Different types of miter saws have dominated the market over the past few years which has left craftsmen wondering which power tool to purchase.
When purchasing a miter saw you need to be mindful of some factors. First, ask yourself “what size should the miter saw be?” Then work out whether it should be sliding or nonsliding.
We understand that you would want to choose a tool with the best quality at an affordable price
In this post, we will distinguish between Single and Double bevel miter saws and identify which tool works best under different circumstances.
Quick Summary
In this post, we will take a look at:
- What is a Miter Saw?
- Types of Saws
- Types of Cuts
- Definition of Bevel
- Bevel Capacity
- How to Use Bevel Saws?
- Single vs Dual Bevel Miter Saw
- Single Bevel Miter Saw – Pros and Cons
- Single Bevel Miter Saw Uses
- Double Bevel Miter Saw – Pros and Cons
- Double Bevel Miter Saw Uses
- Major Differences
- Notable Similarities
- Compound Miter Saw
Now, let’s take a look at them in-depth.
What is a Miter Saw?
A miter saw is one of the most speedy and accurate power tools for woodworking purposes. It consists of a circular blade attached to its arm that tilts and pivots to make cuts on wood.
Bevel is the ability of a saw to pivot in either left or right directions to make cuts.
Miter saws are usually used to cut various types of building materials such as:
- PVC pipes
- Lumber
- Flooring
- Siding
A sliding miter saw makes cuts horizontally and a stationary miter saw makes cuts downwards.
Types of Saws
When you have decided what size miter saw you require according to your work needs and you have determined on a sliding or nonsliding saw, then comes that part where you decide the type of saw.
If you want to make bevel and miter cuts then there are two types of bevel miter saws to choose from:
- Single Bevel Miter Saw
- Dual-Bevel Miter Saw
Types of Cuts
There are four major types of cuts:
- Miter cut: Made at a 45-degree angle across the workpiece.
- Bevel cut: Angled cuts are made on the edge of the workpiece.
- Crosscut: Made at a 90-degrees angle.
- Compound cut: Makes bevel and angled cuts simultaneously.
Definition of Bevel
In simple words, bevels are angled cuts that meet another surface at an angle other than 90-degrees.
To differentiate between a bevel and a miter cut, a bevel cut is made by changing the angle of the blade while a miter cut is made by changing the angle of the wood.
Bevel cuts are made along the width of the workpiece and can be measured against a squared edge cut. These cuts are normally made at a 45-degree angle.
A bevel cut can be made by adjusting the blade on the cutting tool which is why these tools need to be specialized to allow adjustments.
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Bevel Capacity
The bevel capacity of a saw is the maximum angle the saw can reach to make a bevel cut. These angles are usually preset at the most common angles which allows you to adjust your angles on these guidelines.
How to Use Bevel Saws
A bevel saw is the ideal tool to create cuts such as a door and picture frame, crown molding, and window casing. Bevel cuts hide joints which makes the workpiece appear more presentable.
Let’s look at single and dual bevel miter saws to determine which one is more suitable.
Single vs Dual Bevel Miter Saw
In this section of single bevel vs double bevel miter saw, we will be able to differentiate what the two different types of miter saws are capable of.
Single Bevel Miter Saw
Image Courtesy: Reddit
A single bevel miter saw has a pivoting system that allows you to make cuts by tilting to only one size which means it does not cut in both directions. This is because its positioning adjusts in one direction only.
You can select any angle you want to make bevel cuts. However, since it cuts in only one direction, you need to flip over your workpiece to make cuts on both sides.
This will require some degree of calculation to make matching cuts on both sides. Moreover, your single bevel miter saw will not work past 90-degrees.
A single bevel saw can make bevel and miter cuts independently and together.
The single bevel saw is great for small projects that require precision. It can make accurate cuts that are ideal for professional and household projects.
Pros
The advantages of single bevel miter saws include:
- Easy to use
- Affordable
- Lightweight and easy to work with
- Better suited for home improvement or DIY projects
- Great for a beginner and a professional woodworker
Cons
The disadvantages of single bevel miter saws include:
- You need to turn your workpiece over to make identical cuts
- It is not time efficient
- Not suitable for smaller workpieces because it needs to flip over
- Do not make precise cuts
- Not suitable for longer pieces
Single Bevel Miter Saw Uses
Single bevel miter saws are most efficient for DIYers because they are quite affordable and easy to use.
