How to Master the Miter Saw

Determine the length of the piece of wood that you need and the angle of cut for the project. Use a tape measure to determine the length of wood you need. Make a pencil mark on the wood, on the surface that will be facing you when you cut. Mark the short side of casing so it will be easier to line the saw blade up to the mark when cutting.

Put on safety glasses and make sure that any long hair or loose clothing is tied back or removed. Do not wear gloves when operating a miter saw.

Unlock the handle on the front of the miter saw so you can rotate the saw to the correct angle. On most saws, this requires rotating the handle counterclockwise. Move the handle, which rotates the blade, to the correct angle and lock it in place. For compound cuts, adjust the vertical angle of the blade first by unlocking, adjusting, and re-locking the head. This adjustment is located at the base of the saw blade assembly, where it joins the base of the tool.

Place the wood against the fence (the solid guide at the back of the saw table) to ensure that it is straight and secure. Bring the blade down and line it up with your pencil mark. The inside edge of the blade should be lined up with the mark so the width of the blade cut does not take away from the length of the finished piece. Lock the wood in place if the miter saw is equipped with a clamp, or hold it firmly against the fence, making sure your hand is well clear of the blade. The hand guiding the wood should be placed at the outer edge of the fence, which protects your hand and allows you to make small adjustments to get the piece in the proper position.

Turn on the saw and lower the blade to cut through the wood. Do not cut too fast, as the blade could catch. Slower is better. You will learn the saw's capabilities with practice. By placing pieces for the right side of your project to the right of the saw, and left-side pieces to the left, you can swing the saw to the correct angle for each piece and better keep track of your work. This helps you avoid a common mistake of cutting the same, rather than opposing angles.