Best Miter Saw 2020 Reviews | Top 5 Sliding & Compound Miter Saws

Miter saws are some of those important power tools that any modern carpenter or DIYer should have in their workshops. Miter saws may not be the most versatile of saws around but they are efficient tools when they are used for their intended functions. As that suave woodworker who produces various wooden products in varied styles that require the ability to make cuts at different angles, a good miter saw is your best answer. 

With so many different brands that make various types of miter saws, how can you choose the right one that is perfect for your unique needs? You have to do your due diligence of looking at your needs and researching the various types of brands that will perfectly suit your needs. This is what we are going to help you do in this comprehensive guide of the best miter saws of 2020.

 

Top 5 Miter Saw

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1. DEWALT Sliding Compound Miter Saw (DWS779)

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The Dewalt sliding 12-inch compound milter saw is the best one if you’re looking for a perfect saw at a moderate price. This product has got a powerful 15 Amperes 3 Hp motor which runs at 800 RPM. This motor helps the saw to work efficiently. It has also got an exclusive back fence design that can cut 2×16 material at 90 degrees and 2×12 material at 45 degrees. 

This saw contains a super dust collector system that collects around 75% of the dust that has been formed while cutting any material. The saw can cut up to 6.75 inches of thickness. The blade of the saw can be adjusted in different positions for better accuracy and visibility. It also contains dual horizontal steel rails for extra comfort while usage. This product is currently on sale and it has also got a 3 year extended warranty.

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  • Saw Dimensions: 2 x 23 x 18.5 inches
  • Motor Speed: 800 RPM
  • Warranty Period: 3 Year Limited

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  • A dust collector is provided which collects 75% of the dust
  • Easy usage
  • Milter Saw and Blade Wrench are provided

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  • None

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2. Metabo HPT Compound Miter Saw

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The Metabo HPT Compound Milter Saw is 10 Inch in length and the motor can get up to 15 Amp with a huge speed of 5000 RPM. This product has the same tools as Hitachi have but just got a different name. The milter angle of the saw ranges from 0°-52 and the bevel range from 0-45.

The saw has got a larger table for the best material support, also contains carbon brush access to just replace the brush to prolong the life of the tool. It is light-weight and designed exclusively for those woodworkers who aim for precision, reliability, and versatility while working. Along with the saw, you also get a holder, Blades, Dust bag, vise assembly, and a bar wrench.

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  • Product Dimensions: 20.1 x 15.3 x 14.2 inches
  • Motor Speed and capacity: 5000 RPM, 120 Volts, 15Amp
  • Warranty Period: 5 years

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  • Milter Angle ranges from 0-45 for easy usage.
  • Contains a large table for best support
  • comes with a Saw Blade, Dust Bag, and bar wrench too

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  • Hazardous
  • Weak bearings

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3. Bosch Power Tools GCM12SD

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The 12 inch Bosch Power corded dual-bevel milter saw is the better one as it has extended cutting capacity and is also easy to use. This saw has got 15 Amp of maximum current, 120Volts power. The Axial gliding system provides wider cross-cuts that offer unmatched smoothness while usage. The Bosch GCM12SD provides different and easy adjustments and collects 90% of dust which is formed while usage.

The square lock on the saw releases the fence at 90 degrees to the table. the saw has 14 inches horizontal, 6half vertical and other 6 half-crown capacity. It has a clear lower guard, and a soft trigger handle. The electric cord acts as a power source while usage.

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  • 1 Year Warranty
  • Saw Dimensions: 33.2 x 26.5 x 22.8 inches
  • Motor power: 15 AMP, 120 Volts
  • Color: Blue

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  • Axial Glide System for a better cut.
  • 90% of the is collected
  • Easily adjustable

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  • It cannot produce straight easily
  • Inaccurate while usage

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4. DEWALT 12-Inch Miter Saw (DWS715)

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This saw is the same as Dewalt DWS779 as we already showed above. but this has got slightly different features compared to that one. while both have the same motor specifications, we will show differences between the two saws. This saw is a 12 inch, single bevel compound with 15AMP maximum current. This saw is more powerful as the motor runs with 4000 RPM. It contains a milter Detent plate which makes the cutting easy with better accuracy. It also has an adjustable stainless steel plate with around 14 types of adjustments.