A single bevel saw might take more time but it creates the same results and decorative finishes as its dual counterpart.
These saws are very lightweight and can be easily carried to different locations for work.
Double Bevel Miter Saw
Image Courtesy: Reddit
The dual bevel miter saws can pivot left and right which means it can make cuts in both directions which means you do not have to keep flipping the board over. This saves time.
To make dual bevels, you need to adjust the blades rather than the workpiece. The blade angles can be adjusted to both left or right directions to make an angled cut.
Since dual bevel miter saws can pivot in both directions, therefore they can make identical, precision cuts to the workpiece such as crown molding.
Double bevel miter saws come with added mechanical components due to which they are heavier than single bevel miter saws. This makes them a less portable option as well.
Moreover, due to their additional features and mechanical components, they are rated at a higher price.
We recommend the dual bevel miter saws for contractors and professionals because of their high functionality.
Pros
The advantages of a dual bevel miter saw are:
- Makes identical, precise cuts
- Does not require you to turn the board over
- Allows completion of projects faster
- More accuracy
- Reduce human error
- Highly efficient
- Provides a wider range of cutting angle options
Cons
On the other hand, the disadvantages include:
- Complex operation
- Expensive
- Heavy
Dual-Bevel Miter Saw Uses
The double bevel miter saws are required when the task at hand is complex. They provide greater flexibility to complete complex tasks in a shorter time.
The accuracy provided by the dual bevel miter saw is impeccable considering how smoothly identical cuts can be achieved.
Moreover, you do not have to flip the workpiece over due to which the finish is quite neat because human error is reduced.
Single vs Double Bevel Miter Saw
Both single and dual bevel miter saws use a circular blade to make miter and bevel cuts. They are also known as Compound miter saws because they can make miter cuts in one or both directions.
Major Differences
Some of the major differences between single and double bevel miter saws include the following:
Functionality
When using a single bevel miter saw, you have to flip your workpiece over and in doing so you also need to maintain accuracy to ensure that identical angles are cut.
On the other hand, when using a dual bevel miter saw, you do not need to change sides of the material at work. You can make uniform cuts on both sides easily because it makes cuts in both directions.
Angle Cutting
The major difference between a single bevel miter saw and a double bevel miter saw is the angle at which they can cut.
The single bevel miter saw cuts in one direction only. The double bevel miter saw cuts in the left and right directions.
Cuts made by the single bevel miter saw can be made either in the right or left direction while cuts made by the double bevel miter saw can be made in both directions.
Pivoting
The pivoting aspect of a miter saw is quite important to consider. When it comes to the single bevel miter saw, it only pivots to the left and will not go beyond an angle of 90-degree.
A double bevel miter saw can pivot in both directions and there is no limiting factor to the angles. Moreover, the workpiece remains in its position when creating bevels on opposite sides.
Notable Similarities
While the single bevel miter saw and dual bevel miter saw are quite different, they have the following similarities:
- Both can make bevel cuts as well as miter cuts
- Both pivot on an axis to make cuts at different required angles
- Both will cut the same depth depending on the size and depth of the blade being used
Compound Miter Saws
As mentioned earlier, the single and double bevel miter saws are also known as compound miter saws due to their functionality.
The single bevel compound miter and the dual bevel compound miter saws work on the same basic rules as a miter saw. The key is to keep their features in mind when operating them.
Conclusion
This concludes our post on “What is a Single Bevel Miter Saw” with its pros and cons and a complete comparison with a dual bevel miter saw.
A single bevel saw differentiates from a dual bevel based on its axis of pivot, price, and weight. It can make cuts in one direction only, it is affordable, and it is lightweight which makes it easy to use.
On the other hand, the double bevel saw is complex, it cuts in both directions, it is expensive due to extra mechanical parts, and it is heavy.
However, at the end of the day, both of the saws will provide you with miter and bevel cuts.
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