Miter saws are also known as a mitre saw, drop saw or chop saw. They are powerful tools commonly used to make accurate crosscuts at different angles. Commonly used MITRE saws are portable and small with blade size between 8 to 12 inches which are capable of cutting various tough materials. Have you ever thought what can you use if you do not have a miter saw?
In this article, we will explore some of the alternatives for using a miter saw. Actually, a good miter saw like Dewalt dws779 is very expensive and few people especially homeowners can afford it.
Miter saw alternatives
If you do not have a miter saw, you can use either a mitre box or hand to make mitre joints, which are cuts made at an angle of 90 degrees.
How to use a miter saw box to make angle cuts
A miter box is a hand-powered tool that is affordable compared with miter saws and is used to make precise and accurate angle cuts in wood. DIY people who are not willing to spend a lot of money buying a saw mostly use them.
They are made up of two major components i.e. handsaw and box, which has slots on all sides. They guide woodworker in making precise angle cuts between 90 and 45 degrees. Below are examples of miter boxes that you can shop on Amazon.
Using miter box
- The first step is to make sure the miter box is clamped to a stable table or any other surface. You can also attach the box using a nut and bolt.
- Put your workpiece on a flat table and using carpenter square mark the wood.
- Then you should determine the type of cut you will be making. For example 45 degrees to the right, 45 degrees left or 90 degrees, or straight cut.
- Using two guide slots align trim for the right degree and direction of the cut.
- Between the guide slots, insert backsaw and then lower blade and align it with the trim.
- Use light passes to score a line and increase the force to cut the workpiece.
Using hand
Actually, this is the old fashion way of making crosscuts. It sounds easy but it very hard to make accurate cuts using this method no wonder mitre boxes and saws were invented to make work easier. For example, think of making a 45 degrees angle, which is done, in a straight line you will have to make a lot of practice to be able to cut accurately.
To cut a mitre joint, first, you will need to make a 45 degrees line on the pieces of wood that you want to join. A protractor is needed here. Once you are done marking, cut through the lines using a saw.
Conclusion
What do use if you do not have a miter saw? If you have been asking yourself this question for a long time, it is my hope this article gave you insights and ways to accurately make crosscuts with little hassle. Make sure you read more saw reviews in our blog.