How to Use a Compound Miter Saw – 7 Steps with video!
Miter saw is one basic tool for woodworking that every workshop needs to have. Making clean cross-cut on a wood stock is one of the many miter saw uses. There are various types of miters saw available like hand miter saw and compound miter saw. The latter one helps to bevel while turning the saw.
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Today we’ll focus on how to use a compound miter saw even if you are a beginner. I’ll include some miter saw tips and tricks to make the process even more simple.
How to Use A Compound Miter Saw: A Detail Guide
I’ll try to include everything related to using compound miter saw. It’s going to be fun ride, keep reading!
Step-01: Understanding Compound Miter Saws
There are several choices available on a miter saw for beginners that allow you to make an accurate crisscross cut. However, a compound miter saw is one of the most preferable ones. These are good at cutting angled, bevel and even squared.
There is no need to angle and bevel at a separate time. You can do both tasks at the same moment. This tool is a master for making complex compound cuts easily. Especially when you are working with crown molding and accurate angle cutting chores.
Step-02: Some Common Parts
To know use a compound miter saw you need to be familiar with the parts involved with it. These will give you a better understanding of how you can hold and use the tool. Here’s some point to help you out:
- There is a push-button on the saw that will allow you to turn it on or off.
- To adjust the blade angle, you’ll find a bevel adjustment. This will allow you to have better positioning for bevel.
- There is a safety clamp in the compound miter saw. This lets you have better safety when cutting wood and hold it in place.
- You can use the slide bar in the miter saw for movement. Since the bar allows guided motion it lets you cut in a linear fashion.
- Most of the model for compound miter saw will include a built-in dust bag. This will hold and minimize any flying chips of wood or dust inside your work-space.
- To keep your board in place, there is a resting area called fence. In bond with the clamp, this pat will help you to work with a securely fit board.
Step-03: Find the Right Type of Compound Miter Saw
There are different projects to try with a compound miter saw. Each will need a particular size of the miter saw. This is why you should ask yourself before the project if the compound miter saw size you own is right for the project.
With a perfect fit, your cutting precision will be higher. This will result in more accurate cuts. Corresponding of blades diameter is also a major thing to consider while understanding your compound miter size.
Also, you can’t ignore the power factor of the tool. The scale of your project should be a good hint over choosing what power you need in a compound miter saw. A human-sized project will need a twelve to the fifteen-amp compound miter saw.
However, if the project is larger in scale, get something with higher amp ratings to work smoothly. Once you get the right saw, give a good amount of time reading the instruction manual included. You need to be completely sure about the technicalities such as guard and turn on/off buttons.
Step-04: Prepare to Start
Next, you are good to set up your work-space and table to get a good woodcut. Make sure the area is well lightened so that you can see the angles or curves better while cutting.
Step-05: Proper Alignment Is the Key to Go!
Use a pencil to mark the measurements before making a cut. This is important to get an aligned cut. Placing the blade in line with the marked area needs you to be really careful.
Once you feel the alignment is right, you can turn the saw on. Don’t forget to detach the blade guard before turning the saw on.
Step-06: Working with Highest Speed!
Let the machine reach the highest speed gradually. Now with careful motion, you should let the saw cut the wood following the mark.
The saw will efficiently move back and forward, so the cutting process is going to be quite easy. The major point here is to have a steady hand.
You should firmly maintain the grip so that there will be no shakiness obstacle a good cut. Once you are well-acknowledged with the right method and practice following it every day, your cuts will become better and better with passing time.
Step-07: Angle Knob Turn!
You need to be perfect with adjusting the angle knob. This is important if you need fine-angled cuts to match your desired specification.
Lessening the blade, twist it rightly and match with the angle. Now you need to ensure there is no wobbling by locking the blade tightly.
Experts say you should add a couple of degrees extra to cut off any errors at all. Some compound miter saw does not fit at first and this will help you to avoid such issues easily.
Using an external angle reference is also a good idea to get better cuts. There are blocks that you can use for the project and it will give you a better sense of uniformity.
Step-07: Let the Blade Stop Completely!
Your blade needs to complete the cutting process. You should not hurry to make it stop. Wait until it completely stops turning. This way you’ll be able to reduce unnecessary accident risks as well.
Verdict
So, that was the entire thing about How to use a compound miter saw. It’s undoubtedly a wonderful machine that will take your woodwork projects to another level. You should know proper methods to operate this complex tool right way.
Also, don’t forget your safety. Wear proper gears and goggles to avoid any kind of accident that might occur meanwhile.
Keep your hands at a safe distance while using the saw. You can always turn to someone expert for things that seem confusing and I’m sure woodworkers have a great heart to help you out! Good Luck!
Our Recommended Resource:
How to Use A Sliding Miter Saw
Last update on 2024-12-01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
