Chop saw vs Miter saw

[Cripplecreek]

I'm weighing the pros vs cons of what I want vs what I really need.

The miter saw is a little more versatile due to the fact that it has one more cutting axis which means more parts and pieces. (which can be lost or break) Its great for finishing jobs like molding cuts. It also tends to be a little more expensive.

The chop saw is only a 2 axis machine that always cuts at 90 degrees to the table. Great for framing jobs where you have lots of cuts that need to be the same with a fair amount of speed. It tends to be a little cheaper because it lacks the versatility of a miter saw.

Personally I'm leaning toward the chop saw. When I get around to cutting molding I can buy a miter box and cut by hand.

https://mitersawhub.com/chop-saw-vs-miter-saw/

[thackney]

I'm weighing the pros vs cons of what I want vs what I really need.

The miter saw is a little more versatile due to the fact that it has one more cutting axis which means more parts and pieces. (which can be lost or break) Its great for finishing jobs like molding cuts. It also tends to be a little more expensive.

The chop saw is only a 2 axis machine that always cuts at 90 degrees to the table. Great for framing jobs where you have lots of cuts that need to be the same with a fair amount of speed. It tends to be a little cheaper because it lacks the versatility of a miter saw.

Personally I'm leaning toward the chop saw. When I get around to cutting molding I can buy a miter box and cut by hand.

https://mitersawhub.com/chop-saw-vs-miter-saw/

For my years of woodworking projects, I would not consider a chop saw as my only "bench" saw.  I would buy a mitersaw.  I would only buy a chop saw as a second saw for speed/backup.  I find all too often I have a need for an angled cut.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I thought a chop saw was for cutting metal primarily?

[skeeter]

For my years of woodworking projects, I would not consider a chop saw as my only "bench" saw.  I would buy a mitersaw.  I would only buy a chop saw as a second saw for speed/backup.  I find all too often I have a need for an angled cut.

My next purchase will be a sliding compound miter saw. Always end up needing something for wider stock.

[Cripplecreek]

I thought a chop saw was for cutting metal primarily?

Most appear to be sold with an abrasive blade for metal but there are plenty of wood blades out there.

The cost differences aren't huge but I just don't see myself making a lot of miter cuts into the depth of the wood while I do make lots of angled cuts across the wood.

[thackney]

My next purchase will be a sliding compound miter saw. Always end up needing something for wider stock.

If I buy another one, it will be slider compound miter saw as well.  Too many times wishing I spent a few more dollars the first time.

[Sanguine]

I love my chop saw, but frequently really need the miter saw. 

[Cripplecreek]

I love my chop saw, but frequently really need the miter saw.

Right now I'm just looking at something for 2x4, 2x6, and 2x10 cuts for framing. I can always switch back to the abrasive blade for cutting my vinyl siding and J channels.

Over the winter I'll be looking at buying a table saw. I want to buy some decent plywood and rip it into 6 inch wide strips to make some plank flooring.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Right now I'm just looking at something for 2x4, 2x6, and 2x10 cuts for framing. I can always switch back to the abrasive blade for cutting my vinyl siding and J channels.

Over the winter I'll be looking at buying a table saw. I want to buy some decent plywood and rip it into 6 inch wide strips to make some plank flooring.

Table saws... aka "finger cutter offers". 

[Sanguine]

Right now I'm just looking at something for 2x4, 2x6, and 2x10 cuts for framing. I can always switch back to the abrasive blade for cutting my vinyl siding and J channels.

Over the winter I'll be looking at buying a table saw. I want to buy some decent plywood and rip it into 6 inch wide strips to make some plank flooring.

I'm using redwood fence pickets to trim out windows.  Looks really good, but I do need to rip them down.  Luckily, Dad has a table saw.

[Cripplecreek]

I'm using redwood fence pickets to trim out windows.  Looks really good, but I do need to rip them down.  Luckily, Dad has a table saw.

