Cross Cut Mitre Saw
August 10, 2022 12:32 PM Subscribe
I just bought a power cross cut mitre saw. What should I use it for? I have never owned any type of electric saw but have wanted one for ages. I eagerly and happily use my drill set. Heavy hand tools are mostly impossible for me to use because of decades-old arm and wrist problems (repetitive strain injuries).
I know this type of saw isn't perfect for everything. Also, I am a total newbie to this and most other tools. Still, I have had a goofy smile on my face since buying this saw for myself. I won't open it until I buy the worktable I have picked out and get some safety goggles. After that happens, what should I make? How should I start? I am an apartment dweller who dreams of making tiny plant stands and non-ugly radiator screens. Perhaps those projects are too ambitious but whatever. If you have suggestions or ideas, I want to hear them. Simple is good; my ADHD makes me prone to attempting things beyond my capabilities and then giving up. I would like to skip that, if possible, this time around.
I know this type of saw isn't perfect for everything. Also, I am a total newbie to this and most other tools. Still, I have had a goofy smile on my face since buying this saw for myself. I won't open it until I buy the worktable I have picked out and get some safety goggles. After that happens, what should I make? How should I start? I am an apartment dweller who dreams of making tiny plant stands and non-ugly radiator screens. Perhaps those projects are too ambitious but whatever. If you have suggestions or ideas, I want to hear them. Simple is good; my ADHD makes me prone to attempting things beyond my capabilities and then giving up. I would like to skip that, if possible, this time around.
Adding on to the trim corners idea, I once had the idea to make my mom a shelf out of crown molding, but I didn't have a miter saw, and so that's what I'd do: a floating crown molding shelf.
posted by kevinbelt at 12:52 PM on August 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by kevinbelt at 12:52 PM on August 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
Another idea along these lines is picture frames. If you have cheap ones from ikea or whatever, you can use the whole inner assembly but replace the frame with a nice handmade wood one.
posted by lhputtgrass at 12:57 PM on August 10, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by lhputtgrass at 12:57 PM on August 10, 2022 [4 favorites]
You can put up crown molding and/or picture rail molding in your place. In fact, if you do all the measuring and cutting (perfectly), you could probably hire a pro for waaaaaay less money than usual to do the nailing to put the stuff up. Note: you should learn how to put the molding up yourself, because you will probably end up training your pro if you hire an inexpensive one / handyman. Or a young friend. But this is a legit approach!
Also: people need shelves. So many shelves. Shelves not made of MDF. Please help the world with its shelving needs.
Something amazing I just learned: it is really really easy to make dadoes with a chisel. So, if you cut stuff to length then want to connect it using dadoes, I definitely suggest the chisel. I don't have a severe wrist/hand problem, so I'm not sure how practical it is for you to do, but there wasn't a lot of force involved.
Other things I've enjoyed: rolling platforms to put things on (heavy plants? Cabinets?).
Super easy: One long 4" wide board, two short boards, and a couple of screws = a little shelf that runs along the back of my kitchen counter, letting me store small things on the counter but still leaves space for working -- and it's SUPER easy to clean the counter surface when there's no clutter on the actual surface. Plus the shelf is jigsaw-cut to run behind the faucet and knobs, which makes a great place to put detergent, etc. Ugh I have to make a web page about this I'm so into it.
posted by amtho at 1:22 PM on August 10, 2022 [4 favorites]
Also: people need shelves. So many shelves. Shelves not made of MDF. Please help the world with its shelving needs.
Something amazing I just learned: it is really really easy to make dadoes with a chisel. So, if you cut stuff to length then want to connect it using dadoes, I definitely suggest the chisel. I don't have a severe wrist/hand problem, so I'm not sure how practical it is for you to do, but there wasn't a lot of force involved.
Other things I've enjoyed: rolling platforms to put things on (heavy plants? Cabinets?).
Super easy: One long 4" wide board, two short boards, and a couple of screws = a little shelf that runs along the back of my kitchen counter, letting me store small things on the counter but still leaves space for working -- and it's SUPER easy to clean the counter surface when there's no clutter on the actual surface. Plus the shelf is jigsaw-cut to run behind the faucet and knobs, which makes a great place to put detergent, etc. Ugh I have to make a web page about this I'm so into it.
posted by amtho at 1:22 PM on August 10, 2022 [4 favorites]
For me, this saw came after a whole lot of cutting things in other ways, and let me tell you:
cutting things at 90 degree angles.
Or any other angle you chooooose.
It's not glamorous, but so satisfying to just kind of half-ass a perfect cut. You might not appreciate it as much as I do, but I've had one for years and I still do like a 45 degree miter and just chuckle to myself at how 45 + 45 actually equals 90!
posted by Acari at 2:40 PM on August 10, 2022 [3 favorites]
cutting things at 90 degree angles.
Or any other angle you chooooose.
