Cordless miter saws are one of a special kind of miter saws. They are highly recommended and widely used tools.
Cordless miter saws can cut perfect angle and bevel cuts on timber quickly as compared to a standard circular saw.
Cordless miter saws in general provide professional woodworkers more accuracy and help in creating such cuts and install moldings that were never imagined.
Miter saws are one of the most used and significantly important tools in a woodwork shop.
It is an investment that to make your work easier and to attain the best possible cuts. Each type of miter has different functions, features, speed and power.
Hence, it might get confusing at times to choose the right one for your needs. A cordless miter saw eliminates the need of a power cord.
This enabled the miter saw to be used for various other purposes as well as virtually anywhere, even where there is no power to plug in.
In this article we are about to learn a lot more about the cordless miter saw, its uses, types, advantages and how helpful it can get in the woodworking industry
Best Cordless Miter Saw For The Money In 2021
By now when all are aware of the benefits of a cordless miter saw, you might be thinking how to choose one accurately.
At first, you should be determining what type of cut you usually create and how often.
There are a lot of professional dream cordless miter saws in the market that are budget friendly as well as high functional.
Make thoughtful decisions so that you don’t waste your money in buying such machine which is of no good use to you.
Some of the best cordless miter saw for the money 2021 are
1. DeWalt DCS361M1
DeWalt is one of the main leading manufacturers of cordless and corded miter saws. They manufacture and sell more products in a year more than any of its competitors.
DeWalt DCS361M1 is also one of those cordless miter saw from DeWalt that is still unbeatable.
It weighs around 31.6 pounds which increases its mobility. It is a battery powered DeWalt DCS361M1 cordless miter saw.
This machine is comparatively smaller than a 10inch and 12 inch miter saw. However, despite of being small and portable, the functions are no less than any other larger cordless miter saw.
This machine can easily tackle the work of cutting 3 5/8” crown molding and 3 1/2” baseboard. It also comes with an adjustable stainless steel detent plate that has around 10 positive stops.
It is a very compatible machine with lots of features. It can perform compound miter cut as well as it can cut a 2×8 material on a 45-degree bevel cut or a 2×6 material on a miter cut.
It also has an over sized bevel and comes with a very fast charging battery and works with 20V eventually saving your time.
However, changing the blade in this machine can be a great hurdle and task. It takes a lot of time and effort to change the blade.
The dust port is not that impressive but the machine has hardly any bad reviews. Hence, that overcomes any draw backs.
2. DeWalt DCS361B
DeWalt DCS361B cordless miter saw is also a small sized miter saw with a blade lesser than a 10 or 12 inch blade size.
It is a highly admired cordless machine due to its efficiency and fast cutting ability.
It contains an oversized bevel which enables the machine to perform bevel angle adjustments accurately and precisely.
This cordless miter saw has a cross cut positioning system that provides an adjustment free cut line indication that leads to better cuts.
This machine has the capacity to cut around 3 5/8 inch crown molding and 3 ½inch vertical base. It works with 20V voltage.
It is extremely light weight, weighing around 30lbs and be carried anywhere. This DeWalt cordless miter saw has an adjustable stainless steel miter detent plate having 11 positive stops.
This model has a cam lock miter handle that provides ultimate accuracy in cutting miter angles.
The fence is purely machined base, supported for optimizing the durability and accuracy when cutting.
However, the model does not come with a battery and a charger. You have to buy them separately.
The blade fitted in is ultra sharp and has carbide tips. It is specially designed according to the cordless miter saw. For better quality and less vibration it has a new plate design.
3. DeWalt DHS790AT2
DeWalt DSH790AT2 has a powerful brush less 120V motor that provides a better and longer run time than any other brushed motor.
It has a sheer power, capability and size also it is the best cordless double bevel compound miter saw with a 12inch blade available in the market.
This machine is designed in such a way that provides ultimate ease and capabilities to the carpenters and the woodworkers.
Any woodworker that mostly does crown molding and any other fancy wood cutting work must have the Dewalt Flexvolt machine.
The batter it has automatically changes the voltage as soon as the tool is changed. This unique property is found in this machine.
