How Deep Can a Miter Saw Cut? Read This Before Buying!

A miter saw is a very handy tool to have in your equipment box. It can be used to cut, trim, or frame materials. A good miter saw makes your work faster and better, it will also probably put a small dent in your bank account as it can still be quite expensive. Though it’s worth the money as it is quite versatile with the angles that you cut wood in and this is one of the main reasons why it’s considered a versatile tool in carpentry.

It has a blade attached to the swinging arm and it can move from left to right depending on the saw that you have. There is a designated area where you’re supposed to hold on to control the movement of the blade called the handle. There is also a guard at the ready to keep the blade covered and prevent any accidents from happening.

Miter saws are stationary and you would pull down the blade to the wood to cut it. This ensures the preciseness of the cut and the easy method of just pulling it down. Having a miter saw can greatly increase your efficiency and productivity in the workplace as you can easily cut stuff without having to worry about jagged and messy lines.

How deep can a miter saw cut?

The depth of the cut depends on the size of the blade and the thickness of the wood. As a matter of fact, based on manufacturers, a 12-inch blade can cut up to 7 ½ inches with the board’s thickness being up to 3 ½ inches. In essence, it is enough to cut through a four-by-four. A 12-inch blade can easily cut different sizes of a piece, all varying in width and length. This is the largest size available for a miter saw and rightfully so because it can cut up a lot in minutes, especially if you’re using the really expensive ones.

The more expensive your saw is, the heavier it gets and the more functionality you have with it. By getting a more expensive one, you’re essentially making your work easier for you and you don’t have to worry about flipping your workpiece just to complete the cut.

How deep can a miter saw cut depending on the saw.

8-inch saw

10-inch saw

12-inch saw

Different types of cuts

There are different types of cuts that you can make with a miter saw such as a miter cut, bevel cut, crosscut, and compound cut. These cuts differ from the angle over which they were cut as well as the width and length of them. Some of these can only be made by specific saws so it can be a wise investment to get one.

• Miter Cut

A miter cut is a cut to the length of a piece at any other angle besides 90 degrees. You can either do it to the left or the right side, it will still be called a miter cut. This cut is common in pipes and picture frames since it’s usually for making milter joins.

• Bevel Cut

This cut is used to modify the edge or to put pieces of the wood together. It is made to cut on the width at an angle below 90 degrees, a compound miter should be used for this cut as it will be impossible to make a clean cut using other types of miter saws.

• CrossCut

Crosscuts are as simple as it sounds. It is used to cut across the wood, at a 90-degree angle. It can be along the width or length of the wood and is usually used for rectangular-shaped construction such as a deck.

• Compound Cut

This is a mix between the bevel cut and the miter cut to the width or length of the wood. These cuts are made at angles other than 90-degrees and can only be cut using a compound miter saw.

Different types of miter saws and their specific uses

Standard Miter Saw

While this is the standard, it still comes in many different varieties. It is lighter and can cut quickly and easily along the piece. It is made to cut straight lines like the cross cuts or just regular cuts in general. This is relatively lightweight and can be quite good for those who are looking to start DIYs and don’t know much about complicated cuts. Unfortunately, it is unable to make bevel cuts and cannot do compound angles. This is due to the reduced mobility, unlike the more expensive options which are much easier to manipulate and control.

Compound Miter Saw

This saw is for those people who want to do all types of cuts, may it be length or width. Since they can pretty much do any angle in cutting, it is heavier and more expensive. It is an excellent choice for experienced workers who are looking for a versatile power tool. It also has two types of compound saw, one is the single bevel and the other is the double bevel.

Single Bevel

A single bevel can make any type of angular cut. The only drawback is it can only cut a single direction. You either have to flip your piece or move the miter saw to get in the right direction. Even though it has reduced functionality, it is good enough already as it can do angular cuts than the standard. You just need to have additional patience with the extra steps for cutting the other side.

Double Bevel

It is much more convenient than the single bevel as it can make cuts in both directions so you don’t need to flip anything. It is highly valuable in workplaces that often do angular cuts in both directions.

Sliding Compound Miter Saw

A sliding compound miter saw is the same as a compound miter saw except it slides. This is made possible due to the sliding arm which makes it easier to cut larger pieces as you only need to slide it backward. This is once again heavier and more expensive but very convenient for workplaces that often cut wider and longer pieces. It is a combination of all of the miter saws which makes it a reliable “do-it-all” equipment.

Can you set the depth of cut on a miter saw?

Yes, your saw needs a switch-off for it to work. Using a combination of the off switch and the bolt, if your saw has one, you can pretty easily achieve a cut with accurate depth and length. In some models, it is much easier to set and there’s higher accuracy. Unfortunately, setting the depth on an old miter saw can be difficult as the function may not have been available at the time.

Conclusion

The type of saw can only cut through so much depending on the angle of it. A 10-inch blade can be quite limited and may even struggle to a four-by-four. That is why you should only buy it if you’re doing smaller projects such as picture frames but if your job requires you to do lengthy and deep cuts then you should invest in a 12-inch one as it can handle a lot of depth in comparison.

Moreover, the angle poses a heavy problem to the saws as some would have no problem with a cross cut but wouldn’t be able to fully complete a bevel cut in one go. This is mostly due to the diameter of the saw as it hinders it from going further down because of its small size.

Even then, workers still have to be careful about using it since it is technically a spinning blade that can cut off your ligaments if you get too close to it. The rapid motion of the blade will guarantee a clean cut not only to your workpiece but also to your entire hand. On that note, remember to keep safe and pay attention to your environment.