Woodworking ??? All those precise adjustments can get seriously out of whack without that perfect powerful useful tool, this is where miter saws come into existence and are put to use for the swift clean cuts. A miter saw is extremely useful finish carpentry as well as a home improvement tool for both professionals as well as beginners.
Milwaukee 6955-20 Miter Saw Review
Milwaukee Tools began its operation in 1924, and today it is an industry-leading manufacturer of heavy-duty power tools, accessories, and hand tools for professionals worldwide. Since the company is providing quality products, it is leading the industry in both durability and performance.
Right out of the box, The Milwaukee 6955-20 miter saw is designed to deliver quality cuts.”
The Milwaukee 6955-20 is easy to use, durable 12-inch sliding dual bevel miter saw with a 15-amp, 3.3 max HP direct-drive motor that features constant power technology to provide constant speed under the load of 3,250 RPM of the blade which remains the same for both no-load as well as during loaded cutting. This feature certifies a quick, clean cut even in hardwood materials and millwork.
This dual bevel sliding miter saw features an electronic soft start along with the dual integral job site lights to fully illuminate the workpiece and cut line from both sides of the blade, allowing the carpenter to see the blade, enter the material and sneak up on the cut line without damaging the workpiece.
The dual horizontal steel rails in this sliding miter saw with three large linear bearings are sure to deliver a smooth sliding action. This Milwaukee miter saw also provides an integral dust channel that captures up to 75% of the dust and debris, being one of the best dust collections in the industry!
Let’s dig in and get detailed information on all the main features of this sliding dual bevel miter saw:
Mitering system
This MILWAUKEE miter saw customs a heavy-duty steel plate with detents (stops) which is extremely durable and provides for repeated accuracy at each detent. The miter angle can be set using detents for the most common cut angles at 0°, 15°, 22.5° 31.62°, 45° both right and left and 60° right. It has a mitering range from 55° on the left to 60° on the right. Moreover, a top-grade bearing allows the turntable to be swiftly and accurately adjusted to any angle within the given miter range.
Miter Angle Fine Adjustment
The Milwaukee miter angle fine adjustment system makes certain routes quick and easy, especially like when casing a window or a door, it is necessary to compensate for a non-square position by making a precision miter angle adjustment to the turntable. It becomes further easy when the saw is positioned near a miter stop.
Digital Miter Angle Readout
The Milwaukee 6955-20’s digital miter angle readout at the front of the turntable displays the miter angle to a 0.1° resolution. The Digital Miter Angle Readout is based on the automated accuracy of the miter angle detent plate because it adjusts itself each time the turntable is placed in a miter detent. It is easy to make accurate minor angle adjustments anywhere within the miter range using the miter angle adjustment combined with the digital meter readout.
With both of these systems together it is easier to re-position the turntable and repeat any miter angle setting. the miter angle is displayed at the digital readout with a (-) symbol in front of the angle as -22.5° or -44.7° when the turntable is placed at the left, while the right miter angle is displayed as 22.5° / 44.7°.
Dual-Bevel Adjustment System
The dual bevel adjustment arranged in this saw allows for quick and accurate bevel adjustments to either side. The bevel angle can be set using detents (stops) for the most commonly used angles 0°, 22.5°, 33.85°, 45° both right and left. However, the bevel mechanism can over travel some degrees beyond 45° on both the left and right.
Electronic Feedback Control Circuit
This electronic circuit (EFCC) installed in this saw, allows the tool to maintain persistent speed and torque between load and no-load conditions and hence helps improve the operation and life of the saw. The soft-start reduces the amount of torque reaction to the tool and the handler when the saw is started, gradually increasing the motor speed up from zero to the maximum no-load speed.
Electric Brake
The electric brake in this miter saw engages as soon as the trigger is released, causing the blade to stop within four to five seconds time and allowing you to proceed with your work. However, there may be a short interval between the time the trigger is released and the time the brake engages.
Dual Lighting
The Milwaukee 6955-20 sliding miter saw features not a single LED or laser but two high power lights positioned on either side of the blade to lighten the workpiece cutting area making it easy to see as the blade approaches the cutting line. A switch for the lights is located on the trigger handle for added convenience.