The cross-cut capacity has up to 2×8 inches at 90 degrees. This saw has a machined base type of fence that is kept perpendicular to the blade of the saw. Along with the saw, you can also get a carbide blade, dust bag, blade wrench, vertical clamp, and comfortable side handles.

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  • Saw Dimensions: 26.8 x 21.9 x 18.9 inches
  • Motor Speed: 4000 RPM
  • Power Source: Electric

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  • Easy and comfortable usage
  • A Wrench, dustbag, and a vertical clamp are provided
  • Low cost when compared to other products

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  • No information about the warranty of the product

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5. Delta Power Equipment Milter Saw

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The 10 inch Delta Milter Saw is a different one compared to the previous saws. It is very cheap, Light Weight and it is easy to move from room to room. This one is so simple that it works with almost every milter saw stands. It consists of a spindle lock that holds the spindle when the bade nut is loosened. The saw can cut nominal 4×4 and 2×6 at 90 degrees. The motor has 120 Volts of maximum voltage, 1800 Watts of power.

The saw contains laser with on/off switch. It makes the blade to work more easily. This one is more convenient for you as it can be worked virtually with all milter stands as already said. This saw is not electric powered and is battery powered. The blade runs with around 5500 RPM.

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  • Saw Dimensions: 14.5 x 17.5 x 22.1 inches
  • Warranty Period: 3 Years
  • Blade Speed: 5500 RPM

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  • Dependable and Versatile
  • Powerful
  • Consists of a Laser with on/off switch
  • Very Cheap

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  • Material is Plastic

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Buying Guide: Miter Saw

Unlike the ordinary saw, the miter saw has an oscillating swing arm that can be adjusted to aim its blade either right or left for a desired angled cut. It is the perfect woodworking tool that is ideal for any woodworker who is keen on making flawlessly straight splinter-free cuts. Miter saw will come in handy for you if you need to cut things such as door frames, crown molding, window casing and also picture frames.

There are three main types of miter saws that are available for you to choose from. All of them typically have a blade that pivots on a given axis to make cuts on varied angles. However, different models come with varied features depending on the specific needs of the user.

 

Reasons for you to opt for a miter saw

As is already mentioned above, miter saws may not be the best saws around, but they can offer you some of the best cuts ever! If you need to make quick crosscuts or miter cuts, a miter saw will suffice for you. If you are that woodworker who works with a significant amount of material then you are better off using a miter saw.

Ideally, miter saws are great for starting when cutting a piece of wood down to the required angle or size before reverting to other kinds of saws that help to refine the piece more. It doesn’t matter whether you are a do-it-yourselfer or that professional. You stand to benefit greatly from the versatility offered by the tools.

With a miter saw you can easily cut wooden wall studs, piping, roof material and much more. Of course, the most popular use of miter saws is making those angled cuts on workpieces going downwards at a straight angle. Thanks to miter saws, you can easily use them to make frames or any other structure that needs to be linked at 90-degrees angles on both ends.

Of course, most of the tasks that you will do a miter saw involve finishing workpieces. They are also ideal for making those initial cuts needed on a piece but there are times when they will be all you may need to perform a particular task. 

