For most workshops, owning both a chop saw and a miter saw is ideal. These pieces of equipment significantly increase the range of applications you can do.
However, not every Tom, Dick, and Harry can afford to purchase both tools. So often, homeowners have to make a choice between a chop saw vs miter saw.
If you find yourself facing this dilemma, you might feel really lost on which one to go for. We understand your predicament, which is why we’ve set out to help you understand what these tools are. Below is a detailed guide, highlighting the differences between chop saws and miter saws.
Once you know the difference between a chop and miter saw, you can determine which one is right for you.
Overview of Chop Saws
Chop saws are a fairly simple piece of equipment. It's equipped with enough power to enable welders to cut metal like steel in a quick and relatively accurate fashion.
To do this, chop saws are equipped with several components. One of these is a motor, and it’s responsible for transmitting torque via a set of gears to an abrasive disc or wheel.
This abrasive disc is the part used to cut through wood, metal and other workpieces. But instead of toothed blades, the disc uses a diamond coating that cuts material via an abrasion mechanism.
The way this works is through the head of the machine - which is what holds the motor-gear unit, handle and wheel- that pivots down into the cut. The workpiece being cut is held in position by a vise that comes built into the chop saw’s base.
The cutting disc is usually thin. It works in a fairly similar manner to a grinding wheel, in the sense that it wears out gradually as it cuts through steel. This explains why the metal chop saw generates a considerable amount of sparks.
Speaking of sparks, we recommend that you look for saw chop saws that have a protective mechanism against these sparks.
The best chop saws come fitted with spark deflectors. These are meant to prevent the sparks from flying all over by directing them downwards, underneath, or behind the machinery.
Important to note though is that chop saws can only cut at a 90 degree angle. This makes it suitable for home improvement projects that call for quick straight cuts. If your work involves doing something a little more detailed or making compound cuts, this tool won’t cut it.
Pros
Cons
What It’s Best For
Chop saws make quick work of cutting through metal, masonry, and composite pieces of material. This powerful equipment can even be used to saw a chop on lumber containing embedded nails.
One of the reasons why construction workers treasure this tool is because it can be used for cutting tough materials without sacrificing on accuracy.
That said, you should never try to use a toothed blade on a chop saw. Its cutting disc spins quite fast and it can reach a speed of up to 5,000 RPM. If you insert a toothed blade, you run the risk of kickbacks and intense injuries.
Overview of Miter Saws
At first glance, you may think a miter saw is the same as a chop saw because the saws look identical. But these aren’t the same tools.
This type of saw is made up of a circular blade, which is enclosed in a pivoting arm that swings from side to side to perform crosscuts on wood.
Speaking of cuts, this power tool is equipped with a toothed blade. Typically, you’ll find the blade encased in a big disk on a flexible arm that can either be lowered or raised; and swiveled from side to side.
The pivoting arm is what makes these saws so versatile as it facilitates both straight and angled cuts.
Most manufacturers also include a steel guide along the tool’s rear edge. This is more popularly referred to as a fence, and it’s meant to align the workpiece; which makes for accurate cutting.
One noteworthy point is that most miter saws can't tackle very large workpieces. If you're looking to cut very large workpieces, a table saw is better because it has a bigger cutting capacity.
Miter saws can be classified further into:
Standard Miter Saw
This one has the most basic design. It doesn’t include any frills; hence it’s used for simple crosscuts and miter cuts.
The biggest benefit of standard miter saws is that they are cheap. So if you’re looking to buy a cutting tool on a budget, it’s your best bet.
Sliding Miter Saw
What sets this one apart is the fact that it has rails added to it. These make it possible for the blade to glide from the front to the back across the wood.
As a result, you can use the blades to make much deeper cuts than with a standard miter saw. If you anticipate having to cut deeper materials like say a 1 x 12 or 2 x 12 lumber, a sliding miter saw is most suitable tool to use.
Compound Miter Saw
As you might have guessed from the name, this saw is designed specially for making compound cuts.
These cuts constitute both miter cuts and bevel cuts. Wondering about the difference between these two? Well, miter cuts are done across the face or width of the wood while bevel cuts are done through the thickness of the wood.
Compound Sliding Miter Saw
A sliding compound tool can not only be used to saw a miter and bevel cut, but it also has sliding capabilities.
There are two main variations of these tools, namely, a single and double sliding compound miter saw. With the single model, the blade can only tip to one side. But with the double, the blade can tip both right and left, which makes it even more versatile.
Pros
Cons
What It’s Best For
This tool’s greatest benefit is that it can be used to make complex cuts.
Since it can make precise 90-degree (straight) cuts, it’s useful in projects like making picture frames. The fact that it can also be used for angled cuts makes it ideal for tackling baseboards, cabinets, crown molding, and decorative trim.
Main Differences Between a Chop Saw and Miter Saw
So what's the difference between a chop saw and miter saw?
