7 DIY Tips for your Mitre Saw
When you invest in a mitre saw you want to be able to get the most out of this tool, so we compiled a list of handy tips to use your mitre saw in ingenious ways.
16/03/2019
Cut Tricky Pieces
Sometimes you will need to cut tricky pieces or awkward sizes and there is a way to do this without being too close to the cutting blade. Have a length of scrap board that you can use and attach the piece you need to cut into this. You can screw through the back of the board or use nails to secure your piece onto the scrap board and not have to worry about being too close to the blade.
Cutting crown moulding or cornice can be a bit tricky as they have to be cut at the correct angle to fit into or around corners. To make this task easier, make up a jig using scrap wood that holds the crown moulding at the perfect angle.
Easy Repeat Cuts
When you need to do a lot of repeat cuts, as we do when cutting materials for our DIY Divas workshops, it makes it much easier if you mark the fence on your mitre saw. Make repeat cuts easy by cutting the first piece to the required length and then using this to mark the fence on your mitre saw. Use a pencil to mark the fence so that you can simply clean away once you're done. Now you can use this mark to position all your boards for making repeat cuts.
Make Tricky Cuts
When you need to make tricky cuts with a mitre saw, especially on irregular-shaped items, it is safer to fasten these pieces onto a scrap piece of wood to hold them in place as you cut. Use a dowel joint to secure items onto a block of wood and let the glue dry before cutting. You can easily cut the pieces off the block with your mitre saw once you are done.
Cut Perfect Pieces
No cutting method is absolutely perfect and there may be times when you encounter ripping at the ends or 'blowouts', even when using a sharp blade. When you need to cut perfect pieces, prevent ripping at the edges by placing a scrap piece of wood under or behind your workpiece.
Cut Small Jobs Quickly
When you are on a job site or need to cut pieces of the same length quickly, cut one board to length and then use this as a template for cutting the rest. In this way, you don't need to set up a stop for quick, accurate cuts.
Trim for Neat Edges
If you need to trim boards to clean up a cut edge, you can do this by lowering your blade against the end of the board, making sure that your work piece is against the blade. Raise the blade and switch on to lower and cut a neat edge. In this way you can shave off any uneven edges that might spoil your project.
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Extend the Life of your Blade
When using a mitre saw, always let the blade get up to full speed before cutting your workpiece. In this way, you will extend the life of your cutting blade and also eliminate any problems that can occur when the blade is not up to full speed.