It has a run time of about 289 cross cuts in 3 ¼ inch baseboard molding. It is a compact and portable machine that weighs around 56lbs.
It has flexible options whether to be corded or cordless. It also has a built in flexvolt technology that makes it stand out in the crowd.
However, the flexVolt technology can be used with newer DeWalt power tools.
4. Makita XSL06PT
Makita is a really reliable brand as it is mainly known due to its cordless tools. It is one of those companies to make professional cordless tools for making the work easier.
It runs with the help of 2-18V LXT lithium-ion batteries providing a sum of 36V to the machine motor.
Makita LXT battery system has the fastest recharge time any manufacturer ever made.
This means that once the battery is completely drained, you can recharge it in less than 20minutes.
One on charge of these o.5Ah batteries, the machine can cut approximately 334 2x4s or 192 2x12s providing a considerable work day.
It is dual bevel sliding compound miter saw with a 10inch sharp blade for fine and smooth cutting.
The amazing x2 LXT technology provides more speed, power and run time without any hurdles and hassle of cord.
The BL brushless motor runs the motor cooler and more efficiently while eliminating the carbon brushes for a longer life span of the machine.
It also has a built in automatic speed changing technology that adjusts itself according to the cuts.
5. DeWalt DHS716AT2
DeWalt has legit taken over the market by its latest and innovative products. The cordless miter saw has also become their speciality.
This DeWalt DHS716At2 machine contains a 12 inch high spinning blade that works smoothly with two 60volt lithium-ion batteries, for a sum of 120V brushless motor.
The batteries automatically change voltage with the change of tools. This compact machine is of 56lbs.
The machine is extremely flexible without the limitations of a cord but the power equals to that of the corded machine.
The amazing brushless motor works at 15amp providing strong and tough cuts, it is something usually found in corded machines only.
It also provides a considerable amount of freedom which means that you are free to use it in any way you want.
It is particularly very helpful when there are a lot of projects of wood cutting.
6. Ryobi ZRP551
If you are in search of an affordable yet efficient and cordless miter saw, the ryobi 551 cordless miter saw should be considered.
Besides of making accurate cuts this machine has an elegant and decent design.
It is certainly very light weight about 17.4 lbs and one of the very portable and mobile miter saws ever manufactured.
If you are someone who works at remote and distant areas, a cordless miter saw is what you should definitely have.
The motor of the machine is heavy duty with 18V which creates accurate small cuts.
The specialized blade is manufactured with 24 carbide teeth and 7-1/4 inches in diameter to provide precise cutting experience.
It has an adjustable bevel from 0 degree to 45 degree with 9 positive stops ranging between these two angles.
The machine has a normal cut capacity of 2×4 inches and a cross cut capacity of 4-1/4 inches.
However, as mentioned the ryobi 551 cordless miter saw does not come with a battery and charger thus you have to buy them separately.
But even after that the mobility of the machine will not be reduced. This unique, small and innovative machine also contains a built in laser guide system.
This laser guide system is often installed to help the operator in cutting more precised, straight and accurate cuts.
A laser light or LED light when adjusted will directly fall on to the cutting line making the line more visible and clear.
When there is a need of changing or replacing the blades, the machine has easy spindle locks that help in the replacement.
The machine also has a dust removal system to remove any sort of saw dust or debris before or at the end of completing the project.
7. Ridgid R48607K
Ridgid R48607k cordless miter saw is a light weight dual bevel sliding miter. It is extremely easy to transport as it is just 24lbs.
The machine has a powerful motor with 2x capacity of performing more cuts in a single charge as compared to the others. It uses 18V lithium ion batteries of 5Ah.
This innovative machine has a brush less motor technology that ultimately provides longer motor life and extended run time efficiency.
It also has a built in LED light system installed that illuminates light while cutting the projects to keep the work accurate and precised and for better visibility of the cut line.
The machine has a dual bevel design ranging from 0 degree to 48 degree left and right bevel with positive stops at 00, 33.90, 450 and 480.
The movable head of the miter saw allows you to create larger and wider cuts with the sliding rails rather than flipping over the board to create the cuts.