A friend and I have been looking at how to age the plywood. Things like beating the crap out of it with log chains and light scorching come to mind. We were playing around with branding the wood the other day with a round concave brand that makes it look like the end of wooden dowel or pegs.

[Sanguine]

A friend and I have been looking at how to age the plywood. Things like beating the crap out of it with log chains and light scorching come to mind. We were playing around with branding the wood the other day with a round concave brand that makes it look like the end of wooden dowel or pegs.

We need pictures!

[Forum member]

I have a good quality chop saw but got some laminate flooring that was too wide for it to cut, barely. Went to Harbor Freight and got a big sliding compound miter saw for cheap and have found it to be amazingly accurate and repeatable. It gets most of my use now.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I have a good quality chop saw but got some laminate flooring that was too wide for it to cut, barely. Went to Harbor Freight and got a big sliding compound miter saw for cheap and have found it to be amazingly accurate and repeatable. It gets most of my use now.

I love harbor freight. I have the HF sawzall and the thing is a beast.

[EC]

A friend and I have been looking at how to age the plywood. Things like beating the crap out of it with log chains and light scorching come to mind. We were playing around with branding the wood the other day with a round concave brand that makes it look like the end of wooden dowel or pegs.

Caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) after the rusty chains. Make a solution, about 3 tbsp per pint, and use one of those cheapo squirt bottles to mist the plywood. Leave it to dry and voila - instant aging. The stronger solution, the more colour change.

[Cripplecreek]

We need pictures!

It will be a while but this is the look I'm going for.

[skeeter]

Right now I'm just looking at something for 2x4, 2x6, and 2x10 cuts for framing. I can always switch back to the abrasive blade for cutting my vinyl siding and J channels.

Over the winter I'll be looking at buying a table saw. I want to buy some decent plywood and rip it into 6 inch wide strips to make some plank flooring.

Recommend Bosch's Jobsite Table Saw with Wheeled Stand – 10in. Blade, 15 Amp, Model# 4100-09

This, a Bosche 18v impact driver and a Milwaukee Sawzall with 1 1/8" stroke are the only power tools anyone should ever need.

Only exaggerating a little.

[Sanguine]

It will be a while but this is the look I'm going for.

Beautiful...

[Sanguine]

Recommend Bosch's Jobsite Table Saw with Wheeled Stand – 10in. Blade, 15 Amp, Model# 4100-09

This, a Bosche 18v impact driver and a Milwaukee Sawzall with 1 1/8" stroke are the only power tools anyone should ever need.

Only exaggerating a little.

I really like my little Makita battery powered circle saw too.

[Elderberry]

Over the winter I'll be looking at buying a table saw. I want to buy some decent plywood and rip it into 6 inch wide strips to make some plank flooring.

I would rip it up with a circular saw using  straightedge jigs. Last time, I built a temp work table, with a  sheet of 3/4 ply nailed to some 2x4s to keep it straight and laid on some sawhorses.

[Elderberry]

A friend and I have been looking at how to age the plywood. Things like beating the crap out of it with log chains and light scorching come to mind. We were playing around with branding the wood the other day with a round concave brand that makes it look like the end of wooden dowel or pegs.

I aged the mahogany in my kitchen with a potassium dichromate solution. I aged a bookcase once with a propane torch. Worked good. Have to be careful though.

[Elderberry]

Right now I'm just looking at something for 2x4, 2x6, and 2x10 cuts for framing. I can always switch back to the abrasive blade for cutting my vinyl siding and J channels.

Over the winter I'll be looking at buying a table saw. I want to buy some decent plywood and rip it into 6 inch wide strips to make some plank flooring.

I would suggest to not get either the chop saw or mitre saw. Instead get a table saw and then buy or build a crosscut/mitre sled.

[roamer_1]

My next purchase will be a sliding compound miter saw. Always end up needing something for wider stock.

YEP. That big DeWalt.

