is a miter saw?
Cross-cut is a tool for precise, mainly cross-cutting, cutting of a workpiece. Most miter saws are small and portable. Unlike stationary miter saws, you can pull it out and set it on a temporary base by placing a drop mechanism (sometimes called a drip mechanism) over your workpiece. Blade sizes most commonly used for miter saws range from 8 “to 12” (20-30 cm).

What is a miter saw used for??
You can use it to create cross cuts on a workpiece in one quick motion. But more importantly, you can do it at your chosen angle. It is the best choice when you need to cut planks and moldings.

Should You Buy A Miter Saw? Beginner Woodworker’s guide

pros
The miter saw is useful when you need precise cross-cuts in your workpieces. This saw is also a great option for miter cuts.
This is one of the main competitive advantages of this saw over other types of saws. Importantly, the miter saw is one of the safest.

Minuses
Despite all the advantages, a miter saw is useless when you are about to cut large workpieces. While it is the best choice for cross-sections, trimming can be ineffective with long cuts (over 15 centimeters).
Miter saws are more of a luxury than a necessity.

A circular saw

Also called circular saw, this saw is equipped with a toothed or abrasive disc that allows you to cut various materials in a rotating motion, moving around an axis.

What is a circular saw used for?
The circular saw is commonly used in a variety of woodworking projects. However, the cutting tasks depend to a large extent on the type of blade that is mounted on the circular saw. This saw can be produced for both left and right hand. During operation, the circular is largely based on the part of the structure in which the engine is located.

pros
Circular saws are very compact, making them easy to move. Usually, you transfer the circular saw to the workpiece, and conversely, in the case of miter saws, you take the material where the saw is already installed.
These saws are capable of making long rip cuts.
Minuses
This type of saw is much more difficult to use than a miter saw. A circular saw requires more skill and a lot of experience is required to use it.
From a safety standpoint, a miter saw is a better choice than a circular.