You will agree with us when we say that cutting wood and metal for carpentry is quite necessary.
The real question is which saw does this task more efficiently. For this, we’ll be comparing chop saw vs miter saw.
This article will help you to identify the difference between a chop saw and a miter saw.
Furthermore, it will also help you to make a well-informed decision to choose between chop saw vs miter saw.
| Features | Porter-Cable Chop Saw (PCE700) | DEWALT Miter Saw (DWS716) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Budget-Friendly | Pricey due to the long term durability |
| Blade | 14 Inches blade, good for deeper cuts | 10 Inches blade, a fine one. |
| Speed | 3800 RPM | 3800 RPM |
| Weight | 32 pounds lightweight | 48.3 pound heavy |
Now that you have a basic idea of the differences between a chop saw and a miter saw, let’s get towards the comparison of their features and benefits.
Porter-Cable 14-inch Chop Saw (PCE700) Review - Durable Easy to Use
This chop saw is solely made for cutting different types of metal. It is great for finer and accurate angled cuts.
You can use a chop saw for your DIY projects or home repair. Additionally, it is easy to use and smooth.
Features of Porter-Cable Chop Saw (PCE700)
- 15 Amp motor 3,800 RPM motor
- Abrasive disc blade
- Includes a spark deflector
- Allows a 45-degree cut.
- Spindle lock for blade changes.
- Power Source: Corded Electric
- Spark Deflector
- 45-degree miter adjustment
- Steel Base
- Spindle Lock
- Electric corded
- Poor Quality Blade
Benefits of Porter-Cable Chop Saw
The sturdy metal base and the good sharp, circular saw blade make a chop saw the perfect power tool for you.
Does the clamp help to speed up the process?
The clamp’s quick-release function speeds up the cutting. You can easily remove your base making it easy to set up. A good power tool for your workstation.
What is the adjustment angle of this saw?
You will instantly notice that this chop saw has a miter adjustment to 45 degrees allowing you to make fine, angular cuts.
Is the spindle lock a good feature?
Another benefit we must mention is its spindle lock. You can use this metal chop saw for home improvement or other project work or even for your cabinets.
Is the blade good for other metal bases than steel?
The 14-inch blade allows the chop saw for a versatile cut. The blade can be used to cut alloy, copper, aluminum, Iron base, and other metalwork bases.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Porter-Cable Chop Saw
Durability: The Chop saw is quite durable and well built when it comes to cutting hard metal bases.
Strength: The powerful motor and long blade help in deep cuts and clean square cuts.
Speed: Even though the blade takes a little while in the beginning but it speeds up when it’s halfway through it and cuts smoothly.
Portability: The lightweight body of 32 lbs makes it easy to carry and to set up on any particular workbench. This makes it easy to use.
Accuracy: The 45-degree adjustment enables the chop saw for better accurate cuts, moreover the accuracy may vary from one metal base to another varying along with the width of the base.
Blade: 14-inch blade will give you a wider cut capacity, this allows you to make better accurate cuts along with a fine finish.
What Do the Customers Think?
After testing the product on different pieces of material like steel, alloy, and other metal surfaces, our team decided to explore the online customer reviews.
What do the reviews suggest?
At first glance, we noticed that the majority of the reviews were positive.
They praised that the saw was quite well built and strong for its price. Its easy blade change spindle lock is a good feature.
One of such reviews, this workhorse tool, and 5 years of experience of usage validates that this saw is a good one.
Best Portable Chop Saw
The best portable chop saw is the Porter-Cable Chop Saw (PCE700) because the strong steel base gives it stability. This keeps the metal base fixed and secured without creating any damage.
Final Thoughts
If you are someone who needs a cheap good quality saw then this chop saw is your choice of product.
However, if you are looking for a saw with a chip deflector and a blade guard then we would recommend Evolution S355CPSL.
Porter-Cable can cut thick metal bases and keeps the cuts accurate. You can cut your objects smoothly without any hindrance.
12-inch Double-Bevel Compound Miter Saw Review - Sturdy and Accurate
Miter saws are available in multiple sizes. They are solely made for cutting wood. This specific product from DEWALT is also available with different additional features. You can use it to make hardwood flooring strips or any other piece of furniture.
Additionally, you can use this compound miter saw for your indoor house repairing projects or professional woodwork.
Features of DEWALT (DWS716)
- Stainless-steel miter detent plate
- 3,800 RPM Speed
- Electric Brakes
- High-efficiency dust duct
- Power source: 1 Lithium-ion battery
- Double bevel cuts
- 50 degree left and right miter capacity
- Double bevel cut
- Miter detents on the base
- Cam lock handle
- Accuracy in angled cuts
- Two removable fence
- Lack of builtin extensions
- Doesn’t includes batteries
Benefits of DEWALT (DWS716)
The miter saw can come in handy in a lot of different situations. The same is the case with DEWALT (DWS716).
