Miter saw: how to choose a wood miter saw?

The owner of a carpentry and furniture workshop must have many different tools to effectively carry out woodworking operations. Among other tools, he should also have wood miter saws. Specialists who are directly involved in the production of flooring, window frames and doorways are well acquainted with their capabilities. According to them, this is the optimal solution for sawing parts at an angle.

Today it is increasingly rare to find ordinary hacksaws in the arsenal of specialists. Miter saws are now used instead. The main reason for their such high popularity is due to their high efficiency in working with chip coatings. Moreover, these devices are actively used not only by professional finishing craftsmen, but also by home craftsmen.

Miter saws not only have a lot of useful properties, but also come in a wide variety of options. Their main varieties are manual, stationary and combined models.

Tool structure

Miter saws are small devices that are rigidly mounted on workbenches using screw fasteners. The workbench frame has a cast construction and maintains the stability of the equipment when processing large workpieces. As part of a stationary wood trimming machine, you can find such mandatory elements as a handle, an electric motor, a cutting head and a solid base. Based on reviews from owners, this tool requires certain skills to effectively solve emerging problems, and also requires careful maintenance.

Characteristic versions of the mechanism

The principle of mobility of cutting units in single-saw machines is implemented by the following types of structures:

• Straightforward. The block moves on a rigid horizontal console, the height of which can be adjusted;
• Pendulum (PME). The location of the disk assembly on the suspensions allows it to move in an arc, lowering and rising;
• Balanced. The saw is located under the table, the knife is raised by pressing the pedal. Number of lifts 10 – 12 per minute;
• Stationary. The workpiece is fed to a fixed rotating wood knife.

Multi-saw installations include trimmers and slashers. On double-sided cross-cutting machines, the side and top sides of a wooden part are processed in one pass.

Pendulum type

Industrial CME (pendulum cross-cutting machine) has the following characteristic features:

• manual or pneumatic feed of the cutting unit;
• mechanized supply of parts;
• adjusting the length of the workpiece by installing stops;
• pneumatic clamp;
• electrodynamic braking.

The design of the manual feed of the DME disk works by ensuring a return to its original position under the influence of a counterweight.

The large radius of the CME installation increases the possible width of sawn timber trimming.

The suspended type of fastening makes it convenient to use the TsME machine in cutting production.

Straight stroke

Serial production of parts of a given size is carried out by a cross-cutting machine with several saw units. The distance between the disks on the wood corresponds to the required size. The lumber is pushed along a bed with rollers onto saws that cut it to size. In one shift, machines of this type process several dozen cubes of wood.

Cross-cutting machine with two saw carriages

Productivity and the accuracy of the angle between the edges of the timber are increased on double-sided equipment for trimming wood.

Purpose

Miter saws are used primarily for operations such as cutting and trimming boards. Effective use of the tool is possible only if you use a sawing disk of a certain diameter, which should be selected taking into account the size of the parts being processed. For cross-cutting machines intended for home use, it is best to purchase a disk with a diameter of 20 cm. Universal models that use 25 cm circles are also a good solution

Hand-held miter saws are highly specialized tools. It is not suitable for unraveling boards. It is much more effective to use it to create short cuts. Devices of this type allow you to effortlessly trim the ends of boards or cut them at a certain angle. As can be judged by numerous reviews from owners, this tool can cope with the most complex wood operations. There are models that are equipped with special broaching mechanisms. The main purpose of such equipment is cutting wide workpieces .

Functions of hybrid models

Sometimes situations arise when it is necessary to trim or unravel boards. For such purposes, it is best to use combination cutting saws. Hybrid versions of the tool do an excellent job with simple standard work. Their main working elements are a cutting disc and a riving knife.

In order to unravel boards using this tool, the tool kit includes a special table for the workpiece being processed. Hybrid saws are very popular among consumers who want to purchase a quality woodworking machine at a low price.

According to professional craftsmen, hybrid models of trimmers cannot compete on equal terms with specialized ones, since they are not able to provide high processing accuracy and cannot be called sufficiently reliable.

Therefore, the hybrid model will not be suitable for owners who are looking for an inexpensive alternative to specialized wood cutting saws.

