Many DIY enthusiasts and carpenters might be confused between single and double bevel miter saws. The difference between a dual bevel miter saw and a compound miter saw might also be unclear.
All of these tools are great at speed and precision in making bevel cuts or miter.
So, how can you choose the one that you need?
In this post, you will find the difference between a single, dual, and compound miter saw. Moreover, we will help you determine which one is most suitable for your needs.
Quick Summary
You will find information on the following areas of topic in this post:
- What is a Miter Saw?
- Types of Cuts
- What is a Bevel Cut?
- Single vs Double Bevel Miter Saw
- Major Differences
- Dual Bevel Miter Saw – Pros and Cons
- When is a Double Bevel Miter Saw needed?
- Single Bevel Miter Saw – Pros and Cons
- Single Bevel vs Double Bevel Miter Saws
- Tips to Choose the Right Miter saw
- Conclusion
Let’s explore!
What is a Miter Saw?
A miter saw is a powerful woodworking electric tool and allows speedy and accurate cutting. It has a circular cutting blade fixed on an arm that tilts and pivots to provide the best angles for cutting.
Bevel is the ability of the saw to pivot in both the left and right directions. A miter saw that can pivot in a single direction only, usually, the left direction, is a single saw.
Miter saws are used to cut various building materials such as:
- PVC pipes
- Lumber
- Flooring
- Siding
Stationary miter saws cut downwards rather than horizontally. You have to bring the blade downwards to cut into the material vertically, hence the name stationary.
On the other hand, sliding miter saws cut pieces of material horizontally.
A miter saw is known by many names, including:
- Chop saws
- Chop box saws
- Miter box saws
Types of Cuts
A miter saw cuts in four ways.
CrossCut
These are the standard miter cuts at a 90-degree angle.
Miter Cut
These cuts are made at a 45-degree angle such as for picture frames.
Bevel Cut
These cuts are made at the edge of the material at a specific angle. For example, staircases may be cut in such a way.
Compound Cut
These cuts are a mixture of angled and bevel cuts.
What is a Bevel Cut?
Image Courtesy: Reddit
Bevel cuts made from a miter saw are a sloping edge used in stonemasonry or carpentry to join two pieces together at an angle to create a clean finish.
Bevel Capacity
A bevel capacity is a maximum angle that a miter saw can reach to create a cut. Usually, the saws are preset at a well-known angle and you can take these preset angles as guidance in the settings.
Learn more with our various RESOURCE GUIDES.
Single bevel miter saws can bevel in one direction and can make bevel cuts of 90 degrees only. The limits of this bevel saw make it perfect for beginners and hobbyists.
On the other hand, a double bevel miter saw, also known as a dual bevel miter saw, can bevel in both left and right directions. The double bevel is capable of making this pivoting motion.
The wider range of motion allows precise cuts and helps achieve different angles. This type of power tool can be most helpful for a professional’s workshop.
Major Differences
A single bevel miter saw differs from a dual bevel miter saw in the following ways:
- A dual bevel miter saw is a lot more expensive than a single bevel miter saw because it is a high-quality tool.
- A single bevel can make an angled cut whilst the double bevel can make cuts on both sides of the material without the need to turn the material around.
- A dual bevel is heavier as compared to a single bevel.
- A single bevel is more affordable than a dual bevel which is quite expensive.
- A single bevel is user-friendly while a double bevel might take some practice to get used to.
As mentioned earlier, a double bevel miter saw can pivot in right and left directions which allows it to make precise cuts on both sides of a board.
The pivoting movement allows you to select several different angles between 0 to 45-degree angles. Some saws might allow you to choose up to 60 degrees as well.
Dual movements will allow you to make identical cuts with identical angles on both sides of a material. This technique helps professionals save a lot of time around the workshop.
Pros of a Dual Bevel Miter Saw
The pros of a double bevel include:
- A dual bevel miter saves a lot of time thus allowing you to complete multiple projects in a short time. It is essentially great for crown molding projects or other trimming projects.
