How To Cut Wide Boards With Miter Saw

A miter saw is the versatile tool in the hands of any skilled woodworker. Typically, it is very effective for cutting wooden boards, used in different DIY or professional projects. Whether woodworking is your profession or passion, this is the tool you need in the workshop.

One of the few nuances of this saw is the difficulty when cutting a wider board. If you’re using the wider board, your miter saw may not be in a position to cut it straight in just one single pass. Likewise, if you take two passes, you can often end up with a wholly damaged board.

The best way to solve this problem is to buy a miter saw with a wider motion. However, it will require an even more significant investment to acquire a new device and learn to use it correctly. And if you’re an enthusiast, the idea of ​​purchasing the new miter saw may not sound very appealing. When considering this, you need to know how to cut wide boards with a miter saw.

Steps that guides you on to handle the wide boards

Step 1: Understand the miter saw

Before a process, you need to understand that cutting long and wide boards with the miter saw is more complicated. You have required a robust cast iron metal casing with precise power and a simple rolling system. Also, these boards require a motor, which can initiate them directly to goffer a good cut, and in that case, a miter saw can come in handy. The best miter saw for beginners will help handle heavy wood efficiently as it is designed for heavy-duty jobs like face frame stock or millwork.

Step 2: Get a right blade

First, you need the right blade to get started. There are different blades, including positive and negative hook blades, and you can quickly know their differences. The positive hook blades are essential if you can make aggressive cuts with every cut.

On the other hand, the negative ones have tooth angles, which come from the central axis of the blade. This allows for a better scrapping purpose. Negative hook blades also have self-refueling properties and make the safer cuts, which is more advantageous.

Step 3: Attach and mark the board

It is paramount to clap a long and wide wood firmly into the table to provide stability during the cutting process and achieve the most accurate cut. If thick plywood is not held in the correct position, this can lead to incomplete cut lines in many cases. So, take your work seriously and clamp it right, so you don’t ruin the entire session.

It is more difficult to make a smooth cut with a thick and wide board. It will assist if you measure correctly. The pen will help mark the lines you want to cut, making cutting easier because you have to follow the marked sign.

Step 4: Make a cut

To cut becomes the most crucial part of the entire process. Nevertheless, if you’ve prepared the earlier steps very well, all you need to do is slide the motor over a board and allow it gradually gnaw away at the wood. Before that, place the blades at a suitable distance and begin creating power.

Stop the machine before allowing the saw to eat all the wood. Due to this, there may be some uncut pieces. The blade can work even when the power has been turned off. Keep running the saw to the endpoint so you can cut everything. Also, make sure the blades come to a complete stop before taking the wood away from the machine.

Different ways to cut wide boards with the miter saw

We’ll give you two ways to cut wide boards with the miter saw, both of which are easy to follow. The good news is that not any of these methods require the additional investment.

Method 1: Use the reference block

The first way is to use the reference block. You can use an old wooden block, which you need to lie around the workshop floor. Nevertheless, try to use anything like the thickness of the board you’re cutting. Follow the given steps:

• Take the board and places it directly on the saw
• Cut straight through the board
• Place a reference block without removing a board on a side cut pieces
• Fix it on the guide so that it doesn’t move even when the board is taken away
• Then turn the board over and align it directly with the reference block
• Remove the clamp to prevent the blade from jamming at the end of the cut
• You will now realize that the saw blade is directly aligned with the cut made earlier
• Just cut the board, and you are through

Method 2: Use the straight edge

If the reference block is not available for some reason or the board is too long to use, an average straight edge can be used to cut a wide board. Also, you will require a pencil to mark a board. You can use the following steps:

• Line up the board directly with the saw
• Make the first cut by lowering the saw teeth onto the board
• Remove the board and observe a cut line along the board surface
• Flip the board, and you should notice a similar line on the opposite side as well
• Take a straight edge and a pencil
• Like a straight edge along the cutting line and then mark the side you need to cut
• Next, line the board with the saw to make the blade lines up with a pencil mark
• Now you can lower a miter saw and then cut the board

Tips for getting the most out of the miter saw

Now that we’ve known how to cut wide boards with a miter saw, you need to know some handy tips to help you get the most out of the miter saw. Among the tips involved in additional investments may not be suitable for everyone. However, by following some of these tips, you can maximize cutting efficiency.

1. Keep blades sharp

The most crucial component of the miter saw, or any chainsaw, is the saw blade. Therefore, sharpen the blade regularly or replace it when it becomes very dull. A dull miter blade will result in a rougher cut, which will seriously affect the quality of the cut.

2. Stop before lifting

The common mistake beginners make lifting a blade before it stops rotating after cutting a board. This can actually break the board or snag splinters when lifting. Essentially, it is always recommended to stop the blade from spinning before lifting it away from the material.

3. Allow the blade to reach full speed

After starting the saw, always wait for seconds for the saw blade to reach full speed. At full speed, cutting is faster and effortless. It can also cause kickback if the blade land before it has acquired full speed.

4. Install the laser

Some of the new sawmills on the market are already equipped with the guiding laser. If not, you may need to consider investing in a replacement laser. This will assist you in lining up the cuts more proficiently without any fear of messing up the project.

5. Easy blade swapping

If you don’t already have the miter saw and want to buy one, you may require one with the easy blade change feature. You can change the blade in this type of device by pressing the button. Since you have to change the blade most of the time, this feature will save you a lot of effort.

6. Safety first

Make sure to wear the proper safety gear before working with different chainsaws. Eye protection devices should always be worn with the miter saw, such as goggles and safety glasses, as wood chips can quickly get into the eyes when sawing wooden boards. Also, you should wear protective gloves and noise-canceling earplugs. The sound of a miter saw can be quite audible, and working with a loud noise for hours on end can be uncomfortable.

7. Going all out

The miter saw is more efficient than you think. When you set it up correctly, you too can go out and get the most out of it. You will easily cut a large sheet down to a manageable size with the miter saw by making a wider crosscut. Also, these saws are suitable for repeated cuts of the same length. Typically, this saves you more time. These saws shine in the edges. Keeping the board stable while cutting will result in fewer errors.

Conclusion

Cutting the wider boards using the miter saw is fairly a simple task, which any learner can easily handle. So if you’re having a hard time with the same project, this article should provide you with all the crucial information you require to complete it. We hope this article will be informative and helpful no matter how much skill you have in using a miter saw.

 

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