How to Use Your Tabletop Electric Miter Saw

Tabletop electric miter saws can cut wood and many non-ferrous materials. Usually, they're not designed for cutting ferrous materials like iron or steel unless they are labeled as such. Even though the saws are described as tabletop, if your saw has mounting holes, it should be mounted to a work bench or board for stability and to avoid binding. Using a tabletop electric miter saw involves proper positioning of the saw, yourself, and the work piece, and performing the cut.

Workbench, or 1/2-inch or thicker plywood
Drill and bits
Screws or bolts
Screwdriver or wrenches
Clamps
Scrap wood

Instructions

- 1
  Bolt or screw the saw to the work bench before starting to cut. You'll see holes in the legs for this purpose. Screw the saw down for a permanent install, or bolt the saw to a 1/2-inch thick piece of plywood and then clamp the assemblage to a work bench for portability.
- 2
  Position yourself properly. Keep both feet on the floor and maintain proper balance. Keep the work piece tightly to the table and fence -- clamp it if necessary -- keeping your hands no closer than 6 inches from the blade. Make dry runs with the blade off. When you've finished the cut, allow the blade to completely stop before moving your hands or the work piece.
- 3
  Try some cuts with scrap wood. Cut a trim molding joint by setting the miter arm at 45 degrees to miter two boards to make a 90-degree corner. Set the bevel adjustment to zero. Position the wood so the flat side is against the table and the narrow edge is against the fence. Make the cut and you'll end up with a four-sided shape corner. Adjust the angle miter or bevel for more sides. For example, set the angle to 36 degrees to make a five-sided shape.

How to Evenly Round the Corners on Plywood

How to Hang a Joist

Carpentry