You’ve seen so many plans online for building a cute end table that would match perfectly with your new couch. You’ve looked them over and you finally have the courage to give it a try. You look at the list of required tools and the first one it lists is a Miter saw. You don’t have a miter saw. You borrow a circular saw from your friend to make this first project but after making it you know; you know you have to buy one for yourself. You enjoyed the first build so much that you know the investment will be worth it.
So which one do you start with?
Is one better than the other?
One is not better than the other, but they are different machines.
Circular Saw
A circular saw is great for rip cutting. Rip cutting is when you have to make a long continuous cut going with the grain. It can also be used for cross cutting (against the grain and typically a shorter cut). Although it can be used to cut smaller boards, it is often used for plywood. In order to keep a circular saw straight over a long distance it would need a track. You can also clamp down a straight edge of some sort and run it along that line.
Circular saws come in varying sizes (it’s the blade that is measured) but an average is 7 ¼ inches. They also come in right or left handed so if you’re a leftie pay extra attention or else you’ll have the same issue you have with scissors just with a more powerful set of scissors.
Miter Saw
A miter saw makes really accurate cross cuts. As I just mentioned a cross cut is against the grain and parallel to the longest edge of the board.
Keep in mind sometimes a miter saw is called a chop saw, although a chop saw is actually for metal but the design of the machine is very similar, a chop saw is just made of different material so that it does not catch on fire while cutting metal and sparks are flying. But back to our miter saw. These come in sizes as small as 7 inches and all the way up to 12”. You might ask, where is that size measured from? It’s measured by the blade across the center.
Newer Miter saws often have a laser so that you can more easily see where you’re about to cut.
Which one is more expensive?
A circular saw is going to be a lot less in cost than the miter saw. Circular saws can range from $40 to a small one to $100 for a little nicer one.
Miter saws can range from $200 to $600 at most big box stores. You could find either of these in gently used condition at estate sales, craigslist, or on ebay.
Factory reconditioned tools from Direct Tools are our favorite, we buy a lot of our tools there.
Is one easier to operate?
Contrary to the pricing above where the circular saw seems to win, I am a much bigger fan of the ease of use of a miter saw. You are able to keep your hands at a safer distance and keep much more control of a miter saw than a circular saw.
You technically can cut angles with a circular saw but it would require setting up a jig or straight edge and having to measure the angle and then hope it’s right.
With a miter saw you can adjust the angles in multiple directions. This might not sound useful at first but there are so many little things I use the angles for on my miter saw.
Like these arrows I made.
Both of the saws have a little kickback when they fire up. Kickback is when it wants to jerk suddenly as the motor spins up, don’t let it scare you.
Both also have finger triggers to start and stop the blade.
With the circular saw (mine is right handed) you pull the “trigger” with your index finger while also depressing the button closest to your thumb.
The Miter saw’s “trigger” is pulled by your fingers gripped around the handle and when the trigger depresses it fires up the motor.
The circular saw is much more portable than a miter saw, although a miter saw can be packed up easily into a truck or even a car, the circular saw could fit in most duffle bags it’s so small.
Do I have to have skills to use either?
You really just need to have one accessible, buy one, or borrow one and have the courage to try it. As long as you are safe about it they are pretty easy to use. Wear eye and ear protection and keep your hands steady and your grip tight.
Just like any other tool, woodworking related or not, they get easier to use with practice. Think about your computer compared to the first time you used one, easier now huh?
With all of that in mind, which one is the best to start with if I can only afford one right now?
Let me just say, I’m all about saving some money. That’s a huge part of why I love to build.
I also try to keep in mind that on any ONE single build I can be saving anywhere from $100-$1000 depending on the project.
If you really are just starting out and want to try one project and see how it turns out, go buy a circular saw, use it for an easy project, and if you like it you have two choices. You can either keep it, or you can sell it on craigslist (again even if you loose $20 on it, you saved a ton by building it yourself). If it’s a total flop and you didn’t like building you can always keep it to try one more project or keep it around, never know when you might need it.
If you already had $300 saved up for coffee table and instead commit to building one with $100 in wood then buy a $200 miter saw, new or used, and start off with the better one in my opinion.
There are also a lot more beginner projects that require dimensional lumber (think 2×4 pine), easier on the miter saw, than ones that require plywood, which the circular saw would be great for.
One last tip
You can have the guys at Home Depot or Lowes cut any piece you need there. In their nicer wood section they even have a hand saw you can use if you’re really about saving some money and using your sweat to pay for it!