Dust Management System
The sawdust collection system of this saw involves the use of a large dust chute on both sides of the blade to capture and direct dust to the back of the saw. This saw comes with a dust elbow and a dust bag to be attached to the back of the dust chute. The dust bag has a zipper located on the bottom of the bag for easy cleaning or in case of using the saw on a stand; the dust bag zipper could be left open for the sawdust to fall into a wastebasket.
Carrying Handles
Since it is a sturdy 77.8 lbs. heavy saw, multiple carrying handles are provided, one on each side of the table and one on top of the saw head for ease of transporting. However, make sure to always lock the saw head down when transporting.
HOW TO USE Milwaukee 6955-20 12″ Sliding Dual Bevel MITER SAW?
After unpacking the package, continue with the setup of the miter saw.
Included in the package:
- Milwaukee 12 Inch Dual-Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw
- Blade wrench
- Carbide tipped blade
- Dust bag
Setting-up / Mounting the Miter Saw
Since it is a powerful cutting tool, it requires a stable mounting. In order to prevent it from sliding or tipping down amidst cutting operation, the miter saw should be properly set-up on a sturdy, leveled surface such as a workshop table or a workbench by using fasteners. It should also have enough room on both the left and right sides to accommodate the long trims you would be cutting.
Another option is to acquire a miter saw mounting stand often sold separately as an accessory. This stand holds an additional benefit of being more portable to provide a standard workspace in case you need to move your miter saw elsewhere.
Selecting the Correct Miter Saw Blade
As a rule of thumb, you are stuck with the blade size which is specific for that very miter saw. You can only play with the design of the cutting edge of the blade. Hence, you can either use a standard 12″ saw blade supplied with this sliding saw or get a new 12″ one as per your requirements for this saw.
Adjusting the Miter Saw
The 6955-20 miter saw comes fully adjusted from the factory. In case of any inaccuracy due to shipping or improper handling, please follow the manual to accurately set up your saw. Once the saw is properly adjusted, it should remain accurate under typical job site and transportation circumstances.
Checking the Blade Brakes
The Milwaukee 6955-20 has the blade brake feature that quickly brings the rotating blade to a halt; it is not a substitute for the guards. Therefore, in order to ensure safety, you should always wait for the blade to completely stop before you bring your hand near it for any cleaning or maintenance or even changing/removing the blade from the kerf.
There is slight a chance that the blade brake may miss occasionally, therefore taking precautions is always better. However, if the frequency of such missing brakes increases, you need to get your saw serviced by an authorized MILWAUKEE service station.
Safety Guards over Blade
6955-20 is equipped with upper and lower safety guards to cover the saw blade. Generally speaking, the lower safety guard is designed to roll down and cover the blade when the saw head is up. You should check frequently that this lower safety guard moves freely to cover the blade when the saw head is up and it should open automatically when the saw head is lowered towards the work-piece.
In case the safety guard does not move as described above or is stuck or even appears loose, you should check by tightening the guard bracket screws and in case this does not help, contact an authorized service center for possible repairs. For your own safety, do not try to open the guard more than the automatic action permits.
Using Face Boards (Zero Clearance Sub Fences)
This saw has face board mounting holes in the fences upfront for attaching any face boards. Face boards are utilized as improved support by putting some distance between the work-piece and the fence. It also helps in reducing the splintering of the work-piece. The introduction of fence boards can manipulate both cutting width and cutting depth at the expense of others. For example, a work-piece on top of a face board can be cut to a greater width with a little less cutting height.
Proper selection of work-piece
For a longer-lasting of this miter saw, you should carefully select your workpiece to be cut with a clean and sharp blade. As in all woodworking, the most suitable workpiece is usually a hardened (seasoned) piece that would not bow or pinch during cutting. Any wet, knotty, pitchy, workpiece will most likely lead to pinching conditions resulting in kickback or jerking.
Work Piece Support
While operating this Milwaukee saw, you should consider whether your workpiece is sufficiently supported. As described above, a lower or negative hook angled blade will inherently reduce the unwanted climbing of the blade out of the workpiece. Also, proper support is needed to be placed to hold the workpiece in position and to avoid pulling it into the saw.
Use of fences also must be considered as they help support as well as align the workpiece to the cutting line and manage a straight cut eliminating the tendency of the saw blade to bind. These fences also support complex cutting operations like compound, miter, or bevel cuts.
