What Is The Difference Between A Miter Saw And A Circular Saw

15 Best Miter Saws Review and ranking of the best miter saws. The rating includes domestic and foreign brands from budget to premium class. Meet and choose!

The best mid-range miter saws

Many construction workers need to use miter saws periodically. They work in a gentle way, for example, when installing door trims or during assembly work. For such purposes, devices from the middle price segment are suitable. Their technical parameters can vary significantly, it all depends on the functional purpose of the tool.

DeWALT DW713

The American development DeWALT DW713 is a powerful, durable, versatile tool. The saw is compact and light enough to carry around in a small workshop. The presence of 11 grooves allows you to fix the facing in any position. The cutting height reaches 89 mm with a width of 162 mm. The model is equipped with a motor braking system, a dust collector, a spindle lock. It is also possible to connect a vacuum cleaner.

Consumers note a good table, reasonable price, decent build quality. Of the shortcomings, the lack of a smooth ride is often mentioned. An abrupt start of the motor over time leads to accelerated wear of the gearbox.

Evolution RAGE3-S

Popular with woodworking amateurs and professionals alike, this miter saw has some pretty decent performance. With one and the same disc, it perfectly cuts wood, derivatives, plastic and even aluminum. But it is better not to process steel material, although the disc will withstand, the reliability of the vice for fixing the workpiece may not be enough. The broaching mechanism expands the capabilities of the tool for processing workpieces, significantly increasing the cutting length.

Circular Saw

The circular saw has a cutting mechanism. It is a serrated disc. It serves for rip cuts, although with the help of additional rails, you can unfold the blade at different angles and get cross and inclined cuts. The quality of the cut is influenced by the type of blade, its diameter, tooth shape and sharpening angle. The more teeth. The lower the speed, but the quality of the cut is better. The power of circular saws ranges from one to two and a half kilowatts. Some of these instruments are very difficult to handle while suspended.

what is the difference between a miter saw and a circular saw
  • What is the difference between a circular saw and a miter saw
  • How to choose a circular saw
  • How to choose a saw blade

Miter saw

A miter saw is a type of circular or circular saw. It is used for angular and oblique cuts at various angles. Its difference from the above-mentioned models is that it is fixed in the bed, which in turn is connected to the work table. At the same time, the disc can move up and down, maintaining the angle at which the cut will be made. You can tilt the saw using a lever.

With such a cut, the blade can be turned in different planes, while using the guides on the desktop, the blade is fed without deviating from the specified parameters. These properties make the saw popular and in demand when carrying out repair work; in addition to wood, it can be cut into tiles, metal profiles.
In addition, there are combined miter saws, where the cutting disc is able to turn 180 degrees in several movements, and you can get a full-fledged circular saw. The ability of the disc to rotate allows you to work with more complex workpieces.

How to choose trimming

An electric sawing tool is selected based on your needs. But the best, of course, will be one with power not less than 1.5 kW.

Based on the power, you can also choose a cutting blade. The more powerful the machine is, the larger the disk can be installed on it. The most common disc is considered to be 250 mm in diameter.

An important factor is disk rotation speed. Even in production, machines from 4000 rpm are used. Also, when choosing for yourself, pay attention to the fact that 4500 rpm is indicated in the passport.

The next point is the type of engine. Motors can be asynchronous and collector. The first one works quietly and lasts longer. But the trouble is that it is not found on all models. The second type of motor will make you often change the brushes, but with it the price will be cheaper.

Next, look at the structure in general and the pivoting system in particular. Each change in angle must be securely recorded.

And the last but not the least important factor is safety. The shroud must cover the disc securely. See how the sawdust ejection works. The machine must be equipped with a protection system against overheating and disk jamming.

What is a Miter Saw

Miter cuts are a saw blade mechanism designed for sawing wood and composite materials at a right or other required angle. Designed to work on a flat surface. It is allowed to be carried and installed at a temporarily equipped workplace. Their appearance resembles machines for cutting pipes, fittings, stone.

There are several types of crosscut saws:

Pendulum horizontal bed with swivel circle. A lever (pendulum) is attached to the back of the circle, which is why it got its name. It is on this arm that the saw blade is attached. The workpieces are fed along the guide bar. To make a cut, the lever with a rotating disc is recessed into the board.

Combined all the same. Thanks to the hinges, the ability to rotate the lever relative to the horizontal plane has been added.

