Compound miter saws are excessively being used worldwide by wood lovers nowadays. As hard as it seems, cutting crown molding can be really hard, but this challenging task could be really made simple with the right tools, i.e. the perfect miter saw.
A compound miter saw has made it possible to achieve quick, neat, and accurate cuts which otherwise was considered a challenge and that too with ease. The miter saw with compound molding allows you to cut and fit at diverse angles quite a number of yards of crown molding– which you definitely won’t want to try cutting by hand!
Blade and table can be rotated at any different angle allowing flexibility while cutting at acute as well as obtuse angles, by using the miter saw.
Top 5 Best Crown Molding Miter Saws Reviews
Cutting and connecting corners with a miter saw in crown molding are undoubtedly the hardest of all. However, in this article we will introduce you to the best miter saw for crown molding, making pieces of moldings fitting together easier and create what you want with neatness and accuracy!
Here is a list of top rated miter saw for Crown Molding as per our editors;
1. DEWALT (DWS780) – Best lightweight Miter saw
Dewalt DWS780 is a lightweight (56 pounds) 12-inch diameter double-bevel compound miter saw with a high-visibility miter scale; The 15Amp motor rotates a stainless steel miter detent plate with 14 positive stops up to a whopping 3,800 rpm makes the saw functionality efficient.
The flexible dual bevel system makes it accessible during job sites and the XPS cross-cutting technique featuring LED lighting provides an adjustment-free cut-line.
A notable feature about this premium miter saw is that once you have adjusted the alignment settings, you wouldn’t have to alter or set them again during the entire cut, even when you have to change the blades, which makes it more durable than the other conventional saws. Dust duct is focused at the point of cut for efficient and maximum collection.
The specially designed cam miter lock system in this miter saw provides accuracy, repeatability, and durability. Tall sliding fences support 6-5/8 inch of vertically nested crown molding and 6-1/2-inch base molding makes it ideal for crown moldings. This Double-Bevel Compound Miter Saw package includes a 12-inch carbide-tipped blade; wrench, dust bag, and a vertical clamp.
2. Bosch GCM12SD – Best for larger Crown Molding Pieces
Bosch is a leading tool manufacturer working for years to satisfy your every professional need. The 12-inch dual-bevel GCM12SD is a glide miter saw featuring an axial-glide system for smooth cutting motion and accurate performance. Precision & comfort are ensured by pre-aligned square-lock fences along with an ambidextrous soft-grip handle infused in this miter saw.
This miter saw is seamless for any cutting or crown cutting for an expanded horizontal cutting of up-to 14-inches, vertical cutting of up to 6-1/2-inch, and a 6-1/2-inch crown capacity at 45-degree spring. From a simple cut to compound cut to bevel cut, you name it, this saw has the capacity to do all sorts of cuts.
A combination of dust shaft and vacuum adaptor, easy-access upfront controls, easy-to-read bevel, and miter scales with detents at common angles are designed in this miter saw for user comfort. Its compact design with two square lock release fences makes this a perfect tool for larger crown molding pieces.
3. Metabo HPT – Compact Slide Miter Saw
The Metabo C12RSH2S is a top of the line miter saw with a compact slide design requiring zero clearance. The smooth glide of Metabo on fixed rails shining with a laser marker along with tall fences ensures accurate cutting of larger materials. Equipped with a brake blade, a must-have feature when working on long, thick moldings.
When it comes to cutting crown moldings, precisions are very important, especially when cutting wide pieces, obviously, you wouldn’t want to ruin the design by leaving rough edges, that’s where this 77.8 pounds’ hefty miter saw with its powerful 15 Amp motor comes into play as it can effortlessly cut the tough and hard materials; however, the portability of this saw is pretty hard because of its being heavyweight.
It has a tilt of 0-57 degree miter angle to the right and 0-45 degree to the left for flexibility bevel along with 0-45-degree bevel angle range to the right and left and a large sliding fence allowing smoother, quicker, and easier crown molding cuts. Whether you are an expert or a learner, the adjustable laser marker allows higher precision, perfect cuts.
4. Delta 10 Inch 26-2241 – Best for Tough Material
Delta 26-2241 is an excellent sliding compound miter saw with a dual bevel, a 10-inch carbide blade and an extending arm, a wider miter angle, and 16-inch cross-cut capability. Most of the miter saws are made for cutting wooden boards and trims. However, this carbide-tipped saw blade can easily cut other materials like plumbing, tiles, ceramics, and masonry, etc.
The miter saw’s extending arm also known as the robotic arm can easily cut crown moldings up to 6-1/4 inch and 5-1/2 standing base moldings. This miter saw features molded handles, one hand push button controllers for quick and efficient cutting while blade brakes are also incorporated for safety.
A powerful 15-ampere motor and high-grade aluminum frame supported with 18 heavy duty bearings can help cut almost all tough materials and would help provide longer life. The innovative LED shadow guide cutting technique casts a shadow across the workpiece to show exactly where the cut is going to be.
