Using a miter saw makes every cut, straight or angled, much easier, but what if you don’t have a table? Can you use a miter saw on the ground? I have seen people improvise in all sorts of ways. Some of them were ingenious innovations, while others were downright dangerous and stupid. I never recommend using a saw on the floor. Not only can you damage your flooring, but it makes everything harder. Is it the same with the ground outside? Sure, you could damage your blade, but it’s not going to slice any linoleum. Overall, it’s a workable solution, but not a good one. Controlling a board on a table is much easier than scooting it along the ground.
Can you use a miter saw on the ground? You can use a miter saw on the floor or the ground. However, the problem with this technique is that it makes it much harder to control your boards. Plus, you get them dirty as you work, potentially scratching the surface up and causing real damage. Since a miter saw is made for precision, it’s best to use a stand or table so you can get precise cuts.
How To Set Up A Miter Saw
Getting that elusive perfect cut can be daunting. However, you won’t get it if you’re using your miter saw on the ground. Instead, get it bolted and clamped to your stand or table, and I will walk you through how to set it up to make perfect cuts. After all, a miter saw is meant for precision.
- Check your screws, clamps, and guards. Making sure these are all locked into position will help you as you work. Furthermore, they will prevent any shifting or accidents as you work.
- Position a square between the blade and the fence. Some woodworkers stop here, but a resting saw and a working saw are not the same things.
- Choose two wide pieces of scrap board with a straight edge on at least one side. Wider is better in this case, and you can use any board up to the maximum width your saw can handle. It helps if these are the same length.
- Cut both boards. You can stack them and cut them at the same time or separately.
- Set your boards on end and place the cuts together. There should be no gap along the seam.
You can do this test for any angle you want to cut. More importantly, it would be best if you do this for each angle you plan to cut. By performing this test cut, you can visually verify that your saw is set right.
Look at the WEN MM1011 Compound Miter Saw from Amazon for your next project. This single bevel saw has a crown molding nested capacity. Moreover, you’ll love the onboard Class II laser guide to keep everything perfectly lined up. Better still, you get a dust bag and dust port adapter, ten-inch 40-Tooth carbide-tipped blade, clamp assembly, and two table extensions so you can get started on your project right away. Plus, Wen comes with a two-year warranty. Get this outstanding miter saw by clicking here.
Can You Use A Miter Saw As A Metal Chop Saw
If your miter saw is like most, you should not use it to cut metal, especially on the ground. However, the good news is that with some minor adjustments you can make it work. You will need a different saw blade and speed setting to use a miter as a metal chop saw. You cannot, however, put a miter saw blade on a chop saw.
It is important to understand that this works best with a nonferrous metal like aluminum, though you could cut steel as well. Make sure you use a carbide blade that is meant for metal cutting.
The Metabo HPT 10-Inch Compound Miter Saw will handle the cuts you need if you stick to wood or change the blade. At just over twenty-four pounds, this saw is more portable and mobile than its heavier companions. However, it’s still sturdy, durable, and heavy enough to stay in place. You’ll appreciate the thumb-actuated positive stops for faster work. Plus, the zero to forty-five-degree angle gives you a standard range that will cover most building projects. To read the exceptional Amazon Reviews, click here.
How Do You Put A Miter Saw On A Stand
A miter saw is attached to the stand with brackets. Using a miter saw on the ground is dangerous and imprecise, though you can technically do it. Once you’ve used a stand, you’ll never go back again.
The brackets on a miter saw stand come with a screw kit. However, one of the most useful things about a professional miter saw stand is the clamps. Naturally, they hold things in place, but they can also be squeezed to slide the saw for easier cutting.
Always make sure your saw is screwed and clamped in place on your stand before you start cutting. It may seem like common sense safety, but it’s easy to forget if you’re tired, distracted, or in a rush. Like eye protection, you should never skip this basic necessity.
Unlike a table, your miter saw stand may have end supports that slide in and out to brace your boards as you cut. This allows you to get even miter cuts and bevels on the longest boards.
Miter Vs. Bevel Cut
A miter saw can cut both miters and bevels. This is useful for numerous projects, but what’s the significant difference? Aren’t they both ways of saying ‘at an angle?’ Well, yes and no.
Home Depot explains it very simply. Miters are angled cuts done on the width or face of your boards. Meanwhile, a bevel is also angled. However, this cut goes through the board. So you can see that they are indeed both angled, but the part of a bard you cut is what makes the difference.
Typical Size Of A Miter Saw Table
Miter saw tables come in many assorted sizes, but what’s the average? Although you can use a miter saw on the ground, it’s hazardous, and you want to find the right table for your saw. Since miter saws themselves can be varied sizes, it will affect what works best for you.
Average miter saw tables are eighteen to thirty inches deep. Depending on the usual boards and type of cutting a user does, a shallow or deeper table is better for their needs. In general, you need a table depth that is at least enough for your saw base, so begin by measuring that dimension.
The most common miter saws are ten or twelve inches. However, yours may be depending on what you choose. The flat base has bolt holes, so I suggest using them to secure your saw to your table. You can easily pre-drill holes if you are making a DIY table.
Beyond the base itself, you may need more space. At least five inches or more is best. As for the table’s length, a long, thin design with a miter box as the top is a smart way to go. Look at or build a miter table that is at least five to eight feet long for working on longer boards.
I recommend a DeWalt 12-Inch Miter Saw from Amazon regardless of your table size. This well-known and trusted brand has been making high-quality tools for decades. You’ll be impressed with the versatility of this blade with its Miter detent override and fence that supports crown molding up to five and a quarter inch nested and base molding up to six and a quarter inch vertically. To learn more about the features and details, click here.
Does A Miter Saw Need To Be Bolted Down?
Although you don’t need to bolt a miter saw to a dedicated table, it is a clever idea to bolt it down while you work with it. This is the of many reasons why you should not use a miter saw on the ground. There’s just no way to secure your saw to the dirt.
Respecting your tools and safety are part of learning how to DIY. Thus, it would be best if you used a table or stand for your miter saw. Avoiding preventable accidents will save your tools and materials damage, and it could even save your life someday.
Final Thoughts
Your miter saw allows you to do so many things. On the ground or a table, you can use a miter saw to cut boards straight or angle them. This is crucial for corners, stairs, and many other projects. Not to mention, it’s much more difficult to cut an angle manually. Overall, you’ll save time and waste less wood because of this clever tool.
While you can certainly use the ground, I recommend buying or building a table for the saw instead. Not only is this easier and less likely to damage your tools and materials, but it’s easier on your back and hands as well. Moreover, respecting your power tools is part of learning to use them correctly.
If you must use a miter saw on the ground, please be careful. Accidents are far more likely when you use tools in a manner inconsistent with their design, and a miter saw is made to sit upon a table.