5 Best Miter Saw Under $300 ( Buyer’s Guide )

A miter saw is a power tool ideal for making precise miters and crosscuts in a workshop by placing a mounted blade on a piece of wood. Manufacturers design different miter saws for different kinds of jobs, and so, you must be sure which type of saw you want and the task you want to carry out. However, choosing the best miter saw that can assist you in achieving the most appealing results in your carpentry job is quite challenging. This review will help you identify the best miter saw under $300.

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Best miter saw under $300 buying guide

Dust collection

Before purchasing a miter saw, it is advisable to determine whether it has a decent dust bag for dust collection. When cutting woods, the saw generates a lot of dust in the area surrounding the surface you’re working on, so having a dust collection will help solve the dust issue.

Also, this ensures that the saw is tidy and clean when making cuts. However, when dust gets into the miter saw, it interferes with its operation by making it slower or breaking it down.

Blades

Depending on the projects you’re working on, it is wise to choose your blades accordingly. If working for bigger projects, a 12- inch or 10 -inch miter saw is the ideal option for it allows you to cut even the toughest wood in your workshop. This blade type is also suitable for cutting metal and plastic pipes, making complex bevels, compound angle cuts, and accurate repeated cuts.

The 12-inch and 10-inch miter saw have fast-spinning blades, making them suitable for performing deeper cuts. However, if you need a miter saw for performing household chores, a 4-inch blade would be your ideal choice.

Speed

Before starting any woodwork or purchasing a miter saw, it is important to consider which woodwork job you will use for household chores or bigger projects. If you have a motor whose speed is relatively slower maximizes your overall control over the saw even though you can increase the speed anytime if need be. Typically, a powerful motor offers you the highest speed you will need in all your wood cutting jobs.

Additionally, they allow you to cut larger and wider woods, enhancing continuity when making woodcuts and reducing the rate it heats up. Also, keep in mind that the higher the RPM of your saw, the faster the cutting blade rotates as it cuts through different materials. So, to be sure of the miter’s saw speed check its RPM on the laser guide.

Cutting Factor

Although speed and power are the major factors many consider when purchasing miter saws, often woodworkers need to cut many pieces of lumber of different angles and miters. So, keep in mind the cutting factor of your miter saw enables you to produce effective cuts and ensure efficiency when making cuts.

If working in a carpentry shop, buying a miter saw with detents of the most common angles is advisable: 22.5 degrees, 45 degrees, and 90 degrees. Make sure your miter saw has a smooth and easy detent override as it helps you avoid stopping along the way and back until you release the trigger.

Power options

Typically, both corded and cordless miter saws have different advantages and disadvantages. Cordless miter saws have perfect portability, allowing you to move around in varying workshops while carrying without too much exhaustion. You may also purchase a cordless miter saw with carrying handles and wheels to make moving from one site to another easy.

Although they may lose power and speed at some point, their operation when making woodcuts is reliable as they do not require an external power source. When it comes to convenience, some also feature a brushless motor which ensures long life and lower cost of maintenance.

On the other hand, corded saws generate a lot of power and speed, unlike cordless ones. They allow easy cutting through the toughest woods and even offer sufficient room for precision maintenance. However, carrying them in different workshops is quite challenging as they will also require an external power source.

Precision

The detents or angle stops are the key features that help determine the miter saw’s accuracy. A miter saw with regular angle stops allows you configure the right miter angle within a short period. It also helps you to know whether your cuttings are precise. Most compound miter saws feature both bevel and miter stops.

Each stop has a cutting range of 45 degrees. However, the angle of the miter saw can be set depending on the preference without using an angle stop. This feature allows you to make non-standard cuts. Some miter saw come with a LED lighting system, while others come with a laser pointer, all helping in lining up your blade with your cut marks.

Safety

Besides using ear protectors and safety goggles, a suitable miter saw should also have safety features. First, bringing a blade rotating several thousand times each minute to a stop is quite challenging. So, one of the most important features of a miter saw is the electric brakes, as they assist in stopping the blade once you release the trigger.

Electric brakes help minimize the stopping time to seconds, ensuring a smooth cut and safety to your fingers. A blade guard ensures the protection of the user from cutting before pressing the trigger. It also protects the woodworker from accidents when pressing the trigger as cutting continues. Another vital feature is the miter table. It helps prevent accidents as the woodworker sets up long pieces of lumber

Type of saws

There are three varying kinds of miter saws in the market. The sliding miter saw easily slides forward, allowing you to cut wider pieces of lumber. The compound miter saws feature an edge or tilt, allowing you to make cuts on the board at varying angles. The dual-action saws have an angle on both sides, enhancing their versatility.

The single-action compound miter saw design has angles on one side only. The standard miter saw is another type that spins to the side. It allows you to make cuts from the top at a certain angle. In turn, this enables you to make excellent corner pieces of varying kinds of jobs.

Type of blade

You can use general-purpose blades to handle various materials such as plywood, bricks, hardwood, metal, and plastic. A crosscut blade is an ideal option if set out to achieve smoother and finer cuts.