How to choose the right trimmer

Choosing a suitable model that suits the purpose of use is not so easy. When studying various models, you just need to follow a number of simple rules:

• Before you go to the store, find out why you need a wood trimmer and under what conditions it will be used.
• Be especially careful when selecting saw blades. For rough cuts, it is best to choose discs with large teeth. Fine-toothed blades are good if you want to make finishing cuts.
• The tool you purchase must be safe. Therefore, we advise you to give preference only to those models that are equipped with a special protective casing.
• If you want to get a mobile miter saw for wood, then you should look for a suitable model among the line of small-sized and lightweight devices.
• An important characteristic to consider when choosing a machine is the ergonomics of the saw. We are talking about parameters such as power and disk rotation speed. For domestic use, models with low power are best suited. But you don’t have to pay much attention to the disk rotation speed, since it is the same for all models.

Equipment characteristics

It is necessary to calculate all the characteristics that a cross-cutting machine for wood processing should have. They directly depend on the dimensions of the workpiece, its configuration and the requirements for the quality of facing.

First of all, you need to find out the required cutting depth and processing speed. A desktop model is suitable for home use. Large machines used in production have several cutting units and some additional functions.

However, regardless of the design features, the cross-cutting machine has the following technical parameters:

• maximum and minimum saw blade size. This parameter is responsible for the cutting depth and dimensions of future equipment
• distance from the end of the saw blade to the work table
• dimensions of the rotary block, if it is provided for by the design of the machine
• main drive motor power level
• number of revolutions and the possibility of changing them.

To connect the chip vacuum cleaner you need to know exactly the cross-section of the supply pipe. If its size is non-standard, then you can use adapters. For even more reliable fixation of the boards, you can use additional components - clamps. Their design and configuration directly depend on the dimensions of the workpiece.

Popular miter saw manufacturers

Despite the wide variety of cross-cutting machines presented, among them we can highlight the products of manufacturers that are most popular among consumers. We are talking about companies such as Bosch, Metabo, Hitachi, DeWalt and Makita. In addition to them, many interesting solutions can be found in the line.

Professional unit Makita LS 1040

Many owners of this cutting machine call it a very effective tool for making precise and clean cuts. Among the distinctive features, high power levels (1650 W) and speed, which is 4600 rpm, should be highlighted. Woodworking equipment meets all safety standards, which is greatly facilitated by the presence of a protective casing made of transparent plastic.

As follows from the reviews, many owners have been using such trimmers for many years and do not complain about a decrease in their quality characteristics. This model is also suitable for those who are looking for a mobile version of a woodworking tool, because it is small in size and weighs no more than 11 kg.

The model is designed to work with a disk with a diameter of 26 cm. This is the ideal value for the consumable to effectively trim flat workpieces with a width of 13 cm. When using the tool at an angle of 45 degrees, you can make cuts up to 67 mm deep, and when using a straight line - 95 mm. Many users note the high level of quality of the working components of this saw model. The unit is equipped with a broaching mechanism, which was positively noted by users who are forced to work with wide wooden workpieces.

Features of trims from various manufacturers

One of the features of the miter saws produced by Makita is the small cutting width . All models are supplied with a broaching mechanism. These trimmers are equipped with two special rods to securely hold the block. One of the popular models, LS 0714, has exactly this design. LF 1000 saws are ideal for processing large parts; they come with auxiliary supports that greatly simplify the operation process.

The Bosch product range also includes many models of miter saws with broaching for wood, equipped with auxiliary supports and frames, which are made of aluminum and magnesium alloys. Many owners find this solution to be correct, as it increases the strength and mobility of the crosscuts. One of the manufacturer’s popular models is the GCM 10 cross-cutting machine, the operating weight of which is 15 kg.

Sawing devices produced by the Corvette company are equipped with a special mechanism for longitudinal broaching. Among other structural elements there is a special laser pointer. Users praised this innovation, which increases the accuracy of cuts.

What differentiates Dewalt's solutions from its competitors is its XPS system. A similar mechanism can also be found in the crosscut saws from the Corvette company, but the device introduced by Dewalt has an offset function with a shadow that is projected from the saw blade. Many consumers call this system very convenient due to increased cutting accuracy.

Products manufactured by Hitachi are equipped with working blades that are ideal for making cuts at an angle of 30 and 15 degrees. Previously, no one had produced such trimmers on the market, since all previously offered devices could only work at a standard angle of 45 degrees.

Cutting saws from Metabo have rotating and tilting saw blades. Consumers are generally satisfied with the trimmers produced, calling them easy to use.

Where are Japanese trimmers made?

