Best Miter Saw for Beginners in [2023]– Complete Guide

Are you a novice? Get at the best miter saw for beginners? Well, a miter saw is the most effective woodworking tool for not only beginners but also professional carpenters and DIYers. This versatile tool is easy to use for different purposes. It allows the creation of angled cuts for trim work, molding, or carpentry applications. There is no worry when you need straight, clean, and precise cuts to use.

Anyway, multiple power miter saws are available in the market you know. But it is tough to know which is exactly for beginners or which is not. To understand it, you would like to drive through this short review. This review will ensure some excellent miter saws and their details that are perfect for novices along with other relevant helpful data about miter saws.

Why Use a Miter Saw?

A lot of people had questions about a miter saw. People are not completely familiar with its usage and benefits. A miter saw is a saw that cuts across the board. It contains a blade, a guard, a fence, a miter gauge, a beveled gauge, a handle, and a trigger. The guard protects the blade of the saw. It also moves up and out of the way when you lower the saw to make a cut. Similarly, the fence is something where you place your board. It helps in keeping the board stable and straight during cutting.

The miter gauge, on the other hand, is the angle gauge on the table. It helps in making angled cuts across the board. There is also a lever or a knob to loosen or turn the table to set the angle you want. The beveled gauge is present under or behind the blade. It helps you to measure the tilt of your blade. Similarly, when a person operates the saw he needs to hold the handle and press the trigger to operate it perfectly.

Different Types of Miter Saws

Miter saws come in different sizes and have different capabilities. The pricing of the miter saw depends on all of those factors. The first thing that you must consider before buying a miter saw is its blade size. The blade sizes start from seven and a half inches to almost fourteen inches. You can get a single bevel saw (the saw whose blade tilts in only one direction), or a double bevel compound saw (the one in which the blade tilts in both directions). One can also purchase a sliding compound miter saw (the one in which the blade slides out, providing you the capability to cut wider boards).

Types of Cuts by Miter Saw’s

Miter saw’s can make different types of cuts. The first cut is a cross-cut. A cross-cut is a simple 90-degree cut across the board. The next type of cut is a miter cut. A miter cut is basically an angled cut across the board (a 45-degree is a very common angle cut). Similarly, there is another type of cut called beveled cut. This cut is an angled type of cut across the thickness of the board.

This cut is achieved by tilting the saw blade using the bevel gauge.  The last one is the compound cut. A compound cut is a combination of a miter and a beveled cut. These are all the different kinds of cuts that can be made easily using a miter saw.

7 Best miter saw for beginners recommendation

1	DEWALT 12-Inch Miter Saw, 15-Amp, Single Bevel, Compound (DWS715)	Best for sheerness		Check Amazon Price Check Walmart Price
2	Metabo HPT 10-Inch Compound Miter Saw	Easy to use a miter saw		Check Amazon Price Check Walmart Price
3	Compound Miter Saw, TACKLIFE 10-Inch Sliding Miter Saw	Best Value for money		Check Amazon Price
4	BOSCH Power Tools GCM12SD – 15 Amp 12 Inch Corded Dual-Bevel Sliding Glide Miter Saw	Easy to assemble		Check Amazon Price Check Walmart Price
5	Makita 10″ Compound Miter Saw, Makita LS1040 10″ Compound Miter Saw	Best Overall		Check Amazon Price Check Walmart Price
6	Genesis GMS1015LC 15-Amp 10-Inch Compound Miter Saw	Easy to assemble		Check Amazon Price Check Walmart Price
7	CRAFTSMAN V20 7-1/4-Inch Sliding Miter Saw Kit (CMCS714M1)	best Lightweight miter saw		Check Amazon Price

Let’s have a look at the 7 best miter saw reviews

DW715 12-inch single-level Compound Miter saw contains a stainless steel Miter detent plate. It contains a cam Miter Lock that provides durability and accuracy with simple adjustments. The tall sliding fences of this miter saw support and 5-1/2 in. of crown molding vertically nested along with 5-1/2 in. of base molding. This miter saw is extremely light in weight and easy to control and manage.

