by Rachelle de Bretagne

Created on: June 27, 2009   Last Updated: July 08, 2009

Those familiar with a radial arm saw will find the use of a compound miter saw very similar in movement and action. A circular blade is mounted above the cutting bed and is lowered to perform the appropriate cut. What is useful about the compound miter saw is that it is completely portable and unlike a radial arm saw, can be easily manipulated to take account of different angles needed to be cut accurately and quickly. This article tells about the different aspects of use and how to overcome problems which may be encountered during the learning stages.

*Learning about the parts of the saw.

*Safety of using the saw.

*Preparing the saw to cut your timber.

*Cutting the timber.

*Additions available for your saw.

*Keeping the saw in tip top condition.

Learning about the parts of your saw.

When you first get a miter saw, it looks complex. The base has a fence against which to hold your timber, and is marked with different angles, which are adjustable. Try the different angles to get a feel for how they are achieved. Different models mean different manipulation, though reading the instructions will help you get a feel for the adjustment. Look at the blade and ensure that it is the right kind of blade for the work you wish to perform. You will need to learn how to replace blades and when the machine is new, this is an ideal time to try fitting new blades, in an effort to get to know your machine. These differ in the number of teeth which affects the fineness of cut.

Safety of using the saw.

Make sure that the bed is always locked in place before you use the saw. Make sure also that your hands are kept clear of the blade cutting area. If small stock is to be cut, use something other than fingers to hold the wood in place. Be aware that sawdust may get into your eyes and try to have goggles available ready for use at all times, when the blade is in use.

Preparing the saw to cut your timber.

The angle needs to be set to the correct angle when using the saw. It is advisable to try out the angle on a scrap piece of wood, since it is not always easy to visualize the correct angle, especially when joining two pieces of wood.

The nice thing about a miter saw is that you can set angles in reverse, since the bed has differing degrees clearly marked and stops at each of these markings to ensure accuracy. From 0 to 45 degrees, the angle of cut is easily locked into place.

The second thing which needs to be set is the angle of the blade

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