The line of pruning saws from this manufacturer includes about 450 different types of devices. They are produced by 8 enterprises. Enterprises located in Germany, Great Britain and Romania are involved in the production of trims. There is one plant in each of these countries. There are also 5 additional factories located in Japan.

Design

A homemade and industrial cross-cutting machine has the following components:

• Table. Located on a stable support frame. The design allows the use of rotating, positioning mechanisms of the working plane to make cuts of complex configurations;
• Saw unit. The wood-cutting disk is mounted on a shaft, connected through a drive to an electric motor, and the unit is assembled as a monoblock. There can be 2 or more of them on the machine (trimming several sides of logs at the same time);
• Mechanism for moving the saw unit. There are varying degrees of complexity and principles of operation: from a bracket with springs and shock absorbers to hydraulics or pneumatics. The functionality is expanded by the presence of a rotating mechanism, which allows you to set the circular knife at an angle to the workpiece;

Depending on the model (pass-through, automated), a wood cross-cutting machine includes various auxiliary devices, fixtures, programmable actuators, and a chip removal system. In large and medium-sized furniture production, it is more profitable to use an automatic cross-cutting machine for serial processing of materials.

Common parameters

Each woodworking machine for trimming has the following general characteristics:

• electric motor power;
• number of revolutions of the saw shaft (indicating the possibility of adjustment);
• ø limits of the wood blade used;
• rotation angles of the saw unit;
• the height of the edge of the knife teeth above the table level.

Cutting different types of wood does not require the use of a universal blade. Materials of different hardness and structure are cut with high quality saws with different numbers of teeth in the circumference of the disc.

Cross-cutting machine TsPA-40

DIY wood cutting saw

If the owner needs a high-performance tool for opening and trimming boards for home use and needs to save money, then you can consider making it yourself. First of all, those craftsmen who have considerable experience in this matter and good training should think about this. First of all, you need to prepare the necessary tools for the job:

• set of files;
• welding machine;
• corner;
• steel sheet;
• an angle grinder engine with a power of at least 2.2 kW, operating at a speed of 2800 rpm.

To create a cutting machine, you need to complete a number of steps:

• The work process begins with the manufacture of the bed. There is no way to do without it, since a cross-cut machine is a very cumbersome tool.
• As a basis for the bed, you can use a metal corner and racks from an iron bed.
• You need to make a working base from a steel sheet. Using a file, you need to process its edges.
• For the future saw you will need a pendulum stand, for the manufacture of which a channel is used.
• The finished rack must be installed on a steel sheet. Moreover, it is important to choose the right height, which should be 800 mm.
• The electric motor is installed on a special stand, which will move using hinges.
• Finally, all that remains is to attach a box to the homemade cutting saw, which will protect the master from chips.

The main working unit of the cutting machine is the sawing disk, which should have a diameter of 42 cm . As users of homemade cutting saws note , this is a great opportunity to save on purchasing a branded tool, which is often more expensive than a home-made device.

Advantages and disadvantages of homemade machines

A circular saw, even one created by yourself, can cut not only wood, but also plastic, aluminum and even alloys based on non-ferrous metals. The main advantages of such equipment include:

• no need for large investments
• low cost of components for saw assembly
• you can personally think through the design parameters of both the machine itself and the desktop for it
• independent choice of tool rotation speed
• If you assemble it yourself, repair and dismantling will not be difficult, because you know how everything works.

Among the minuses we highlight:

• some design details may not be of the best quality
• there is no factory warranty, so it is not known how long the homemade device will work
• low level of performance in comparison with factory analogues. It is quite difficult to create a high-quality tool with high power from scrap materials; the most accurate selection of components
• You must have good knowledge of electric motors and other mechanical devices
• even having the same characteristics with the factory model, a homemade machine will be less functional
• security level. Unfortunately, craftsmen rarely create a high level of safety for their devices, as a result of which working on homemade devices can be dangerous. Factory options are preferable in this regard.

Technical characteristics of the cross-cutting machine M-35

Summing up

A wood miter saw is one of the most popular tools not only in industry, but also in households. However, it is important to understand that it belongs to a class of highly specialized equipment that is ideal for performing operations such as trimming and unraveling boards. Therefore, it is not advisable to use it to perform other tasks.

When choosing this equipment for a home workshop, you need to remember not only the purpose of using the cutting saw, but also the operating conditions. All this will further help you choose the right saw blade in order to perform operations on processing wood products most efficiently and with less time.

Miter saw