Do these 5 things to make your miter saw better
Summary
TLDRThis video shares five tips to enhance miter saw performance, including replacing the throat plate, using a hold down stick for safety, adding a zero clearance jig for cleaner cuts, ensuring proper setup and blade quality, and improving dust collection with a cyclone, iVac switch, and dust shroud.
Takeaways
- š§ Miter saws are useful for cross cutting boards but can be loud and dusty, often resulting in less than perfect cuts.
- š ļø Replacing the throat plate with a zero clearance throat plate or adding zero clearance tape can significantly improve cut quality and reduce tearout.
- š Using a hold down stick, either homemade or purchased, is a safer way to cut small pieces and keep fingers away from the blade.
- š Adding a temporary zero clearance jig can make cuts safer, cleaner, and more accurate by providing additional support to the workpiece.
- š Ensuring that the fence is square to the blade and the blade is square to the table is crucial for accurate cuts right out of the box.
- šŖ Upgrading to a good crosscut blade with 60 to 100 teeth can result in cleaner cuts.
- šļø Creating adequate support around the miter saw, such as a miter saw station or a stand, is essential for safety and ease of use.
- šØ Dust collection is vital when using a miter saw, and connecting a shop vac or dust extractor to the sawās dust port can be more effective than using the provided bag.
- š Automating dust collection with an iVac switch can make the process more convenient and consistent, ensuring the shop vac turns on and off automatically with the miter saw.
- šļø Building a dust shroud or hood around the miter saw can further contain dust and improve air quality in the workspace.
- š Implementing these tips can lead to better results with a miter saw, making the process safer, cleaner, and more precise.
Q & A
What are the main issues with using a miter saw?
-Miter saws can be loud, dusty, and may not always produce the finest quality cut due to tearout on the bottom side of the board.
Why should you replace the throat plate on your miter saw?
-The throat plate with a wide slot can cause tearout on your cuts because the board isn't fully supported on the bottom side.
What are the two options to fix the issue with the throat plate?
-You can either remove the existing insert and custom build a zero clearance throat plate, or simply add zero clearance tape to the throat plate.
How does zero clearance tape improve your miter saw cuts?
-Zero clearance tape provides better support for the board, resulting in cleaner cuts with minimal tearout and preventing small cut-offs from falling into the crack.
What is a hold down stick and how does it help with miter saw safety?
-A hold down stick is a tool that allows you to safely hold down a small piece of wood while keeping your fingers at a safe distance from the blade, making cuts safer.
Why is it important to use a temporary zero clearance jig when cutting small pieces?
-A temporary zero clearance jig helps make cuts safer, cleaner, and more accurate by providing support at the back of the workpiece and reducing the risk of kickback.
What basic adjustments should you make to your miter saw right out of the box?
-You should ensure that the fence is square to the blade, the blade is square to the table, and upgrade the blade to a decent crosscut blade.
Why is it recommended to create adequate support around the miter saw?
-Adequate support helps prevent the lumber from falling or catching on the spinning blade, which can cause kickback or other dangerous situations.
How can you improve dust collection on your miter saw?
-You can connect a shop vac or dust extractor to the sawās dust port, use a cyclone to separate sawdust, and automate your dust collection with an iVac switch.
What is the purpose of a dust shroud or hood for a miter saw?
-A dust shroud or hood helps contain any dust that isnāt caught by your dust collection system, reducing airborne sawdust and improving air quality in your workspace.
How does the iVac switch help with dust collection?
-The iVac switch automatically turns on the shop vac when you start the miter saw and keeps it running for a few seconds after you finish cutting to clear out the sawdust, then automatically stops.
Outlines
š§ Improving Miter Saw Performance
This paragraph discusses the common issues with miter saws such as loud noise, dust generation, and poor cut quality. The speaker suggests replacing the standard throat plate with a zero clearance throat plate or using zero clearance tape to minimize tearout and improve cut quality. They also recommend using a hold down stick for safer and more precise cuts on small pieces, and building a temporary zero clearance jig for cleaner and safer cuts. The importance of having a good support system for the saw and the workpiece is also highlighted.
š Basic Setup and Upgrades for Miter Saws
The speaker emphasizes the importance of proper setup for a miter saw, including ensuring the fence is square to the blade and the blade is square to the table. They suggest upgrading the standard blade to a crosscut blade with 60 to 100 teeth for cleaner cuts. Additionally, they recommend creating adequate support around the miter saw, such as a miter saw station or a stand, to prevent accidents and improve efficiency. The paragraph also covers the necessity of dust collection, suggesting connecting a shop vac or dust extractor to the sawās dust port and using a cyclone to reduce filter clogging. An automated dust collection system, the iVac switch, is introduced to simplify the process of managing sawdust.
