Can You Cut Aluminum with A Miter Saw and How To. Aluminum mitre saw
EAB Mitre Aluminum Circular Saw Blade. 7 1/4-in Dia. 50 Tooth. 5° Negative Angle Hook
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Description
Use the EAB aluminum saw blade to cut plastics and non-ferrous metal. It is compatible with handheld and stationary circular saws. This carbide mitre saw blade is designed to be used for dry cuts. One 7 1/4 in, 50-tooth exchangeable saw blade comes per package.
Ecological Attributes
This product is made from recycled alloy steel to reduce the use of raw materials. It is also part of the EAB Exchange Program which gives a credit toward the purchase of a new accessory when it is returned in stores for recycling.
Technical specifications
Component : Carbide Diameter : 7.25″ Arbor Size : 5/8″ (15.87 mm) Finish : Polished Model : Professional Style : Miter/Non-Ferrous Revolutions per Minute : 7000 RPM Type : Circular Saw Blade Utilization : For Cutting Plastics and Non-Ferrous Metals (Aluminum, Brass, Copper, etc.) with Miter, Sliding Compound and Radial Arm Saws. Cutting Angle : 5° Negative Packaging : 1 unit
Can You Cut Aluminum with A Miter Saw and How To?
Professionals in the manufacturing sector often choose aluminum over all other metals because of its characteristics of great strength, low density, and corrosion resistance. Even while aluminum might not be the toughest of all materials, cutting it can be very difficult because too much impact might ruin the cut, and too little won’t cut the metal.
That said, you can cut aluminum using a non-ferrous metal cutting blade and, a miter saw. This saw is also an excellent tool for cutting aluminum channels, extrusions, pipes, and other materials.
Certain guidelines must be followed while cutting aluminum with a miter saw. Continue to read this article to discover more about this procedure.
Can You Cut Aluminum with a Miter Saw?
A miter saw is excellent and one of the finest pieces of equipment for cutting aluminum, even if there is other equipment you may use for the task.
You can also use a miter saw to cut steel and other metals like aluminum. However, there are a few variables to bear in mind, such as the project requirements and the amount of metal you wish to cut.
The help of the miter saw handle, which is attached to the revolving blade, makes it possible to grasp the metal tight and make exact cuts. As a result, a miter saw will make it possible for you to safely and easily cut aluminum with precision.
Additionally, you have to be careful with the blades you employ. So, let’s determine which blades you should utilize.
What Kind of Blade Should You Use to Cut Aluminum?
Metal cutting blades are needed to cut extremely hard, stiff materials, as opposed to cutting wood and composite materials, which are generally soft and fibrous. These blades have special materials like harder carbide teeth that make it easier to cut tough materials.
A diamond saw blade is a useful tool when cutting and grinding extremely hard, thick materials. These blades are often used in construction applications to cut stone, brick, concrete, and aluminum.
You can also utilize different blades for this purpose, such as razor blades, coarse and very coarse cut blades, and sharp cut blades.
How Can You Cut Aluminum with a Miter Saw?
Regular saw blades cannot often cut aluminum because it is too soft; however, the miter saw does have a powerful engine and a spinning circular blade that can cut this aluminum.
You will need a miter saw and the appropriate blades to complete this process. Here, you have to select a specific blade type with a lower friction coefficient than other saw blade types. You also need some lubrication.
The length of this process depends on the project’s size and complexity; for easy cuts, it may take a few minutes, while for large projects, it may take many hours or even days.
Here, we explain the step-by-step procedure that can assist you in completing this task effectively.
Step 1: Choose the appropriate blade
First, ensure that the blades you choose have the right number of teeth. Afterward, be sure to use the blades made specifically for cutting aluminum. Additionally, ascertain the density of the metal you are cutting.
Step 2: Assemble the blades
On your circular saw, find the blade brake, then depress it to lock the motor in position. After that, remove the nut holding the blade in place by unscrewing it with a tool.
If your saw blade has a cutting guard, pull it back now. Then, attach the blade’s center to the arbor bolt by sliding the saw blade into the miter saw. Finally, detach the cutting guard and release the blade brake before tightening the nut to keep the blade in place.
