If you happen to plan to do woodworking—and particularly should you’ll be chopping trim—a miter noticed is a vital software. If you happen to’re engaged on bigger tasks, you could be able to graduate from a miter field to an influence noticed for extra velocity and to chop larger materials. In any case, a top quality noticed will make it simpler to carry out exact cuts, however should you’re excited about making the improve, there is not any getting round the truth that miter saws could be costly.

However they are often cheaper. Proper now, DeWalt’s finest 12-inch double-bevel compound chop and miter noticed is on sale for $499 at The House Depot. That is 43% off its common value—and it comes with a stand.

Why I like this noticed

A mixture chop noticed and miter noticed lets you make angled cuts in addition to straight, 90-degree cuts, and the double bevel lets you additionally make compound angled cuts for issues like crown molding. This noticed can lower by boards as much as 14 inches broad, in addition to make cuts to crown molding on a double bevel as much as 7 ½ inches broad. You can too use this noticed for making sq. cuts, like chopping 2×4 for framing, or you should use it for exact cuts for trim.

If you happen to’ve ever tried your hand at putting in trim, you’ll know that in lots of instances, issues which can be alleged to be sq. (just like the corners of a room) would possibly really be 91 levels or 89 levels as a substitute of a real 90 levels. In these instances, a miter noticed that may lower a number of angles in multiple course at a time is indispensable.

I’ve used a DeWalt double-bevel chop noticed for over a decade, and this mannequin has confirmed to be dependable and sturdy. The adjustment mechanism for mitered cuts is straightforward to make use of and locks firmly to maintain your angle safe. I exploit mine regularly to chop framing, however I additionally generally use it for precision chopping for making furnishings or putting in trim; its versatility implies that I solely want one software for all these jobs.

I might, nonetheless, suggest choosing a better tooth-count blade for chopping trim or for furniture-making, as a finer-toothed blade will trigger much less tear out and make smoother, extra common cuts. To make precision chopping simpler, I normally go for an 80-tooth mixture blade that can enable each crosscuts and rip cuts.

What’s included within the equipment

The DeWalt 12-inch compound sliding miter noticed comes with the noticed; a 12-inch, 32-tooth blade; a wrench for swapping out blades; a fabric clamp; and a mud bag. Whereas the included multipurpose blade is nice for framing, a better tooth rely will likely be extra profitable for tasks with much less margin for error, like chopping trim. The fabric clamp can come in useful if you wish to arrange a jib, or to keep away from motion in your materials when you’re chopping.

Additionally included on this set is a folding noticed stand with adjustable materials run-off helps. The stand is a comparatively sturdy possibility that additionally permits the noticed to be moveable, as it’s collapsable.

The DeWalt mixture miter and chop noticed is a favourite of woodworkers as a result of the miter adjustment is reliable and straightforward to make use of. The repute of this explicit line of instruments goes again over 100 years, to the invention of the primary radial arm noticed in 1920. The radial arm noticed and the adjustable radial arm noticed had been the primary ever of their form, first produced by DeWalt software firm starting in 1924. Since then, DeWalt has expanded their line to incorporate way more moveable choices, however they’ve maintained their standing as a trusted model for woodworkers.