šļø Enhancing Dust Control with a Dust Shroud
The final paragraph focuses on improving dust control around the miter saw. The speaker demonstrates the effectiveness of a dust shroud or hood, which is essentially a box built around the saw to contain dust. They show an air quality monitor to compare the dust levels with the doors of the dust shroud open and closed, and with the shop vac disconnected. The results highlight the significant reduction in airborne dust when using the dust shroud. The speaker encourages viewers to build a dust hood around their miter saw for better air quality and cleaner workspace, providing links to more detailed information and related videos.
Mindmap
Keywords
š”Miter saw
š”Throat plate
š”Tearout
š”Zero clearance throat plate
š”Hold down stick
š”Crosscut sled
š”Zero clearance jig
š”Crosscut blade
š”Dust collection
š”iVac switch
š”Dust shroud
Highlights
Miter saws are great for cross-cutting boards but are loud, dusty, and donāt always produce the finest quality cut.
Replacing the throat plate with a wide slot is an absolute must to reduce tearout on cuts.
Custom build a zero clearance throat plate or use zero clearance tape for cleaner cuts.
Zero clearance tape is a strong vinyl tape that reduces tearout and prevents small cut-offs from getting stuck.
Using a hold-down stick, such as the 10 million dollar stick, keeps fingers safe when cutting small pieces.
A temporary zero clearance jig made of MDF improves cut quality and safety for small parts.
Ensure your miter saw is correctly adjusted: the fence is square to the blade, and the blade is square to the table.
Upgrading the blade to a good crosscut blade with 60 to 100 teeth results in cleaner cuts.
Adequate support around the miter saw is essential to prevent dangerous situations when cutting.
Dust collection is crucial; using a shop vac with a cyclone helps keep the workspace clean and air quality good.
Automating dust collection with an iVac switch makes the process easier and more efficient.
Adding a dust shroud or hood around the miter saw helps contain dust not caught by the dust collection system.
A dust shroud with sliding doors allows for easy adjustments and better dust containment.
Comparing air quality before and after using a dust shroud demonstrates its effectiveness in reducing dust.
Improving your miter saw with these tips leads to better results and a cleaner, safer workspace.
Transcripts
Miter saws are great for cross cuttingĀ boards, but are also loud, dusty,Ā Ā
and donāt always produce the finest quality cut.Ā But, there are simple solutions to improve allĀ Ā
that. So, today Iām sharing 5 easy waysĀ to make your miter saw better. Ā
The first tip - and this one is super easy andĀ an absolute must if you havenāt done it already.Ā Ā
That throat plate with a really wide slot inĀ it? You need to replace that immediately. Ā
Because theyāre is so much empty spaceĀ around the blade - I mean look how wideĀ Ā
that is - youāll almost always get tearoutĀ on your cuts because the board isnāt fullyĀ Ā
supported on the bottom side. Now there are 2 simple options toĀ Ā
fix this. The first one is to remove theĀ existing insert and custom build a zeroĀ Ā
clearance throat plate. Now I did this on myĀ previous miter saw and it was actually one ofĀ Ā
the first videos I ever posted on my channel ifĀ you want to have a good laugh and go watch that.Ā Ā
Iāll actually link it up here in the corner. The second, much easier option, is to simply addĀ Ā
this zero clearance tape. Itās a super thin yetĀ strong piece of vinyl tape made just for this,Ā Ā
and Iāll leave a link to it in the description. This is what Iāve been using on my miter saw forĀ Ā
years now and itās held up really well - IĀ havenāt even had to replace it yet. But theyĀ Ā
come in a pack of 5 in case you do need to swapĀ it out. If youāre doing bevel cuts for example,Ā Ā
youāre going to need to replace the tape to getĀ a fresh zero clearance line when you go back toĀ Ā
90 degree cuts. They peel up easily and then youĀ can give it a quick cleaning with rubbing alcoholĀ Ā
and stick down a fresh piece. All thatās left isĀ to cut the kerf after making sure that your bladeĀ Ā
is square before you do this. Not bad! By simply adding this piece of tape I getĀ Ā
much cleaner cuts with minimal tearoutĀ on the bottom side than if I was usingĀ Ā
the standard throat plate. And having aĀ zero clearance means thereās no risk ofĀ Ā
having small cut-offs fall into the crack andĀ get stuck, so thereās that advantage too. Ā
Now youāve probably - at least hopefully -Ā noticed the warning signs telling you to keepĀ Ā
your fingers aways from the blade - or maybeĀ youāve made a cut or two where your fingersĀ Ā