I personally use my miter saw almost daily, definitely every time I’m in the shop working, but my circular saw stays put most days and might come out once a month for something.
One of my favorite tips for woodworking and building is buy what you can when you can.
So which one did you choose? Did you go with the miter saw or the circular saw?
If you’re still curious about which one to choose leave a comment and I’d be happy to help!
OMG, this, by far, was the easiest to read, and understand! I’ve read many articles about which saw to use, and their differences…this was clear, funny, and so understandable for a novice like myself..thank you SOOOO much! BTW- I’m getting a miter! I will be getting it as a gift..they want to build gates for their deck, window seats, bed platform, etc…I think the miter will be perfect! Congrats on baby! Dawn
Dawn thank you for the compliment. I’m glad it was easy to read, I have to talk to people like I talk to myself 🙂 I’m so excited you got the miter saw, hopefully, you’re enjoying it!! It’s nice weather here, if I could get this baby to nap longer than 30 minutes I’d be down in my shop making sawdust!
OMG, this, by far, was the easiest to read, and understand! I’ve read many articles about which saw to use, and their differences…this was clear, funny, and so understandable for a novice like myself..thank you SOOOO much! BTW- I’m getting a miter! I will be getting it as a gift..they want to build gates for their deck, window seats, bed platform, etc…I think the miter will be perfect! Congrats on baby! Dawn
Dawn thank you for the compliment. I’m glad it was easy to read, I have to talk to people like I talk to myself 🙂 I’m so excited you got the miter saw, hopefully, you’re enjoying it!! It’s nice weather here, if I could get this baby to nap longer than 30 minutes I’d be down in my shop making sawdust!
Great article! I like you talking like real people, thanks!
Thanks so much Ray! Happy Building!
Thanks so much Ray! Happy Building!
Thank you so much for this post, this really helped me come to a decision regarding some projects!!
So glad it was helpful Aaron! Good luck on your projects. Where we are the weather is so nice that it’s hard for there not to be a ‘project’ all the time 🙂
Thank you so much for this post, this really helped me come to a decision regarding some projects!!
So glad it was helpful Aaron! Good luck on your projects. Where we are the weather is so nice that it’s hard for there not to be a ‘project’ all the time 🙂
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thanks for Nice post. you have done good job.
http://bestsawforcutting.com/
Hey, I really enjoyed your post. My gf bought me a circular saw for Xmas last year and we tried building a mug shelf but the kick back was strong for me and I didn’t feel that confident. The miter looks a bit more easier to handle since it’s more stable. Thanks again!
Glad it was helpful! Tools for gifts are the BEST!!!! It really does stink when a tool kicks your confidence down, I say if you’re able, go with what makes you more comfortable, I LOVE my miter saw, and there are so many options and price points for them. I don’t remember if I mentioned it here, but my first one was a gift from my then boyfriend, now husband, from a pawn shop for less than $100 and we built some amazing stuff with it for 5+ years!
Glad it was helpful! Tools for gifts are the BEST!!!! It really does stink when a tool kicks your confidence down, I say if you’re able, go with what makes you more comfortable, I LOVE my miter saw, and there are so many options and price points for them. I don’t remember if I mentioned it here, but my first one was a gift from my then boyfriend, now husband, from a pawn shop for less than $100 and we built some amazing stuff with it for 5+ years!
I think I am going to buy a miter saw for my husband. He has great talent and skill in wood working and wants to put together a shop so for Christmas 2017 I am buying him some tools. His first project is to build us a bed (no plywood) so it seems the circular saw wouldn’t come as handy. Thank you for laying it out in layman’s terms!
I’ve had and used only a circular saw for years, and now it’s time to buy a new one so came here to decide another circular or miter. One thing that comes to my mind for beginners is that a miter saw incorporates its own sawing surface. A circular saw, by contrast, pretty much requires some other surface, either a workbench or sawhorses or something; plus clamps (I use short F-clamps) to hold down whatever you’re cutting. That’s not a reason not to get one, but if you’re going shopping for a circular saw, bear in mind that requirement. (Also clamp whatever you are hand-sawing, so you hand does not have to be near the cutting action: I had to learn that firsthand by cutting myself pretty badly several years ago).
For me, after reading this and some other articles, I’m going to go with circular saw again, because it is more flexible in terms of the tasks it can do, and to a lesser extent portability. I would also recommend corded circular saw over battery; more power, no battery changes or work halts while you wait for it to charge.