Does it make good angled cuts?
You can use this miter saw to make angled cuts on a wood base, you can also make accurate angular wooden frames.
Does the size of the blade affect the cut capacity?
We found that the miter cuts make the cabinet-making process quite easy. This is because this miter saw includes a good 12-inch blade with a wider cut capacity.
Is it good for compound cuts?
It is great for compound cuts, You can cut vertical, horizontal, or even by 45 degrees both ways. You can cut without moving your base.
Does the double bevel feature make the cutting process easy?
The double bevel cut by 50 degrees on both sides, allows you to make repetitive cuts smoothly without moving your wood base. If you have professional carpentry work then this feature will make the wood chopping process smooth and easy for you.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy DEWALT (DWS716)
Durability: This miter saw from DEWALT is quite sturdy with its whole metal base.
Strength: Even though it has a battery power source, you will still require 1 Lithium-Ion battery.
Speed: The speed of a good power tool goes a long way. With this saw, you can get accurate angular cuts and can even use it for 2×8 or even 2×10 base with a 3800 RPM speed.
Portability: The double bevel feature of the miter saw makes it easy to use for repetitive cuts. The durable strong steel base with a weight of 48 pounds makes it possible to carry from one workstation to another.
Accuracy: The miter detents mechanism enables you to get more accurate cuts. The cam-lock handle helps in keeping the base secure and fixed in the position during the cutting process.
Blade: The 12-inch carbide tip blade works well with a 4 by 8 wood base. The blade can be replaced according to your work requirement. If you are considering working with thicker bases you have to get another one according to your work nature.
What Do the Customers Think?
We tested this miter saw to cut multiple wood bases in different angles and found it to be consistent in performance. To get a better understanding of this product, we decided to look into online reviews. A lot of people praised this miter saw for its durability and accuracy in angular cuts.
Some of the customers stated that it was quite easy to use and can be used for hard bases.
They also mentioned that the double bevel cut and miter detents on base have helped in fixing angles, making the wood chopping process easy.
A review of a satisfied user, the saw gives a 10x smoother cut than other miter saws.
Best Double-bevel Miter Saw
The Best Double-bevel Miter Saw is the DEWALT Miter Saw (DWS716) because it allows you to make double bevel cuts without moving your base. This makes it easy to use with better accurate cuts.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a good carpentry tool with a powerful body and a varying cutting capacity then a miter saw is for you. You can cut through wood bases with different angles.
Its multifaceted construct makes it versatile. You can even use it for hardwood flooring strips or any specific home project.
Chop Saw vs Miter Saw- Buyers’ Guide
What are some things I should keep in mind when buying a Chop Saw?
Multiple factors go into consideration before buying a chop saw. It depends on the type of blade, durability, and ease of use.
A chop saw is designed to cut metal bases, for accurate angular cuts and with different types of metal bases.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the chop saw has a spindle lock. You can use it for small metal pipes, or different metal bases such as copper, thick steel pipes, and aluminum rods.
Will I have to change the blade?
Chop saw on its own is quite powerful. You can cut multiple metal bases without changing its blade and it will do just fine.
However, changing blades enhances the accuracy and angles of your cut.
The only drawback of using the same blade is that you might face some difficulties if you choose to cut thick pieces of metal.
What are some factors I should keep in mind when buying a Miter Saw?
This tool is quite versatile in use and is mainly used to cut wood bases. Even though its main purpose is creating different pieces of woodwork, you can also use it to make some cabinets or frames.
The miter saws have a good cut capacity. You can cut different diameters of wood bases. This makes the angular cut quite easy, you can cut by 45 degrees both ways.
Is a Miter Saw durable?
In comparison with a Chop saw, a miter saw is not good for a metal base. A miter is designed for cutting wood. Moreover, if you don’t get the lithium batteries it might not work, and you might have to change its blade for thicker wood bases.
Furthermore, to ensure the wood dust doesn’t blow throughout your table, you have to connect your vacuum cleaner pipe to its replacement. It will not only help to keep the base clean but will also help in making your job easy.
Are chop saws and miter saws the same?
No, although both can be used for the same purpose; cutting. However, a miter saw is solely made for cutting timber whilst a chop saw is for chopping metal. These saws are good handy tools for home repair.
Final Thoughts
After a detailed comparison to understand the difference between a chop saw and a miter saw, we have concluded that there is not a clear winner in the comparison.
You will have to choose depending on the requirement of your project because both serve different purposes.
Chop saws are long-lasting and are great for DIY projects. However, if you aren’t looking into metal cutting and want something for woodwork then you should choose a miter saw.
Do let us know which one you chose for your project.