It is well equipped with wet/dry adapters and a dust collection port. The machine specifically includes a R840095 GEN5X charger.
8. Makita XSL05Z
While the prices of other cordless miter saws might be less but this Makita XSL05Z machine is comparatively expensive. This also shows how professional and good quality the machine is.
Including Makita XSl05Z machine, all the good miter saws now particularly use a brush less motor to increase the life span of the motor as well as the performance.
This machine has an automatic speed change technology that adjusts the torque and the cutting speed by itself for optimum cutting.
It specifically uses 18V LXT lithium ion batteries which perform better and high speed cutting, these batteries deliver up to 270 cuts in 1/2 “x 3-1/2” baseboard.
However, the battery is not included with this kit. Therefore, you have to buy it separately.
This elegant machine is compact and portable and weighs around 14.6 lbs which makes it possible to carry it anywhere.
The brush less motor in this kit is electronically controlled to boost and improve the 50% battery life.
It has an aluminum base that provides stability while cutting along with an electric brake system for maximum productivity.
This kit includes a laser light system for precised cutting. Moreover it includes rubber sized soft grip handle, wrench and vertical vise.
It has a Cutting capacity of 1-13/16″ x 3-5/8″ at 90° and 1-13/16″ x 2-9/16″ at45°.
It has miters from 0-52° left and right also bevels from 0-46° left and right as well as Miter detents at: 0°, 15°, 22.5°, 30° and 45° left and right.
The Makita technology provides a leading charge time so that battery spends more time working and less time charging.
9. Makita XSL02Z
Makita XSL02Z has an incredibly powerful brush less motor that works at 5700RPM and provides accurate, straight and faster cuts.
It is less time consuming due to its high speed efficiency. It weighs around 28lbs which makes it extremely compact, handy and transportable.
It is a 18V x2 LXT lithium ion battery powered cordless dual slide compound miter saw. However, the battery is not included.
You have to buy it individually. The machine has a high spinning blade of 7-1/2 inches which cuts the wood very effectively.
It has a very large dimensional cutting capacity of about 2×12” at 90 degrees and 2×8” at 45 degrees.
Further, 4 steel rail sliding system increases toughness and rigidity to provide expert, advanced and superior cuts.
This machine from Makita is well known in the market due to its ability of accurate cutting with the power of a corded miter saw.
It is affordable as well as durable and makes the work easy. It can be taken into any distant and remote areas where there is no power supply or electricity.
The powerful batteries will allow you to make several cuts with a single charge. A cordless miter saw is comparatively hassle-free with no fuss of the extension wires.
It is a versatile machine and a great alternate.
10. Makita XSL06Z 18V
This professional cordless dual bevel compound miter saw is great for heavy duty work all day.
It occupies lesser space and is fit for working professionally all day. It is exclusively powered by two LXT batteries which deliver more power, run time and speed.
However, this kit is not included with the x2 LXT lithium-ion batteries. You have to get them separately.
It is completely free of cord and lets you enjoy the cutting without any hassle.
Makita XSL06Z has a powerful brush less motor that works at a high speed of 4,400 RPM providing a faster and smoother cut for most of your projects.
A brush less motor means that your saw will not wear out any sooner as the standard motors because a brush less motor works cool and efficiently.
This is why Makita is known for ultimate innovation in the industry of power tools.
It is provided with automatic speed change technology that deliberately alters the cutting speed and torque for optimum cutting experience depending on the material.
This machine is installed with a built in laser technology.
Makita XSL06Z also includes rubber grips for better hold, electric brake system for halting the blade within seconds, bevel lock for easy adjustments, extension wings for holding the material firmly.
This incredible machine has two sliding rail system that helps in achieving longer and wider cuts by easily cutting across the entire length of the wooden board.
It has 48 degree bevel capacity for both the sides with approximately 11 positive stops.
This machine uses a 10inch sharp blade which can potentially cut 4x12inch cross cut along 90 degrees, 5-1/4 inch vertical baseboard and 6-5/8 inch vertically nested moldings.
It has the ability to perform miter cuts along 60 degrees on both sides.