I’ve had and used only a circular saw for years, and now it’s time to buy a new one so came here to decide another circular or miter. One thing that comes to my mind for beginners is that a miter saw incorporates its own sawing surface. A circular saw, by contrast, pretty much requires some other surface, either a workbench or sawhorses or something; plus clamps (I use short F-clamps) to hold down whatever you’re cutting. That’s not a reason not to get one, but if you’re going shopping for a circular saw, bear in mind that requirement. (Also clamp whatever you are hand-sawing, so you hand does not have to be near the cutting action: I had to learn that firsthand by cutting myself pretty badly several years ago).
For me, after reading this and some other articles, I’m going to go with circular saw again, because it is more flexible in terms of the tasks it can do, and to a lesser extent portability. I would also recommend corded circular saw over battery; more power, no battery changes or work halts while you wait for it to charge.
Good article. I went with the miter saw because it looks easier and I can do angles. I particularly got it because as you said, you use the miter saw every day where as the circular saw once a month. I don’t use plywood often enough or as much as I would 2×4.
Good article. I went with the miter saw because it looks easier and I can do angles. I particularly got it because as you said, you use the miter saw every day where as the circular saw once a month. I don’t use plywood often enough or as much as I would 2×4.
Hey, great article!! This definitely helped me pick one out. I like that you suggest starting with a circular saw as it is inexpensive. I think that is where I will start since I will be trimming out my old 1970s flat kitchen cupboard doors in a basic shaker style. If I mess it up, we’ll get new doors. No harm no foul. But I’ve wanted both a circular and miter saw for some time now. So, time to save.
Thanks again!!
Hey, great article!! This definitely helped me pick one out. I like that you suggest starting with a circular saw as it is inexpensive. I think that is where I will start since I will be trimming out my old 1970s flat kitchen cupboard doors in a basic shaker style. If I mess it up, we’ll get new doors. No harm no foul. But I’ve wanted both a circular and miter saw for some time now. So, time to save.
Thanks again!!
My son-in-law wants a work bench. He’s handy so thought to get him a saw and gift card for supplies. YouTube video looks fairly simple and said need saw. He has borrowed and used a miter. Which would be better miter or circular. And single or double bevel? Thanks
My son-in-law wants a work bench. He’s handy so thought to get him a saw and gift card for supplies. YouTube video looks fairly simple and said need saw. He has borrowed and used a miter. Which would be better miter or circular. And single or double bevel? Thanks
I had a strong suspicion I would prefer the miter saw, after reading you post which was very helpful, I’ll be getting a miter saw.
Thank you for the great explanation! Many people, myself included, have troubles from time to time trying to get that perfect cut. This guide definitely makes it seem easier than I’ve been making it out to be.
Thanks for sharing your idea with me and It helps us for selecting the best miter saw products also.
Thanks for sharing your idea with me and It helps us for selecting the best miter saw products also.
Here I get better tools idea form here. Thanks for sharing your idea with me and It helps us for selecting the best miter saw products also.
Seems like you missed an important option: buy the circular saw, build a jig that turns it into a miter saw (you mention using a jig for some kinds of cuts, but a more elaborate one can let you use one saw for both purposes). Granted, might be harder to save any money that way, since miter saws aren’t _that_ expensive. But it’d be more fun too.
For what it’s worth, in my view the circular saws aren’t “right-handed” and “left-handed”. Rather, they typically come with the blade on one side or the other, and this usually depends on the type of drive, i.e. “sidewinder” (direct) or worm drive. Though, the battery-powered ones are changing this somewhat (i.e. putting the blade on the opposite side from the traditional location for a given drive type).
Some people feel that having the blade closer to the body is better, and for right-handers this is more commonly found with worm drive saws. This gives a better view of the cut while working. On the other hand, it also puts the blade closer to your body, forces you to cross over a bit with your left hand to grip the top of the saw, and if the saw has a dust port (most modern ones do), blows the sawdust toward you. It also means that if you’re cutting across the end of a large sheet, the main weight of the saw can be supported by the non-waste (another pro in favor of body-side blades).
Of course, all of this is reversed for left-handers. Since each blade configuration has both pros and cons, it’s impossible to say that one or the other is specifically for right- or left-handers.
By the way, as far as the battery-powered saws go…Li-ion batteries have come a long way, and modern battery-powered saws can run for a long time on a single charge, especially with the larger batteries (I’ve seen batteries up to 200 Wh, e.g. 18V @ 12 Ah).