- The rotation of the head of the saw allows you to make cuts with more precision on both sides of the material which improves quality.
- It reduces the chances of human error and increases accuracy.
Cons of a Dual Bevel Miter Saw
The cons of a double bevel include:
- A double bevel miter saw is far more expensive than a single bevel miter saw.
- Since a double bevel miter saw has a variety of different capabilities, therefore, it is not easy to use. It is not recommended for beginner woodworking projects.
- Along with complex usage, the double bevel miter saw is very heavy which further complicates operations.
When is a Double Bevel Miter Saw needed?
Some projects require the greater capabilities of bevel miter saws to give more accurate and high-quality results. This is where double bevel miter saws are most appropriate.
Double bevel miter saws reduce human error and make bevel cuts with high precision. You do not need to go through the hassle of flipping the board and realigning angles.
Single bevel miter saws can adjust their position in one direction only, either towards the left or the right. This means it will take more effort to make cuts on two sides of a board.
The good news is that single bevel miter saws can make miter and bevel cuts both at the same time or independently.
Pros of a Single Bevel Miter Saw
The pros of a single bevel include:
- These saws are quite affordable.
- Single bevel saws are very easy to use. Since they can make cuts at 90-degree angles only, therefore, their operations are quite simple.
- The single bevel saws are very versatile. They are great for novices and experts both if you are willing to put in just a little more effort to handle them.
- They are lightweight and thus easier to operate.
Cons of a Single Bevel Miter Saw
The cons of a single bevel include:
- The major con of a single bevel is that it only allows making single-directional cuts which is quite a hassle when you need to make a crown molding or other trims.
- It is very time-consuming to complete a task with a single bevel saw because you need to continuously turn the workpiece.
- The quality of work is compromised because you cannot make uniform cuts on both sides of a workpiece.
Single Bevel vs Double Bevel Miter Saws
The two miter saws have quite a lot of similarities as well. Both of them can make bevel and miter cuts. Moreover, they can cut in one or two directions which is why they are also called Compound Miter Saws.
Tips to Choose the Right Miter Saw
Tip #1: Features
Before you select any tool or equipment, you need to consider the features it will offer at the best price. The most popular feature most people consider is a dust collector to make a little mess as possible.
Moreover, a laser guide is preferred by many beginners and professionals to get maximum accuracy.
Furthermore, you should consider different types of blades that can cut through different materials. Finally, do not forget to check the safety measures that each brand has equipped the tool with to provide you with a safe experience.
Tip #2: Types of Miter Saws
Essentially, there are three types of miter saws:
- Basic miter saws: These saws will only allow you to make a miter cut. They do not make bevel cuts so you can only make crosscuts with these miter saws.
- Compound miter saws: You can make bevel cuts as well as miter cuts with these saws.
- Sliding compound miter saws: This combines a sliding miter saw with a compound miter saw to allow you to make miter and bevel cuts into larges areas with ease.
Tip #3: Purchasing a Miter Saw
We advise you to take your time and plan the purchase of a miter saw carefully. You will need to consider your budget, what you will use the miter saw for, and your individual needs before you make the purchase.
Remember that miter saws are expensive and this is a long-term investment. If you do not plan to use the miter saw more than once or twice, we advise you not to purchase it.
Conclusion
This concludes our post on “What is a Double Bevel Miter Saw” along with a complete discussion on Single vs Double Bevel Miter Saws.
You will need to consider many features before you select which miter saw is most suitable:
- Consider what blade will make which type of cut
- Determine the angle each miter saw will cut
- Identify the time it will take for you to complete each workpiece
- Factor out features you do not want such as sliding miter saws
Miter saws are powerful tools but they are quite expensive. Therefore, make sure that you have considered all factors that will directly affect your experience before you make the purchase.
Let us know if you have any more questions.
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