felt uncomfortably close to the blade. Cutting small pieces on a miter saw can beĀ Ā
scary and pretty dangerous too. Ideally, I preferĀ to use a crosscut sled to make those small cuts,Ā Ā
but sometimes in a pinch you justĀ want to make a quick cut withoutĀ Ā
the hassle of pulling out the sled. Now, thereās a quick, safer way to makeĀ Ā
these cuts on the miter saw, and thatās to use aĀ hold down stick. You can make one yourself - andĀ Ā
there are plenty of examples on the internet thatĀ you can look up - or save some time and buy one ofĀ Ā
these. This is called the 10 million dollar stick,Ā and it allows me to safely hold down a small pieceĀ Ā
of wood, all while keeping my fingers atĀ a safe distance. There is no way Iād makeĀ Ā
a cut like this using my hand to hold down theĀ workpiece. But having my fingers far away from theĀ Ā
blade and knowing that the workpiece is held downĀ securely, I can confidently make this cut. Ā
Itās got these little rubber feet to provideĀ a solid grip, and I can use it in differentĀ Ā
positions depending on what Iām cutting.Ā If youāre interested in checking it out,Ā Ā
Iāll leave a product link down below. Whether it be the 10M$ stick or a homemadeĀ Ā
version, I highly recommend having someĀ sort of hold down stick to hold down yourĀ Ā
workpiece securely and keep yourĀ fingers away from that blade. Ā
Now using a hold down stick is great andĀ definitely makes cutting small pieces safer,Ā Ā
but thereās something else I like to do to makeĀ those cuts not only safer, but cleaner too. AndĀ Ā
thatās to add a temporary zero clearance jig. Building this jig is pretty straightforward. IāmĀ Ā
using half-inch MDF for this. Iāll start withĀ a piece thatās wide enough so that my bladeĀ Ā
wonāt cut all the way through it, then addĀ a short fence using CA glue and activator,Ā Ā
and then I can reinforce that with a fewĀ screws. To secure the jig to my miter saw,Ā Ā
I can either use these mounting holes in the fenceĀ to secure it with a few screws from the back,Ā Ā
or I can simply use some double-sided tapeĀ to stick it to my fence. Once thatās done,Ā Ā
Iāll cut the kerf, being careful not to cutĀ all the way through the jig. And thatās it,Ā Ā
the jig is now ready to be used. There are so many advantages to usingĀ Ā
a jig like this. 1. It makes it easier to line upĀ your cuts since you can reference off the cut inĀ Ā
the jig to precisely line up your cut. 2. ItāllĀ result in much cleaner cuts since the board nowĀ Ā
has support both on the bottom and at the backĀ - so youāll get virtually no tear-out using aĀ Ā
jig like this. And 3. Itās much safer to cut smallĀ parts because thereās now that support at the backĀ Ā
of the workpiece. Unlike cutting a small pieceĀ like this where the blade might want to catch andĀ Ā
twist the board causing kickback or even pullingĀ your hand towards the blade. We definitely don'tĀ Ā
want that. So having a jig like this will makeĀ cuts safer, cleaner and even more accurate. Ā
Before I get to the next tip, there are a fewĀ basic things that you want to make sure toĀ Ā
address with any miter saw right out of the box.Ā Number one is making sure everything is adjustedĀ Ā
correctly, meaning that the fence is square to theĀ blade and that the blade is square to the table.Ā Ā
And every saw will come with a manual explainingĀ how to do this for your particular saw. I makeĀ Ā
sure to do this first thing out of the box andĀ check it again every once in a while too. Ā
The other thing youāll want to do is to upgradeĀ the blade that comes with the saw to a decentĀ Ā
crosscut blade. Now a good crosscut blade willĀ have anywhere from 60 to 100 teeth, with a toothĀ Ā
angle thatās not too aggressive. I use a 60-toothĀ blade personally and have had good results.Ā Ā
But in theory, the more teeth you have whenĀ crosscutting, the cleaner of a cut youāll get. Ā
The third basic Iāll throw in here - even ifĀ you might not consider it to be a basic - isĀ Ā
to create adequate support around the miter saw toĀ support the piece that youāre cutting. This couldĀ Ā
be a miter saw station like the one I have, or itĀ could be a store bought stand - I got this miterĀ Ā
saw stand on sale at Princess Auto so that I canĀ use a miter saw outdoors or even on the go if IĀ Ā
need to. In a pinch, you could even simply prop upĀ some blocks on each side of the miter saw, just toĀ Ā
have something to support the lumber on. Because if you donāt have any support,Ā Ā
itāll get real annoying real fast and canĀ actually be dangerous too. You might makeĀ Ā
a sudden move to catch the falling lumber orĀ it might catch on the spinning blade and causeĀ Ā
