More about Miter Table Saws

A miter table saw used to refer either to a large un-powered backsaw or metal frame saw with replaceable blades suspended on rollers in a metal guide that allowed making accurate crosscuts and miter cuts. Today, they are generally used in picture framing but have largely been displaced by the power tool in carpentry and joinery operations.

Today, a miter table saw usually refers to a power tool used to make a quick, accurate crosscut in a workpiece. It is most frequently used to cut wood, although some plastics and light metals can also be cut with the tool. Common uses include framing operations and the cutting of Molding (decorative). Most miter table saws are relatively small and portable, with common blade sizes ranging from eight to 12 inches.

The miter table saw makes cuts by pulling a spinning circular saw blade down onto a workpiece in a short, controlled motion. The workpiece is typically held against a fence, which provides a precise cutting angle between the blade and the longest workpiece edge. In standard position, this angle is fixed at 90°.

A primary distinguishing feature of the miter table saw is the miter index, which allows the angle of the blade to be changed relative to the fence. While most miter saws enable precise one-degree incremental changes to the miter index, many also provide "stops" that allow the miter index to be quickly set to common angles (such as 15°, 30°, or 45°).