Features:

• Contains a Corded Electric power source
• The dimensions of the product are 26.77 x 21.85 x 18.9 inches
• Item weight is 42.8 Pounds
• The speed of this miter saw is 4000 RPM
• The crosscut capacity of this miter saw is up to a 2×6 inch dimensional lumber at 45°
• and 2×8 inch dimensional lumber at 90°
• Contains a dust bag, blade wrench, carbide blade, comfortable side handles in the base, and vertical clamp

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Metabo HPT C10FCGS 10-inch Compound Miter Saw offers a bevel assortment of 0-45 degrees to the left to give accurate and clean bevel cuts. This miter saw is specially designed for woodworkers who require precision, versatility, and reliability on the job.

Features:

• The length of the blade is 10 Inches
• The weight of this miter saw is 24.5 Pounds
• Contains a 15 Amp motor
• The power source of this miter saw is electric
• The dimensions of the product are 20.4 x 15.1 x 14.3 inches
• Comes with 5 Year warranty

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This miter saw contains an extensible table that provides stability on both sides while cutting the board. The vice clamping system of this miter saw helps in fixing the object. Compound Miter Saw, TACKLIFE 10-Inch Sliding Miter Saw also contains a laser guide. This laser guidance helps in illuminating the cutting line. It adds accuracy when a person uses a miter saw in a dim environment.

Features:

• The length of the blade is 10 Inches
• The dimensions of the product are 30.7 x 22.8 x 17.7 inches
• Produces 4500.00 speed
• The power source of this miter saw is Corded Electric
• Provides laser guide and bevel cutting
• Contains a dust-free environment and an extension table
• Equipped with an iron blade guard

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The pre-aligned cube lock hedges of this miter saw help it to preserve accuracy and exactness throughout its life. It contains a soft and easy-to-hold ambidextrous handle along with a blend dust chute and space adaptor that provides maximum comfort and ease. It also offers an outsized cutting aptitude. Bosch GCM12SD contains easy-to-read miter scales and bevels with detents at common angles. It is easy to use and control.

Features:

• The length of the blade is 12 Inches
• It is currently available in blue color
• The power source of this miter saw is Corded-electric
• The weight of the item is 0.2 Pounds
• Contains an Axial glide system
• Provides compact cutting
• Contains precise controls
• Easy to adjust and use
• It is made up of stainless steel

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Makita 10″ Compound Miter Saw, Makita LS1040 10″ Compound Miter Saw contains a strong aluminum base that ensures precise cuts. It is easy to use and control. This amazing miter saw is equipped with all the important functionalities and features that must be present in a good quality miter saw.

Features:

• The length of the blade is 10 Inches
• Dimensions of the product are 20 x 10 x 21 inches
• It is currently available in silver color
• The power source of this miter saw is Corded Electric
• Contains an influential 15 AMP direct-drive motor
• Weighs only 33.9 pounds

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The laser-guided cutting of this miter saw offers improved accuracy and performance. One can easily stop this miter saw whenever they want by pressing the electric brake. An arbor lock of this miter saw makes blade changes easier and faster.

Features:

• The length of the blade is 10 Inches
• The dimensions of the product are 19.5 x 16.25 x 15 inches
• The power source of this miter saw is AC
• Produces speed of 4600 RPM
• The weight of the item is 1 pound

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The sliding 7-1/4 inches blade of this miter saw allows for a fractious cut capacity of up to 8 in. This wonderful miter saw is extremely light in weight. It is coupled with side carry handles that provide maximum ease and comfort. The LED light of this miter saw helps in eliminating shadows and endows with an easy and precise Cutline to chase.

Features:

• The speed of this miter saw is 800 RPM
• 1 Lithium-ion battery is required to bring it into a working state
• The weight of the item is 21.8 Pounds
• The dimensions of the product are 25.59 x 19.06 x 14.41 inches

Editor’s Experience

Here are some miter saws which are really suitable for beginners. All of them have special features which are very unique. They all have a sufficient price if you consider their features. Let’s see the reviews of each miter saw.

DEWALT 12-Inch Best Miter Saw for beginners: DeWalt does not list this model (DWS779) on their website, probably because this saw is the top-of-the-line DWS780 corded sliding compound miter saw without the DWS780’s superb XPS guide light.

