Miter Saw ReviewDouble vs. Single Bevel
- For the Homeowner -
For the homeowner or craftsman, you don't need a double bevel. If you are going to do crown moulding or even a lot of baseboard you might think about it, but double miter saws can cost a lot more and really do nothing a single miter can't. And unless you are working with 16' or longer lumber rotating it really isn't that hard.
- For the Professional -
Even as a professional a double miter is really not necessary. I personally do have one because I do a lot of trim work and decks. For decks you'll sometimes have very large framing members. I'm talking at least 16' 2x8s - 2x12s. Pulling these boards off the lumber pile and rotating them is not very efficient and not easy. Also you need a lot of room to maneuver your lumber, which you wont always have. In these situations, having the double bevel is a life saver. Plus you'll work so much faster and make less mistakes. If efficiency is key and you work in a lot of confined spaces then I would get the double bevel. I do know handymen that have single bevel saws, but for a professional carpenter I recommend the double.
Blade Size and Sliding vs Non-SlidingWeather you are a professional or a homeowner, this is choice to make based on the work you will be doing. For most jobs a 10" miter saw is plenty (non-sliding). With a 10" blade you can cut a 2 by 6 at 90 degrees and a 2 by 4 at 45 degrees. With a 12" you can cut a 2 by 8 at 90 degrees and a 2 by 6 at 45 degrees. With sliding Miters you can cut up to 2x16, with most models.
Now that you understand the basics of picking a blade size we'll get into sliding miter saws specifically. If you are only cutting 2 by's or thinner they do sell smaller miter saws that have the blade size of a circular saw (7 1/4"). Since it slides you'll still be able to cut wide material and you save a lot of money on blades. The larger the blade the more expensive and you'll need a couple different tooth counts for different work. The other bonus is when you slide the blade it negates "low points" in your cut. Since the blade is circular it doesn't cut to one depth the whole width. Sometimes you want to make partial cuts through your lumber. With a slider miter saw you can set your depth and slide the saw the width of your material to get an even partial cut. Homeowner & Professional Recommendations- For the Homeowner -
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- Top of The Line -
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This saw is amazing. The best thing to happen to Miter Saws since they started sliding. The glide system makes it so you can place this saw right up against a wall. You can't do this with most sliding miter saws, since they have poles sticking out the back. This saw has everything and is definitely the best Miter Saw on the market. There is one big con and that's the price. Being the best also makes it the most expensive. My runner up is the Dewalt 12" double bevel below. The Dewalt 12" Sliding Miter Saw is the one I personally use day to day.
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