Characteristics
Each of these tools has a distinct set of traits as follows:
Miter Saws
- Can cut in straight 90-degree angles or make beveled cuts
- Designed primarily for tackling wooden pieces
- Equipped with a carbide-tipped blade
- May have table clamps to secure the workpiece
Chop Saws
- Similar to a circular saw, this tool can cut different pieces of material; it's particularly good at cutting metal
- Makes only straight cuts; cannot bevel or miter
- Makes use of abrasive blades for cutting
- Often equipped with clamps to secure the material
- It comes in two variations: abrasive (high-speed) or cold-cutting
Appearance
When it comes to appearance, these power tools look fairly similar. But if you take a closer look, you’ll realize that there are slight differences. While chop saws use circular cutting wheels, miter saws use circular toothed saw blades.
So when you’re shopping for a miter saw, the most important factor to consider is the blade. Specifically, you’ll want to check the blade’s teeth configuration, number of teeth per inch, size, and thickness.
On the other hand, buying chop saws requires that you pay attention to the circular cutting wheel. In particular, you’ll want to check the material it’s made of. Certain materials are better at cutting metal than others.
Functionality
In the debate between a chop saw vs miter saw, neither is superior to the other as they serve different functions. Chop saws are pretty good at metal cutting, though they can only be used for 90 degree cuts.
Miter saws are best used for cutting wooden pieces, and they can make straight and angle cuts. However, they're not good at cutting other pieces of material, particularly metal.
Application
If you're examining a chop saw vs miter saw in the application font, the former has a slight edge.
This is because it’s designed to cut any piece of material. Whether you want a tool for cutting wood, metal, concrete or composite pieces of material, it's up to the task.
On the contrary, a miter saw is best used to cut wood and plastic. Important to note though is that manufacturers have begun making more advanced miter saws.
These saws often come with multiple blade options for cutting different materials. The Evolution Power Tools R255SMS+ is the best example of such a hybrid miter saw.
Operation
The way these two saws work is not a far cry from each other.
Both chop saws and miter saws employ a circular-shaped saw blade, which spins away from the direction of the operator. Also, they both have clamping systems or fences that help to keep the workpiece steady.
The only difference is the fact that a miter saw uses a carbide tipped saw blade while a chop saw uses an abrasive wheel.
Ease of Use
Wondering which tool is easier to use in the chop saw vs miter saw discussion? Well, the truth is using chop saws and miter saw requires the same amount of effort.
The differences arise when you consider the level of safety offered by each. With chop saws, you have to be mindful of the sparks generated during the cutting process. In particular, keep in mind that the sparks can ignite a fire if they come into contact with a flammable material nearby.
Portability
Both chop saws and miter saws are quite heavy. This makes them pretty difficult to move from one place to another.
That said, some manufacturers are kind enough to equip their pieces of machinery with a set of wheels. So if you intend to carry your piece of equipment often, look for one that has this feature.
How To Pick Between a Miter Saw and Chop Saw
Figuring out the type of saw that’s best for your home improvement project is imperative, more so if you want to get good results, minimize risks, and hefty repair expenses.
That said, choosing between these two saws should be informed by the scope of your work. If your project involves a lot of woodcutting and calls for a high level of precision, then a miter saw is ideal.
However, if you need to cut hard materials as well and not just wood, a chop saw is a better alternative. Though they can only make 90 degree cuts, their blades have enough power to slice through anything.
Other tasks will require a tool that's not just good at metal cutting but one that can also cut at different angles. If your project calls for this, then look for a hybrid miter saw.
It will have several blade options, each suited for cutting a specific material. More importantly, it will help you achieve a level of accuracy that you otherwise wouldn’t get from a conventional chop saw.
FAQs
Can I use a miter saw as a chop saw?
For the most part, a chop saw and miter saw work in a fairly similar manner. So you’d assume that the two are interchangeable.
But, the truth is that they aren’t. For starters, a miter saw can’t cut the same materials that a chop saw can. Secondly, the two don’t have the same level of power. A chop saw churns out more than 5 hp while a miter saw only generates about 2.5 hp.
Is a miter saw better than a chop saw?
No, a miter saw is not superior to a chop saw. In fact, neither one is better than the other. It all depends on how you plan to use your saw.
For wood cutting and projects that require miter and bevel cuts, opt for a miter saw. But for projects that require a great deal of power, or slicing through metal, consider a chop saw.
Is a chop saw and a miter saw the same thing?
No, they are not. Though they look similar, they’re very different. As we saw earlier, they differ in terms of their cutting tools, application and ease of use.
What can I use a chop saw for?
Chop saws can be used to cut pretty much any material; from lumber to decking, molding, aluminum, and an array of other non-ferrous metals. The only thing that matters is that the workpiece has the right depth and width so it can fit in your chop saw.
Conclusion
Have you been wondering whether to buy a chop saw vs miter saw? Well, now you know what each tool can do.
A chop saw is a rugged device equipped with an abrasive disc for cutting. It can be used to slice through both wooden and metallic workpieces. But its cutting action produces sparks, so be sure to remove anything flammable in your surroundings.
On the other hand, a miter saw is a cutting tool designed with precision in mind. Perfect for detailed work, this tool can make both straight and angled cuts. And, it’s often equipped with a fence to help you achieve maximum accuracy.