5. Makita XSL07Z – Best Laser Sliding Miter Saw
Makita XSL07Z is a battery operated (2 x 18V) 12 Inch dual bevel sliding compound miter saw kit with laser. The lithium-ion batteries installed can last for up to 175 cuts per charge in 2×12 SPF lumber. The efficient brushless motor generates 4,400 rpm with automatic changing of speed and torque under load for optimum performance.
The unique 2 rail in this miter saw offers a single simultaneous slide-glide operation along with a reduced overall footprint. The innovative design of the belt-less direct-drive gearbox provides a large crown molding cutting capacity (8” nested) along with vertical cutting capacity (6-3/4”) and 15″; crosscuts at 90°.
The bevel lock is positioned forward-facing the saw for easy access and provides quick adjustments ranging from 0° to 48°. Direct drive mechanism ensures smooth start-ups and delivers consistent power to the blade without losing any to belts.
A built-in laser lights the line-of-cut with an Electric brake provides added convenience. A dual dust Collection port is located near the bevel for excellent dust extraction performance.
How do you measure angles for crown molding?
If you wish to learn how to cut crown molding, you must have a fine saw with a bevel that swings both ways. Cutting of the crown molding can be achieved effortlessly and accurately with two things, a miter saw and an ample amount of knowledge about the angles for crown molding.
For best results, the miter saw should be set at an exact angle which we calculate according to our crown molding requirements. However, we have to be careful with the blade of the saw.
Types of Angles:
There are certain kinds of crown molding cuts we should observe and then decide the angles for the cutting of the crown.
- Corner Angle
- Spring Angle
- Miter & Bevel Angle
How to cut crown molding with a compound miter saw?
Corner joints in crown molding tend to be “compound” because each end cut has a miter angle and a bevel angle. As opposed to a standard miter saw which tilts only to the left, compound miter saws can incline to cut the bevel and swing to the left or right to cut the miter, making both angles in a single blow. This is particularly helpful with wide molding were reversing the position of the large molding can be avoided & the molding can be laid flat on the saw table.
Cutting the crown molding:
- The first and foremost step while cutting the molding should be personal safety. Hence one should wear proper protective gear including glasses and a mask to save one’s self from any accident.
- The second safety measure is to check whether the saw is sufficiently anchored and will not move while switched on. Then calculate and recheck your required angles by which the mold would be cut. The angle setting should be given ample attention before starting the cutting.
- The next step should be to firmly grip the molding exactly with the marked point to-be-cut at the place of cutting. Check the position of the blade before the saw goes on. After carefully inspecting everything one last time, start cutting what you wish.
Cutting The Inside Corners of the Crown:
Although the initial setup required for cutting the outside corners and inside corners is the same, the difference lies only in the cutting angles of the saw. The angles used to cut the inside corners are exactly in the opposite direction than those for outside corners.
If you want to perform crown molding cutting, you must have a high quality saw with a bevel which helps in tilting the saw. Having a compound miter saw however greatly reduces the difficulty of cutting crown molding.
What to consider when buying a miter saw?
Whenever buying a miter saw for crown molding, make sure to consider these features we are providing you in this buyer guide to help you make the best choice out of all available.
- Blade size
The most important thing to consider when buying a miter saw for crown molding is blade size. The most common miter saw sizes are 8, 10, and 12 inches. While it is simple to infer that larger diameter blades can make longer cuts a 10-inch blade is usually sufficient for cutting most types of trim boards. Typically, anything less than 3/4-inches thick and 6-inches wide can be cut by a 10-inch blade while for thicker boards such as 1.5-inch thick framing boards, the larger 12-inch blade would be a better option.
- Laser Guide or LED marker
Most miter saws come with LED markers to shine on the point of the cut, however; some models have laser guidance where a bright red or green laser line marks the cutting line under the blade showing where it would cut making the cutting and crown molding easier. This laser / LED marker is a great feature for beginners and DIY’ers which ensures that the board to-be-cut is correctly positioned before cutting.
- Power Options
Although most of the miter saws are corded sets, there are few manufacturers offering portable models with 10, 12, or even 15-Ampere cordless motors. Usually, a 10-amp cordless miter saw can cut most types of trim boards, however; thicker boards require more current to power the stronger motor. These cordless miter saws operate on rechargeable 20-volt, lithium-ion batteries, and their run-time is dependent on how thick the boards to-be-cut are and frequency of usage. Most of those cordless machines offered in the market can make an average of 150 to 275 cuts on a single battery charge.
- Dust Collection Mechanism
- Non-Slip Grip handles
Conclusion
There are several brands like Dewalt, Bosch, and Hitachi, etc. offering various models of compound miter saws. The best way to fully utilize the compound miter saw to cut crown moldings is to use proper bevel and exact miter angles and following the necessary user instructions.
If you are a novice DIY’er and have never used a miter saw before, make sure you understand it fully before turning it on. All the safety precautions are to be followed when working with the miter saw. It is of utmost importance to ensure that the table or platform that the saw is placed on is strong and stable enough. Don’t hesitate to seek professional help when and if the machine does not work the way you expect it to.
Miter saws are best for cutting the crown moldings due to it being faster and accurate than any other method. However, correct angles for the miter saw and bevel are to be accurately calculated and boards are to be bound to the miter saw.