It's not glamorous, but so satisfying to just kind of half-ass a perfect cut. You might not appreciate it as much as I do, but I've had one for years and I still do like a 45 degree miter and just chuckle to myself at how 45 + 45 actually equals 90!
posted by Acari at 2:40 PM on August 10, 2022 [3 favorites]
I hope you bought a sliding miter saw. It's the difference between being able to cut a 12" wide board and only a 6" board (at 90 degrees, less at 45 degrees). Also, one of those laser cutlines is nice. I did oak moldings and door trim to match the oak floor in my bedroom. Real nice!
Have fun with your saw.
Oh, count your fingers before and after use. Should be the same number.
posted by H21 at 3:32 PM on August 10, 2022 [2 favorites]
Have fun with your saw.
Oh, count your fingers before and after use. Should be the same number.
posted by H21 at 3:32 PM on August 10, 2022 [2 favorites]
Build these Adirondack chairs (I've done it, they're great and not at all tricky).
posted by saladin at 3:44 PM on August 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by saladin at 3:44 PM on August 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
Always look at your hands before moving the saw blade. Take care.
posted by Oyéah at 3:58 PM on August 10, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Oyéah at 3:58 PM on August 10, 2022 [3 favorites]
If you've never ever used power saws before, you really really need a hands-on wood-shop practice lesson from someone who has used power saws before. If you don't, you will probably hurt yourself.
posted by ovvl at 4:47 PM on August 10, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by ovvl at 4:47 PM on August 10, 2022 [3 favorites]
Important extras you can make: a 'zero clearance throat plate', and look at whether people have added guides, jigs, or leveling pieces to your specific model of saw.
I love my homemade throat plate. It was a pain, but it's been really really great -- it prevents splintering at the back/bottom of the cuts.
posted by amtho at 4:49 PM on August 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
I love my homemade throat plate. It was a pain, but it's been really really great -- it prevents splintering at the back/bottom of the cuts.
posted by amtho at 4:49 PM on August 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
I got one of these hold-down sticks on the advice of woodworking youtuber Stumpy Nubs. It's great and it works well.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 6:03 PM on August 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by RonButNotStupid at 6:03 PM on August 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
and get some safety goggles
Please also get yourself some ear protection -- foam ear plugs or over-the-ear muffs with a good db rating.
If you are doing this all indoors, give air quality some thought as well. Sawdust isn't great to breathe.
posted by Dip Flash at 7:30 PM on August 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
Please also get yourself some ear protection -- foam ear plugs or over-the-ear muffs with a good db rating.
If you are doing this all indoors, give air quality some thought as well. Sawdust isn't great to breathe.
posted by Dip Flash at 7:30 PM on August 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
A good mitre saw opens up a whole world of precision woodworking for you! They are far from the most dangerous woodworking tool you can get (that prize goes to hand-held circular saws), but you do need to be careful and sensible. As Oyéah says, check where any body parts you want to keep are before pulling the trigger. Don't be scared of it though, just be careful.
Before you start cutting on expensive timber for your first project, get hold of some scraps and practice making different cuts so you get a feel for how the saw reacts.
There are lots of project ideas online, many of which will depend on having other tools as well. Here's a link to some that claim to only need a mitre saw. These are the sort of thing you can complete in an afternoon, which is a good idea to start with.
Wear safety goggles and ear plugs (ie don't be like me) and do what you can about dust management - most mitre saws have a round fitting from the blade shroud that you can hook a household vacuum cleaner to and that will make a huge difference (don't use a Dyson though - that much dust will block the filter buried inside the machine).
Have fun!
posted by dg at 8:14 PM on August 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
Before you start cutting on expensive timber for your first project, get hold of some scraps and practice making different cuts so you get a feel for how the saw reacts.
There are lots of project ideas online, many of which will depend on having other tools as well. Here's a link to some that claim to only need a mitre saw. These are the sort of thing you can complete in an afternoon, which is a good idea to start with.
Wear safety goggles and ear plugs (ie don't be like me) and do what you can about dust management - most mitre saws have a round fitting from the blade shroud that you can hook a household vacuum cleaner to and that will make a huge difference (don't use a Dyson though - that much dust will block the filter buried inside the machine).
Have fun!
posted by dg at 8:14 PM on August 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
Great choice of tool. I bought one when I was redoing the skirting board in a room, for which it was obviously excellent. It’s been so useful for boring things too though, it’s amazing to be able to make a perfectly straight cut in a trivial, speedy manner. Just the other week I cut some timber to length, stapled a net to it and made a frame to keep the birds off my blueberries. Took an hour or so. Made a nice wooden bath panel out of tongue and groove floorboards too.
Your projects may be exciting or they may be boringly practical like mine, but the saw will lower the effort required to make them all much faster and more achievable.
posted by breakfast burrito at 6:09 PM on August 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
Your projects may be exciting or they may be boringly practical like mine, but the saw will lower the effort required to make them all much faster and more achievable.
posted by breakfast burrito at 6:09 PM on August 11, 2022 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 12:43 PM on August 10, 2022 [7 favorites]