Step 3: Attach the aluminum
The aluminum should first be clamped securely to prevent excessive movement because if it occurs, the blade might catch it and inflict irreparable damage. So, ensure that the aluminum material, bar, or metal piece is securely clamped, and use safety eyewear at all times during cutting.
Step 4: Begin the cutting process
Continue the cutting procedure after making sure of all these procedures. To perform this, line up the blades on the aluminum piece with the metal lines indicating the target cut or measurement.
Usually, one hand is held firmly against the metal. On the other hand, you lower the miter saw handle until it hits the material and cuts it.
FAQ
After reading this article, you might have some queries. Don’t worry; our FAQ section has answers to the most usual and often-asked questions. To discover the answer you’re looking for, keep reading.
A circular saw blade is one of the most common and effective methods for cutting this metal alloy.
Yes. Blades made of non-ferrous metal are used to cut materials like copper, brass, aluminum, and aluminum trim.
Depending on the material being cut and the quality of the blade, they can survive for 12 to 120 hours of constant operation.
Conclusion
Using a miter saw to cut aluminum is possible if you take the proper precautions. If you operate the miter saw correctly and use safety gear, cutting aluminum with it is completely safe.
The only challenge is ensuring that the blade you choose is appropriate for the size of the metal piece and the cut you’re making.
Always try to know how these miter saws work, which blades to use for different purposes, how to operate them safely, and any potential issues. To avoid unanticipated problems, inspect the blades and the system’s overall functionality to avoid unanticipated problems. This enables you to use the saw effectively.
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Can You Cut Metal With a Miter Saw Without Damaging It?
Your powerful miter saw can be used to successfully cut through a wide range of dense materials. That said, should you consider using your high-priced miter saw to slice metal or aluminum into sections?
As tempting as it might be to fire up your miter saw to cut through metal or aluminum, you will have to hold off until you’ve at least upgraded your miter saw with a metal cutting blade.
Your traditional compound miter saw operates at a higher RPM range and has been specifically engineered to cut wood.
However, a metal cutting saw, such as a chop saw, operates at a lower RPM range and is equipped with a purpose-built metal cutting blade that possesses a greater number of teeth.
So, apart from a mere blade change, is that all there is to it when it comes to cutting metal with a miter saw?
What Can You Use to Cut Metal?
You rely on your miter saw to make accurate cuts at various different angles when it comes to cutting baseboard trim or laminate flooring, but should you depend on it to chop through a solid piece of metal or even to cut aluminum?
The short answer is yes, and no.
While you can choose to use your compound miter saw to chop through metal with your workshop’s prized possession, I certainly wouldn’t try doing so with a standard blade that you’ve been using to cut wood with.
If you do plan on using your miter saw to cut through any metal material, you’ll have to change the blade on your miter saw to a metal cutting blade. This would be the bare minimum without considering the torque, power, and RPM of your specific saw.
Non-Ferrous Metal Cutting Saw Blade
The one blade we’d recommend you use to definitely cut non-ferrous metals with your miter saw is the Freud LU89M012 12-inch blade with 86 teeth and a 1-inch arbor.
The blade features an ultra-thin laser-cut kerf and a non-stick Silver Ice Coating that protects the blade from heat, gumming, and corrosion.
While the LU89M012 recommended here is a 12-inch blade, there is also a 10-inch option available.
- Premium TiCo hi-density carbide non-ferrous blend blade for cutting through soft metal, brass, copper, aluminum, and plastic.
- Freud-Made TiCo carbide has been specifically engineered to cut nonferrous metals to extend the lifespan of your power tool.
- Unique Gullet Design delivers a super clean finish and reduces chip build-up, which can cause shoulder stress or breakage.
- Possess Freud’s Silver Ice Coating technology that helps resists corrosion and pitch build-up so the blade will last longer.
Ideally, you’d want to use the LU89M012 blade on the following materials – brass, aluminum, copper, plastics, laminate flooring, melamine, and of course, wood.
Ferrous Metal Cutting Saw Blade
Alright, so let’s say you’re attempting to cut ferrous metal materials such as rebar or threaded rod.
The type of blade you’re going to need to attach to your miter saw is a ferrous metal blade like the Diablo D1260CF 12-inch blade that has been engineered with ceramic and metallic teeth.
