PTR: We can’t tell you how many times we’ve heard the term “chop saw” used to describe a miter saw. It’s not a huge deal, but we always try to educate our readers (and those new to the trades) about the differences. It helps to use terminology correctly—particularly when you communicate with other professionals. In looking at a chop saw vs miter saw we can quickly see these are two very distinct tools.
5 comments:
I want to get into the shop! Hello, complaining optimist over here again :) nice to not see you because we are all online looking at our computer screens... Anyway! I wish I could get in the shop and be working with tools rather than reading about them but still fun to imagine being able to work on something, what a concept?? :) I have probably mixed up the term chop and miter saw before but I like that I know a little more about the similarities and differences between the two. I have been able to use most of the saws mentioned (abrasive chop saw, cold cut, and different miters) but still don't know that much about the tools I am using. I know that they spin really fast, cut different types of material, and are dangerous as hell if you don't use them properly (I think that is a solid basic understanding of a saw). I am looking forward to the day when I can get back to using tools!! I love learning about this but not by reading about it... I want to use the tools and understand more about them. And that is all from this burnt out and stressed cupcake :) If you are reading this please remember to take care of yourself and continue to find new ways to enjoy learning through the pandemic :) I know we all wish we could be together learning in person and building shows but until that day stay safe, stay healthy, and take care! It is a stressful time for all, and if you are the lucky few that get to be in the shop don't fall asleep behind the spinning wheels of death that are the saws! Be safe and know the difference between Chop and Miter saws :)
I can definitely admit that I assumed chop saw and miter saws were the same thing. You can’t deny that they are similar, but it is very helpful that this article laid out the seemingly obvious differences between a chop saw and a miter saw. When you think about it a miter saw being a saw that makes miter cuts doesn’t sound that out of the ordinary. It’s definitely extremely important to know the differences between which tools you are using including what materials you can cut with them. While I knew different blades and blade speeds were used for different materials, this article did a good job specifying the differences between the blades and speeds. For example, I knew cutting metal and wood required different blade speeds, however, I did not know that cutting metal required a slower blade speed than wood. At the same time, after reading this article it makes sense that that would be the case.
All these years and I thought the difference between a chop saw and a miter saw was just whether or not it could do a beveled cut. Like the article says, I thought chop saw was just a general term for a saw that you pull down to make cross cuts. I had no idea that chop saw was specific to cross cutting metal. I guess that means that the cold saw is really the only chop saw we have in the shop. Now that I think about it, I do not think I have ever seen a chop saw hybrid that lets you cut miters in steel. At school, we make angled cuts in steel with the horizontal band saw (which miters), the metal band saw, or an angle grinder with an abrasive cutting wheel. I also do not think that I have seen a chop saw with an abrasive cutting wheel – I wonder if it makes more noise? A grinder makes sparks so I bet a chop saw with an abrasive cutting wheel would also throw sparks – I guess a perk of the cold saw is that there are no sparks, just some messy liquid. You learn something new everyday!
This was a funny article to me. It’s something I never thought needed to be explained or looked into any further depth. I mean it’s the difference in names of a saws that do pretty much the same jobs but in different materials. That being said I thought it was really funny that they didn’t talk about another name that I have heard them called by on a regular basis. A “Drop saw” in place of using the term miter saw. Now I don’t fully understand the true origins of this but I personally originally called the saw by this name. Simply because that’s what the shop I was in called them and when I worked at other shops it was either the same or miter saw. To me drops saw always made more sense because I had worked in a show with a radial arm saw that could do bevel and miter cuts so to me calling something else a miter saw didn’t make to much sense.
Okay I will admit that I am one of those people who interchangeably uses chop saw and mitre saw. I am fully aware that there is a difference between the two but it really feels like all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are a square situation. As always Pro Tool Reviews does a phenomenal job of explaining things by giving you just the right amount of information. I will say that I did not know that chop saws tend to be bigger than a miter saw but I suppose that makes sense. I do really like that the article went into detail about not only wood saws but metal saws as well. Pro Tools is correct in saying that what people may call it might not be the most important thing, what really matters is the blade speed and what material you are cutting. Maybe one day I will actually switch what I say but for the time being, a chop saw really just sounds less pretentious than a miter saw.
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