Top 5 Miter Saw Tips

Miter saws are a universal tool that can be used for framing on job sites, all the way to making intricate cuts on a small DIY project. Here are 5 Miter Saw Tips to give you the best results from your cuts.

 

#1 Use a Good Blade – Tooth Count

Generally, the higher the tooth count on the blade the finer the cut. Except with the higher the tooth count on the blade, you will want to push the saw through slower.

A blade with as few as 14 teeth will cut quickly, but the end will be rough. These blades are great for thick stock.

A general framing blade will have 24 teeth, these blades will be best when you’re making a lot of cuts for framing.

40 tooth blades work great for plywood, anything thinner might still have some blowout under the cut.

80 tooth blades create very clean cuts, these blades are most common for finish work. These cuts are needed for projects such as crown molding.

Four different miter saw blades with different teeth sizes.

 

#2 Wait until Blade Stops

Close up of a stopped miter saw blade.It’s important to keep the blade in the down position and wait until the blade fully stops spinning. If the blade is still spinning when you pull the blade out of the material, a tooth could catch and pull up some material you just cut.

Another reason is if you pull the blade up while it is still spinning, it could shoot the piece you just cut across the room. This could not only break something but injure you or someone else.

 

#3 Extend Your Support

Extending your support will help you make a nice accurate cut with a longer piece of wood, and it will keep the blade from binding up on you.

These extendable platforms might be part of the saw itself, it could be a part of the saw stand or a rolling saw stand. These are great for support and keeping that material you’re working consistently level, which will help create that clean cut.

Three different types of tool stands for the miter saw.

 

#4 Increase the cut capacity

Raising the material on your miter saw to increase the cut capacity.If you’re ever having issues with cutting all the way across a wide board, raise the board you are trying to cut. This will extend the usage of your blade, giving you some more length for the cut.

 

#5 Use Stop Blocks for Repeatable Cuts

A wood scrap piece stopper being used on a miter saw

Clamp down a spare piece of wood to the miter saw, leaving the remaining space as the dimension in which you need the cuts to make every time. Most miter saws come with an on the table clamp.

 

A c-clamp being used on a scrap piece of wood. This is creating a stopper for the miter saw.

If your saw does not include a clamp, you can still use a generic C clamp to receive the same results.

 

Bonus Tip

An aluminium empire square.Every so often you should double check your miter saw alignment. After many cuts, and bevel changes it’s not uncommon for your miter saw to shift from its original straight alignment. Just simply test this by taking a square and measuring it against your saw blade in the down position.

One Comment

  • David A. thomas

    June 8, 2021 at 2:53 pm

    Awesome post. I like your miter saw using tips and ideas. You have shared essential miter saw tips and ideas. I agree with a lot your views. This is engaging and well worded.

    Thanks Mate for your great submission.

    Reply

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