A miter saw is a good tool to have when you are attempting to make angled cuts. It is generally used for crown molding, making cuts on picture frames, window casings and other cuts that you simply can’t make with a regular saw.
Every contractor or handyman knows that a miter saw is a vital tool to have. Finding the best one to match not only your budget but the tasks at hand can be daunting. That’s we were have decided to review 3 of the best miter saws.
Best Miter Saw Reviews
Comparison Chart
1. Hitachi C10FCG Compound Miter Saw
If you need a good miter saw that can tilt to one side for bevel cuts, plus one that has a lot of overall power and durability, the Hitachi C10FCG Compound Miter Saw might be a good way to go for you. For what it is, it is actually quite inexpensive.
Product Highlights
This might not be the fanciest miter saw around, but it definitely gets the job done. For one, it has quite a wide miter range, with a 0° to 52°, both to the right and left, for easy miter cuts. It’s pretty flexible, to say the least.
On that same note, as the name of the product implies, this is actually a compound miter saw. In other words, the Hitachi C10FCG Compound Miter Saw can tilt to the left up to 45° s for easy bevel cuts. It comes with thumb-actuated positive stops so you can make easy adjustments in terms of the tilt angle.The Hitachi C10FCG Compound Miter Saw comes with a 15-amp motor, which is pretty good for a relatively small and portable miter saw. No, it is not the most powerful motor in the world, but for basic woodworking jobs, it should work just fine.
It does supply the blade with enough RPMs and juice to cut through some really hard pieces of wood. The included blade is quite high-quality and very sharp, thus making quick work of most things put in its way.To keep you safe, the Hitachi C10FCG Compound Miter Saw also features a state-of-the-art blade guard. It also comes with a convenient dust collector to help cut down on messes and keep your workspace clean and safe at all times.
At the same time, the included vice clamp helps you secure your piece to the table for some added safety. This unit weighs under 25 lbs., making it fairly lightweight and portable, ideal for taking with you on the go to any worksite.
What’s to like about the Hitachi C10FCG Compound Miter Saw
First off, we like how the Hitachi C10FCG Compound Miter Saw is fairly small and portable, making it a versatile and convenient miter saw. Next, it has more than enough power for basic needs, plus it also has a few good safety features, not to mention that it is quite flexible in terms of miter and bevel cuts.
What’s not to like about the Hitachi C10FCG Compound Miter Saw
The optional laser marking system you can choose to have installed simply does not work very well. Moreover, there is more or less a complete lack of a warranty here, which is a big drawback. Also, the fence is somewhat low quality.
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2. DEWALT DWS780 Double Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw
If you need something a little more advanced, a miter saw that can slide and tilt to both sides for all kinds of easy bevel cuts, the DEWALT DWS780 Miter Saw is a nice option to go with. Yes, it does cost a little more than the previous option, but it also has better functionality.
Product Highlights
The DEWALT DWS780 Miter Saw features a powerful 15 amp motor. This seems to be standard when it comes to average-sized miter saws, so it is nothing to complain about. The 15-amp motor provides up to 3,800 RPM of blade spin speed, which is pretty good.
This, combined with the fairly high-quality blade that is included, helps to make fairly quick work out of most pieces of wood, even the hardest of pieces. Overall, the motor and the blade here are both quite durable and have a long lifetime.The DEWALT DWS780 Miter Saw features quite a large miter capacity, as it is able to miter 60° right and 50° left, which is quite impressive. At the same time, to increase cutting capacity, this particular miter saw slides, so you can cut larger pieces with ease.
Moreover, this is a double compound miter saw, which means it can tilt up to 49° degrees to both sides with stops at 0°, 22.5°, 33.9°, 45°, and 49°. The high-visibility scale and the easy adjustment system helps make life a little easier.The DEWALT DWS780 Miter Saw has a fairly large table and comes with a patented back fence system for lots of cutting accuracy. It even comes with an integrated XPS cross-cut position for accurate and easy cross cuts.
With that being said, the DEWALT DWS780 Miter Saw weighs close to 60 lbs., which is quite heavy. All in all, this miter saw has a very high cutting capacity in pretty much every way possible.
What’s to like about the DEWALT DWS780 Double Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw
For one, everything about the DEWALT DWS780 Miter Saw is designed to be highly durable and resistant to all forms of damage. Next, being able to slide, having a wide miter angle, and being able to tilt in both directions for easy bevel cuts is a bonus. In terms of cutting versatility, in addition to instruments for measurement and accurate cuts, this is a great option to go with.
