What is a Sliding Miter Saw?
A sliding miter saw is the same as your standard compound miter saw with the advantage of having the ability to cut through wide pieces of wood such as logs. They allow you to move the saw forwards or backward as needed when cutting. These saws do have a slightly higher price tag, but also give you a lot of range to work with.
10-inch Sliding Miter Saw Cut Capacity
Compound sliding miter saws (click for top 10) will differ in blade diameter. They usually range between ten or twelve inches. The bigger the blade of the saw you use, the wider and deeper the cut you will be able to make with it. The ten-inch blade has a limited cutting capacity and will only allow you to cut up to a six-inch piece of wood. Normally a 10″ miter saw will allow you to cut a 2 x 6 piece of wood at 90 degrees and a 2 x 4 one at 45 degrees.
12-inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw
The main difference, besides cutting capacity between a ten and twelve-inch miter saw is the power that they offer. Most 12″ saws will offer a 15-amp motor, which offers them a lot of cutting power. Using a 12-inch blade allows you to cut through thicker material easier. This makes the saw a lot more versatile than its 10″ counterpart, however, it also has a higher price tag. If you do not have the need to cut through heavy materials and you do not generally have very large cutting jobs to perform, then the 12″ miter saw is a little bit of overkill, and you will not have much need of it.
The 12″ also has a higher tooth speed. This means you can make even smoother cuts, which is perfect for when you are attempting to do more refined woodwork They may be slightly more expensive than the 10″ blades, with replacement blades being rather expensive, but they are also more durable and will last a lot longer, making them great value for money. Also remember that due to the fact that they are more powerful, they will draw more electricity than a 10 inch saw, which can be quite costly if you are going to be using your saw often.
Generally, the 12″ compound miter saw will enable you to cut through about 16″ of material, which is quite a large capacity. However, if you have extremely large pieces to cut through, you might have to make more than one cut to get through it. However, the ten-inch model would not be able to give you as much capacity as the 12″. Overall using a twelve inch blade is only necessary if you have large amounts of material to cut through and the costs of using this saw can be prohibitive, and if you are not going to take full advantage of all the features it offers.
It would perhaps be wise to consider getting a 10″ which is less expensive and offers about the same capabilities besides not being able to cut through the amount of material a 12 inch one can. There are some miter saws that will allow you to use both ten and twelve-inch blades on them so you can switch when you have a large cutting job.
10-inch Sliding Compound Miter Saw
The 10″ sliding compound miter saw is the most commonly used on the market. It will spin faster than your twelve-inch saw allowing you to make smooth accurate cuts. The ten inch blades are easy to find and you should be able to pick one up at your local hardware store. They are also a lot more affordable than your twelve-inch blades, and the cost of sharpening the blade is also a lot lower than in comparison to your 12″. If your decision on purchasing a sliding miter saw comes down to price then the 10″ blade is the one that you will choose.
Their quality of cut is sensational and to get the same level of quality from a 12″ blade you will require more teeth, this will make your 12″ blade even more expensive than normal. The downside of using a 10-inch blade is the cutting capacity it offers. They are a lot more limited than your 12-inch blades and can only be used on material that is no more than 6 inches thick. However, most DIY enthusiasts and home woodworkers will find they do not need additional cutting capacity to the 6 inches offered by the 10″ blade.
Only those who like to tackle large projects such as building their own decks or similar projects will more than likely opt for the 12″ blade. On the other hand, the main advantage of the 10″ blade is the fact that it is a whole lot cheaper than your 12-inch blade, both in the use of electricity and the cost of the blade and miter saw itself.
Conclusion
When you are deciding which compound miter saw you need for your woodworking projects, consider what type of material you will be needing to cut through. If you are doing large jobs then it will make sense to go with the 12″ blade, otherwise, save money and go with the 10″ blade, it will get the job done just as well.