Metabo HPT 10-Inch Compound Best Miter Saw for Beginners: This little saw is worth its weight in gold. I thought I made a mistake buying a smaller saw for the projects I was taking on, but, it did much more than I anticipated. I used a Dewalt table saw as well as this saw to complete a full built-in closet. I didn’t have to adjust much out of the box.

Compound Miter Saw, TACKLIFE 10-Inch Sliding Best Miter Saw for Beginners:

BOSCH Power Tools GCM12SD – Best Miter Saw for Beginners: This saw is the best of the type under $1,400. Woodwerks’ repair department is full of DeWalt and Hitachi SCMs. The repair tech said that the Hitachi was the quietest and easiest to repair.

Makita 10″ Compound Miter Saw, Makita LS1040 10″ Compound Miter Saw: This is my first mitre saw. I bought it to replace a fence knocked down by a snowplow. It worked well with pressure-treated lumber as well as PVC. I really love this saw and plan to use it extensively to help maintain our hundred-year-old house. Amazon lists it as made in the USA.

Genesis GMS1015LC 15-Amp 10-Inch Compound Miter Saw: It was easy for us to set up and use. It’s light enough for me to pick up yet very sturdy. It seems to be accurate when cutting angles. The bed turned out perfectly and my granddaughter loves it. No one can believe that we two women actually built it.

CRAFTSMAN V20 7-1/4-Inch Sliding Best Miter Saw for Beginners Kit: This craftsman cordless saw has many great features. The most notable one is that it is cordless. It uses a 20Volt 4.0Ah battery pack. The 4 Ah is the big one.

Things to Consider When Buying a Miter Saw

Buying a perfect miter saw can be easy when you need to consider the types, brands, categories, prices, and more. In this point, we explain all essential factors that support finding the best miter saw for your woodworking project.

Price

No one can collect any product out of the budget. That’s why the price is an important factor in turning through a favorable product. The average price of the miter saw is between $99 to $1200. It can be changed in some cases. You notice that the main part is from $200 to $500.

Anyway, top-rated brands are pricey and high-quality. But, medium-quality miter saws are also good. Alternatively, you have better avoid the cheapest brands. So, before purchasing, check the manual price online within a short moment.

Blade Diameter

For any cutting purpose, a blade is important, you know. Blade diameter indicates the saw’s cutting capacity or how thick the saw can cut. Maximum miter saws offer between 8-inch and 12-inch blades. But, the blade diameter 10-inch is very common and popular.

It is possible to change the 10-inch blade diameter to a table saw. Blades which contain higher TPI are good for cutting hardwood and any material. The high tooth count blades ensure finer cuts and cost more than low tooth count.

If you need to cut a wider and thicker piece of wood or board, a 12-inch blade can be a perfect option. Alternatively, an 8-inch blade is also good for cutting a standard wood piece. Of course, bigger blade capacity is higher and allows a longer cut than smaller blades.

Bevel Range

Maximum miter and bevel ranges are 45°. Not only miter saws but also all saws are able to cut 45° ranges. Some compound saws and dual compound saws come with 48° to 62° ranges where bevel ranges 50° to the left and 62° to the right. So, before choosing the miter saw, you should consider the cutting ranges.

Weight

Miter saw’s weight is not a major fact if you don’t need to transfer it from one place to another place frequently. The wider blades miter saw can be up to 70 lbs weight. On average weight is from 35 to 80 lbs.

Safe Operation of Your Miter Saw

Woodworkers who are beginners want to keep safe while handling the miter saw. Woodworkers need to follow some instructions and rules to stay secure during working time.

Power Safety of a Miter Saw

Working with the miter saw, beginners feel uncomfortable about how to handle the power of this saw.

• Check all the adjustments of the miter saw before starting the power. If there is any problem, you should solve it to prevent accidents.
• Make sure the power is off as well as the machine is not driving. Also, it’s essential to remove adjusting keys or wrenches after setting.
• Use one hand to keep the stock against the fence and the other hand hold the trigger switch.
• Ensure that the blade rotates in the exact direction along with checking if the blade & arbor collars are secure and clean.
• Always keep the saw switch in the OFF position before plugging it in.
• For power safety, keep your motor air slots hygienic which means free of dust and scraps.
• Always maintain the safety warnings to run the motor of the saw.