What Are Cordless Miter Saws Good For?
If you desire to make multiple identical miter cuts or cross cuts on a piece of wood, the miter saw is all you need.
These power tools are usually used at the construction sites where there is a need of instant trimming down. They are capable of creating consistent miter cuts.
A miter saw is considered very valuable in a wood working shop, where there is a lot of work of board cutting or trimming.
These keep the walls and the flooring of the construction size flat and squared.
They can produce a variety of huge difference on wood projects from small work like picture frames and boxes to walls and doors.
Why Choose A Battery Powered Miter Saw?
A cordless and battery powered miter saw may result in being more useful than the ordinary standard cord miter saw.
You might be thinking how senseless this sounds and why would anybody buy a cordless miter saw.
Some of you might also think that this is a scheme to sell this new product and batteries to earn loads of money. But this is not the case here.
A cordless miter saw with a battery is essentially beneficial as it enables you the operator to work everywhere and anywhere. You are not bound to work with a switch and plug.
A cordless battery miter saw will allow you to work at the places with the lack of access to an electrical outlet or simply in the places where there is no power supply.
A cordless battery miter saw is easy to deal with and can potentially save you a lot of time and money.
It is less frustrating than carrying long cords everywhere just to attain few smaller cuts. Another aspect is that, it is comparatively safer and secure.
It does not have hundreds of feet of extension cords lying all over the place. Hence, this will eliminate the hassle of repairing and costly replacements of the broken cord extensions.
What Sized Cordless Miter Saw For What Job?
A miter saw generally comes in 2 standard blade sizes; 10inch and 12inch.
Larger blades are often used to create wider and deeper cuts in to the wood while smaller blades are easy to handle and operate.
Before considering what blades you are going to get, it is essential to determine what kind of woodwork you usually do.
If you are interested in cutting crown moldings, a 10 inch blade will work alright to cut a 4-5inch molding.
But if your moldings are most likely to exceed 6inch, you can go for a 12inch blade size.
If you have to cut through the tough flooring material very often, you should better have a 12inch blade.
For larger pieces of laminating flooring you should use a 12 inch blade and for smaller pieces a 10 inch blade will work fine.
It is also highly preferred to use a 12inch blade for tough cutting work because it is easier to create a cut in a sliding and dropping motion instead of only dropping motion which is usually used with 10 inch blade size.
How Do Cordless Miter Saw Works?
There are a huge variety of cordless miter saws available but mostly all the cordless miter saws are same and work through the same mechanism.
Each one of them have a high speed spinning blade that effortlessly cuts through the wood and light metal piece creating different straight and angled cuts.
Cordless power miter saws are operated by batteries and can be easily used in the remote areas without the need of any electrical outlet or power supply.
When it comes to the functions and mechanism, they pretty much work exactly the same as the corded miter saws.
However, cordless miter saws are efficient, instant and more convenient.
The latest and innovative models will make you create at least 900 and 450 angled cuts whereas the most basic models are unable to tilt up and down creating a limitation in the range of cuts you can actually achieve.
A compound miter saw is very versatile as it allows you to perform various cuts including miter cuts, angle cuts, cross cuts and bevel cuts.
However, a sliding compound miter saw is comparatively even more versatile as it enables you to create larger and wider cuts without flipping over the board.
This is due to the attached radial arms which can move and rotate to make the work easier.
Which One Makes The Cut
Literally all the cordless miter saws can make the cuts easily. They are designed and developed in such a way to provide ultimate ease and cutting experience to the user.
The size and the depth of the cut is generally influenced by the type of blade, size of blade and the tooth count of the blade. A good quality blade determines the output.
By the help of a 10 inch miter saw, you can achieve several cuts with a cordless miter saw. The adjustments are also smooth.
You will also observe that the controlling of the saw also becomes easy. The battery of a cordless power miter saw also determines its efficiency.
However, a worn out battery will result in rough cutting due to less supply of power to go through the cut.
How To Cut Curves In Wood
If you are looking forward to cut a lot of curves and entangled as well as complex shapes into a piece of wood or a metal for your project, you can feel the need to inflate and extend the cordless miter saw with some other for example, a cordless DeWalt or Makita jigsaw tool.
