The Importance of Miter Saw Accuracy
When it comes to woodworking, accuracy and precision play a very important role. Wood can often be a very unforgiving material to work with. Cuts need to be made accurately and precisely for a proper fit to happen; being just a millimeter off can be disastrous for your project. This means that you need to be well-equipped with the best tools for the job.
On that note, it is important to keep in mind that different tools handle different tasks. In doing projects that require precision cutting, there are some factors that can make your cuts inconsistent and potentially set you back. To minimize such concerns, you would want to have specific tools to help you such as a miter saw.
A miter saw is used specifically for cutting your material at certain angles. It makes multiple cuts a lot more efficient and consistent. We’ll go over some of the best miter saws on the market that can provide you with the most accurate cuts.
Comparison Table
| Brand and Model | Pros | Cons |
| DEWALT DWS715 | Compact, portable designLots of precision featuresPowerful and durable motor | Cutline light is an additional purchase |
| BOSCH Power Tools GCM12SD | Space saving frameAxial glide systemEasy to use bevel controls | HeavyPortability features sold separately |
| Skil MS6305-00 | PortablePowerful | Smaller cutting capacityLacking in ease-of-use features |
| WEN MM1011 | Smallest frame Dust collection portLaser guide | Pretty standard technical features |
Factors that Determine an Accurate Miter Saw
Your miter saw’s accuracy may be affected by a number of factors such as things that can happen during shipping and transportation. It might be possible that bringing your miter saw to a project site may have bumped it around a bit. Doing so might put some of the parts out of alignment. Here’s a handy checklist to go over to make sure your miter saw is good to go and operating at optimal accuracy.
Kerf
A kerf is the term used to describe the width of material removed during cutting. When cutting the wood, you are removing material rather than just simply splitting it. The size of this area is slightly wider than the saw blade’s width. Understanding this will help you adjust your miter saw accordingly when cutting. You will want to cut next to the line you have marked on the material to make sure that the kerf goes on the part you are not keeping. Doing so allows the material to come out at the exact length needed.
Saw Blade
You will want to ensure that your blade is clean as well as appropriate for the material you are cutting. Make sure that the blade and the miter saw are both free of sawdust and build-up material from previous projects. It goes without saying that you would also want to make sure that your saw blade is still sharp.
Saw blades are often differentiated by size, tooth count, and style. You would want at least 60 to 72 teeth to make clean cuts for most projects. In the interest of both safety and accuracy, ensure that your blade is attached securely and properly.
Here are our miter saw blade recommendations:
Fence Alignment
This entails two things: the fence itself and the surface of the table base. First, you want to make sure that the surface or table base you are using is flat and sturdy. Once you have confirmed this, you can move on to checking the fence.
Ensure that the fence is straight and adjust the screws and knobs accordingly; make sure that none of them are out of place. You can easily confirm this with the use of a metal straight edge.
Miter and Bevel Angle
You will want to reset the angle to 0 degrees before starting your project. Ensure that your saw is sitting square to the fence. From there, you can make adjustments and confirm with a straight edge if your blade is properly aligned.
Blade Guard
Most miter saws have a blade guard that shields the blade when it is exposed, and the arm is up. It moves out of the way during the cutting process via a spring mechanism. You will want to ensure that this part of the miter saw is moving smoothly and free from debris.
Most Accurate Miter Saws
DEWALT 12-Inch Miter Saw, 15-Amp, Single Bevel, Compound (DWS715)
The Dewalt DWS715 miter saw is an ideal model for portability. It has built-in carry handles and sports a very lightweight design. Its compact frame comes around to 26.77 x 21.85 x 18.9 inches and weighs in at 42.8 pounds. This compact machine boasts great power and durability with a 15-amp motor that can reach up to 4000 RPM.
This miter saw comes with a 12-inch blade and 14 positive stops. It also features machine-based fence support and a precision miter system. It has a miter lock and a miter detent plate that allow for easy adjustments, providing consistent accuracy and durability.
The DWS715 bevels up to 48 degrees to the left and allows for 45 degrees and 90 degrees crosscut angles. A downside to this model is that you might have to pay extra for an XPS cutline lighting system to improve your accuracy.
BOSCH Power Tools GCM12SD
The Bosch GCM12SD boasts a variety of features on its own and comes with several additional options. You can avail of a miter saw length stop, a crown stop kit, or a portable wheeled stand.
This model features the Bosch patented axial glide system that allows better alignment and smoother, wider crosscuts.
The GCM12SD features a cutting capacity of up to 14 inches horizontally. The saw is also easily adjustable and comes with a uniform bevel and miter scale. You also have square lock quick-release fences that have a one-touch feature, allowing your fence to lock into 90 degrees quite readily. The bevel controls are also positioned in front allowing easier adjustments without having to reach behind the saw.
This miter saw also allows for bevels on both the left and the right at 45 degrees for accurate cutting. While the frame is pretty compact at 31 x 23.8 x 22.5 inches, it is quite heavy at 88.2 lbs. and does not have built-in portability features. Moving it around would likely require you to avail of the wheeled stand or you might have to build your own.
Skil 10″ Dual Bevel Sliding Miter Saw – MS6305-00
The Skil MS6305-00 utilizes a 10-inch blade, a bit smaller in cutting capacity compared to others on this list but it makes up for it with power. This model comes with a 15-amp motor that can reach up to 4800 RPM for cuts that are quick. It also boasts 11 positive stop positions from both sides when beveling. It features a horizontal grip handle that allows for both left-handed and right-handed use. This model comes with an LED shadow line allowing for greater accuracy and precision compared to traditional lasers.
The MSC6305-00 is equipped with a built-in carrying handle, making it a very portable option. While it has dual bevel capabilities, it does not seem to have the same kind of easy-to-use adjustment features included in the other models on this list.
WEN MM1011
The WEN MM10011 is a very versatile model that can keep up with most of the features of its competition. Despite being limited to only left side bevel cuts, it makes up for it with eight miter stops in either direction. It comes with a laser guide that illuminates your cut lines, allowing for a more precise and accurate cut.
The overall model is pretty small too, possibly the smallest on this list at 20.7 x 20.6 x 16 inches and weighing in at 37.8 lbs. It also comes with a nifty dust collection port that you can set up with the included dust bag or vacuum of choice.
Conclusion
These are just some of the best miter saws available on the market right now. There may be more in the future that may include a wider range of features.
Working with a reasonable budget will allow you more options, but it’s better to just go for features you will actually need.
The projects you plan on doing will end up determining these features. Picking the most accurate miter saw should be balanced with your other crafting needs.
Making wise purchasing choices will result in more satisfying project outcomes.
Miter Saw FAQs
📌 What’s the Difference between Miter Saws and Circular Saws?
Miter saws are mounted to a frame, limiting its range to making short crosscuts while circular saws allow for longer cuts.
📌 What’s the Difference between Miter Saws and Jigsaws?
Jigsaws are primarily used for doing freehand work, allowing for intricate cuts while moving in most directions. Instead of a round blade, it uses a small flat blade that goes up and down.
📌 What is the Difference between a Chop Saw and a Miter Saw?
A chop saw can only do straight perpendicular cross cuts while a miter saw can cut along an angle and produce bevels.
