How to Choose a Sliding Compound Miter Saw

Practically any serious woodworker will tell you that sliding compound miter saws are worth their weight in versatility. With a blade that swivels for miter cuts and a tilting head for bevel cuts, they are extremely useful. It is the combination of swivel and tilt that make the compound miter cuts those who work with wood need to make. The other advantage of the sliding compound miter saw is that it can cut greater widths of stock, up to three or four inches wider, compared to the fixed, standard miter saw. Choosing the right compound miter requires some consideration.

• 1

  Look at saw size, which is determined by blade diameter. Buy the saw blade size that will cut what you cut most. Consider the 12-inch model if you want maximum width capacity and a wider choice of models and features to choose from.

• 2
  Sliding compound miter saws with narrow slider rails will stray from the mark. spinning-saw image by sumos from Fotolia.com

  Check the saw's sliding rails. Do not get a model that has narrowly spaced sliding rails, as they will cause the blade to have wobbly, side-to-side movement on cuts that require full extension of the saw's head. Get the widest spaced rails to minimize head play.

• 3

  Examine the sliding mechanism that rests on the sliding rails. Evaluate it for its ability to handle mitering and crosscutting through its entire available range of motion.

• 4
  Wide boards are no problem for a sliding compound miter. man sawing a piece of wood image by Joann Cooper from Fotolia.com

  Find and measure the space in your work area where you plan to put the saw. Allow around 40 inches of space because of the rather long sliding mechanisms of the 12-inch models. You can reclaim some of this space when the saw is not in use by removing the extension wings and rotating the miter in either direction, left or right.

• 5

  Look for a saw with the biggest, clearest and most readable miter scales. Try to find a saw with a readable bevel scale as well; they are less common, but worth looking for. Do not buy a sliding miter with a tiny, unreadable or poorly located bevel scale. Get a saw that lets you dial in settings at fractional differences.

• 6
  With sliding compound miter saws, the size difference refers to blade size. detail of industrial saw for furniture industry image by Tomo Jesenicnik from Fotolia.com

  Get the saw that has the simplest, easiest to work bevel adjustment. Look for the saw that allows you to unlock, tilt and lock the head in four steps or less. Notice the saw's bevel controls' location and avoid saws with awkwardly placed or inconvenient bevel controls.

• 7

  Evaluate the saw's hold downs. Look for a hold down that will lock and hold the stock to the saw table for safe operation. Look for a lock located in the base that will permit you to set the arm low enough and close to the stock or piece being sawed, to minimize play.