The D1260CF fits the bill as it’s both cost-effective and a high-quality option. You can also choose between various sizes such as 7-1/4-inch, 10-inch, or 12-inch.
- Optimized blade design reduces friction and potential deflection to deliver an accurate cut leaving no need to re-work the material.
- Equipped with Diablo’s Perma-SHIELD coating which resists heat build-up protecting the blade from gumming and corrosion.
- Engineered with both ceramic and metallic teeth allowing for increased heat tolerance when cutting thick ferrous metal materials.
- Lasts up to twenty-five times longer than regular blades meaning fewer blade changes offering excellent value for money.
Note, the Diablo D1260CF is the ideal blade for cutting materials like – hardened steel, cast iron, stainless steel, threaded rod, angle iron, and steel studs.
Keep in mind, that whichever metal cutting blade you decide on, you’re going to want to apply some metal cutting lubricant whenever cutting with it. This will help prolong the lifespan of the blade.
That said, if you have a considerable amount of metal to chop, there are better alternatives available to choose from.
Most Common Metal Cutting Power Tools
Here is a list of some tools typically utilized to cut steel, metal, cast iron, or aluminum.
- Angle Grinder: Can be used to cut through just about anything with the right blade, including steel. It can even be used to cut through cast iron with a diamond blade.
- Circular Saw: With the right metal cutting blade, the circular saw will definitely get the job done when cutting metal or can also be used to cut aluminum.
- Reciprocating Saw: These things love cutting through metal, but they are less precise and make rougher cuts.
- Chop Saw: This saw is designed to cut through metal like butter. Great for larger projects to cut metal with ease.
Can Miter Saw Cut Thick Aluminum? | DeWalt Miter Saw Change Blade Setup For Precision Performance
While a chop saw is the best option for cutting metal effectively, they are not the cheapest of power tools.
That said, if you’re cutting metal, mild steel, or aluminum on a regular basis, a chop saw like the Makita LC1230 12-Inch Metal Cutting Saw would be very ideal for all of your future metal cutting needs.
The Makita LC1230 certainly has developed a reputation among those who’ve made the most of it and it is without a doubt the best chop saw available for the money.
- Fitted with a 2 finger trigger switch with lock-off button for additional safety to help prevent false starts.
- Fitted with a D-shaped handle for increased comfort which will also minimize any potential user fatigue.
- Shavings collection tray for assisting with easy waste disposal and also help maintain a clean tidy working environment.
But what about a miter saw? Well, let’s break it down and touch on all the relevant factors to make clean and accurate cuts wielding your dependable single bevel or dual bevel miter saw
Should You Cut Metal with a Miter Saw?
Here are some things that you should really keep in mind. Just because you can cut through certain metals with a miter saw, it doesn’t mean that you should.
A miter saw is better suited for cutting trim and has been designed for woodworking so certain side-effects of cutting through metal weren’t factored into the engineering process.
Consider the following: Most miter saws operate at a speed that’s two-thirds faster than the fastest chop saw. You would think that the extra speed would help make short work of any metal material delivering super clean cuts, right?
Wrong. Knowledge of a few basic chemistry and physics concepts would tell you that because of the extra speed; you’ll create extra friction. Because of the extra friction, both the blade and the material will get very hot, sometimes even red-hot.
That’s not only dangerous, but it can also ruin your project and perhaps the structural integrity of the workpiece — not to mention the amount of extra repair and polishing work you may have to do.
Is It Safe to Cut Metal With a Miter Saw?
Safety is obviously a big concern. Again, miter saws have way more RPM than most metal saws, even the fastest ones. This means that the friction of metal on metal would create more dangerous debris and lots of sparks, due to the extra generated heat.
Another thing you have to consider is the motor’s ability to take all that extra heat and resistance. It may be very easy to overwork a miter saw motor by cutting through metal pieces than if you were to abuse it on wood.
While dry ferrous or nonferrous materials can be cut with a miter saw, you should always exercise caution. There’ll be a lot more going on than the manufacturers intended, and your biggest concern should always be the sparks and potentially disintegrating blades and metal chips.
