Converting Circular Saw to Miter Saw, Is it Doable?

[winlinmac]

Don't really like the idea of having many different saws, when one can build themselves a table saw, router table, and use their existing power tools in conjunction.

Is it feasible to construct your own Miter Saw? I have missing wall molding pieces I'd like to patch up with close-to-perfect seams.

Thanks

 

[gregtwojeeps]

Sure it is. But is your time, cost of rigging, risk of safety while building something to operate a tool that it is not designed to do, worth it ?

When this little miter box could be used to cut just a few moldings...

 

[mmb617]

Small chop saws are so cheap now I don't think it would make sense unless it's merely a project to kill some time.

I do understand not wanting multiple saws taking up space. I have a 10" chop saw I don't use all that much so when I need it I just clamp it on top of my workmate. When not in use it's small enough to be easy to store away. A bonus is that the saw, workmate and a couple roller stands are easily portable to the jobsite when puttering around the house.

 

[winlinmac]

Thanks--a miter box is all I have for making such cuts, but is only limited to the most commonly used angles. A miter saw has that versatility of choosing any angle you may desire (even though I'd probably be using the commonly set degrees angle most of my time).

Not sure how much I would save but which 10" chop saw would you recommend? I don't know if HF would be the right choice for this one.

If my understanding follows, building a table saw and router table would still be feasible if I have the time, right?

Small chop saws are so cheap now I don't think it would make sense unless it's merely a project to kill some time.

I do understand not wanting multiple saws taking up space. I have a 10" chop saw I don't use all that much so when I need it I just clamp it on top of my workmate. When not in use it's small enough to be easy to store away. A bonus is that the saw, workmate and a couple roller stands are easily portable to the jobsite when puttering around the house.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Cutting capacity and quality of cut will be so poor with a circ saw that I can't see any benefit, especially since, as mentioned above, there are so many cheap options, new and used (CL).

 

[winlinmac]

I found a 7 1/2" Miter Saw for $40 (used once) and 10" Miter Saw for $70 both Ryobi-branded, on Craigslist. For a DIY'er, are the Ryobi Branded Miter Saws usually sufficient?

Cutting capacity and quality of cut will be so poor with a circ saw that I can't see any benefit, especially since, as mentioned above, there are so many cheap options, new and used (CL).

 

[thor80]

if you have a home depot rental center near you they will rent you one for a couple hours

 

[winlinmac]

I'd presume a standard miter box is still better than circular saws as far as making clean cuts go, right?

 

[winlinmac]

Why rent, when we can buy one at roughly the same price?

if you have a home depot rental center near you they will rent you one for a couple hours

 

[Superbec]

fingers .... crossed

 

[maxpower_hd]

I don't think I would bother trying to make a circular saw work as a miter saw. A good used one could be had for a good price and once you have one, if you are a DIYer, you will have more uses for it.

I have built a router table before. It was a very simple one. Just a piece of plywood with a hole drilled in it with w hole saw. A piece of plywood run through the table saw to make sure it is nice and straight bolted on one end so it can move. I would place it on my saw horses and bolt my router to the bottom and clamp the arm where I needed it. I now have a router table I bought at a yard sale with a nice identical router to mine for $30. It works much better and is more convenient. But the home made one did work fine and cost nothing since it was scrap materials.

The table saw is an unknown to me. I never thought of building one. But if I am using my table saw I am usually using my circular saw, miter saw and my router too so it just makes since to buy one of those too. Again if you find yourself doing a lot of projects you will have many uses for it too.

So I guess what I am saying is I would prefer to buy what I need. If money is an issue keep an eye out for used but decent quality tools and you can upgrade later.

 

[winlinmac]

Thanks, this should be useful when needing to do a larger-scale project then. For the Floor molding and ceiling trim, my Miter box will have to do for now until I see myself needing the upgrade.

I don't think I would bother trying to make a circular saw work as a miter saw. A good used one could be had for a good price and once you have one, if you are a DIYer, you will have more uses for it.

I have built a router table before. It was a very simple one. Just a piece of plywood with a hole drilled in it with w hole saw. A piece of plywood run through the table saw to make sure it is nice and straight bolted on one end so it can move. I would place it on my saw horses and bolt my router to the bottom and clamp the arm where I needed it. I now have a router table I bought at a yard sale with a nice identical router to mine for $30. It works much better and is more convenient. But the home made one did work fine and cost nothing since it was scrap materials.

The table saw is an unknown to me. I never thought of building one. But if I am using my table saw I am usually using my circular saw, miter saw and my router too so it just makes since to buy one of those too. Again if you find yourself doing a lot of projects you will have many uses for it too.