Horizontal stroke. It resembles a pendulum, but allows you to cut wider parts by moving the mechanism with a rotating disc along the runners forward and backward.

In addition to all trims, the following is included:

  • Dust bag;
  • Laser illumination;
  • A branch pipe for connecting a vacuum cleaner.

Distinctive feature of facing

  1. In the budget version, the work surface rotates in only one direction. Professional cross-cutters are able to unfold in both directions.
  2. The professional tool is equipped with the function of turning the disc in relation to the surface. The turn is also carried out in both directions.
  3. Another distinctive feature is the type of torque transmission. Differs in belt and gear drives. The most reliable gear-driven end trimmer.

The best miter saws: feed, combination and cordless

When doing home repairs with your own hands, a situation often arises when it is necessary to make an oblique cut on the materials to be joined. This may be necessary when installing lining, laying floors or installing door and window slopes. A joint made with an ordinary saw or jigsaw is unlikely to be neat and even. In this case, you can use another tool, namely a miter saw. It allows you to cut materials at the desired angle. However, the choice of tools is now very large. Therefore, we recommend that you first explore the best miter saws of 2020 and plan your purchase based on our ranking.

Summary table of the best miter saws

Models Power, W / Voltage, V Cutting height, mm Cutting width, mm Disc diameter, mm Landing diameter, mm Tilt angle,
Bison MASTER ZPT-255-1800 PL 1800 75 305 255 thirty 45
PATRIOT MS 255 190301855 1800 72 300 255 25 45
STAVR PT-210/1800 st210-1800pt 1800 62 310 210 thirty 45
DeWALT DWS 780 960 110 345 305 thirty 49
Makita LS 1216 1650 107 363 305 25 45
Bosch GCM 8 SDE 0.601.B19.200 1800 70 312 216 thirty 60
ZUBR ZPTK-255-1800 1600 75 130 250 thirty 45
Makita LH1201FL 1800 62 200 305 thirty 45
Bosch GTM 12 JL Professional 0.601.B15.001 1650 51 305 thirty 47
Ryobi ONE R18MS216-0 5133003597 18 70 270 216 thirty 45
Einhell TE-MS 18/210 Li-Solo 4300890 18 60 120 210 thirty 45

Types of miter saws

All miter saws fall into the following categories:

  1. Ordinary miter saw. Designed for oblique and angle cuts.
  2. Combined miter saw. Combines the functions of a miter saw and a circular saw. Most often used by professionals. In everyday life, it is better to have two different tools.
  3. Crosscut saws with a broach. They differ in the presence of two parallel rails. The disc can move freely on them. Used to work with wide sheets of material.

In addition, all miter saws are divided into household and professional models. They differ primarily in cost and characteristics. If household tools are suitable for infrequent small repairs around the house, then a professional tool is purchased for construction sites and carpentry workshops.

Which company miter saw is better to choose

  • Hammer a brand of power tools for professionals with compact dimensions, high speed (about 5000 rotations per minute), low noise level and reliable protection against overheating. The devices can easily withstand heavy loads and are successfully used for different types of sawing. They are effective in working not only with wood, but also with thin aluminum surfaces.
  • Bison budget manufacturer of power tools, among which there are saws. They are used for both simple and complex cutting of blades at different angles of inclination of the blade. The large entry depth of the working elements and their decent diameter guarantee the acceleration of the process. The products have a powerful motor that can handle even high loads.
  • Caliber devices of the brand are suitable for processing workpieces not only made of wood, but also plastic and aluminum materials. They cope with a wide range of thicknesses with a large cutting disc and keep waste at an acceptable level. The company’s products are distinguished by a compact table, reliable stops and clamps, which guarantees a safer and more efficient use of miter saws for wood and other materials.
  • Metabo manufacturer of professional electrical equipment, which features high build quality, good motor power, sharp discs. The company’s products are functional and reliably protected from premature failure. The diameter of the cutting elements ranges from 216 to 315 mm, depending on the specific model.
  • Makita The company’s range is replete with miter saws, the average power of which is 1600 W. The instruments have discs with a diameter of about 20 cm, rotating at a speed of 3000-6000 revolutions per minute. Many of them are equipped with a comfortable table and a broaching mechanism for improved quality of work.
  • Bosch German manufacturer of mainly premium products. Its saws have a compact size and adequate weight, equipped with a comfortable handle and durable stops. The company’s structures are distinguished by high-quality assembly and are made from durable materials. They have easy-to-replace cutting elements and intuitive operation.
  • DeWALT The brand’s saws are appreciated for their good quality and high level of safety for the user. They keep the work surface clean when equipped with a dust collector. Most of the assortment is represented by network models powered by an outlet. The average power of the product is 1300 W, the cutting depth is about 3 cm, however, the tools weigh about 15 kg.