What About Cutting Metal with a Miter Saw? – Here’s How to Do It Safely
First, you might want to manage your expectations before you get to cutting. Don’t expect to go through the same number of metal pieces as you would when cutting wood.
Secondly, you’ll want to start by seriously and thoroughly cleaning the miter saw of any debris from past projects.
You’ll need it as clean as possible so that it can handle the larger, hotter, and higher influx of debris coming out of the metal workpiece. After that, you have to consider getting a different blade, one with a much higher tooth count.
Look for something called a triple-chip grind blade. This will help you achieve a cleaner cut and minimize the amount of debris coming out of the workpiece. It’s also essential to look for composite material blades.
One option that always works is an aluminum oxide blade. This type of blade can easily be used to cut through various steel and aluminum pieces – think bars, pipes, and others.
You should also use the proper safety gear. Welder mitts will do nicely, and so would a welder mask if you want to be completely safe. Even though miter saws spin the blade towards their rear, there’s no guarantee that the sparks will follow the blade guide and take the same flight path as sawdust.
Sparks and metal chips can fly in any direction.
So, is it Actually Possible to Cut Metal With a Miter Saw?
The short answer is, yes. Provided you have a good blade, and a decent miter saw motor, you can take on quite a few small home repair or remodeling jobs involving metalwork too. For example, it’s possible to cut through rebar, even at an angle, as long as you’re sporting a blade with over 80 TPI.
You may even take on 2” piping, whether it’s aluminum or steel. Perhaps you won’t be able to get the cleanest 45 degrees angles, but they will be accurate.
Clearly, you can even cut thinner and smaller pieces for various art projects, car maintenance work, and other stuff like that.
Will Metal Cutting Blades Last on a Miter Saw?
Unfortunately, no. There are some blades advertised as lasting well over 200 or 250 cuts even when used on a miter saw.
But that’s quite a stretch, given the fact that they would be used at much higher than intended speeds.
What Other Saws Blades Can be Used to Cut Metal?
If you don’t have a lot of metal to cut and you don’t have any metal cutting blades on hand for your miter saw, a simple option would be to roll up your sleeves and grab the old trusty hacksaw.
Then again, it’s not 1973, and you probably have other enticing options at your disposal. So if you are in the market for a new budget saw that will cut just about anything, take a look at the Evolution R255SMS Multi-Material Sliding Miter Saw.
This is the ideal budget-friendly miter saw to buy if you don’t already own one, and are looking for one-sized fits all option. It will cut through wood, plastic, metal, and aluminum, with the same blade it comes with out of the box.
- Excellent budget-friendly sliding miter saw that will cut wood, plastic, metal, and aluminum on the same blade.
- Delivers smooth and straight cuts via a laser-guided sight system and has added versatility with adjustable depth of cut.
- Easily make crosscuts, miter cuts, bevel cuts, and compound cuts or even cut through 4×4 posts with absolute precision.
- Powerful 15A hi-torque motor, robust optimized gearbox, all increase the longevity of the blade life when cutting a variety of materials.
Other Cheap Metal Cutting Power Tools
Let’s start with a power tool you likely already own or buy relatively cheaply if you’re on a strict budget, an angle grinder.
If you’re going to make short work of some metal with an angle grinder, it would be best to consider a diamond blade that’s rated to cut ferrous metal.
This is a straightforward, no-nonsense blade that will chop through everything from nuts bolts, angle iron, stubborn rebar, and even sheet metal.
Another alternative would be to utilize a circular saw by attaching a highly durable carbide-tooth blade. The carbide-tooth blade is a ferrous-metal-cutting blade, which is the more expensive option compared to steel-tooth blades, but they are both long-lasting and potent blades for cutting metal.
Really, no matter the power tool you have handy, it can, in all probability, slice its way through any metal material with the right blade or grinding disc attached. In terms of their composition, there are two types of metal: ferrous and nonferrous
Metal materials that contain iron are ferrous metals. To successfully cut ferrous metal. a ferrous-metal cutting blade would be required.
What Is the Best Power Tool to Cut Metal?
The best two power tools to effectively cut metal, are an angle grinder and chop saw. Which one you use will depend on the thickness of the metal and or the type of metal or steel.