  Operator Safety of a Miter Saw

Operator safety is another crucial fact while working with the miter saws. Every operator must be careful about the below safety rules of a miter saw.

• Always wear eye and ear protection when operating a miter saw.
• Use the appropriate blade for the material you are cutting.
• Keep your hands clear of the saw blade at all times.
• Use the saw’s hold-down clamp to secure the workpiece.
• Keep the saw blade clean and sharp.
• Unplug the saw when making adjustments or changing blades.
• Be aware of the saw’s kickback and adjust your grip accordingly.
• Use a dust collection system or vacuum to capture sawdust.
• Use a push stick or push block when making narrow cuts.
• Always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions and safety warnings before using the saw.

  Job Area Safety of a miter saws

A newbie miter saw user should also know the job area safety. Here are the details.

• Keep the job area dry and clean. And, remove dust after working.
• Set the miter saw at waist height to work comfortably. Connect the saw to a workbench or rigid saw.
• Use a piece of plywood 13mm or 12mm thicker to carry the saw safely to a remote location.
• Never allow children to play in the job area.
• Don’t work alone while running the machine.
• Never allow other materials in the working areas.
• Remove unnecessary benches that can happen in incidents.

Basic Cutting Techniques of a Miter Saw

In woodwork you will discover different cut names, the three main basic cutting techniques are compound cut, crosscut, and bevel cut. Miter saws can make these basic cuts without hassles. Know more? Look at the points below.

The compound cut of a miter saw

A miter saw allows making a compound cut which means the combination of both a bevel cut and a miter cut. Yes, you can set the miter saw’s blade and head at a mixture of two angles to the workpiece. But, compound cut saws are limited to cut depth and width.

Miter saws come with a maximum bevel angle of 45° whereas normal square-cut contains 0° bevel angles.

Compound miter saws are perfect for making bevel, miter, and compound cuts. And, even cross-cut. But, only miter saws are good for simple crosscuts. So, compound miter saws are more versatile than normal miter saws.

 Crosscut of a miter saw

The miter saws are designed for cutting wood perpendicular to (across) the wood grain. They allow crosscutting where small miter saws come with tiny teeth which are close together to work well. Large miter saws make cross-cuts for log bucking.

Due to containing circular saw blades or mounted blades, miter saws crosscut the workpiece like a stationary saw. If the miter saw’s blade is 12-inch diameter, it has a maximum crosscut capacity of 90° cut. But, other sizes of blades or up to 16 inches can create increasing crosscuts. Users need to use crosscut pieces for several purposes.

So, a miter saw is the best choice for cross-cutting big boards of solid wood into undersized manageable. But, in some cases, a table saw is used for crosscutting.

 The bevel cut of a Miter Saw

A bevel cut is one kind of popular angled cut that is created when you change the 90° angle of a board at other angles. This cut is made through the thickness of a board. In this case, miter saws are better to cut a bevel & a miter.

This saw works to cut a part of the wood with an edge. But, it is not horizontal to the top of the piece. So, the bevel cutting is done while increasing the surface area of the edge of the portion. Craftsmen might use bevel cuts making hidden seams or crown molding.

Advanced Cutting Techniques of a Miter Saw

If you have to join pieces of wood or other materials, you find a number of cutting choices available to assemble the angle of the joint. Besides basic cutting techniques of the miter saws, advanced cutting methods are important to do this job properly. The most common three techniques are trim crown molding, miter cuts, and rabbet cuts. Here are the details.

 Trim Crown Molding of a miter saw  

Trim crown molding is an excellent cut to add a touch of luxury to interior designs without sacrificing quality. Once measuring the angles you cut crown molding by using any power miter saw. The reason power miter saws are adjusted to cut several angles.

Setting it to 45° for one side of an average 90-degree corner. Yes, it is possible to set the saw 45 degrees to the right or 45 degrees to the left. Keep in mind that the 45° angle is the most common angle trim used around windows and doors.