So I guess what I am saying is I would prefer to buy what I need. If money is an issue keep an eye out for used but decent quality tools and you can upgrade later.

 

[maxpower_hd]

Make sure you have a nice sharp saw and a nice coping saw. Files are helpful too.

 

[the GOAT]

Look at the delta sawbuck... A couple linear bearing some rail and a table.

 

[winlinmac]

I just read other comments on the HF Miter Saw and even a Drill Press (something I'd like to have for woodworking projects).

It turns out, Craigslist is the best to go.

Also, I'll try "not" to get a Ryobi

Thanks for advice again

What are some of the better brand models to look out for on Craigslist?

Make sure you have a nice sharp saw and a nice coping saw. Files are helpful too.

 

[shawhite]

In a pinch I have used a circular saw to cut angles on trim. Just measure your angle with a protractor or similar item, set your angle on your plate of your circular saw, clamp a straight edge for the saw to follow and make your cut. Is this the quickest or most logical way of going about things no. But I have done it with descent results on painted trim. Would not try this on stain grade trim or crown. I would say the most popular brands to look for on Craigslist would be Bosch, dewalt, makita

 

[ddawg16]

Even a HF compound miter is a much better option than trying to jury rig a circular saw to do the same thing.

Jump on Craig's list.....

Or buy a compound sliding miter....you will wonder how you got by without one.

The quality of the cut will far exceed anything you could do with a circular saw

 

[ishiboo]

The Pro-tech 10" saws that come up on Craigslist for $25-40 are really nice for the money.

 

[maxpower_hd]

I just read other comments on the HF Miter Saw and even a Drill Press (something I'd like to have for woodworking projects).

It turns out, Craigslist is the best to go.

Also, I'll try "not" to get a Ryobi

Thanks for advice again

What are some of the better brand models to look out for on Craigslist?

I was talking about your manual miter box. Make sure you have a sharp hand saw/back saw and a nice sharp coping saw. Those are cheap new.

As far as power saws, my favorites are:

circular: Older Porter Cable, Older Makita
Sawzall: Milwaukee
Jig Saw: Bosch Barrel Grip
Sliding miter: Bosch, Hitachi
Portable Table: Makita, DeWalt, Bosch, Jet

There are others that are good. Those are just my favorites and what I would look for on CL.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

Maybe doable.... but you'd be severely limited in cut capacity.

For a couple pieces of trim, just use a miter box and quality hand saw. Miter saws can be found cheap, but you'll still need to buy a quality blade for it (~$40-70 in 10 to 12").

 

[dutchgray]

Thanks--a miter box is all I have for making such cuts, but is only limited to the most commonly used angles. A miter saw has that versatility of choosing any angle you may desire (even though I'd probably be using the commonly set degrees angle most of my time).

I have always made my own miter boxes to suit what I'm cutting and the angle. Its not hard to do, mark it up and use a new hardpoint saw and don't push it and it will cut strait. Then you'll have the angle you want.
Elu and Dewalt made a flip over saw, which was a small table saw on legs or flipped and became a miter saw. They were good tools.

 

[KMdef9]

Even a HF compound miter is a much better option than trying to jury rig a circular saw to do the same thing.

Jump on Craig's list.....

Or buy a compound sliding miter....you will wonder how you got by without one.

The quality of the cut will far exceed anything you could do with a circular saw

I agree. I can't imagine trying to cut any angle with out my compound.

Bought a table saw this year and I practically never use my circular saw anymore.

Projects are faster and more precise.

 

[Parabellum]

Let me ask you this: Are your fingers cheaper than a proper miter saw? An home made jury rigged circular saw as a miter saw would be more dangerous. Avoid cheap miter saws, the blade guards are sh-t and make it more dangerous to use. I experienced this with my late stepdads Wen. I have a DW 705, but got rid of the Wen for cheap because it was a dangerous saw.

 

[CNGsaves]

Let's see PIC's of the circular saw you're trying to do this ???

 

[Parabellum]

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

seems legit... pillow blocks and all

 

[winlinmac]

Is the Hitachi a reasonable choice as far as price and quality are concerned? Seems like the perfect miter saw for the beginner.

http://www.lowes.com/pd/Hitachi-10-..._clickID=2638ab33-8240-4277-b1b2-c01f14aa7a45

 

[Know Wosad]

Thats insane, unsafe and ridiculous. Go to the flea market and look in the classifieds under garage sale.Damn things are everywhere. You can be in a half decent saw for $100 or evenmuch less. Something real good for $200.
I was going to use the "S" and "I" words but the bannerators haven't had their orgasms in a bit

 

[winlinmac]

Even though a Miter Box should do for now, if I want to pursue ownership of a compound miter saw in the future, should I be looking for a compound miter saw with the sliding mechanism? There's a good chance that I'll be removing vinyl tiling and replacing that with laminate flooring in the near future.