kick-back - I don't even want to picture someĀ of the worst case scenarios. But bottom line,Ā Ā
however you do it, my tip is to make sureĀ your lumber is supported on each side. Ā
Okay, getting back to my tips on how toĀ improve your miter saw, hereās number 4. Ā
It goes without saying that having someĀ sort of dust collection on your miter sawĀ Ā
is a must. Miter saws are notoriously greatĀ at generating a cloud of airborne sawdustĀ Ā
that'll ruin the air quality in your workspace. Now, most miter saws come with a dust collectionĀ Ā
bag, but these can only do so much to containĀ dust. The best option is to connect a shop vac orĀ Ā
dust extractor to the sawās dust port. Iām prettyĀ happy with the setup Iāve got, so let me show youĀ Ā
what that is. So I have a shop vac hooked up toĀ the dust port here. But before going to the shopĀ Ā
vac, all the dust goes though this cyclone hereĀ so most of the sawdust drops into this bucket,Ā Ā
and very little actually makes it to the shopĀ vac. This helps to avoid the shop vac filter fromĀ Ā
clogging up all the time and makes clean up a lotĀ easier. All I have to do is open up this bucketĀ Ā
and empty it out whenever it gets full. I have a video where I explain this setup inĀ Ā
more detail, and Iāll link that up in theĀ corner here if you want to check it out. Ā
Now having a shop vac and cyclone is great,Ā but the real upgrade I want to talk about isĀ Ā
automating your dust collection. And thatāsĀ where this little gadget comes in. This is anĀ Ā
iVac switch and what it does is basically tellsĀ yo ur shop vac to turn on as soon as you fire upĀ Ā
your miter saw. And it only takes a few secondsĀ to set this up. Just plug your miter saw intoĀ Ā
one outlet and plug your shop vac into the other,Ā then switch your shop vac to ON. Thatās it. Ā
Now as soon as I hit the trigger on my miter saw,Ā the shop vac fires up. And after I finish makingĀ Ā
the cut, the shop vac will keep running forĀ 6 seconds to finish clearing out the sawdust,Ā Ā
and then automatically stop. I donāt knowĀ about you, but having to manually turn onĀ Ā
and off your dust collector every timeĀ you make a cut - I would forget half theĀ Ā
time or just not even bother. So havingĀ an automated setup like this is such aĀ Ā
game-changer for me. If you want more detailsĀ about this set up, be sure to check out myĀ Ā
dust collection video linked up here. IāllĀ also link to the iVac switch down below. Ā
Now, even with a shop vac hooked up to yourĀ miter saw and automated dust collection,Ā Ā
we all know that dust collection on most miterĀ saws, well, sucks. And not in a good way. AndĀ Ā
thatās where my final tip comes in, and thatās toĀ add a dust shroud like the one I have here. Ā
A dust shroud or hood is essentially just aĀ box built around your miter saw. Itāll helpĀ Ā
contain any dust that isnāt caught by yourĀ dust collection system. So instead of havingĀ Ā
all that dust floating around your workshop,Ā itāll mostly be contained in this box. Ā
The key is to make the box as closed-offĀ as possible, but still be able to use theĀ Ā
saw without any issue. As you can see IāveĀ created a cutout to allow the saw to be usedĀ Ā
in the 90 degree crosscut position.Ā But if I need to make an angled cut,Ā Ā
I can just slide open the doors like this. SomeĀ people use screws or magnets to hold on the doors,Ā Ā
but I decided to go with sliding doors so I donātĀ have to deal with where to put down the doors whenĀ Ā
I need to open them up. So sliding doors justĀ seemed like the easiest solution to me. Ā
You can tell that it works by all the dust thatāsĀ collected back here. But to demonstrate further,Ā Ā
Iāll use this air quality monitor which is justĀ showing a baseline measurement right now beforeĀ Ā
I make any cuts. Iāll first make 5 cuts withĀ the doors closed and check the readings. NextĀ Ā
Iāll make 5 cuts with the doors open and check theĀ readings again. And you know what, just for fun,Ā Ā
Iām going to disconnect my shop vac and seeĀ what happens. Mmm yeah, I think you get theĀ Ā
picture. So I highly recommend taking your dustĀ collection one step further and building a dustĀ Ā
hood around your miter saw - and I provide moreĀ details on how I built this in another video thatĀ Ā
Iāll link up here and down below as well. Having a miter saw doesnāt mean you have toĀ Ā
breathe dust all day and get frustratingĀ results. I hope these 5 tips will helpĀ Ā
you get better results with your miterĀ saw. Remember to check the links in theĀ Ā
description box down below for links to all theĀ products I talked about and related videos. Ā
Until next time, thanks forĀ watching, see you soon!
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