Mitre Saws (24)

Cut lumber to the length and angle you need with a mitre saw. More flexible than a fixed table saw, this tool is useful for making both straight and angled cuts. That makes power mitre saw tools ideal for creating door jambs, window trim, and other pieces that join at corners. With the right mitre saw accessories, such as portable stands,= you can even take this tool from the workshop to the job site.

---

Mitre saws cut lumber to the required length. They’re ideal for use on flooring trim or crown molding, as you can adjust the angle of the cut for corner pieces. Mitre saw tools can also cut tile and other materials when equipped with tile and paver saw blades.

For increased functionality, look for a compound model. A compound mitre saw allows users to angle the blade for beveled cuts. This is useful for making joins in trim pieces that meet at a corner. A double compound mitre saw can bevel in either direction, which means you don’t have to flip your cut piece over to get certain angles. Normally, a mitre saw only cuts a piece of wood that’s as wide as the width of the blade. A sliding mitre saw can work with wider pieces by making the cut and sliding the blade forward.

Accessories like positive stops are notches set at marked angles, such as 45 degrees. They keep the power mitre saw blade fixed so users can make repeated cuts without having to align the blade after every use. Depth stops are similar to angle stops, but they allow users to set the depth of the cut to score a board. Some mitre saws also come with a laser that projects onto the lumber. Using this feature you know exactly where the blade is going to land, so cut lines up just right with measurement markings.

As far as mechanics go, the higher the amperage on a power mitre saw, the more powerful the motor. This provides cuts that are faster and more consistent. Some saws are set up to accept larger blades. The larger the blade, the longer a cut can be made. A good rule of thumb is to get the largest mitre saw that fits the workshop space.