Miter and Bevel
These terms and very common when making cuts with saws, but a lot of people don't actually understand what they refer to. Miter and bevel are the two types of tilt or rotation you can set when making a cut with a saw. A compound cut encompasses both a miter and a bevel.
The easiest way to describe the difference between bevel and miter adjustments is using the Miter Saw as an example. A Miter saw has a horizontal table under the blade and a vertical fence behind the blade. You Lay your material on the table and push it against the fence to cut. A Miter adjustment will be make by rotating the table and the entire saw, but the fence will stay still. The miter angle is measured from the fence to the blade, making an angle on the horizontal plane.
Bevel is the opposite. When you adjust the bevel on a chop saw, the table and fence do not move. Instead just the arm and blade will tilt. This will change the angle between the table and the blade. This rotation of the vertical plane is called bevel.
A circular saw only has a bevel adjustment because the miter is done by simply cutting at an angle to your lumber.
Tool Basics
The easiest way to describe the difference between bevel and miter adjustments is using the Miter Saw as an example. A Miter saw has a horizontal table under the blade and a vertical fence behind the blade. You Lay your material on the table and push it against the fence to cut. A Miter adjustment will be make by rotating the table and the entire saw, but the fence will stay still. The miter angle is measured from the fence to the blade, making an angle on the horizontal plane.
Bevel is the opposite. When you adjust the bevel on a chop saw, the table and fence do not move. Instead just the arm and blade will tilt. This will change the angle between the table and the blade. This rotation of the vertical plane is called bevel.
A circular saw only has a bevel adjustment because the miter is done by simply cutting at an angle to your lumber.
Tool Basics