 Miter cuts of a miter saw

A miter cut is an angled cut on the face of two structures that are joined to create a corner. You can change the angle from a perfect 90 degrees to any different angle. This cutting angle turns across from the front to the back of the workpiece. So, a miter cut can make a triangle shape or various angles if you just like the wood up with one of the marks.

A true miter joint requires two pieces to be cut at 45-degree angles, so when they are joined the corner created will be 90 degrees. However, a miter joint can also be created from other angles.

 Rabbet Cuts of a miter saw

A rabbet cut is one type of groove cut into the edge of a wood piece or other materials. This cut creates the edge or ends of the wood two-sided. Two sides can be 90° from each other. So, it is a notch cut across the grain edge.

There are four types of rabbet joints such as overlap rabbet, double rabbet, shelving rabbet, and blind rabbet. All are simple to make and work great in a wide variety of projects.

Maintenance and Storage of a Miter Saw 

It is obviously an important role in the miter saw to keep it properly. As a woodworker, you have to learn how to maintain and store the saw. First, you don’t ignore the blade maintenance and sharpening process.

Blade maintenance and sharpening

Blades work to improve the functionality of your saws. Saws require a clean blade to do this job well. But, blade maintaining and sharpening is a risky job.

You should be careful to remove debris from the teeth of the blades. Avoid using your hands to clean the inside. It is better for using a brush or wearing thick gloves. Then, remove debris and use oil on the blade’s surface.

Once a miter saw’s blade can become blunt for frequently used. And, the dull blade is unable to cut accurately. Don’t worry, you can easily sharpen it, just using some sharpening tools.

To protect against blade damage and get quality performance, you will sharpen it as soon as possible. It’s not perfect for a new blade.

New blades can be dirty in most cases so sharpening is excessive. Just clean the saw blade properly. You might need to clean it three special times.

Storage of Miter Saw and Accessories

Saws are of utmost importance in every proper cut. You have to store your miter saw or other saw accessories safely. Although some carpenters or woodworkers spend little time on their power tools.

So, where should you store your miter saw?

Most carpenters and DIY masters think the home is the best place if there is no dirt or wet. You should store your miter saws or other power tools in the basement of the home, garage, workshop, or more.

The accessories and spare items, rollers stand, climbing boxes, saw guides, dust bags, brackets, and more are used for the power miter saw. Yes, it is also urgent to keep these accessories in a safe place.

Faqs:

Should I buy a table saw or miter saw?

If you are a beginner then buy a table saw first. A table saw can do anything that a miter saw does. The reason for using this first is that it is simple to use and control. 

How do I choose a miter saw?

There are a lot of things that one must consider while selecting the right type of miter saw. Different types of miter saws are available in the market nowadays. The features and functionalities of each item vary from brand to brand. Do check the blade size, motor speed, balance level, pricing, and other such properties before buying a miter saw.

What can I use instead of a miter saw?

One can use circular saws instead of the miter saw. The circular saws are a bit cheaper than most miter saws and provide almost the same functionalities to users that a miter saw provides

How much does a good miter saw cost?

The price of a miter saw varies from company to company. But usually, it costs around $140 to $150.

Will a 10 miter saw cut a 4×4?

Yes, a 10-inch miter saw can easily cut 4×4 but it can sometimes cause damage to a miter saw.

Can a miter saw cut straight?

The powered miter saws are designed to make angle cuts. They can also make straight crosscuts but it’s only in the case when you use the right kind of blade in your miter saw.

Can miter saw cut plywood?

Yes, it can easily cut ply wood. All you need to make sure that you are using the right kind of blade which is working properly.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, the miter saw is an incredible woodworking tool for beginners because of its easy cutting capacity. It performs angled cuts to combination cuts. That is why woodworkers can change the cutting style according to their needs. You get angled cuts starting from 45 degrees and ending at 90 degrees.

However, we have already mentioned some top-selected miter saws which are suitable for beginner woodworkers. But, the DW715 12-inch Single-Bevel Compound Miter saw stayed at the first position due to its high-quality features and effortless-to-use functionality. We think this is the best miter saw for beginners. Be sure you have already found the chosen product from this text that you expect before reading it. So, don’t be late to collect it.