I have been pretty satisfied with Craftsman's rebranded Skil compound miter... Had two of them over the years... everything from fine trim to rough framing... Except in that almost all 6" stock is impossible to do, and some 4"... It will take a 2x6, but only a 90 cut, and you have to flip the board up a touch to even finish cutting that.

That big sliding compound miter is the answer.

[roamer_1]

Right now I'm just looking at something for 2x4, 2x6, and 2x10 cuts for framing. I can always switch back to the abrasive blade for cutting my vinyl siding and J channels.

For anything over 2x4, in a miter cut, you will need a sliding compound miter, a radial arm, or a table saw.

Over the winter I'll be looking at buying a table saw. I want to buy some decent plywood and rip it into 6 inch wide strips to make some plank flooring.

You'd be surprised how much you can do with a simple contractor's table saw... First thing to build with it would be a set of horses to sit it on, a sub-frame to sit it in, a side table top, and a catch table top... The all you need is a pipe clamp to make a decent fence with and you're all in...

The only thing I wish I'd have done was to go into a higher end contractor model - I can't dado well with the one I have... Not enough throat, and not enough power.

[Wingnut]

Recommend Bosch's Jobsite Table Saw with Wheeled Stand – 10in. Blade, 15 Amp, Model# 4100-09

This, a Bosche 18v impact driver and a Milwaukee Sawzall with 1 1/8" stroke are the only power tools anyone should ever need.

Only exaggerating a little.

WD 40, a vice grip and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone.

[Wingnut]

I aged the mahogany in my kitchen with a potassium dichromate solution. I aged a bookcase once with a propane torch. Worked good. Have to be careful though.

I did that once.  Aged back to carbon.

[Cripplecreek]

I did that once.  Aged back to carbon.

Its a little more aged than I had hoped but it was my first attempt.

[Cripplecreek]

What I ended up buying.

Hitachi C10FCE2 15-Amp 10-inch Single Bevel Compound Miter Saw.

[Sanguine]

What I ended up buying.

Hitachi C10FCE2 15-Amp 10-inch Single Bevel Compound Miter Saw.

Nice! 

[Bigun]

What I ended up buying.

Hitachi C10FCE2 15-Amp 10-inch Single Bevel Compound Miter Saw.

That's a good piece of equipment. You will not regret that purchase.  But it will not make miter cuts on a 2 x 6.

BTW: I have both a chop saw and miter saws. the chop saw is used only for cutting metal and is invaluable on a construction site (cutting rebar and such)

[Cripplecreek]

Nice!

Should take care of all my framing cuts and switch over to do most of my cutting for vinyl siding.

[roamer_1]

That's a good piece of equipment. You will not regret that purchase.  But it will not make miter cuts on a 2 x 6.

CONCUR.

BTW: I have both a chop saw and miter saws. the chop saw is used only for cutting metal and is invaluable on a construction site (cutting rebar and such)

I have a cut-off saw for metal... But even after I get that big Dewalt slider, That ol chop saw will stick around... great for chopping 2x4s and such... and it is fairly compact by comparison.

[Cripplecreek]

CONCUR.

I have a cut-off saw for metal... But even after I get that big Dewalt slider, That ol chop saw will stick around... great for chopping 2x4s and such... and it is fairly compact by comparison.

Its a starter saw for me. $120 plus $11 for a 4 year warranty

[Bigun]

I have a cut-off saw for metal... But even after I get that big Dewalt slider, That ol chop saw will stick around... great for chopping 2x4s and such... and it is fairly compact by comparison.

I like dewalt but found one of these on sale for $100 less and it has a lifetime service warranty to the original purchaser. 



No problems at all so far!

[Elderberry]

It looks like quite a tool. I've just about run out of workspace for another saw. So I limit myself to cutting on the table saw or with a circular saw, jigsaw, sawzall, handsaw, router, tile saw, die grinder, or cutting torch.