When it comes to things like rebar, steel roofing, and steel angle iron which are ferrous-metal building materials, you need to use the appropriate metal-cutting blades and discs that are specifically labeled for cutting ferrous metal materials.
However, the majority of DIYers will presumably be exposed to more nonferrous materials such as aluminum and copper throughout their endeavors. Nonferrous metal materials are not as dense as ferrous metal materials and are usually easier to cut as they are less resilient.
You can even cut nonferrous metals with a table saw if you own one. Although when it comes to cutting metal with table saw vs miter saw. you’ll still have to attach the right metal cutting blade.
Miter Saw Overview
The miter saw, or, as more commonly used today, the compound miter saw. is known primarily as a woodcutter. Its applications can include anything from trim jobs to molding remodeling, making picture frames, and cutting house studs.
But, this type of saw can also be used to cut through softer metal or piping. It really comes down to the power behind the tool and the type of blade you’re using.
Although keep in mind, that your out-of-the-box base model miter saw likely only came with blades applicable to cut through wood, not metal.
Common Miter Saw Cuts
With a standard miter saw, the two most common cuts are straight and angled. The angle you can get will always be up to 45 degrees, in relation to the fence of the saw. Look at any corner of a picture frame, and you’ll see what’s known as a miter joint or a miter cut.
That’s the kind of thing you can do with any miter saw. Once the compound miter saw is introduced, a new type of cut becomes available – the beveled cut. This cut is made at an angle toward the work surface.
All these types of cuts combined make a dual bevel miter saw a very versatile power tool to have on the job site and in your home workshop.
Chop Saw Vs the Miter Saw
Contrary to popular belief, and despite what you may see in some product descriptions, chop saw and miter saw are not interchangeable terms. First of all, chop saws only do one thing – cut straight down, while miter saws can do a whole range of angled cuts.
The next big difference is that chop saws start from 14” or larger cutoff wheels, whereas miter saws can have blades as small as 7.5”.
The type of blades used is entirely different too. Chop saws are almost always used with abrasive wheel disks, unlike miter saws, which always use circular blades with various TPIs.
As such, the chop saw is also known as a metal saw or stone saw since it’s ideally equipped and designed to handle those types of materials. They’re also usually slower than miter saws, and you’ll find out why the saw speed actually matters soon enough.
For now, more on the miter saw and why it’s a controversial choice for cutting metal.
Why Is the Number of Teeth Important?
To understand this, you have to understand why a low TPI value is helpful when cutting wood. The way this works is that fewer blade teeth equal deeper gullets between them. This helps them make short work of wood and actually reduces the cutting time, thus also eliminating overheating.
Now, remember the speed aspect of miter saws vs dedicated metal saws ? teeth equal slower cutting times. This is a good thing for miter saws since they need to be slowed down a bit in order to perform well enough on steel or aluminum.
By having more teeth on a miter saw blade, the cutting speed will be lowered. At the same time, this will result in less friction, fewer sparks, less overheating, and a cleaner cut.
The low tooth profile is also important as it can help reduce the chance of snags when cutting thicker metal bars or pipes.
Final Thoughts on Miter Saws and Metal Projects
As you can see, using a miter saw to cut metal isn’t really an ideal choice. But can it be done?
Obviously, as long as you’re using the right accessories, you can cut metal with a miter saw. But it’s not really all that good if you want a professional and timely finished project.
Miter saws are lacking in many areas and simply weren’t designed with the necessary features to make them suitable metal cutting tools like; metal chop saws, angle grinders, or circular saws.
Therefore, it would be somewhat wrong to say that your regular compound miter saw is the same as a multi-purpose table or Band saw with a miter head option.
I’m Ray, a lifelong carpenter who’s spent the better part of my life working on construction sites on the West Coast of the United States.
In that time I have literally seen it all within the building industry as a professional contractor.
There’s not much I haven’t encountered over my 30-year career, hence the reason why I’m one of the core contributors at The Tool Scout. Plus, merely writing about work, sure does beat doing actual work. ♂️
Chop Saw vs Miter Saw Explained | Are You Cutting Metal or Wood?
We can’t tell you how many times we’ve heard the term “chop saw” used to describe a miter saw. It’s not a huge deal, but we always try to educate our readers (and those new to the trades) about the differences. It helps to use terminology correctly—particularly when you communicate with other professionals. In looking at a chop saw vs miter saw we can quickly see these are two very distinct tools.