Thanks

 

[ecotec]

That is awesome! I would not want it in my home or even on my property, though.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Just my humble opinion but I think sliders are over rated and overly popular right now. First, they take up a lot of space behind the bench, and second they are much more expensive than a typical miter saw. And lastly as someone who does an awful lot of woodworking, hence my screen name, I see very little benefit to a compound slider unless you are doing a lot a lot a lot A lot of crown molding. Did I say a a lot?
Loss of hype and marketing here concerning compound sliders.

 

[winlinmac]

Thanks

What about single bevel vs. dual bevel? Should a single bevel be more than adequate? I don't think I'll see myself flipping sides when working with particular wood pieces. Just getting into woodworking projects, will not a be a day-to-day thing though. I'm not even going to start a discussion on Band Saws; I think my Jig Saw may do for now.

I plan to build a table saw and router table instead of buying a pre-assembled one and learn on the go.

Just my humble opinion but I think sliders are over rated and overly popular right now. First, they take up a lot of space behind the bench, and second they are much more expensive than a typical miter saw. And lastly as someone who does an awful lot of woodworking, hence my screen name, I see very little benefit to a compound slider unless you are doing a lot a lot a lot A lot of crown molding. Did I say a a lot?
Loss of hype and marketing here concerning compound sliders.

 

[Zeke]

I found a 7 1/2" Miter Saw for $40 (used once) and 10" Miter Saw for $70 both Ryobi-branded, on Craigslist. For a DIY'er, are the Ryobi Branded Miter Saws usually sufficient?

I have used an 8 1/4 Ryobi for nearly 30 years and although it's pretty trashed having been in the truck and been to countless jobs, it still works well enough for those small moldings, etc. that the bigger saws tend to catch and tear. I'm talking very small. But the point is Ryobi is good enough. Don't abuse it and don't run it on a 50' 16 ga. cord.

 

[CNGsaves]

Just my humble opinion but I think sliders are over rated and overly popular right now. First, they take up a lot of space behind the bench, and second they are much more expensive than a typical miter saw. And lastly as someone who does an awful lot of woodworking, hence my screen name, I see very little benefit to a compound slider unless you are doing a lot a lot a lot A lot of crown molding. Did I say a a lot?
Lots of hype and marketing here concerning compound sliders.

^ ^ ^ Good info . . . and valiant effort to "teach" the OP.

However, the next question from OP might be . . why blade turns clockwise !!

OP won't be buying any saw . . . this is a goosechase.

 

[Parabellum]

^ ^ ^ Good info . . . and valiant effort to "teach" the OP.

However, the next question from OP might be . . why blade turns clockwise !!

OP won't be buying any saw . . . this is a goosechase.

kickback and OP's new name will be 3LessFingersMac

 

[turbowoodworker]

You guys kill me!

 

[kwoswalt99]

Just my humble opinion but I think sliders are over rated and overly popular right now. First, they take up a lot of space behind the bench, and second they are much more expensive than a typical miter saw. And lastly as someone who does an awful lot of woodworking, hence my screen name, I see very little benefit to a compound slider unless you are doing a lot a lot a lot A lot of crown molding. Did I say a a lot?
Loss of hype and marketing here concerning compound sliders.

It's worth it if you need one. We cut boards all the time that are too wide for a regular one, and it saves a lot of time with not having to flip some.

 

[rharman]

You guys kill me!

Better us than a jury-rigged saw....

 

[winlinmac]

Good ol' Miterbox it is then, until may need the miter saw for something larger scale

^ ^ ^ Good info . . . and valiant effort to "teach" the OP.

However, the next question from OP might be . . why blade turns clockwise !!

OP won't be buying any saw . . . this is a goosechase.

 

[stuk4x4]

So it seems to me that you are limited by space and budget. Which is what I battle with constantly, I have an older Craftsman Radial Arm Saw that I purchased off of CL for $75 several years ago. Spend an hour or two to clean and align it and you will have a fantastic saw, I feel like these are highly under rated pieces of equipment. A lot of the older models have a shaft on the opposite side of the motor that you can hook up a router attachment to. They are great for Dado’s as well. RAS’s get a bad rap from a lot of people because they say they are too dangerous, my thought is that as long as you don’t get lazy in the shop and use common sense you will be fine.
Good luck
Stuk4x4