Reviews
Best Budget Miter Saw
Today we take a look at the best budget miter saws on the market. The saws compared here are suitable for general homeowner use and will not cost a fortune.
Best Budget Miter Saw
Best Miter Saw for Homeowner Use
Here we will look at the choices we have for miter saws suitable for home use. I kept the cost under $300 for these saws to keep the price reasonable. Most saws in this price range are missing features like laser markers. These are not deal breakers because they are often hard to align.
DEWALT DW715 12-Inch Compound Miter Saw
What You Get in the Box
- DEWALT DW715 miter saw
- Carbide blade
- Dust bag
- Extension Kit
- Blade wrench
This model does not include a laser marker for lining up cuts. If you truly want a laser option you will have to look elsewhere. I have heard mixed reviews on laser systems so I would try the saw without one first.
The fence on the DEWALT DWT715 is tall enough to support crown molding up to 6 1/2 inches vertically.
Maximum cut size: 2 by 8 inches.
Miter cut range: 0 to 50 degrees to the left and right.
Bevel cut range: 0 to 48 degrees to the left and 0 to 3 degrees to the right.
The miter markings have detents at 11 spots for common cuts. If you choose to cut at another angle there is an override feature. The override allows you to set the cut without slipping into the detents.
The DW715, like most miter saws, comes with a dust collector bag. If you have a dust collection system you can hook right in.
Now is this a good miter saw for the average homeowner? It seems to be hit and miss after reading the reviews. One review caught my eye which can be found here:
He noticed his fence was bowed after using the saw for two years. He hadn’t noticed it because he was always cutting long boards. He was able to get it replaced under warranty. His advice was to check the saw fence with a straight edge if you buy it. That’s good advice and I think you should do that with any new tool.
Apparently, DEWALT had redesigned the saw which means their own LED light accessory doesn’t fit.
I would not recommend this saw to a homeowner. You can find better quality miter saws.
Hitachi C10FCE2 10-inch Compound Miter Saw
What You Get in the Box
- C10FCE2 miter saw
- 10-inch 24 tooth TCT saw blade
- extended fence
- dust bag
- workpiece vice
- blade wrench
This model does not have a laser marker. If you really wanted a laser Hitachi has an upgraded model for just under $300.
Maximum cut size: up to 2-5/16 inches high and 5-21/32 inches deep.
Miter cut range: between 0 and 52 degrees left and right
Bevel cut range: 45 degrees to the left
The table has indentations for several preset cuts as well as markings for bevel cuts up to 45-degrees.
If your budget allows you can purchase this saw with a stand and extra blade but that’s over the $200 mark. Alternatively, you can save some cash and make your own miter saw stand.
The C10FCE2 has a dust bag but in my experience, they are almost useless. You are better off hooking it up to a dust collector.
Is it the best miter saw for homeowner use? Judging by the reviews it looks like a winner.
One owner commented on the setup instructions being terrible to read. The manual can be found at this link if you want to look them over. I could see how the manual can be hard to read as they put a lot of information in it.
Makita LS1040 10-inch Compound Miter Saw
The Makita LS1040 is a 10-inch blade miter saw with a 15 amp motor and dual post pivoting arm.
What you get in the box:
- LS1040 compound miter saw
- blade changing wrench
- dust bag
- 40 tooth carbide tipped blade
- workpiece vice
Maximum cut size: 2 and 3/4 inches by 5 and 1/8 inches at 90 degrees. 1 and 3/8 inches by 3 and 5/8 inches at 45 degrees.
Miter cut range: 0 to 45 degrees to the left and 0 to 52 degrees to the right.
Bevel cut range: 0 to 45 degrees to the left.
The base has 9 positive miter stops at 15, 22.5, 30 and 45 degrees to the left and right, and 90 degrees.
The saw weighs in at 27.3 pounds so it will be easy to move between projects.
The reviews for the Makita LS1040 are mostly positive with an average of 4.5 stars out of 5. The general consensus is that this miter saw is suitable for use around the house.
