Should I buy a miter saw?

[TheHinge]

Will the BT3100 be good for 45 angles or should I buy a chopsaw? I plan on making boxes like jewerly or at least small ones like that. Thank you.

[Pappy]

While a miter saw can be used for the type cuts you are talking about, the BT3 will do a better job on them.

[DaveW]

quote:Originally posted by Pappy

While a miter saw can be used for the type cuts you are talking about, the BT3 will do a better job on them.

Not having a table saw, I must ask - why would a table saw do a better job? Also, if the table saw would do the better job, why would one bother having a miter saw?

[LCHIEN]

Personally I chalk up WW tools into two categories,
moving wood and moving blade.
The Table saw has a fixed blade and the wood moves.
The MS has a moving blade but the wood stays put.

Fixed wood is better if the wood is unweildy.
Moving wood is good if the wood is small and "wieldy" (Did i make that up or is it the opposite of unweildy?)

If I want to take a 10' 2x4 and cut off a 3" piece at 45 degrees
would you use the TS or MS?

I'd use the MS because I don't like the 9+ foot piece waving off the end of the SMT.


For most crosscuts the Miter saw is better if it fits the crosscut width restriction. Too wide and I'll go to the TS. I think they're a good complement to each other.

[JTimmons]

I got a 10 inch sliding compound miter saw and I would have to agree w/ LCHIEN, not sure I want 7 ft of board handing off the SMT. I prefer cutting miters w/ a miter saw in any length it's easier for me at least and w/ a sliding compound you can cut up to 12" wide so there's not much of a crosscut restriction.

You're talking about making small boxes. The choice is yours if you cannot get both I would have to say go w/ the BT. You're going to find yourself wanting to do different types of joints and the BT is going to come in handy for these as well as miters. The BT will also come very handy when squaring up materials where the miter saw won't.
Basically, the BT is far more useful than a miter saw.

[Ken Weaver]

I don't see how you could get along without one. I use mine as much as my 3100. Essentially I do all my cross cuts under 6" with it (mine is a regular MS, not a SCMS). Trick I found is to put a good 80 tooth blade on it.

[Tom Hintz]

First, you get 10 demerits for publicly asking IF you should get a new tool. Shame, shame!

A chop saw is nice to have and prevents having to switch back and forth on table saw setups. The BT3100 can be just as accurate if you set it up using some kind of gauge and then check the results. On thing the table saw can do is cut larger stock than a chop saw. this could be important for mitering corners of even jewlery boxes as the stock width can easily exceed a chop sas capacity and maybe even some slider versions on occasion.

[LarryG]

Agree with everything said so far. A miter saw is great up to its capacity, but with most you'll need to invest in a better blade (I put a Forrest Chopmaster II on my Delta 36-255L ... made a WORLD of difference). If your stock isn't too long to be unwieldy (or, if you prefer, is short enough to still be wieldy), I'd use the BT since it has an excellent blade already.

Unless you're just looking for an excuse to buy a CMS, of course. It's always nice to get a new toy, and my CMS is one of the most-used tools in my shop. Like Ken, I wouldn't want to be without it.

[vaking]

I don't have a CMS so I am not talking from experience but the general theory says: everything that CMS can do - a table saw can do too, maybe less comfortably. There are plenty of things table saw can do that CMS cannot. In a long run - table saw is a must have, CMS is a nice to have.

[John Hunter]

I have both and use both all the time. I also make a lot of jewelry boxes and spice boxes. I find the ability to make quick changes on the miter saw to be faster than on my BT3000. I also like the miter saw for cutting a lot very small pieces (1-4") such as dwawer parts.

[germdoc]

Yes.

Next question...

If you want to cut accurate 45's on the BT3 or any table saw FTM it works best to make a sled. This is great for picture frames.

However, the CMS really complements the TS, can accomodate long boards and is portable. If you just want a reasonably accurate saw for occasional use, I'd rec. the Ryobi 10" with the laser.

[Jim-Iowa]

Not much to add really.
Size of the project has a lot to do with it.
I can`t imagine not having my CMS. It is used mostly to cut sticks to a managable length.
No doubt the BT3100 is fine and will do a great job, but I`m not yet set up to manage long lengths on it.
Pappy, has posted pictures of a miter sled he made for the sliding table, which proves his argument about the precision of the the bt3100.
So I need a CMS, but you may not?

[onedash]

I usually use my CMS just to cut to rough length. Then I joint and plane and cut to finished length on the TS if its not to long. When I make the first cut its never square. plus if im gluing up a big piece I leave the edges alone and cut it as one piece on the TS.
I dont have a BT but for cutting a lot of angles i think a really good miter gauge would be a better buy than a CMS. I have never cut an angle with mine yet. I guess If i ever did crown molding I will be glad I have it though.