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March 1, 2018 · 5 Comments

Power Tools for Beginners: How to Use a Miter Saw

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Want to get started with power tools and building things for your home but have no clue where to start? Let me help! Here’s a quick briefing on how to use a miter saw (and what a miter saw even is!) 

Woman outside using a miter saw on a table

Would you believe that, while I’ve been writing this blog for over 6 years now and have taken on countless DIY projects, I’ve never built anything on my own?

I’m relatively familiar and comfortable with most power tools, I know how to operate them, and I am not scared to use them. However, I have no idea how to actually make anything with them. I’m not one of those people that can pop into the workshop for a few hours and end up with something to show for it – I just stand there uselessly staring at everything and wondering where to start.

But no longer.

One of my goals for this year was to learn a new skill, and I’ve officially decided that I”m going to learn how to do some basic woodworking. I don’t want to do anything crazy, but it’s high time I learned my way around the workshop and get comfortable with building a few different things.

And, guess what? I’m taking you along for the ride – with an entire series on power tools for beginners!

A miter saw on a table with text overlay - Tools for Beginners: How to Use a Miter Saw

What is a Miter Saw?

We’re kicking off the series with a tutorial on how to use a miter saw. No idea what that is? It’s a saw that’s used to make cuts across wood – it’s perfect for cutting down wood for baseboards, art projects, shelves, and more. You can cut wood at all sorts of different angles and for about a zillion different purposes, but we’re keeping it simple today – we’re talking about making basic 90-degree (or straight) cuts, and 45-degree cuts (for making corners).

What can you do once you know how to use a miter saw? You can make DIY frames, you can install baseboards (though that’s a slightly more complex process – it’s not as bad as you might imagine!), and you can create the gorgeous DIY geometric art piece that I showed you last week. Plus about a million other things – the sky’s the limit here, my friends.

So, let’s get to it.

I made a short video to show how it’s done, but if you can’t watch the video, keep reading for the details.

How to Use a Miter Saw

Super obvious disclaimer: I’m not an expert, I’m just a girl who has a husband who taught her how to use a miter saw. Power tools are dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. Be careful, my friends.

If you prefer, you can watch the video on YouTube right here.

Okay, so let’s break it down a bit. First up – the parts of the saw.

Parts of a Miter Saw

Miter saw with parts labeled - the blade, guard, and fence are labeled

The blade and the guard:

 This is the part that cuts the wood. Duh. The guard will slowly move away from the blade as you lower it down, and will cover it back up as you release. Don’t get your fingers anywhere near this section…unless you want to lose one.

The fence: 

This sticks up from where you set the wood – it’s what you want to push the wood up against to make sure that your cuts are straight and even. If you don’t remember to push the wood against the fence, you could end up with a weird, angled cut, or the wood could go flying because it’s not being supported on both sides. You should always use one hand to gently hold the wood against the fence, and the other to operate the saw.

Miter saw with parts labeled - close up of handle and switch

Handle and switch:

This is how you operate the saw. When you press the button up on the handle, the blade starts spinning, and when you let go, it stops. Pretty basic!

Close up of miter gauge on miter saw

Miter gauge:

This part has pre-measured angle stops so you can rotate the table to create different angled cuts. If that little red notch is pointing to 0, you’re creating a straight cut. If it’s at 45, you’re making a 45-degree angle. And so on. You use the lock handle that sticks out from this to rotate the table and get the right angle – we only played around with straight cuts and 45-degree angles in the video, but you can make just about any angle your little heart desires!

So, now that you’re familiar with the parts, you basically know how to use it. Seriously – it’s that simple!

How to Make a Cut Using a Miter Saw

To make a cut, you just need to measure to find the length you want (see all of the details on my DIY wood art post, if you want to do something along those lines), and mark it on your wood. Then, you’ll want to line your wood up along the fence…

Close up of woman cutting wood using a miter saw

And test the placement of the blade. Below, I was making a 45-degree cut and I was trying to just cut the corner of the wood off. So, I carefully lowered the blade (without turning it on), and adjusted the placement of the wood until I knew the blade would hit right where I wanted it to.

Close up of a 45-degree cut with a miter saw

Then, I raised the blade back up, hit the power switch, and went to town!

Close up of miter saw making a 45-degree cut

And, if you measure just right, you’ll get perfectly mitered corners.

Overhead shot of wood cut at a mitered angle

One thing to remember: when you are measuring and lining up your wood, don’t forget to factor in the width of the blade itself. If you line it up on the inside of your cut, you’ll end up with a short piece of wood because of the blade. The first time Corey explained this to me I had no idea what he was talking about, but the first time I lined it up wrong it instantly clicked in my mind.

So basically what I’m saying it, tuck that in the back of your mind, and it will all come back to you the first time you inevitably make that mistake. It’ll make sense. Promise.

How to create a gorgeous large-scale wood wall art piece for your home. You just need some glue and a saw to cut it down! It's so easy that even a total beginner can do it, and it's absolutely gorgeous!

It sounds so cheesy to say, but I feel so empowered now that I know how to use this tool. I feel like I can actually take on projects without having to ask Corey for help, and it makes me so pumped to start learning how to use other tools.

What projects do you think you’ll take on now that you know how to use a miter saw?

 

Power Tools for Beginners Series

  • How to use a jigsaw
  • How to use a circular saw
  • How to use a power roller
  • How to use a paint sprayer

DIY GUides

 

  • How to paint a room
  • How to stain wood
  • How to hang curtains

Easy Woodworking Projects & Ideas:

  • DIY Sofa Arm Table
  • DIY Kids’ Picnic Table
  • Easy DIY Console Table
  • DIY Paneled Interior Doors
  • DIY Wood-Planked Accent Wall

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lee says

    June 6, 2020 at 4:06 pm

    I know this post was several years ago, but I’m SO interested in getting started with woodworking. Seeing your video with the miter saw made it much less intimidating! Two questions: 1) is there a miter saw that you would recommend that priced for beginners? 2) What do you put it on? Are there stands/tables made specifically for a miter saw?

    Reply
    • Amanda Hendrix says

      June 22, 2020 at 9:15 am

      Hi Lee! I recommend Ryobi as a great starting point for newbies. And, we love having a mobile miter saw stand. Our folds up for easy storage and is very simple to move around the room as needed!

      Reply
  2. Steave Jones says

    September 23, 2017 at 5:05 am

    Excellent post. Nice tools for everyone. The tools look very handy and comfortable. My husband was longing for a miter saw. I used to be sent him your Tutorial link.I love to check a tutorial on Miter Saw Stand.

    Reply
  3. Emily says

    April 24, 2017 at 5:05 pm

    I hear ya! I want to learn how to build on my own, but some of the tools can be a bit intimidating! Our miter saw is the one tool I feel pretty comfortable and confident with. I’m looking forward to following you along in this series ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Amanda says

      April 25, 2017 at 9:29 am

      I’m excited to learn more!!

      Reply

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Overwhelmed by DIY? Let's do it together! I'm Amanda, and I live in the suburbs of Austin, Texas with my husband and two sons. I've taught myself how to make simple updates to help make my house a home, and I want to show you how to do it, too. Click here to learn more about us.

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