Whenever you are planning to cut something more professional and complex than the basic straight cuts, it is crucial to follow an instruction guide.
You would never want to experiment different cuts on your project.
Ideally jigsaw tools are used to perform complex compound and bevel cuts as well as cutting shapes in a wooden piece when attached with a correct suitable blade.
In order to cut curves in wood, you are going to position the blade away from the edge and then press the saw shoe onto the wooden work piece.
Gradually keep moving the blade along the cutting line. You should be working on the outer side so that you can alter the excess edges later.
It is crucial to keep a constant speed and cut with a consistent pace so that it does not affect and pressure the motor too much.
If inevitable and demanded then make few relief cuts on tight curves of wood to prevent the miter saw from deviating and binding.
Consider Before You Buy
Thoughtful decisions and acknowledgment is always necessary before you decide what kind of power tool you are about to get. Considerations always result in buying the required power tool.
You should always have an idea about what types of cut you are going to perform or what are your requirements for that as well as how often you cut.
There are a few factors that are important to consider before you buy
Durability
Before getting yourself a miter saw, know that a good quality miter saw must be able to cut through a fairly large amount of wood pieces or other materials before collapsing and breaking down.
At the most minimum, you should be able to perform close to 200 cuts into a pine or any other similar thickness and solidity material in one shot.
Determine if the miter saw is able to cut through light metal sheets as well.
Battery Life
You should firstly look for such a cordless miter saw that offers a long battery life. The best and good quality miter saw lets you cut around 200 cuts on a single charge without recharging.
It is better to get a miter saw with longest possible battery life because then you will have to spend a little time in changing batteries and then waiting for them to get recharged.
Brand
It is important to select such a brand on which you can rely on for better quality, output, functions, features, quality of tools etc.
As with the corded miter saws, people trust and rely on DeWalt or Makita. You can choose either of these two brands or some other brand which you prefer and think can offer long tool life.
Price
It is always a good idea to invest a handsome amount of money on buying an excellent quality miter saw once rather than keep spending more money on repairing and replacement of the tools.
The branded cordless miter saws such as from Makita and DeWalt might comparatively cost more than any other product but they will assure you to get plenty of work done for a very long period of time and years as compared to cheap and low quality cordless miter saws.
Tips For Using Cordless Miter Saw
After you have learned enough about the working and functions of the cordless miter saws, let’s have a quick look on some tips for using a cordless miter saw because this tool is incredibly durable and versatile:
- Try getting a cordless miter saw that has a built in laser guide to help you in more precised
- You can use some stop block to measure out successive cuts as with a cordless miter saw you have to create a lot of cuts.
- If the long wooden pieces are large and heavier enough to deal with, it is better to cut the heavier piece with a cordless miter saw to make it more manageable.
- You can also use a cordless miter saw very efficiently with a mobile miter stand. This will support your work. A lot of professional woodworkers cannot imagine doing their work without mobile miter stands.
How To Choose The Perfect Cordless Miter Saw
A cordless miter saw is a reputable machine around the world. It is a huge investment that needs some considerations. A cordless miter saw is the replacement of a corded miter saw.
The both sort of miter saws potentially hold the exact same features and functions except that one has a cord and the other does not have a cord.
A corded miter saw is great to use in workshops and at the places where you don’t need to worry about carry a miter saw.
However, a cordless miter saw is a modern need. It can be carried from place to place as it is immensely portable and mobile.
It is designed in such a way to provide the operator with a compact machine which works with the support of motor and batteries.
This saw is considered to be reducing efforts, time and work load.
Almost all the cordless miter saw use the lithium ion battery technology because that provides a larger battery capacity.
Choosing a cordless miter saw is merely dependent on your needs, preferences and requirements. They are selected on the basis of what sort of work you often deal with.
It is more of a matter of determining what cuts you want to attain and how portable you want it to be.
Usually those workers who keep changing their work places according to their project’s requirements need a cordless miter saw.
A cordless miter saw can be further divided into few basic categories:
Miter Saw
By the help of this machine you are only able to cut basic miter cuts not even a compound miter cut as the blade of this saw does not bevel.