If you require both speed and smooth finish in your woodworking, combination blades can help you achieve both. Depending on the task you are purchasing the saw for, it is advisable to consider the blade type accordingly.

Top 5 Best Miter Saw Under $300

1. Hitachi C10FCG 15-Amp 10″ Compound Miter Saw

If you are looking for a miter, saw that will take your carpentry job to the next level with various angled cuts, you will love the flexibility that the Hitachi C10FCG 15, a 10-inch compound miter saw, offers. This miter saw features a 15 amp motor that is powerful enough to cut even the toughest hardwoods with incredible ease.

Considering that this is an industrial miter saw, you’ll love the flexibility it offers in both the right and left tilt, achieving flexibility of up to 52 degrees. This flexibility also allows this miter saw to cut both timber and boards without leaving scrapes, marks, or broken pieces on your cuts. Although this miter saw has an incredible performance, the simple design ensures you will spend less on maintenance.

With 24 pounds, this miter saw is impressively lightweight, and you can pick it up and move around with it in your workshop without exhaustion. This miter saw features a blade length of 10 inches, which is large enough to cut pieces of lumber of up to 4 x 6 inches. You can use this miter saw to cut through metal if necessary for versatility.

However, you will need to swap the factory blade with an aftermarket one specifically designed for cutting metal. When it comes to keeping your workshop clean, you will love the fact you can connect this miter saw with a vacuum cleaner using a port at the rear of the saw. The vacuum cleaner will then suck out the dust and pieces of debris as you make the cuts.

Pros

The motor is ideal for cutting hardwoods
It provides both the right and left tilt
It is lightweight enough to move around without much exhaustion
The dust bag and dust port adapter ensures a clean environment

Cons

Its construction does not enhance durability

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2. WEN MM1011T Single Bevel Sliding Compound Compact Miter Saw

The WEN model features a compact design making it easy to move around your workshop while carrying and saving up on storage space. This miter saw features a 15 amperes motor, allowing you to rotate the blade at speeds of around 4500 times per minute.

The sharp 10-inch blade cuts through hardwoods with ease, making it easy to cut through thick woods of 3-½ inches. Considering that this miter saw bevels 45-degrees left and miters on 45- degrees in both directions, it allows you to have full control of changing the angles as you desire.

When it comes to keeping the surroundings in your carpentry shop clean, this miter saw comes with a dust bag and dust port adapter, allowing you to attach it to any cleaning device of your choice. Also, with this miter saw, you can make compound cuts in boards of around 8-1/4 inches wide and 2-1/5 inches thick.

The saw features nine positive miter stops, two at 30 degrees, two at 45 degrees, two at 15 degrees, two at 22.5 degrees, and one at 0, ensuring convenience. When cutting many pieces of lumber with similar angles, this miter saw comes with a miter lock feature allowing you to lock the preferred angles between these stops.

Additionally, the lock feature relieves you the hassle of keeping an eye on the miter to ensure it does not change your desired cutting angle. With a laser guide provided in the package, this miter saw allows the user to cut pieces of lumber with accuracy, reducing the possibility of any errors. This miter saw motor does not produce unpleasant sounds, ensuring a silent operation. However, this miter saw is not ideal for beginners as its saw head wobbles a bit.

Pros

It ensures convenience when making cuts
The laser guide enhances cutting with accuracy
Its construction ensures portability when moving around in a workshop
The user has full control of changing angles

Cons

The saw head wobbles, making it unsuitable for beginners

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3. Delta Power Equipment Corporation10″ Shop Master S26-262L Miter Saw with Laser

The Delta Power Equipment Corporation S26-26L 10-inch Shop Master Miter Saw is one of the best miter saws to use when making your woodcuts outdoors. For one, this miter saw gets its power from one lithium-ion battery, which means you can operate it even when there is a power blackout.

If you are not a professional but a DIY user or a hobbyist, you will love the laser feature that comes with this miter saw. Typically, the laser helps you to align the blade on the pieces of board or wood you are working on, allowing you to make precise cuts like a professional. You can conveniently turn the laser on and off, thanks to the on and off switch.

Considering that you might want to make cuts of various angles, you will love the 0, 15, 22.5, 30, and 45 degrees tilt flexibility in this miter saw. Although this miter saw is battery-powered, it comes with a 15 a motor which is powerful enough to cut even the hardest woods. With a blade length of 10 inches, this miter saw can cut pieces of wood up to 2 x 6 inches at 90 degrees and 4 x 4 inches if it is a minor cut.

This miter can achieve a blade spin of around 5,500 RPM, which is fast and powerful enough to cut 2 x 6 inches of wood in one pass. When it comes to safety, the electric brake in this miter saw can stop the blade almost instantly when you release the trigger.

If your miter saw already has a stand in your workshop, you don’t have to worry when purchasing the Delta Power Equipment Corporation S26-26L 10-inch Shop Master Miter Saw, as it works with almost all the miter saw stands.

