If you’re into fine woodwork, you almost certainly understand the importance of getting a miter saw with an honest blade to perform an array of functions.
Now It is about what size miter saw to buy? Miter saws on the market accompany a spread of blade types and sizes.
Blades typically are available 10 or 12-inch sizes. Deciphering between which saw to get, depends on what you propose on cutting.
However, unless you’ve got a frequent need of what miter saw to buy actually for a 12-inch blade a secure bet would be to shop for a 10-inch.
The Three Most Common Sizes You Should Know
It’s often challenging to shop for the proper power tool because they are available in numerous different variations and sizes.
Although when it comes to miter saws, there’s less to contemplate regarding size and more pondering concerning the dissimilar sorts of miter saws and sub- types.
When it involves sizes, things are pretty clear, a minimum for everything has some industrial or very niche applications.
The Three commonest Sizes you ought to Know 7.5” Miter Saws 10” Miter Saws 12” Miter Saws Also Your Miter Saw Size Depends on the sort of Project Cutting 4x4s Cutting Crown Molding.
There are really only three sizes of miter saw that you simply should know, and maybe just one that’s really worth buying, unless you’re a working professional.
But if that’s the case, then the subsequent information should already be quite familiar to you.
Your Miter Saw Size Depends On The Type Of Project
Making smooth, safe cuts together with your table saw, radial-arm saw, chop saw or sliding compound miter saw depends on having the proper blade for the tool and for the sort of cut you would like to make.
There is no shortage of quality options, and therefore the sheer volume of obtainable blades could bewilder even an experienced woodworker.
That’s why we’ve put together this article. It’s part glossary and part guide, with important basic information to help you make the proper saw blade selection for your project.
Cutting 4x4s When cutting 4x4s a 10” miter saw is typically enough.
This is often a comparatively simple piece of wood that doesn’t require much, except the right kind of blade and motor.
Luckily the 10” blade is quite enough. There’s no valid reason to settle on the latter only for projects involving 4x4s and smaller materials.
Making smooth, safe cuts together with your table saw, radial-arm saw, chop saw or sliding compound miter saw depends on having the proper blade for the tool and for the sort of cut you would like to make.
The 10” miter saw tends to shine. That’s because most crown molding work involves cuts up to 5”.
This sort of blade and saw should be quite enough during this case. However, things change if the crown molding gets really big, upwards of 9 or 10 inches.
In this situation, you’ve got no choice but to use a 12” miter saw, preferably also one with a sliding blade, because the sliding feature with increase your cutting capacity.
Working with Laminate Flooring Here’s another common sort of project where a miter saw are often indispensable – cutting laminate flooring.
However, it’s also a transparent case of matching sizes, even as with crown molding. For smaller laminate flooring cuts, you’ll easily use a 10” miter saw.
Again, this helps maintain precision while also saving valuable time, if you’re on a deadline or just during a hurry.
But, unlike with crown molding, there’s another thing to think about here. Laminate flooring can differ significantly in strength. If the fabric is regular, then a 10” saw will do exactly fine.
Do I Need A 10-Inch Or 12-Inch Miter Saw
A 10-inch blade will spin faster than a 12-inch blade, leading to smoother cuts.
Equal motors powering the 2 blades will end in a better RPM rate on the 10-inch blade and better RPMs mean a finer finish.
10 inch is cheaper, thanks to its clear cut option, whereas 12 inch miter saw is costlier because the blades have teeth which increases the worth of a saw.
Blades Are Interchangeable?
No, it’s difficult to seek out the right blade. Some people choose combination blades to offer them more freedom.
You can’t get interchangeable buzz saw blades from different models and makes that fit perfectly.
You have the liberty to travel for other options or all-purpose blades provided you get an honest compromise between finish quality and speed.
The logos and abbreviations are very confusing. It is better to think about the manufacturer’s recommendations and therefore the quite material used when trying to find the proper saw blade.
How Much do 10” and 12” Blades Differ?
The 10-inch miter saw is pretty popular and with good reason. The 10-inch blade cuts pieces that are up to six inches wide, which covers most trim and molding boards.
Trim is seldom quite 4 inches, so you’ve got plenty of flexibility with a 10-inch miter saw. A 10-inch saw is a smaller amount expensive.
The machine itself is lighter and smaller than a 12-inch version. The blades also are cheaper than their larger counterparts.
If that’s not compelling enough for you, the 10-inch blades are easier to seek out , are available a wider array of choices, and are cheaper to sharpen.
A 10-inch blade will spin faster than a 12- inch blade, leading to smoother cuts.
The 12-inch may be a costlier machine, with more expensive, harder-to-find, smaller- selection blades, plus it’s heavy and unwieldy and makes less precise cuts.
The 12-inch usually comes with a stronger motor, meaning it can power through those wider and thicker boards with less struggle.
Since it’s intentionally designed for more heavy-duty cutting, these tools tend to last longer. Knowing that they’re built to last might assist you feel better about the upper upfront tag.
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Pricing Difference
One of the foremost important issues when comparing and understanding the right quite miter saw to shop for is pricing.
It’s a reasonably striking factor since the costs can vary grossly from one size to subsequent.
But you’ve got to stay in mind that that’s normal. Twelve-inch saws are generally better in most areas.
They penetrate deeper, cut faster, maybe not cleaner, but have more durable and powerful motors then on. But here’s the most reason why the pricing should also think about.
There are many projects where you’ll easily use a smaller blade to try to to the work of a bigger blade.
Maybe it’ll take longer, and maybe you’ll need more experience to urge a clean cut, but it are often done.
Conclusion
The way you select your miter saw is by its use case scenario, which can determine the right blade size.
Are there more factors involved? Sure, but a minimum of now you recognize whether you would like to shop for 10″ compound miter saw or a 12″ compound sliding miter saw for your workshop.
It comes right down to how deep you would like to form a cut and therefore the number of angles you plan on attempting to chop.
The blade should determine your decision and therefore the saw’s ability to regulate for precise angles, not the motor, not the accessories sort of a laser sight, not the flamboyant table extensions, or anything that’s non-essential.
In short, consider the advantages first, not the flamboyant features of the saw.