A chop saw (a.k.a. a miter saw) is a power tool made specifically for the precise cutting of trim and wood at different angles. Here's why these devices work.
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The chop saw (a.k.a. a miter saw) is a motorized woodworking power tool designed to finish square and square cuts in wood accurately and precisely. It works by spinning a high-speed round steel saw blade. The blade cuts through the wood, placed on the support board, when you push the handle down. There are different styles of foam saws on the market with different features. What you choose will depend on your budget and cutting needs.
What do you do with a chop saw?
There are two basic methods for cutting wood: cross cutting and ripping cutting. Cross-cutting means cutting over the grain of the forest, and tearing means cutting down or parallel to wood grain. All wood is milked so that the grain runs across a table. So to make a board narrower but not shorter, you need to cut a cut. A chop saw is not the tool for this job. But if you want to make a board shorter, that’s wide. And that's where the cops got better. In practice, all woodworkers, rough or footed, need to make cross-sections and make regular cuts. That's why so many woodworkers have at least one cup.
Chop sawing features
Foam sauces come in four types: standard, compost, double fertilizer and slip fertilizer. They all have rotating blades that move down to the wood during cutting, and all have a swiveling board so you can cut several angles in the horizontal plane. But that's where all that seems to end.
Typical foam savings: These “chop” are not straight down, so they are limited to angles cut in just one plane. The blade cannot tilt away from a vertical direction, even if the support plate rotates.
Complex foam heels: This type makes all the usual cuts of foam, and the blade can tilt to one side from vertical. This allows cutting angles in one or two planes.
Double-compound chop saws: These are just like chop chop saws except that the blade can tilt either left or right. This allows you to make bevel cuts on all sides without overdoing the wood.
Compound chop sliding saws: With these, you can go beyond a conventional chop saw. The blade and the entire motor assembly can slide back and forth during cutting, allowing the widest widths of wood to be cut in a single pass.
What have you seen for sale?
Not many companies make custom foam saws anymore, although you can find used ones. If you are planning to do a basic home renovation, an economical level or sawmill will work for you.
Are you planning to build a deck, dock or shed? Shaping a house? You should consider a sliding model of some sort. These can be expensive, especially if you go with a big brand name like DEWALT or Milwaukee. But they are also very effective, especially at cutting wide boards like 2x12s. The only reason to pay extra for a double-sided foam saw is if you plan to cut and install wide crown molds.
Steve Maxwell is an award-winning content creator and has published over 5,000 articles, photographed countless photographs and made videos since 1988. Using his experience as a carpenter, builder, mason and manufacturer cabinet, he has created content for Mother Earth News, Reader Summary, Family Worker, Cottage Life, Canadian Contractor, Canadian Home Workshop, and much more.
Steve lives on Manitoulin Island, Canada with his wife and children in a stone house he built himself. Its website receives 180,000+ views per month, its YouTube channel has 58,000+ subscribers and its weekly newsletter receives 31,000 subscribers every Saturday morning.
All editing results are selected independently, although we may receive a refund or a linked commission if you purchase something through our links.
The chop saw (a.k.a. a miter saw) is a motorized woodworking power tool designed to finish square and square cuts in wood accurately and precisely. It works by spinning a high-speed round steel saw blade. The blade cuts through the wood, placed on the support board, when you push the handle down. There are different styles of foam saws on the market with different features. What you choose will depend on your budget and cutting needs.
What do you do with a chop saw?
There are two basic methods for cutting wood: cross cutting and ripping cutting. Cross-cutting means cutting over the grain of the forest, and tearing means cutting down or parallel to wood grain. All wood is milked so that the grain runs across a table. So to make a board narrower but not shorter, you need to cut a cut. A chop saw is not the tool for this job. But if you want to make a board shorter, that’s wide. And that's where the cops got better. In practice, all woodworkers, rough or footed, need to make cross-sections and make regular cuts. That's why so many woodworkers have at least one cup.
Chop sawing features
Foam sauces come in four types: standard, compost, double fertilizer and slip fertilizer. They all have rotating blades that move down to the wood during cutting, and all have a swiveling board so you can cut several angles in the horizontal plane. But that's where all that seems to end.
Typical foam savings: These “chop” are not straight down, so they are limited to angles cut in just one plane. The blade cannot tilt away from a vertical direction, even if the support plate rotates.
Complex foam heels: This type makes all the usual cuts of foam, and the blade can tilt to one side from vertical. This allows cutting angles in one or two planes.
Double-compound chop saws: These are just like chop chop saws except that the blade can tilt either left or right. This allows you to make bevel cuts on all sides without overdoing the wood.
Compound chop sliding saws: With these, you can go beyond a conventional chop saw. The blade and the entire motor assembly can slide back and forth during cutting, allowing the widest widths of wood to be cut in a single pass.
What have you seen for sale?
Not many companies make custom foam saws anymore, although you can find used ones. If you are planning to do a basic home renovation, an economical level or sawmill will work for you.
Are you planning to build a deck, dock or shed? Shaping a house? You should consider a sliding model of some sort. These can be expensive, especially if you go with a big brand name like DEWALT or Milwaukee. But they are also very effective, especially at cutting wide boards like 2x12s. The only reason to pay extra for a double-sided foam saw is if you plan to cut and install wide crown molds.
Steve Maxwell is an award-winning content creator and has published over 5,000 articles, photographed countless photographs and made videos since 1988. Using his experience as a carpenter, builder, mason and manufacturer cabinet, he has created content for Mother Earth News, Reader Summary, Family Worker, Cottage Life, Canadian Contractor, Canadian Home Workshop, and much more.
Steve lives on Manitoulin Island, Canada with his wife and children in a stone house he built himself. Its website receives 180,000+ views per month, its YouTube channel has 58,000+ subscribers and its weekly newsletter receives 31,000 subscribers every Saturday morning.