A mitre saw is a power tool that can be used to make accurate angled cuts. It’s an essential piece of equipment for any woodworker and if you want to know how to use mitre saw, read on!
The key thing to remember about using a mitre saw is safety: Wear ear protection and eye protection at all times. Make sure the blade guard is in place before cutting anything, as it prevents fingers from getting caught in the blade. And always keep your hands out of the way when operating the saw. Your guide rail should also be set up straight before making each cut, because otherwise your board will not come out correctly or accurately cut with this tool.
If you’re ready to get started on how to use mitre saw, then let’s read this!
Setting Up Your Mitre Saw:
First, you need to make sure the saw is securely placed on a table or bench. It needs to be stationary and not wobbling around. When your mitre saw is secure you will also want to tighten all the screws on its base plate, because by doing this they will be held in place and you will be able to cut through wood accurately.
The mitre saw table is adjustable, so once you have your blade secure and tightened down, you can also adjust the height of this table by loosening the bolts on either side. Then raise or lower it as needed for whatever project you are doing.
Safety Precautions For Using A Mitre Saw:
Wear Ear Protection:
• Always keep your hands out of the way of the blade, and off the saw’s handle. Only touch it when you are ready to make a cut. If you need to turn off the saw (and only turn it off right after completing a cut) do not let go of the switch until it stops completely.
Keep Your Fingers Away From The Blade At All Times.
• Use a wood that’s no wider than 3 1/2 inches or thinner when making a cut, because this will keep you from bending the blade guard out of place with thicker pieces. Also do not try to make a cut longer than 12″ with a mitre saw. A longer board may cause the blade to come loose, potentially causing damage to the side of the cut and kicking back at you too.
Mitre Saw Safety Tips:
• Keep the blade guard in place over the saw’s blade at all times when it is not being used. If you accidentally push or knock this off, then replace it immediately before making any cuts.
• Make sure that your workpiece does not fall down onto the saw’s table while you are cutting it. This could cause serious injury to you or others nearby.
• Always be certain that the mitre saw is in a complete position before starting to cut anything – do not try to cut pieces while your mitre saw is in motion.
• If you are using a sliding miter saw, make sure that both of its safety slides are engaged when it’s not being used.
Tips On How To Choose The Right Size Of Blade For Your Project:
• Small blades (like the one provided with the saw) are best for cutting small pieces of wood and thin materials like plastic or aluminum.
• Medium blade sizes, such as a 60T blade, can cut hardwood up to 3 1/2″. These also work well on non-ferrous metals and plastics too.
• Large blades, like an 80T blade, will cut through hardwood up to 6″ in thickness. These are also good for cutting plywoods and non-ferrous metals too.
How To Use Mitre Saw For Cuts That Are 90 Degrees?
1. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and your mitre saw securely placed on a table or bench. Make sure it is stationary and not wobbling around. If your mitre saw’s base plate moves while you are making a cut, then re-tighten all of its screws before proceeding.
2. Once your mitre saw is secure, tighten down the blade too by turning the blade screw clockwise (to tighten it) until it can no longer be moved. Then use the bevel scale (on your saw’s table) to adjust the blade angle if needed, to make it perpendicular with the ground. When finished making this adjustment you will need to turn the locking handle counter-clockwise by hand until it will not move anymore.
3. Set your workpiece (the piece of wood you are going to cut) down on the saw’s table and use a clamp or handscrew to secure it in place along its edge. This will make sure that when you start making your cuts, the board doesn’t move and cause an inaccurate cut.
If you do not have a clamp or handscrew (for this step) then you can also use your knee to hold your workpiece in place. Just make sure that you are wearing thick sturdy clothes and boots when doing this to lessen the chances of any injuries occurring through accidental slipping.
4. Once the workpiece is secure, lower its guard so that the blade can make contact with the wood.
5. Turn on your saw’s miter lock knob (unless otherwise specified in your saw’s manual) and push down on its handle while you pull the trigger to start it up. This will help you line up the blade exactly where you want it to be for making a cut.
6. Slowly (and carefully) push the blade through your workpiece by pulling down on its handle. You should make sure that you are wearing safety equipment like earmuffs and eye protection when making any cuts, because it is possible for pieces of flying debris to come off of the saw’s table while it is running. Having this gear on will also help you to avoid getting hurt.
7. You can use the mitre saw’s scale (on its table) to set up for cuts that are other than 90 degrees too. For example, if you want to make a 45 degree cut, then adjust the blade so that it is at 22 1/2 degrees and proceed as before to cut your piece of wood.
If you are using a sliding mitre saw, then the process for making accurate 90 degree cuts is basically the same as above, except that your board should be pressed up against its fence while it is being clamped in place before cutting.
Conclusion:
Learning how to use mitre saw can take some time, but once you’ve gotten the hang of it, you’ll be able to make accurate cuts every time. Just remember that safety should always come first when using any type of power equipment.
And always refer back to your owner’s manual if you are not sure about something specific to your mitre saw.
Hope this article has helped you!
