When it comes to upgrading tool collections, the bigger stuff often gets overlooked. Partly due to price, partly due to size, but for the highest quality results out of your home workstation, the bigger machinery is worth investing in.
For precision cutting with multi-angle capabilities, you’ll want to pick up a mitre saw. These stationary saws use a single rotating blade that lowers onto the material to make a sharp and precise cut.
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About mitre saws
A mitre saw can make several different cuts, including:
Mitre Cuts – An angled cut covering the face of a wooden plank from the front to the back, creating a triangle-like shape. Using the guide on a mitre saw, the angle of the cut can first be carefully measured before the blade is lowered.
Bevel Cuts - Bevel cuts are often compared and confused with mitre cuts. Like a mitre cut, a bevel cut slices through the material at an angle, but instead of across the face of a wooden board, it cuts through the third plane by adjusting the vertical angle through the bevel. Bevel cuts are often used to eliminate sharp edges or for photo frames.
Cross Cut – A cross-cut is the simplest job on a mitre saw. A cross-cut is a simple straight cut that aligns perpendicular to the grain of the wood direction. Conversely, a rip cut does the same job only it’s parallel to the wood grain.
Mitre saws come in different shapes and sizes with different capabilities across a broad price range. Here are a few of our favourites to help you get started.
Want to expand your tool collection further? Check out our lists ofthe best tools for DIY and the best cordless drills.
For a quality item in the middle of the mitre saw price range, this offering from Bosch would make a great choice. Equipped with a 1400W motor, this saw has a 270mm cutting capacity with a lower gauge lock-out button on the vertical handle to suit either right or left-handed operators.
With no load, the blade is capable of 5500 RPM with a diameter of 216mm and a 45° mitre cutting capacity.
Pros:
• Solid quality product from an established brand
Cons:
• More powerful saws available for less money
www.screwfix.com
This mitre saw from Titan is another solid piece to upgrade your workshop. Featuring a 48-tooth TCT blade with a max speed of 5000 RPM, this saw can cut through heavy-duty material with ease and impressive pace.
The saw is fully adjustable with five pre-set mitre stops as well as a 45° bevel swing for the perfect bevel cuts.
Complete with a dust bag and an electronic brake, this is a great quality saw for a great price.
Pros:
• Great price for a powerful and capable machine
• Lots of extras including dust bag and electronic brake
Cons:
• None
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This battery-powered mitre saw from DeWalt is another high-quality item at the higher end of the price range, for precise cuts over a long service life. The mitre angle adjustment mechanism of this saw has a mitre arc between 0 and 60° right and 0 and 50° left, as well as bevel angle detents.
This saw is battery-powered for great portability, with 250 cuts per charge on the battery. At max power, this saw will provide 3750 RPM – simulating the feel of a cordless mitre saw. This saw can also be purchased with another lithium-ion battery with great electric capabilities and no memory effect.
Pros:
• High-quality item with plenty of gadgets for a clean cut
• Battery powered for improved portability
Cons:
• Very expensive
www.diy.com
If you’re looking for an affordable option to kit out your workshop, this mitre saw from Mac Allister packs a great punch for a small price. With a 1500W motor it may not be as powerful as some of its competitors, but still has an impressive no-load speed of 5000RPM, as well as a 45° bevel and metre arc for precise and detailed cutting.
Pros:
• Very affordable price
Cons:
• Not as powerful as others on the market
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www.toolstation.com
Draper is a by-word for quality in the tool trade, and this 255mm sliding compound mitre saw is no exception. The pull saw is lowered with a ‘D’ handle for comfort, precision and accuracy when cutting. As well as a laser beam cutting guide, solid aluminium base and 1800W power output, this saw also comes with an integral dust extraction outlet and bag for your convenience.
Pros:
• Plenty of extras to improve the cutting experience
• Decent price for a great item
Cons:
• None
When operating potentially dangerous machinery, it’s vitally important to consider a few safety precautions, so as to minimise the risk of injury.
• If anything beneath the blade needs adjusting, it’s worth unplugging or removing the battery of the saw first. Many saws come with safety catches to avoid accidents, but for as an extra precaution, unplugging the device will negate any risk of serious injury.
• A product of slicing up beams of wood is sawdust – a lot of sawdust. Always wear goggles when operating the saw to avoid contaminants – including the bigger pieces - from harming your eyes.
• When cutting through material, always keep your fingers at least 10 cm away from the path of the blade and never lift the blade or the material until the blade has completely stopped spinning.
Seth is a Content Writer for WhatsTheBest, specialising in technology and audio. He also writes for Parkers, CAR and MCN.
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