- Bevel Miter Saw
- This bevel miter saw allows you to cut compound miter cuts such as crown moldings.
This is because when you move these types of saws, the blade can bevel to side or to the both sides in case of a double bevel saw.
Sliding Bevel Miter Saw
A sliding bevel miter saw has moving rails attached to it that allows the saw head to move and cut across the entire length of the board.
It can create cuts on a large material as large as cutting off 2×12” floor joists. Apart from the types of saws, the type and size of blade also matters.
The blade has a lot to do with the cutting capacity of a saw. A larger blade like a 2inch blade will allow you to cut wider and deeper on the material.
Hence, it has the ability to cut larger crown moldings. Miter saws usually range from 7-1/2” blade to 12” blade. A smaller blade will enable you to cut thinner and finer.
Looking at the adjustments and controls is also an important factor because some saws are convenient and easy than the other. You should also check the adjusting angle and bevel of the blade.
If you want your work to be more accurate and aligned like the professional wood workers, look for such saws that have a built in laser guide.
This will definitely help you in achieving precised cuts because at the time of cutting the laser guide will help you accurately located the line from where the cut has to be made.
Acknowledging all these factors will keep you from the frustration of bad experiences and cuts. This will also improve the work efficiency.
This is how you choose the perfect cordless miter saw according to what you need. You should always have an idea about your work so that when you go to buy any sort of miter saw whether corded or cordless, you always make the right decision.
Listen to yourself rather than believing the advises and the commercials. You know your work better than any other individual.
Hence, it is necessary to have complete knowledge about your field.
Conclusion
The above article is the complete and accurate guide about what cordless miter saws are and why they are essential to have.
There are so many reasons and aspects of owning a cordless miter saw which will be unleashed to you when you go through the article thoroughly.
This will benefit you in selecting the correct tool for your work whether home-based or workshop.
Despite of so many saws introduced in the market, owning a cordless miter saw is essential as it does not require any sort of power supply or electricity.
It does not have to plug in to the switch. They work with batteries and bring ease to the wood working.
FAQs
Q1. Who Makes The Best Cordless Miter Saw?
Ans. There are a lot of brands that hold a distinct position in manufacturing high quality best cordless miter saws. Some are given below:
- Makita
- DeWalt
- Ryobi
- Ridgid
Q2. Are Cordless Miter Saws Worth It?
Ans. The cordless miter saws are efficient at so many things. They are portable and not weaker than a standard corded miter saw. If you are someone who frequently moves from place to place in order to complete the work, a cordless miter saw is worth it. It is similar in functions and features but does not contain a cord. This also prevents you from a lot of hassle and hurdles.
Q3. What Is The Best Dewalt Miter Saw?
Ans. The top three best dewalt miter saws are:
- DeWalt DWS780 miter saw.
- Dewalt DW715 miter saw.
- DeWalt DCS361B miter saw.
Q4. Does Ridgid Make Cordless Miter Saw?
Ans. Yes, Ridgid definitely makes cordless miter saw in fact, it is one of the very highly demanded cordless miter saw brands.
Q5. Is It Possible To Use A Cordless Miter Saw With A.C?
Ans. There are a few cordless machines that can be plug into an outlet with Ac adapter available in the market. For example, MultiVolt miter saw can work with a battery of 36V or can easily be plug into an electric switch with AC adapter.
Q6. When You Need A Cordless Miter Saw?
Ans. A cordless miter saw is a very useful power tool. It can be used for various purposes just exactly like the corded miter saw. This machine is not at all different than a corded miter saw. However, its unique feature is that it is compact, versatile and portable. It is a tool free from extension wires and can be used at far and remote places where there is no power supply.
Q7. What Is A Cordless Miter Saw?
Ans. A cordless miter saw is a kind of power tool which can accurately perform bevel and angle cuts on a timber. It is free from any sort of extension wires or cords and can be easily operated via high volt batteries. It has the same ability as that of a corded miter saw but it is more convenient and fast. It is often used by the operators who are prone to moving place to place for performing their wood cutting projects.