Miter Saw

AKA Chop Saw

Information:

The miter saw is a powerful woodworking tool used for making precise crosscuts and angled cuts in wood and plastics. It features a circular blade mounted on a pivoting arm, allowing it to tilt and swing to cut at various angles. This versatility is particularly useful for tasks like cutting molding, trim, and framing materials. It’s commonly used in woodworking, carpentry, and construction to create clean, accurate cuts for assembling projects.

The AMS miter saw is a double bevel sliding compound miter saw, enabling angled cuts in both the left and right horizontal direction, as well as the vertical direction. The blade can slide forward and backwards to accommodate wider material. It is connected to the wood room’s ventilation system via an automated blast gate.

Safety Basics:

The miter saw can be very dangerous if used incorrectly. All of the following MUST be done while operating the saw:

• Personal Safety:

  • Wear safety glasses at all times

• Environmental Safety:

  • Activate the ventilation vacuum

  • Sweep up excess sawdust after operation

• Operational Safety:

  • Securely clamp your material

  • Have a trained AMS mentor present with you in the wood room

How to Use:

The miter saw is typically stored in the “down” position. There is a pin on the left-hand side behind the motor that needs to be released to raise the blade. Push the saw down and then pull the pin out. (See picture below)

Miter saw release pin

1. Adjust the angle of the blade using the handle in the front of the saw (for horizontal angle) or the black knob at the rear (for vertical angle).

2. Lay your stock on the saw’s table surface. Adjust it to the exact position it will be cut in, using the blade as a reference.

3. Securely clamp the stock to the saw’s fence, ensuring that it cannot be easily moved

4. Remove your hands from the blade area and ensure there is no foreign object other than your stock in the path of the blade.

5. Using your right hand, toggle the safety switch (circled in the image below) on the trigger and activate the saw. Once at full speed, slowly lower the blade until it has gone through the entirety of your stock. Raise the blade back to the starting position, and then deactivate the saw.

Miter saw handle with trigger and safety switch

Once you have completed your cuts, be sure to store the blade in the “down” position and vacuum any saw dust that may have escaped the vacuum system.

OEM Manual:

DeWalt Double Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw Manual

Specifications:

• 15-Amp, 3800 max rpm

• Max horizontal (miter cut) angle: 60 degrees

• Max vertical (bevel cut) angle: 49 degrees

• 12in blade diameter