Table of Contents
Whether you are doing work at home or for a client, having a miter saw is essential for all types of carpentry work.
It’s a powerful tool that you can use for everything from large jobs like door frames to smaller jobs like adjusting picture frames and ripping hardwood.
You can cut wood at different angles with it. Whenever we talk about a miter saw, this one point often comes to mind: “what size of a miter saw?”
Unfortunately, many people cannot answer this question but do not despair. Because in this article, we will give you the answer regarding the miter saw.
The meter size you need depends on the type of work you need to do.
You may also see our blog: How Does Impact Driver Work?
Small-size miter saws (10 inches or less) are more maneuverable and easy to use, while larger-size miter saws (12 inches or larger) can cut deeper and faster.
Types of Miter Saws
As you know, this article is about miter saws, and every woodworker loves miter saws. While we believe every hobbyist woodworker should have a miter saw in his shop. Because we tell you about what Miter saw you need, first you need to have complete information about what types of saws are available in the market and what function they did.
Basic, compound and sliding miter saws are the three basic types available. It would help if you had anything important in your store and its unique strengths and features. Further, you can also see our guide about what to do with old saw blades.
It is divided into three types which are as follows.
Standard Miter Saw
You can cut wood at any angle from top to bottom with a standard miter saw, as it rotates towards the mount for ease of cutting. This makes it easy to accurately cut corner elements, such as walls and doors, window frames, and picture frames. Standard miter saws are called miter saws because they cut the workpiece vertically.
Sliding Miter Saw
A sliding miter saw pushes the blade through the workpiece toward you rather than under it. By doing this, you can cut wider wood, which will greatly benefit you as it increases the width of the cut along the side. If you often work on cutting metals or long workpieces that require angle and bevel cuts.
So spending your money on a sliding miter saw is worth it. This is not for you if you’re looking for a small, lightweight saw.
Compound Miter Saw
The compound miter saw enables you to cut both vertical and horizontal angles, which is the best when cutting materials such as crown molding. There are two types of compound saws (single bevel and double bevel). Both are very efficient, but the double bevel type eliminates the need to rotate the workpiece. This makes cutting wood easier, more practical, and less labor-intensive.
Which Miter Saw Size Do I Need?
We know you want information on the best and most sustainable Miter saw sizes. As we just said, no single tool works in every situation. Before choosing the ideal saw for your job, you should consider your projects. Here’s a brief guide to choosing the right type of tool for the job.
- Once you have this in mind and research the projects you want to work on, figure out the size of the saw.
- You have to choose the size of the Miter saw, keeping in mind the extent of your work because you need it.
- If you are doing this for the first time, you should also be aware of the different types of meters.
You may also see our blog: Air Compressor Troubleshooting Chart
The following types of miter saws are classified according to their size.
- Seven 1/2-inches Miter saw
- 8 inches miter saw
- 10 inches miter saw
- 12 inches Miter saw
Can a Miter Saw cut a 4 X 4?
A 12-inch miter saw is the best tool for cutting 4×4 at a 90-degree angle in one operation. If the blade guard is properly adjusted, a 10-inch miter saw can also be used to cut a 4×4. We recommend wearing a safety guard as a must and also completing your kit before starting work.
If you only need to cut a few 4x4s, we recommend using a standard, 10-inch Miter. You don’t need to cut simple pieces of wood like 4×4 guide posts. On wooden 4x4s, a 12-inch miter saw can be used, although it’s not necessary. Just use a traditional 10-inch miter saw to save yourself some money.
Can a 6×6 be Cut with a Miter Saw?
The answer to this question is the same as the 4 x 4 question. A 6×6 can be cut at a 90-degree angle with a 10-inch miter saw, but it won’t cut in one. The 6 x 6 has to be turned several times to cut correctly on each side.
Your 6×6 can also be cut at a 90-degree angle using a 12-inch miter saw, but it won’t cut in one. To cut from multiple sites, the component has to be rotated several times. Again, it’s like using a sliding miter saw to line up each cut accurately for a straight cut.
FAQs
Do you think a 10-inch meter is enough?
Cutting capabilities of 10-inch miter saws are a problem. Because the saw can’t handle thicker pieces, you’ll have to work harder to replace the deck with a 5-inch or even 4-inch-thick piece of wood. The shaped blade is suitable for the majority of DIY woodworking tasks.
What size of the wood can be cut with a 10-inch sliding miter saw?
A 10-inch miter saw can often be used to cut a 2 x 6 at 90° or a 2 x 4 at 45°. A 2 x 8 can be cut at 90 degrees with a 12-inch miter saw, and a 2 x 6 at 45°. Another difference between saws relates to whether the blade arms swing and slide or rotate (as in a basic miter saw).
See Also: How to Cut Plexiglass With a Utility Knife
Conclusion
There are additional instances in which you have to use a miter saw. But at this point, you should know the difference between using a 10-inch and a 12-inch miter saw.
As we mentioned in the previous section of the article, 10-inch and 12-inch miter saws can usually handle most miter cut operations. However, things become much easier when you use a properly sized miter saw. We hope this article will help you answer all your Miter saw-related questions.