If you are just entering the world of woodworking, the wide collection and variety of tools at the hardware store might feel too confusing. The words of the salesman at store describing the specs of the tools could seem gibberish too – we get it! It’s not easy to distinguish the differences and their diverse applications from the first look. Today, we will give you a 101 lesson on – what is a double bevel miter saw?
What is The Double Bevel Miter Saw
There is a large collection of saws in the market. Every single one has a different purpose and different handling methods. You cannot use the same saw for making a small birdhouse and a 20-feet long crown molding.
When you are looking for suggestions on which kind of saw should you get for yourself, you will hear this same answer from every source – “Choose the one that suits your need!”
Sadly, this suggestion isn’t much of a help for the rookies. You need to get to the needle-point of the issue and know how these saws or the tools work.
That’s what we are planning to do today!
The ABCs of Power-Saws
Okay, to get to know what a double bevel miter saw is, you need to understand the most fundamental saw in this case – the chop saw.
The chop saw is a simple circular saw, where the user could move the blade upward or downward. So, you will have to hold a work-piece (a.k.a. a block of wood) and pull down the blade towards it. It is a simple wood chopping tool with a limited application.
If you are looking for angular cutting ability, you need to move forward.
To understand the whole concept of a double bevel miter saw, you should understand two more concepts – bevel and miter cuts. We are pretty sure that these two concepts are quite foreign to you.
Mitering is the ability to spin the blade of the saw in the desired angle. For example, you could consider slicing a pizza! Slicing a pizza is almost like making miter cuts.
Then comes the bevel cuts. Beveling is the ability to move the blade to make a slopped or a slanted cut in the workpiece. In this case, you could consider a crown molding. In a crown molding, you have join beams of woods together in a right angle. The edges of the woods have to be slanted so that they could fit together.
When you are making a bevel cut and a miter cut at the same time, you are making a compound cut. That’s why in many cases, the double bevel miter saws are called double bevel “compound” miter saws.
The construction of a Double Bevel Miter Saw
As now you all the basics, we could move on with the definition, and the construction of a double bevel miter saw.
There are five parts commonly available in this type of saw –
- A circular blade
- Base
- A motor for creating torque
- A handle that can tilt in both right and left; rotate at a certain degree
- Sliding or gliding mechanism (found in the advanced saws)
The Circular Blade
The circular blades can have different sizes. The most common ones are – 12 inches, 10 inches, and 7.25 inches. Obviously, larger blades will cut deeper. For example, a 7.25 inches blade could cut through 2-inch thick lumber easily.
Commonly, the blade is made of high-strength steels like stainless steels, cobalt HSS (M35 or M42). But the tips are generally made of alloy materials of higher strength like tungsten-carbide tips.
The Base
The base is where the workpiece will reside. The advanced saws have clamps to hold the workpiece while cutting through firmly. Even, some bases are adjustable and can tilt up to 50 degrees.
The Torque Driving Motor
The motor creates torque and has a belt that is connected to the blade. Typically, a 12-inch blade saw has a motor with 15 amp power that can create a torque of 3000+ rpm. The lighter saws can be cordless. But obviously, the corded version can deliver more power.
The Tilting Handles
The tilting handles are the most unique feature of a double bevel miter saw. As you know, there are two fundamental types of bevel miter saws – the single bevel and the double bevel.
The single bevel can tilt in only one direction from left to right (in most cases). On the other hand, the double bevel saws can tilt in both directions from left to right and vice-versa.
Moreover, the handles give rotational motion to the blade that ensures the miter cuts.
Some saws have pre-adjusted angles for beveling and mitering, like 45 degrees or 60 degrees so that it doesn’t deflect while cutting.
The Gliding or Sliding Mechanism
These advanced features are found in the most modern types of blades only. The sliding mechanism guides the blade forward and backward so that it can cut more. But the sliding mechanism requires more space. So, if you have a congested workspace, it could cause a problem.
To sort out this problem, some companies have added the two-stepped rail slides that require much less space for operating.
Single vs. Double Bevel Miter Saws
The constructions of these two types are almost the same. But single bevel saws cannot give bevel motion on both sides. Meaning, if you have to flip the work-piece to give desirable cuts to both sides of it.
This could be a problem as you might have to flip large and heavy work-pieces now and then. The double bevel saws solve this issue. Naturally, you will have to spend more money on this version.
The double bevel version has stronger motors, more versatility, and ensures ease of use.
Concluding Thoughts
So, we think you can choose the type of saw according to your needs! If you are looking for convenience, faster turnaround, and willing to spend a few extra bucks, the double bevel miter saws are perfect for you. We hope now you clearly know – what is a double bevel miter saw?