They not only serve different purposes (metal-cutting vs wood), but they also function very differently from one another. This article goes through the various Pros and Cons as well as the differences, strengths, and weaknesses of each of these tools. If you’re more interested in the types of miter saws (compound, sliding, etc) we have an article on that as well.
Editor’s Note: Check out our best miter saw article for our top recommendations.
Key Differences Between the Chop Saw vs Miter Saw
Possibly the best way to differentiate the chop saw vs miter saw is to simply cover the key differences. But first, let’s talk about what makes these two types of saws similar.
Both tools primarily allow for cross-cutting of material. The miter saw and the chop saw both have a back fence to hold material fast while cutting. These tools also both use a circular saw blade with an exposed bottom cutting edge that spins away from the user.
With both of these tools, users need to keep their hands a minimum distance away from the cutting blade for safety. Currently, both tools may offer clamping systems to help stabilize material for cuts.
Now, let’s look at some key differences.
Chop Saw Features (as Opposed to Miter Saws)
- Makes straight cuts with a blade that does not bevel or miter
- Designed to cut metal (steel, aluminum, etc)
- Typically use abrasive cutting wheels
- Blade sizes up to 15-inches (12–15″ typical)
- Often includes clamps to hold material
- Can be high speed (abrasive) or “cold-cutting”
Miter Saw Features (as Opposed to Chop Saws)
- Makes straight or beveled cuts with a blade that also miters
- Primarily designed to cross-cut wood (trim, framing lumber, etc)
- Use carbide-tipped blades
- Blade sizes up to 12-inches (7-1/4 to 12″ typical)
- May include table clamps for holding material
Cutting thick aluminum beam with miter saw
Chop Saws vs Miter Saws for Metal – Hybrid Miter Saws!
If you plan to cut a lot of metal at angles, you may have a tougher decision. When looking at chop saws vs miter saws for metal, we tend to gravitate towards anything that can help us use a carbide-tipped “cold-cutting” blade. That brings us to the topic of hybrid metal- and wood-cutting miter saws.
Some companies, like Evolution Power Tools, offer saws designed to cut both metal and wood. These tools use blades (or have multiple blade options) that handle both materials fairly well. They often operate at much lower RPMs instead of the typical 3500 RPM of chop saws.
A typical hybrid saw more closely resembles a compound sliding miter saw than a chop saw. The “hybrid” functionality has more to do with the slower blade speed and the blade.
A hybrid saw often functions similarly to a cold cut saw in that it uses a slower blade speed. That slower blade speed means it can use a carbide-tipped metal-cutting blade and doesn’t require an abrasive wheel like high-speed saws.
Chop Saw vs Miter vs Hybrid Saws Compared
We also put the above (and more) into a table for easy observation:
| Possible cut types | Cross cuts (90°) | Straight, bevel, miter, compound | Straight, bevel, miter, compound |
| Square material capacity | up to 4-3/4 in. | around 4 in. | around 4 in. |
| Round material capacity | up to 5-1/8 in. | N/A | up to 4 in. |
| Rectangular capacity | 4 x 7-5/8 in.2-3/4 in. x 9-1/8 in. | up to 2 x 12 in. | up to 2 x 12 in. |
| Blade sizes | 12–15 in. | 7-1/4 to 12 in. | 10–12 in. |
| Types of blades | abrasive, diamond | carbide | carbide |
| Blade speed | fast | fast | slow |
| Material it can cut | steel | wood | steel, aluminum, wood |
| Weight | heavy | lightweight to heavy | lightweight to heavy |
Chop Saw vs Miter Saw Blades – Abrasive vs Carbide-tipped Steel
Most chop saws use abrasive metal-cutting blades. The reasons are many. Primarily, however, these blades are inexpensive and they get the job done. Abrasive blades offer consistent, though imprecise, cutting of most soft steels. They really tend to have difficulty making more precise miter cuts since they inherently deflect and flex during use.
Don’t use a standard abrasive cutting disc on aluminum, either. The soft aluminum will quickly gum up the edge of the wheel and render it useless in a very short period of time.