Another thing to consider is the necessary support of longer workpieces along their length. Sometimes, saws have in-built sliding support on both the left and right sides of the miter saw. If you have set-up your Milwaukee 6955-20 on a leveled workshop bench, you would need support with a height of 4-3/4 inch from the surface of the workbench / saw feet. You are also required to use clamps to keep the workpiece bound to the miter for smooth and splinter less cutting of the workpiece.
Maintenance and Safety
Your safety is the first and foremost concern and to reduce the risk of injury, you are advised to always unplug Milwaukee 6955-20 before cleaning/replacing the blade or performing any maintenance. It is advisable to never disassemble the tool whether it is within or without warranty and contact an authorized MILWAUKEE service facility for any or all repairs.
Routine Maintenance
A regular maintenance program designed for this miter saw is advised to keep your saw in good condition to be able to provide excellent performance whenever you use it. Generally, depending on your usage, it is recommended to bring your tool to an authorized MILWAUKEE service facility for inspection after a year or so.
While working, always keep an eye for any undue noise, binding of moving parts, or any misalignment you could find and get it sorted out at the earliest. Any such condition may lead to breakage of any part affecting the tool operation or may cause an accident to undermine your safety. Also, it is strongly recommended not to immerse the saw into a liquid to avoid any risk of personal injury and electric shock
Cleaning of Milwaukee 6955-20
For exquisite long term performance, always clean your tool after usage by removing sawdust and debris from the vents. Keep handles as well as blade clean, dry, and free of any grease or oil. It is advisable to only use a damp cloth with a mild soap for cleaning as many of the off-the-shelf cleaning agents and solvents are harmful to insulated parts and plastic.
WHAT DO WE LIKE ABOUT THIS PRODUCT?
- It is a heavy-duty miter saw with extraordinary reliability
- It can bear a hell of a beating at a work site
- The dual integrated LED lights at both sides of the blade maximize precision.
- The Digital miter scale with an enhanced detent lock system is appreciable
- This saw would easily cut through most materials including hardwood trim, plywood, softwood board lumber and even softer metals
- It offers a wide range of bevel cut motion
- A 5-year pledge on this Milwaukee miter saw is attractive
- The Dust exhaust and the dust collection system are up to 75% useful
SUM UP
All the materials used in this saw are high-end and everything is solidly fabricated. This is one bulky miter saw however, if you are a beginner or not accustomed to miter saws, no need to worry as it has a steep learning arch all because of its easy and accessible controls and angle possibilities.
The direct drive delivers a smoother start along with a consistent cut, and the high power makes it better for large framing lumber and hardwoods. The digital miter gauge is very convenient, as well are the lights, but the bevel adjust system is the best in class. The detent override and fine adjust also work well in correspondence with the digital readout.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is the Milwaukee 6955-20 recommended for cutting ferrous metals?
Milwaukee 6955-20 is not recommended for cutting any ferrous metals such as steel or even iron however it can cut through softer metals. Such cutting can lead the blade to produce a fine kerf which would be pinched by the workpiece and would waste a lot in case of fine molding. Also, it is very important to inspect for any nails or other metallic covering from the workpiece before cutting.
What is the correct blade and blade size for this sliding miter saw?
The general criteria is that when you purchase a miter saw, you are stuck with the blade size that a specific miter saw is designed for. So it is advised to use a 12″ saw blade supplied with this sliding saw or get a new 12″ one whenever necessary.
Generally speaking, a saw blade having a hook angle of 0° or below (negative hook angle) is more suitable for sliding miter saws. Remember, 0°-degree hook angle means that the teeth of the blade are protruding vertically out in-line with the center of the blade (straight tip blades). While negative hook angle means that the tip of the cutting teeth is directed away from the direction of rotation of the blade.
The advantage of using a low or negative hook angle is that it slows the feed rate and helps to minimize the blade’s predisposition to climb-out of the material being cut.
CONCLUSION
This Milwaukee 6955-20, the 12-inch sliding dual miter saw is a sight to behold. The digital miter angle readout sets it apart from the competition while allowing for accurate miter measurements at up to 0.1-degree increments. The digital miter system on this miter saw offers you an LCD display to make precise miters. We wish more saws had this top-notch built-in feature. If you’re agreed upon getting a heavy-duty professional miter saw, then this sliding miter saw is definitely worth some serious consideration.