 

Things to keep in mind when choosing a miter saw to buy

Being aware of what you need to look out for in a miter saw will make it much easier for you to make the right buying decision. There are various features and specifications that you need to know beforehand to make an informed and right buying decision. The various kinds of miter saws available:

 

  • The Compound Miter Saws – these are designed to cut various angles and they can easily tilt to the left direction to cut a bevel. The head and blade of this type of miter saw can rotate to the side. This is particularly useful for you when you need to make cuts at two different angles as in the case of installing crown molding. 
  • The Dual-bevel Compound Miter Saws – they are the same with the compound miter saws only that they tilt both left and right enabling you to cut bevels and any angle without having to flip the board you are working on around. This may seem like a minor advantage although it helps to make sure that you are cutting a little faster and accurately.
  • Sliding Compound Miter Saws – sliding miter saws have a sliding feature that allows them to slide back and forth. Thanks to the movable blade, they can cut wider pieces of wood. With this kind of miter saw, you have a very wide range of cutting options for the larger workpieces you come across. The sliding feature of the saw can sometimes double the cutting size of the blade.

 

Sliding miter saws are also regarded as compound and will offer you the widest range of cutting in terms of angles, sizes, and bevels. You should consider buying the sliding miter saw if you will be working on larger workpieces.

 

The 10-Inch VS the 12-Inch blade miter saw

There are two major variants of miter saws that you will get and they feature the 10-inch and the 12-inch blades and their usages and benefits are discussed below:

Professional contractors are well suited for 12-inch double bevel sliding compound miter saws. They are powerful and perform heavy-duty tasks that are typical of professional woodworkers in the industry. 12-inch miter saws besides being powerful and well-suited for heavy-duty sawing tasks are also expensive and costly to maintain. 

If you are just a DIYer looking for a simple miter saw that will get your light sawing needs to be done well, a 10-inch sliding compound miter saw is your best match. They have powerful motors rated at 15-amps but will cost you less to buy and maintain. They also feature interchangeable saw blades.

 

Safety features to look at when choosing a Miter Saw

You should always be very keen when looking at the safety features of any given miter saw that you wish to buy. There are three main safety feature options in most of the miter saws available in the markets today. 

Here are the three main safety features:

 

The blade guard protection

 

A good miter saw should have the added security feature such as blade protection that ensures that the risk of an accident is kept at a minimum. It is important to note that not all blade guard safety feature comes in the same package. A good blade guard is that which should encapsulate the saw’s blade halfway allowing only the cutting section to do its work flawlessly.

Trigger-like power button

The trigger-like power button is usually located just under the handle of the miter saw. By pressing down on the power button you get the tool activated. When you let go of the trigger-like power button the tool is turned off. This feature helps to ensure that the saw is only turned on when needed by the user and therefore cannot accidentally be activated.

 

Electric brake

 

Electric brake feature is yet another common safety feature on some miter saws but not available in every tool. This kind of brake works by activating itself as soon as the trigger button is let to turn off the tool. This helps to stop the fast-moving blade in less than 3 seconds. For your safety, it is advisable to choose a miter saw that has an electric brake.

 

Added convenience feature on some Miter Saws

There are different options of miter saws that you can buy and some come with extra features that make them easier and more convenient to use.

 

  • Dust collection system – One of the most striking and sought after feature is the dust collection system. Of course, this comes in various forms that may range from a bag that’s held to the saw where sawdust blows out of the tool. This feature helps to keep the mess that usually stems from using a saw to the minimal. 
  • LED Lights and Laser guides – Certain miter saws come with LED lights and laser guides. A miter saw that has LED light can brighten up your work surface and let you see more effectively especially in dark places. A laser guide helps to project a clear beam across the workpiece from your saw area so you can determine exactly where the cut is going to be before lowering the saw blade down on to your workpiece. Lasers come in handy when using sliding compound saws because they greatly enhance accuracy.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do you need a miter saw?

There are several reasons for any woodworker to want to use a miter saw. One of them is the fact that they help give an immaculate custom trim that can’t be achieved with ordinary saws.

I’m a DIYer, which variant of miter say should I opt for 10-inch or 12-inch?

If you are a do-it-yourself woodworker looking for a miter saw, it is advisable to opt for the 10-inch variant. This is because they are designed for light duties that are typical in domestic usages and are also less expensive compared to the 12-inch variants. 

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