What’s not to like about the DEWALT DWS780 Double Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw
The DEWALT DWS780 Miter Saw is very big, heavy, and bulky. It is not really a saw that you would take with you for daily trips to various jobsites. It also does not include a stand. On a side note, some models seem to be a little misaligned.
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3. Genesis GMS1015LC Compound Miter Saw
Yet another inexpensive, portable, and fairly good miter saw, the Genesis GMS1015LC Compound Miter Saw is great for at-home and on-the-jobsite tasks. It’s nothing huge, overly powerful, or fancy, but it gets the job done.
Product Highlights
For one, the Genesis GMS1015LC Compound Miter Saw can tilt to the left by 45°, with regular stops for easy and quick bevel cuts. It also comes with an accurate laser system so you are never off the mark.
The integrated laser definitely helps make life quite a bit easier. Moreover, this saw can make miter cuts 45° to the left and right, something which the laser system helps with. While the saw itself is not of a huge capacity, it does come with 2 extensions in case you need to work on slightly larger pieces.What is impressive here is that the Genesis GMS1015LC Compound Miter Saw features a powerful 15-amp motor. For the low price, we were surprised how powerful it is. Besides power, this saw is also quite convenient to use thanks to the arbor lock that makes blade changes a snap.Moreover, this item also comes with a blade guard and an electric brake to keep you safe. This saw is quite small, portable, and lightweight, making it a good option for on-the-job cutting and for use at home too. The dust collection system and the included dust bag are nice additions.
What’s to like about the Genesis GMS1015LC Compound Miter Saw
When it comes to the Genesis GMS1015LC Compound Miter Saw, we like that it is small and portable; it is just a convenient option to go with. Moreover, the fact that it tilts left for bevels, and that it features a laser guide for accuracy, are both nice additions. Of course, we also like how this item has quite a bit of power considering how low the price is.
What’s not to like about the Genesis GMS1015LC Compound Miter Saw
For one, the Genesis GMS1015LC Compound Miter Saw is a bit light, so it tends to wobble and vibrate during use. Also, the motor and the whole saw in general do not seem to be all that durable. Finally, aligning the laser properly can be a little difficult.
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Buyer’s Guide
Let’s quickly talk about some of the things you should take into consideration when buying a miter saw.
Model Variations
Normal miter saws just move up and down for simple cuts. Sliding miter saws can move back and forth to cut bigger pieces. Compound miter saws can tilt to the left for bevel cutting. Dual compound miter saws can tilt to both sides for easier bevel cutting.
Sliding compound miter saws can slide forward and back, plus they can tilt too. The more of these features the saw in question has, the more expensive it will be.
Blades
You need to pay attention to the blades. A carbide blade is usually recommended as they are tough and sharp. Pay attention to the number of teeth, the spacing of the teeth, and the tooth pattern. You might want to do some additional research on blades before you come to a final decision.
Bevel/Compound
If you only need to make straight and miter cuts, a miter saw that does not tilt for beveling is fine, but chances are that at some point you will need to make bevels. Some miter saws, compound models, can tilt left up to 45° or 49°, while dual compound models can tilt to both sides.
Electric Brakes
If your miter saw has an electric brake, you should be happy. These stop the blades from moving if you need to come to a quick stop for whatever reason.
Amps
The more amps the motor of your miter saw has, the more power and RPM it will be able to deliver.
Miter Saw F.A.Q.
Can a 10 inch miter saw cut a 4×4?
Yes, there are a few different ways in which a 10 inch saw can cut a 4×4. In other words, a 10 inch miter saw is more than big enough.
How to use a miter saw 45 degree?
Simply use the miter handle to turn the blade to a 45° angle; use the laser if one is included, turn on the saw, and press the blade straight down.
How to use a sliding compound miter saw?
If you are making bevel cuts with a sliding miter saw, first set the bevel angle, lower the blade, and then move it across the piece of wood you are looking to cut.
How to unlock a miter saw?
Miter saws usually have a simply safety lock switch that can be turned on or off before actually starting the saw.
How does a miter saw work?
A miter saw uses a simple motor to power the blade, which can then be moved up and down, forward and back, and can also be tilted at angles, depending on the type of miter saw you have.
Final Verdict
When it comes down to it, the No. 1 miter saw which we would recommend at this time is the Hitachi C10FCG Compound Miter Saw. It’s not too big or heavy, yet still has a decent amount of space to work with. It has a wide range of miter angles, it tilts for beveling, and is quite durable overall. If you need something more advanced, bigger, and with more features, you could always check out the DEWALT DWS780 Miter Saw.