Pros

The battery ensures convenience when cutting
It is ideal for making cuts of different angles
The electric brake ensure safety when working
Its stainless steel construction ensures durability

Cons

The dust bag is not effective

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4. Metabo HPT 10-inch Compound Miter Saw

If in search of a miter saw ideal for woodworkers and carpenters who demand versatility, accuracy, and reliability in their workshops, then you can’t go wrong by choosing the Metabo HPT 10- inch Compound Miter Saw. It comes with a 15 amp motor that is powerful enough to easily make miters and crosscuts, even on the toughest hardwoods.

It features a zero clearance insert, preventing wood shavings and other materials from falling back in the blade. With the bevel range of 0 to 48 degrees to the left, right, and adjustable angle stops, this miter saw allows you to flip the saw blade, leaving the material you are cutting in place. This miter saw comes with a LED lighting system that offers more visibility, allowing you to work on your woods even in low-light situations.

Additionally, the lights feature a weatherproof rubber cover, ensuring that contact with moisture or rain does not damage them. Although it does not offer the best cutting capacities, its saw produces up to 5000 RPM ensuring sharper and accurate blade cuts. It comes with a large table, providing you with better support for clamping your miter saw, ensuring a secure workplace.

All the controls in this miter saw are upfront, allowing you to change the cutting angle or make bevel adjustments with ease. It comes with an easy-to-adjust laser maker system, increasing the cutting accuracy. Woodworkers will also love the fact that the handle of this saw has an elastomer coating, providing comfort when making cuts and preventing it from vibrating and slipping.

Besides, woodworkers can make crown molding cut different wood types, plywood, and decorative panels. However, the bevel-changing process is a bit challenging to beginners.

Pros

The LED lighting construction ensures durability
The cutting angles are easy to adjust
The horizontal handle offers sufficient comfort when making cuts
The laser marker ensures precision when making cuts
It allows the saw head to slide along the fixed rails with ease

Cons

The bevel changing procedure is quite difficult for beginners

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5. Kobalt Sliding 10-Amp Compact Single Bevel Sliding 7-1/4-in Compound Laser Miter Saw

This product from Kobalt is a sliding miter saw, the ideal option if you plan to work on large pieces of the wood standard miter, saw can’t cut. This miter saw features a mounted laser guide which helps determine the pre-cutting line and align the blade on the pieces of wood you’re working on for precise cutting.

When it comes to flexibility, you will save time with its 50 degrees right and left tilt, allowing you to work on your wood and board pieces without having to turn them over. Whether working in your workshop or outdoors, the 23 pounds weight in this miter saw won’t exhaust you when carrying it around.

Although a 5000 RPM blade spin and a 4-inch blade length might not translate to the best cutting speed, it is still an impressive speed for a miter saw under $300. The 10 amp motor in this miter saw is powerful enough to cut even the toughest woods with minimal vibrations. If space is your primary concern in your workshop, you’ll love the compact design of this miter saw.

Typically, the model features a compact form factor of 23.5 x 22 x 18.5 inches. The die-cast aluminum base in this miter saw is large and stable enough for enhanced support when making woodcuts.

Pros

It is suitable for cutting large pieces of wood
The motor ensures minimal vibrations when cutting tough woods
Its compact design provides better maneuverability
Its design makes it ideal for beginners

Cons

It is not ideal for heavy-duty projects

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FAQs

How do I change the bevel angle on a miter saw?

When changing the bevel angle, the first thing you need to do is lock down the saw blade. While holding the tilt, loosen the screws to ensure that the saw moves freely when making your adjustments. Push it until the one indicator line on the surface lines up with the dashed line at 90° where you want your miter cut to stand.Tighten the screws to lock in your desired bevel angle.

Can I use my miter saw to make straight cuts?

Generally, manufacturers construct miter saws to make cuts of certain angles such as rafters, molding, and other carpentry applications. When you equip them with the correct blade, they are ideal for making straight crosscuts, enhancing their versatility.

Do I need to bolt down my miter saw?

It is advisable to clamp down or bolt down your miter saw for obvious reasons. When a sudden kickback happens, the saw may shift as the blade rotates, hazardous if the user is closer to it. For this reason, many miter saws have clamp-down points to help prevent this and many other possible incidences.

Which thickness of wood do miter saws cut?

Some manufacturers make 12-inches blades suitable for making a maximum cut of around 7 ½ inches sufficient for 2 x 8 pieces of lumber. A saw with a 10-inch blade is ideal for cutting 2 x 4 wood at an angle of 45°. The same blade can make a right angle cut on a 5 1/2 inches wide lumber, also enough for 2 x 6 wood.

Final thoughts

The best saw should have a sharp blade that can cut through thick pieces of lumber without difficulties. Also, it should help you get the most satisfactory results from your woodwork, and its construction should use premium materials that do not get dull or damaged due to frequent usage. Although the best miter saw depends on personal tastes and preference, you cannot go wrong by choosing any of the above miter saws.

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