If you’re looking to learn more about mitre saws and what they can offer your next DIY project, our experts have answered some popular questions to help you decide which mitre saw is best for the job and finish you require.
What is a mitre saw good for?
- Mitre saws are great for fast, repeatable and accurate cross cuts made at a specific angle.
- Mitre saws offer the ability to make mitre cuts in timber materials such as CLS, skirting boards and architraves, stock timber lengths and much more.
- Compound mitre saws also allow the user to combine mitre and bevel cuts in one pass, producing a compound angle in the material. This is great for applications such as building a roof.
Is a mitre saw only used for cross cutting?
Typically yes since the saw head is fixed, limiting the maximum width of cut. With the correct blade, a mitre saw can make rip cuts in smaller materials but the finish typically isn't as good as a cross cut.
What is the most accurate mitre saw?
Currently in the Ryobi range, all mitre saws are equally as accurate since they are all manufactured within the same tolerances.
What is the cheapest mitre saw?
There are many cheap mitre saws on the market but you need to be careful when selecting such saws as they typically aren't manufactured to the same tolerances as higher priced models. Within the Ryobi range, the EMS190DC is the cheapest mitre saw. However, it is still manufactured within fine tolerances producing a very accurate saw providing great power and convenience in a compact cordless tool.
What mitre saw is best?
Choosing the best mitre saw will depend on what you need to achieve.
The newly released Ryobi HP mitre saw, RMS18254X-0, is the most powerful and capable saw in our range.
What is the smallest mitre saw?
Currently, the Ryobi EMS190DC 190mm mitre saw is the smallest in the ONE+ range. This is a fantastic compact mitre saw which offers a maximum cut area of 45x108mm at 90°.
What is the correct type of blade for the mitre saw?
The correct type of blade for the mitre saw will vary from model to model. The most important things to check for are blade size, bore size, max no load speed, number of teeth and blade type.
- Blade size is the overall diameter of the blade – always replace blades like for like and don't fit smaller or larger blades to your mitre saw.
- The bore size is the diameter of the hole in the centre which is used to attach the blade to the mitre saw.
- The max no load speed is important because different blades are designed to be used at different speeds – always ensure the max no load speed of your blade is higher than the max no load speed of your mitre saw.
- Number of teeth and blade type typically go hand in hand as cross cut blades typically feature more teeth – always match the blade type and number of teeth to the material you will be cutting and the quality of finish you require.
What is the difference between a chop saw and a mitre saw?
A mitre saw typically offers the user the ability to cut a selection of timber materials at different angles but provides a high degree of accuracy. A chop saw is typically a robust tool for cutting metal sections. Chop saws look similar to mitre saws, but are designed to use abrasive discs to cut metal materials and don't offer the same degree of high accuracy. Chop saws will typically produce sparks when cutting too.
What's the difference between a mitre saw and a compound saw?
A mitre saw typically allows the user to make angled cuts up to 48° and these can usually be made on both sides of the saw.
While a compound saw or compound mitre saw provides the user with all the functionality of a mitre saw, it also allows the saw to bevel, meaning angled cuts can also be made on the Z-axis. Compound cuts are so called because they combine two angles in the same cut, one on the XY-axis and one on the Z-axis.
Larger compound mitre saws can also offer a dual bevel feature allowing the user to tilt the saw head both left and right which reduces the need to move the work piece before cutting
Ask The Experts
If you have further questions about mitre saws or other power tools in our range, get in touch with one of our Ryobi experts who are happy to help.
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