Best miter saws

If you need to cut at a certain angle, both wooden blanks and thin metal, plastic, you cannot do without the best miter saw. But for it to give the desired results, the tool must be of high quality, safe, simple and convenient to use. Just taking into account such parameters, our rating was compiled, in which you will find budget models, middle and premium class options.

Rating of the best miter saws

Here are the other criteria used to compare the instruments:

  • Power;
  • Rotational speed;
  • Cutting depth and width;
  • Methods for processing canvases;
  • The types of materials with which the tool works;
  • Noise level;
  • Power supply methods and cord length;
  • Engine protection;
  • Disc diameter and sharpness;
  • Possibilities for table expansion;
  • Dust box size;
  • Weight;
  • Equipment;
  • Illumination of the working surface;
  • Easy replacement of cutting elements.

Which circular saw or miter saw to choose?

Are you looking to make a nice table to match your couch but can’t decide between a miter saw and a circular saw?

Don’t worry, read our comparison guide to find out all the differences between the two saws and decide which one is the best for your task.

Some people think that one of them is better than the other, others that there is not much difference between them, and one can replace one saw with another. Nevertheless, each of them has its own characteristics and it is better to use the saw exactly for its intended purpose.

So let’s first take a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages of both types of saws.

Miter saw

What is a miter saw?
Cross-cut is a tool for precise, mainly cross-cutting, cutting of a workpiece. Most miter saws are small and portable. Unlike stationary miter saws, you can pull it out and set it on a temporary base by placing a drop mechanism (sometimes called a drip mechanism) over your workpiece. The blade sizes most commonly used for miter saws range from 8 "to 12" (20-30 cm).

What is a miter saw used for?
You can use it to create cross cuts on a workpiece in one quick motion. But more importantly, you can do it at your chosen angle. It is the best choice when you need to cut trims and moldings.

Pros
The miter saw is useful when you need precise cross-cuts in your workpieces. This saw is also a great option for miter cuts.
This is one of the main competitive advantages of this saw over other types of saws. Most importantly, the miter saw is one of the safest.

Minuses
Despite all the advantages, a miter saw is useless when you are about to cut large workpieces. While it is the best choice for cross-sections, trimming can be ineffective with long cuts (over 15 centimeters).
Miter saws are a luxury rather than a necessity.

Which circular saw or miter saw to choose?

Are you looking to make a nice table to match your couch but can’t decide between a miter saw and a circular saw?

Don’t worry, read our comparison guide to find out all the differences between the two saws and decide which one is the best for your task.

Some people think that one of them is better than the other, others that there is not much difference between them, and one can replace one saw with another. Nevertheless, each of them has its own characteristics and it is better to use the saw exactly for its intended purpose.

So let’s first take a quick look at the advantages and disadvantages of both types of saws.

Miter saw

What is a miter saw?
Cross-cut is a tool for precise, mainly cross-cutting, cutting of a workpiece. Most miter saws are small and portable. Unlike stationary miter saws, you can pull it out and set it on a temporary base by placing a drop mechanism (sometimes called a drip mechanism) over your workpiece. The blade sizes most commonly used for miter saws range from 8 "to 12" (20-30 cm).

What is a miter saw used for?
You can use it to create cross cuts on a workpiece in one quick motion. But more importantly, you can do it at your chosen angle. It is the best choice when you need to cut trims and moldings.

Pros
The miter saw is useful when you need precise cross-cuts in your workpieces. This saw is also a great option for miter cuts.
This is one of the main competitive advantages of this saw over other types of saws. Most importantly, the miter saw is one of the safest.

Minuses
Despite all the advantages, a miter saw is useless when you are about to cut large workpieces. While it is the best choice for cross-sections, trimming can be ineffective with long cuts (over 15 centimeters).
Miter saws are a luxury rather than a necessity.