Chop saws designed for abrasive wheels aren’t compatible with slower-speed (RPM) saws that use carbide-tipped blades for cutting various metals. You can find some steel blades designed for higher-speed saws. One example is the Milwaukee Steelhead Diamond cut-off blade. It uses exposed synthetic diamond grits along the cutting edge. We also don’t recommend using a blade like this one on aluminum. For that, we’d opt for a slower saw with a carbide blade.
On those saws which use slower RPMs to cut metal, you can find a variety of carbide-tipped cutting blades. These resemble a traditional wood blade, but they come optimized for cutting steel more safely. Some also prioritize softer metals like aluminum.
Chop Saw vs Sliding Miter Saws
We’ve addressed beveling in our discussion of the chop saw vs miter saw decision. One thing yet to be addressed has to do with capacity or depth of cut. Most metal chop saws deal with cross-cutting short pieces of metal 4-inches or smaller.
If for some reason, you need to cut larger pieces of metal, you might think a sliding miter saw could offer a solution. While technically true, the better solution might be a handheld metal-cutting saw like the Milwaukee cordless metal cutting saw.
With larger cross-cut lengths, you want to be very careful when using a tool like a miter saw to cut metal. A dedicated metal saw creates a much more safe situation when making longer cuts and affords you a better opportunity to secure the piece while cutting.
Final Thoughts and Other Considerations
We can’t possibly hit every conceivable topic related to the chop saw vs miter saw question. Once you understand the various issues: cutting speed, capacity, and the type of material and cut, you should be better equipped to make an informed choice.
We can’t emphasize enough the need to pay close attention to blade speed. When it comes to picking up a carbide blade for cutting metal, RPM/speed matters. Don’t put a low-speed metal blade on a high-speed miter saw in an attempt to convert your tool. Rather, look for a metal-cutting blade that matches the speed of your saw. That provides a safe, effective method of cutting metal on a miter saw or similar tool.
The same goes for chop saws. Some saws come designed for use with slower-speed steel blades while standard chop saws have the higher RPMs needed for abrasive cutting wheels. Match the blade to the saw!
For even more recommendations, check out our best miter saw article as well as our article on the best cordless circular saws. Both contain tools designed to cut both metal and wood.
Clint DeBoer
When he’s not playing with the latest power tool, Clint DeBoer enjoys life as a husband, father, and avid reader—especially the Bible. He loves Jesus, has a degree in recording engineering, and has been involved in multimedia and/or online publishing in one form or another since 1992.
Clint’s career has covered nearly the entire realm of audio and video production. After graduating at the top of his class with an Associates Degree in Recording Engineering, he began working for the famed Soundelux studios in 1994, one of the largest post-production companies specializing in audio for feature films television. Working on a myriad of feature films, Clint honed his skills as a dialogue editor, foley editor, and sound designer. Years later, he moved into the expanding area of video editing, where he served as the company’s senior AVID video editor for three years.
Working for such clients as Universal Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Paramount Home Entertainment, NASA, Universal Studios, Planet Hollywood, SEGA, NASCAR, and others, Clint DeBoer dealt extensively with client management as well as film video editing, color correction, and digital video MPEG compression. He also carries several THX certifications (Technician I and II, THX Video), and is ISF Level II Certified.
After founding the CD Media, Inc. publishing company in 1996, he went on to help start or grow several successful online publications, including Audioholics (as Editor-in-Chief for 12 years), Audiogurus, and AV Gadgets. In 2008, Clint founded Pro Tool Reviews followed by the landscape and outdoor power equipment-focused OPE Reviews in 2017. He also heads up the Pro Tool Innovation Awards, an annual awards program honoring innovative tools and accessories across the trades.
Crediting God and his excellent staff for the success of what is now the largest power tool review publication in the industry, Clint DeBoer hopes to see continued growth for the company as it rapidly expands its reach. Pro Tool Reviews critically reviews hundreds of hand tools, power tools, and accessories each year to help inform users about the best and newest products in the industry. Reaching everyone from the construction industry professional and tradesman to the serious DIYer, Pro Tool Reviews helps tool consumers shop better, work smarter, and stay aware of what tools and products can help put them at the top of their game.