If you are like me, buying a new Compound miter saw and Saw Stand set - up is something to get excited about. Shopping at the local home improvement warehouse stores raises more questions than it answers. Read this article and discover the 3 simple questions you need answers to that will make the buying decision fun and unbelievably easy.
1. What do I need?
Knowing what you are going to use the saw and stand for makes life much easier.
For making miter cuts on small wood moldings, like quarter round and 4 inch base boards a small power miter box will fill all your needs.
For projects that require compound angled cuts, like those used to install the large crown molding, your needs will be satisfied by a compound miter saw equipped with a 12 inch 80 tooth carbide blade.
For the larger jobs where cutting framing materials are required, like cuts made to roofing rafters made of 2 by 10s or 2 by 12s a heavy duty sliding compound miter saw with a 12 inch 60 tooth carbide blade will get the job done right.
2. How will I be using this tool?
Using the saw and stand in a shop environment, A stationary set - up and a dust collection system makes the most sense. In addition to making clean - up easier, a built in table designed to support the pieces of material you will be cutting is a great must have feature.
Working on the job site, in a word, portability and OK lets make it two words, durability separate the good from the not so good. You are going to need to move room to room and floor to floor so something heavy that will not fit through an average entry door is out of the realm of reason.
3. Do I want good quality or Will Cheep Work?
OK, cheep stuff has its place. For the one time project where you set the saw and stand up and leave it set up, cheep works. Although you should expect to give up quality materials, durability and live with the lack of functionality of the cumbersome levers and knobs, and need a hand full of tools each time you move the thing, all just to save a few bucks.
Premium full featured saw stands are manufactured using top quality aluminum body and leg components. Equipped with slide out material supports, adjustable legs for uneven job sites, solid wheels attached for ease of one person moving the saw and stand around the work site and best of all tool free set - up and adjustments designed to last for years of heavy duty use.
